moss2oz

Well done oz2014 and it's good to hear someone doing well and first time! Fingers crossed for 21st I will get similar marks. Speaking, I found the easiest as I can talk for England, plus I'm a social worker so used to talking to anyone about anything.lol

Apologies for hijacking this thread but have been searching this site to find out how to pot a new thread and forgive me for being stupid but cannot find out how!! I'm sure someone will come along and point it out to me after which I shall feel rather silly. Anyways, sat the IELTS test just over 2 weeks ago and got results 9 in both writing and speaking, 8.5 in reading and 7.5 in listening. Aaaarrgh - the last one let me down as I needed at least 8 for all. So, have booked on for the second time and was hoping to hear some positive success stories about this instead of what I have come across in that people are sitting it for the 6th,7th etc time. Also, that they mark down sometimes if they know you are wanting to emigrate and so squeeze more money out of you! Am hoping that's not true. I know where I went wrong in the listening. I just need to focus and keep up. Also, does anyone know if you can use previous test marks on some modules. For example, if I re-sit and get 7.5 on the reading but 8s on the rest can I use my first exam marks as I got 8.5 first time round? Hope this babble makes sense.

The problem with me is, as a social worker, I over analyse everything! lol That's going to be my downfall, I think. The advice on this thread has made me feel a little more at ease though. I need to get 8s across the board as I need the full 20 points that come with them. Got my test in York on Saturday. Have done some practice and getting around the 95% mark but it is cutting it fine. Will just keep practising for the rest of the week. Thanks for sharing guys. :biggrin: Debbie

Hi Jo If you're looking at employer sponsorship then you may find an employer who will either help you with the application to AASW or they may not require it - as it is not mandatory to register with the AASW as it is with the GSCC here in the UK. However, if you're wanting to apply for a pemanent visa then you will have to have your skills assessed before they will start the visa process. It takes about 10 weeks at the moment I think. You can contact the assessing office direct in Canberra and the lady I spoke to was very helpful. You might want to do this before you send off the application as she can tell you exactly what you need to put in and give you an idea as to whether your application may be successful. It is a chew on, getting all the documents witnessed, etc but as I say if you are applying for a permanent visa then you will have to do this and yes, it is $850. As I said though some employers may say they do not need AASW approval. Good luck. Debbie Debbie

Hi Rick I still wouldn't qualify for the points as I still need three plus post qualifying experience. I am stuck on WA as my sister and her family live there and I would at least have some familiar faces. Thanks for the advice and well done on your sponsorship. I'll let you know if anything comes of my trip to Perth in four weeks...:jiggy:Cannot wait! Debbie

Got an email from AASW today about my application. Their criteria changes with the gobvernment's migration criteria and as of July social workers need three years post qualifying to migrate as opposed to 12 months previously. As quoted in the email:- 'The issue of our criteria not allowing for social workers who trained internationally with a 3 year degree to be eligible for the AASW is an issue which is of concerns to us in the IQA and to our committee. The AASW are currently undertaking a review of Australian Social Work training and when this is completed later this year we will be then reviewing the assessment criteria we use for international qualifications, our non acceptance of 3 year degree is one of the major issues that will be addressed by this review. I hope to see our criteria change as Australia needs more qualified social workers.' Oh well - back to the drawing board. :frown: I'm hoping that my trip to Perth in October for a family wedding will hive me an opportunity to do a few meet and greets with prospective employers. Fingers crossed. Otherwise I'm going to get on with my life for the next two years and try again unless the rules change again next year.

I'm working in a local authority children and families team. Can't say I'm enjoying it but the experience is worthwhile for where I want to be eventually.

I will do Alison. With that much experience I would get references for your experience but I think they tend to focus more on the post qualifying experience. It won't harm to get the references though. Also please feel free to pm me too. Debbie

I am sending my application off as we speak and have been e-mailing an officer at the AASW and spoke to her over the telephone who has been really helpful. I have one years experience and have had all my relevant documents certified. I have discussed the requirements with her and meet them all barring the three years post experience but if you look at the actual application form this is mentioned in riterion 5 and states that if you meet all of the other requirements then you may still pass assessment. I am sending it anyway and keeping my fingers crossed. I have had positive feedback over the phone suggesting that i will probably meet the requirements but I know that isn't a given. I would contact them (it means staying up late!) and ask to speak to them. The lady i spoke to was really helpful. I can give you her number if you want.

Hi Paula Thanks for the update - much appreciated. Sounds like we're in a very similar position yes. I am sending off my AASW assessment form tomorrow. I've exchanged e-mails with an officer at the AASW and she seems quite confident that I'll be okay without the three years experience for my assessment so fingers crossed. i'm visiting Perth in October for a wedding so hopefully will have a positive assessment by then to take with me just in case I get lucky with any employers I may meet over there.:wink: Interesting what you say about the welfare worker - it's worth bearing in mind. I won't have three years experience until 2013 so am hoping that I may get employer sponsorship before then, otherwise I'll just have to wait until then to apply for the permanent visa which would be better. It's a long time to have your life on hold though, so am hoping something comes up before then. I'll keep you posted. Debbie

Have had a look at WA state sponsorship and although social worker is on the list you need at least three years work experience and I have only one year. Thanks for the info though - much appreciated.

I have factored in me getting full marks for English and I haven't even sat the English test so full marks already there. I'm losing marks for only one years qualified experience and even though my sister lives there I get no points because she lives in Perth metropolitan and not a regional area. To be honest I haven't looked too much into state sponsorship because I thought it related to specific areas and I would want to be close to fasmily so would be Perth as opposed to specific areas. Maybe I should have a cloer look. Thanks for the tip Baxters2011.

Thanks, Andy Paula & Co I contacted Go Matilda recently and they said to wait until the points test had been verified as last minute changes are often made and to contact them after July. I was a secretary prior to qualifying and I understand they won't even consider social work you did while studying because you weren't qualified. However, I'm sure agents have a way of working through minor glitches and loopholes so you may be good. Lety me know how you get on and thanks for the response.

I'm new to PIO but not new to wanting to move to Oz. Ever since I visited my sister and her family in 1997 with my husband, I have wanted to move there permanently. At the time neither of us had any skills that they wanted and then we started our own family and other priorities took over. As my kids grew up I would have my sister visit and we would visit her and the pull was always there. Now I have been to university and got a degree in social work. I qualified last year and have been working for a local authority children's team for over a year. I finally thought, yes, I can apply for my skilled visa - but no, they've changed the points test as of 1st July and I don't have enough points :arghh: I've looked into employer sponsorship and applied for a few jobs on seek.com but I would prefer to try to get a permanent visa rather than risk having to work in a job for years that I don't like. I'm going over in October for a wedding and was thinking I could make a few appointments or show my face in a few places I'd like to work at - the personal touch. My husband is a HGV driver and we have both worked since leaving school and would be happy to work in Australia and contribute to the economy and so forth. However, I am losing faith in the whole system and my husband is getting more and more frustrated at the fact that we seem to have a lot to offer but have to jump through so many hoops for the Australian Government. He has never really wanted to go but understands that we have to try and look back with no regrets. I just felt like I needed to rant and I guess I hoped someone may be able to offer some positivity as I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle here.:sad: