Maisiemoo

Ok so we have had our heart set on either South Australia or Perth, our agent is confident that he can get my husband skills assessed right (his actual job of a Construction Project Manager requires a degree in OZ) he is army trained so not got that. He has to also sit the English test for points. Once that has come through we then have to see if his skills are on the list come July. All this is worrying enough however to be told Australia is slowing down and he may not get a job is obviously more worrying. We have just been an expo where a company has offered in a job in NZ. It is a fab job however probably based in Christchurch which isn't a place I really want to go. The North Island yes but not the South. Now We are back to worrying.....Any one got any constructive views on what is like in South Australia at the moment. My husband isn't in the mining he is a utilities and roads project manager. Thanks :arghh:

Well after years of indecisiveness and family pressure (now we have support), my husband and I have started the process...however as usual for us, we seem to time things completely wrong and now it seems like we may not even get there. My hubby is pretty clued up and has fully investigated all the options we have even booked in with an emmigration agent because we appreciate it isn't that easy. However the problem seems to be that now things have tightened up we may have been the decision way too late. When we originally looked the requirment for his skill was vast and we missed the chance. He is in Civils, originally trained in the Royal Engineers for 8 years to become a Civil Engineer working all over the world, the army didn't provide a University Qualification back then, even though they did a few years later, but he has worked in this buisness now for 20 years and is currently a Construction Project Manager for a big Utilities company in the UK, managing high scale projects. However now to go to Oz they only want you with a Degree. So the fact that he has worked in the business for that long it measn nothing as he could have 3 years exp and a degree but have no where near his level of knowledge. We know it is different reg and rules in Oz and he is appreciative that there are lots living there who have more experieince and rightfully should have the job at this level, so therefore he was looking at getting back to being a Civil Engineer technician. it is on the list for WA and SA, however because he has NVQ etc etc and other British standard quals he will have to have his skills assessed which is fine....We don't expect Australia to give us something for nothing. We have lots of friends who have made the move and haven't looked back and we want a better quality of life for our family and our future. Anyway we were wondering if anyone as been through the Skills Assessment for something similar.....how long it took, what outcomes etc.....and if anyone could recommend an Agent who have helpped them in a similar situation. The one we are using seem to be trying to Push us to NZ which is an option but not really ideal....as he doesn't really understand my husbands job and keeps referring to his as a Building Assessor! Which obviosuly he is not.....Anyway constructive help would be great....Thanks :eek:

Not told the 2 grandmas yet.no point upsetting them Neil wemhavenmore definates however I think they are expecting it. I think they will come over for 3 months a year there friends do it and they have mentioned it. But it's my girls time now and my family and our best friends are very supportive they live in Germany and were due back to Heywood but are now questioning it because of the same fears for the kids..... I am not bothered if we have to go without. I am fed up of never seeing my kids. I am even giving up my car which I love! :-(. I will want to work pastime. My career was 17 years with the Halifax and 4 with the council as a operations manager but I also do beautician work which is what I love. So plenty strings to my bow....but to be honest I will do anything if needed.

Bravo! And Pablo I think you helped me when we last looked. For pers reason we didn't do it this time we are ;-)

haha it hasn't got much better, I worked in Manchester Centre and parked outside just because it was quicker to walk in......it used to take me min 45min if traffic was usual thats only 10 miles away :-) however I used to work in Halifax and although further it would take me less time as I was driving away from the traffic.......I don't know it is something we want to try and each to their own :-)

We looked into it 6 years ago I think Paul1Perth answered a few of my post back then!! To be honest he was very positive then and seems to still be! so that says something about the place. We would have had 80K equity back then and my husband was lower in his position which would have been easier for him. However the family put pressure on us and we caved in. 6 Years on and we are going to do it. We have to give it a try, otherwise we would always say what if....my hubby had got a few people responding to him for pretty good positions, with full sponsorship and 2 even have offered a family sponsorship which is amazing. The salary works out at $125,000 pa for him So although I know tax is high and cost of living isn't any cheaper surely our quality of life will be....especially down to the weather and outside activities....maybe it s a dream that will shatter but we got to do something :-)

Do you not think we haven't looked at that? Good grief you really think we are naive. Do you not think we have other reasons....a debate on the state of the uk and people's opinions of this has gone off topic. Good for you if you moved down South. But the house prices are higher and the commute longer and pay is the same.....weather is slightly better at times. But the reasons to look at Oz are many more than a blinded thought that we would be financially better off. It is about quality of life for us and our kids. If it doesn't work then fine at least we will have tried.

