Toni-girl

Damn, foiled!! I just assumed that to study for the CPA you had to enrol at university (like you can when studying ACCA in the UK) and therefore would qualify for a student visa. Back to the drawing board!! Thanks for your response though x

Hi, I am currently AAT qualified and hold a Batchelors degree in Business (Legal Studies) and am looking to start studying towards my ACCA qualification in September 2013. I will be halfway through the qualification by June 2014 (if I pass the exams first time) and am then thinking of getting a WHV from September 2014. I will be 6 months off of my 30th birthday so can't really leave it too much later to apply! I'm hoping that while I am over in Australia that I will get a second year extension to my WHV through regional work and would then seriously look at finding some accountancy work. What I would like to know is: a) although the ACCA is a "globally" recognised qualification, does it hold much weight in Australia b)is it worth me studying for it in the UK to start with c) would it be better for me to transfer to a student visa and then obtain an Australian qualification such as CPA I've seen some posts on here which seem to say that ACCA does not count towards anything and you need CPA to get a job, others say qualifications don't matter it's the work experience that you need. My dream is to move to Australia but I don't know if I should get as many qualifications as I can while I'm in the UK in case my "dream" doesn't come true or wait it out until I get to Oz!! Any help/ advice would be much appreciated :biggrin:

Oh god, I'm thinking me and Oz might not mix too well after all! Was only out in the sun for about an hour yesterday and I make a tomato look anaemic today!! Once college is completely finished I think I'll start looking at things more in depth. I did read in the Australia & New Zealand magazine that thet're putting a proposal forward to make 2 year WHV more accessible - whether that'll come off I don't know.......and if it does I doubt it'll be in time for when I want to get out there!

Must admit they look good, it's just scary when you look at the cost of things and how much everything soon adds up!! I'm hoping to be able to get a second year out there (that's assuming I'm going to like it out there!) - would it be possible to to extend my return flight date do you think? I#ve had a look on their site and everything just seems to be geared towards a 12 month WHV

Cheers for this, will have a look through it now :biggrin:

Sorry guys, haven't meant to be rude by not replying it's just I'm at college and exam/ courseowrk deadlines have all come at the same time and it's been manic!! BB88 - what's the Bunac offer, I've never heard of that? Funds, and the fact I won't be going as part of a group are definitely what's stopping me from going. Although to be fair I'll probably put it off forever waiting for "the right time"!! I'm the world's worst at making a definitive decision, and because I've got no one going with me I can keep putting it off :tongue:!! RobinOz - sounds like you had a blast. My problem is, if I don't have a plan of some sort I stress out beyond belief!! I'd love to travel around all of Oz, I don't know if I'd ever get the opportunity to go back so I'd like to go literally everywhere in case it's my only chance! Is there anything you wish you'd have done or anywhere you wish you'd have gone but didn't get a chance too? Also, as the weather's warming up here I'm finding I'm getting soooo hot I'm dreading the summer! Is the heat in Oz the same as here or more comfortable? Thanks to everyone that's replied to me, I'm really grateful for any stories/ help/ advice xx

Wow Lebourvellec, so you've experienced Australia as both a tourist and a worker then. There's part of me that's looking forward to "going it alone" as it would be such an achievement for me (whatever I do I always try and make sure someone's with me!) so it's almost to prove a point to myself that I've got the confidence to do it; but on the other hand it would be nice to share my experience with someone I know and care about. I'm actually quite shy (although some of my friends would definitely disagree with that), especially in new situations and make myself ill with worry so that's making me a bit hesitant - but I've got plenty of time to go yet before anything starts materialising . I definitely like the idea of spending Xmas in Sydney, I don't think I'd be happy if I spent it elsewhere in Oz. And LiverpoolFC - I must have 10 books on Oz, plus I get the Australia and New Zealand magazine every month and am constantly on the net and still feel like I don't know where to start :cry:!! It sounds really stupid but I'm obsessed with watching Home & Away; I'm not happy unless I get my daily Oz fix!! I know life over there is nothing like that (it'd be like thinking UK life is like Eastenders *slits wrists in dispair*) it just feel like I'm never actually going to make the jump and actually get there. I know that I've got to do it soon otherwise I'm never going to be able to settle in a job because I'll not want to be there. Initially I was meant to go Jan 2009 - I applied to 10 unis and got accepted into 6. Alas my parents split, bank of mum and dad collapsed and I couldn't afford the tuition fees for a foreign student - especially as the exchange rate plummeted.

Thanks lebourvellec, that's good to know. I did think you had to do it in one block so that gives me more options. Have been to Oz before or are you planning on going? xx

Ha ha, I've been looking at the exchange rate for weeks now with my fingers crossed it'll start going up so I can get more for my money - not holding out much hope though!! I will work when I'm out there, if not because I'm short of money but to try and qualify for my second year visa. It's always better doing something when you have the choice rather than because you have to xx

I've read so many books to do with travelling around Oz I think I've had information overload!!! There's so much I want to do and see and I really don't think a year's going to be long enough! I think my main concern is definitely accommodation - I'm such a poor sleeper I don't know how I'll get on in a dorm, and there's no way I can afford hotels! Are you looking to go travelling soon - what are your plans? xx

Hi guys, I'm looking to go travelling around the whole of Australia towards the end of 2013 - I know it's ages away but being slightly OCD about things I've got to start planning now!!! It looks like I'm going to be travelling on my own so hoping to meet some great people on my travels. I'm thinking of starting in Sydney and working my way around, although not sure whether to go up the East coast to the top end, down to Perth and across to Adelaide and Melbourne or vice versa. Not too fussed about including Tasmania though! I'm planning on going on a WHV although hoping that I'll have saved enough by then to not have to work. I'm not particularly fussed on partying every night - I'll be 28 when I go :cry: so getting on a bit!! Hope I don't sound like too much of a stick-in-the-mud but I feel like I've got to the age where seeing and experiencing the place is more important to me than drinking - I can do that at home :biggrin: !!! If anyone's got any ideas/ suggestions/ experiences they can share it would be soooo greatly appreciated, Toni xx