Cherry Allen

Thanks to everyone who posted. I am the OP but for some reason I cant log in through Facebook any more so have had to set up an account on here, hence the different name. Certainly a lot to think about, I will be asking the education dept to 'convert' her National 5 results to see what the equivalent is.

She hasnt a clue what she wants to do. TAFE doesnt seem to have much choice of courses. Everything is booked for us to return in November and there is nowhere here for her to stay so staying for Highers isnt an option, especially as she has now left school and been signed off as such. We live very rurally and that is the only place for miles around. So it seems then that she will just have to pick anything at TAFE to get the further education she needs, and then maybe aim for Uni or an apprenticeship once she knows what she wants to do. She is too old to do 2 years at high school in Aus no and the thought of trying to restart at high school fills her with dread. Thanks for the help parleycross and also srh82

We are moving over to Perth in November. My youngest daughter was 17 last week and has just finished year 5 at high school in Scotland and has now left, she has her exam results (7 National 5 passes). Have had a look at TAFE courses over there but there doesnt seem a lot of choice of subjects. It would be hard for her to go 'back to school' just for one year and try to catch up with what they are doing in order to get further quaifications, and thats an option she feels uncomfortable about. University courses seem to need A level type of qualifications (National 5s are like GCSEs). Is there any other type of colleges or is TAFE the only option? Fees are not an issue as we are all Aus citizens. I have tried emailing various education departments but I either get no response or a vague response.

Yes it would be less hassle but considering neither of us have any assets/property/money that is unlikely. His super is currently $28,000, and his bank account has £150 in it. He has no ability to get any more, and lives from day to day. He has already said if I dont take the super he will just leave it to rot as he cant be bothered to sort out any paperwork by himself. He thinks he will die before he is even retirement age due to poor health. Thanks everyone, looks like legal advice then, I will do that when I get to Australia as I doubt any legal person here will know the ins and outs of super, plus the super company would prefer the word of a 'local' legal person. And I guess the ex will have to just confirm it through a UK legal person then.

Thanks No, we havent had legal advice and dont feel we require it. There is no assets or property or money to discuss, only the super. We get on well as friends, and the super has only 4 years worth of payments made into it, he has a UK pension worth about the same so it makes sense for me to have one and him have the other. He has no interest in the super at all. Neither of us want to pay for a solicitor to discuss just that matter. We arent in any rush for a divorce, but if we need to do that first to get the super transferred then we will do it, its just I am wondering if there is anything else that needs to be completed before the super company will accept the transfer request.

Ah ok thanks, so am I better filing something (dont know what) when I get to Australia? Or does he need to do it, and if he does can he do it from the UK?

Hope someone can help with this! Im an Australian citizen, currently in the UK but returning to Aus later this year. Husband is in the UK, is a UK citizen and an ex-permanent resident of Aus. We are separated, and will eventually divorce. He wants to transfer his super to me, as he has no intention of ever returning to Aus, he has found someone new and is suffering poor health. In return, I will not ask for anything else financially from him apart from child maintenance. This arrangement is good for both of us. I have tried googling for what I would need to do, but all transfer/split info on super applies to those in Aus. I have emailed his super but they keep sending info for withdrawing super (not applicable as he was PR). I would like to know what needs to be done before I leave the UK, as my husband is useless at phone calls/emailing etc and will require help. I know its a complex question but am asking in the hope someone might have had a similar situation. Thankyou

Totally see your point, however I have already jumped the gun and booked flights. I saw Emirates tickets at a good price on Saturday and got them, plus found super cheap short term accommodation which was getting booked up by others and I didnt want to miss out. The dogs blood test is on the 13th May (3 weeks after jab, as advised by the pet shipper) so that means if its a pass he can fly from the 10th Nov. If the worst case scenario happens and he cant fly on that date, then they will have to be kenneled for however many days until they can fly. My worry was that leaving later in the month would make it harder to find jobs and a long term rental with Christmas looming nearer. I probably have worried and overthought the whole thing, but as a single parent travelling and everything being put on me to sort out I just want it to be ok. This rabies test being 3 weeks away, and then another 3 weeks for results (due to the fact my vet sends everything via somewhere else) would have meant 6 more weeks of not knowing when we were going, which I couldnt have dealt with. I love my dogs very much, and they will go to Australia, it just might have to be a bit later if this test fails, plus the shipper will have plenty of notice us booking them this early so hopefully will get a good flight day from them. Regarding address on the forms, I am going to put the short term accommodation I can now book and my mobile number Thanks for your help Mary-Anne x

The shippers said it would cost £195 to collect (that was when it was 1 dog going, not sure if they would charge more for 2), and I dont know anyone here who would do a 6 hour round trip to drop off my dogs. Unfortunately I dont have family in Scotland, and I have only acquaintances here rather than friends as we havent lived here that long. I know its madness but I dont know how else to do it without it costing a fortune. Because we are paying so much for the dogs to go its impacted how much money we are taking and so dont want to spend out on anything if I can help it. Im a single parent and this is my chance of a fresh start without my husband so am having to organise everything on my own - hence the over worrying lol.

Thanks, I am looking at short term accommodation now and will use that as an address on the forms when I book it, along with my mobile. I know I probably seem silly, I just over worry.

We live 3 hours drive from the airport, and we will be travelling to the airport on the day on a train (should be fun with kids, dogs, and luggage). I wont have a car as mine will be sold by then. I live in a village in the Scottish highlands so not like there is car hire places here, and we dont have a lot of money to pay for a taxi. So we were going to drop them off at the airport with the shipper and then catch our flights. I suppose they could board for a few days if it wasnt too expensive and then could fly a day or two after us. I guess I am also trying to save them too much trauma as they are nervous dogs. Plus I wasnt sure how booked up pet flights get, the shipper hasnt really said whether its an issue or not even though I have asked.

Havent booked accommodation yet, as havent booked our flights yet, and havent done that as I wasnt sure if the dogs had to have flights booked first due to the fact they have to leave same day as us. Not going till November and youre right I am probably overthinking the whole thing. Good point about the mobile, I will put that down and get some accommodation and our flights booked, will just cross fingers for the dogs. Thanks x

Not leaving till November, so a while away, but I just want to get our flights booked while the price is good, but I feel I cant book ours until I know whether the shipper can book them in. I know I am probably worrying unnecessarily, I think I will just book ours and hope for the best with the dogs.

I dont have anyone there, all my family is here and its been 8 years since I was in Australia, the few friends I did have now live in the UK. Im just at a total loss to know what to do. It just feels like a big circle because I cant even book short term rental until I know exactly what dates we are going, and I need to book our flights to know that.

Im just finding the whole thing so confusing and I honestly feel like crying. I feel like I cant book my flights until I know the dogs can go the same day but the shipper cant seem to tell me that until they get the forms and deposit and check with quarantine and book dogs flights, and by them our flights might be sold out. Aaarggh.