I take offence to this because not all British people are lazy and to be honest you do not know me or my family. I have worked within the local government for 4 years attempting save the 64million overspend they had slicing services and jobs. I saw all the so called capped benefits but then you don't see the ones called loans that are never paid back. So please do not insult me. We bought our house in a peak and the house prices have plummeted. So unless you know my personal details please do not judge. I thought this sight was for support a good banter and not insults. Our reason for looking at Oz are not all financial there are other reason too.

Exactly move to Perth! Or do you mean in the uk...... Really? Tried that one. Urmmmm worse off because we can't sell our house at a profit our 90k equity has gone to 30 to buy the same house an extra 100k in a **** area and wait child care as I would have to work longer hour to commute is an extra 200 per child per month more.....oh by the way to commute 10 miles to the city centre......take 1 hr 20 on a good day and to park and walk 20 min in...cost 20 quid a week.... Tried and tested trust me.... :-(

But that's not a lot....we have to pay for my car and I travel with work fuel coat me £120 per month school dinner £10 per week each and that's inc dance classes and swim because schools only do free swimm in 1 year of primary. My daughter is exceptional at swimming and squash at 9 yrs and the nearest club is 20 miles away and they start at 5.30 3 times a week Weil I work so don't have the luxury. To top it all off we don't get chance to see our friends because are all,knackered working, and if we could the weather is bad. 20 degree today in summer...so this year we have had 4 weeks of warm weather give or take some floods. Labour screwed this country I worked for the council as a senior manager and saw what waste we had. People were earning more than me and my husband for doing nothing. Holidays to,Florida just ask the unemployed Brits...... Sorry offended anyone :-(

Hi Sorry to bore you all....but it's not quite how it seems when here. If you will allow I will tell you a story :-) My husband is a civil engineer for a big company balfour beatty....they have just made massive cuts (especially in the North West) he has been in civils for a long time and is now a project manager for 5 sites....job losses above and no pay rise for 4 years and now took his car allowance off him....£39K for this level and a 60 hour week.... I work as a customer service manager in a contact centre doing 45 hours a week for a rubbish company with no benefits earning £32k. i don't see my kids and we are struggling. Our weekly food bill for healthy food is £145, my council tax is £159, gas and electric is £170 per month and mortgage is £1000 for a 3 bedroom house!!! We have lost 30K on our house in price value (Its not going up) and the we did £30k work on it to improve and they valued it less than what we paid. To spend time in the gym (no parks because they are full of well scum!) this cost us £125 per week. I know things are not always greener over there, but please don't think it is easier here. xxxxx

Hi We are currently starting the process of applying to move (Perth probably) my husband is a Civil Engineer Project manager level for balfour beatty and he is ideally hoping for sponsorship. he has worked in this field for over 15 years the first 7 in the armed forces working in Saudi. Kosovo. My opinio is that he is excellent! We are due at an expo soon but just wondered if anyone know anyone?? I am a Customer Service Manager, and a member of the chartered institute and really feel that I could be off some use (even part time) over in perth 25 years experience as to account for something. Anyway just wondered if anyone has help advice contacts etc etc etc blah blah balh xx Excited and eager: Erika, Mark Elisha and Maisiemoo x:biggrin:

Hi Paul Yes thats what we are hoping for..do you mind me asking where in the northwest you were and where you landed in Oz :-) Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Hi all, just thought I would say a big hello. After discussing the dream of moving to Oz for about 6 years things over here as finally pushed us to the edge and this time we are giving it a shot. We means me, my hubby and my 2 gorgeous girlies aged 9 and 7 (nearly 8.....that is very important) my hubby is a Civil Engineer (Project Manager) and younger than me ! So it's all down to him.....currently we both work over 50 hours a week each and its killing us. The north of England is not looking good at the moment and we are really outdoor people and sporty but there is no where to go and the violence and unemployment around us is horrific. We currently live in the 24 most deprived borough! So it's time to do this..... i will need lots of help so please feel free to throw it at me.....:-)