Hi Guys,
Apologies for the delay in responding. Please feel free to PM me or email. We are at the stage where I have dispatched furniture, started terminal leave and got a report time for attestation prior to dept. I did have a slight glitch with seniority, they initially told me something different, but its been rectified and I'm now on the same seniority in pay but not time served. I got a job offer prior to leaving London which was confirmed some four weeks later in writing with the contract details. I later recieved a posting order (after Visas were granted) You pay for all but get re-embursed on arrival. Fire away!
Martin
Hi Guys,
Apologies for the delay in responding. Please feel free to PM me or email. We are at the stage where I have dispatched furniture, started terminal leave and got a report time for attestation prior to dept. I did have a slight glitch with seniority, they initially told me something different, but its been rectified and I'm now on the same seniority in pay but not time served. I got a job offer prior to leaving London which was confirmed some four weeks later in writing with the contract details. I later recieved a posting order (after Visas were granted) You pay for all but get re-embursed on arrival. Fire away!
Martin
Hi Martin,
Early stages.
1 Could you tell me what the medicals entails, if you have to get it done in a specific area or locally (we are stationed in Cyprus)
2 What the cost is?
3 Did you follow the exchange rate for a while and change your money (savings etc) at the best time or is there a better way of doing it?
4 Did you have anything do to with the travel arrangements? Do they do it all for you ie book the airline etc and arrange the stop over or do you have a say?
5 Did you look into taking a car across at all?
Thanks, probably more questions once my hubby comes homes from work......
1 Could you tell me what the medicals entails, if you have to get it done in a specific area or locally (we are stationed in Cyprus)
See the DIMIA website for a list of panel doctors - they exist in all countries, and charge different amounts so get a few quotes first if you can.
2 What the cost is? - see above!
3 Did you follow the exchange rate for a while and change your money (savings etc) at the best time or is there a better way of doing it? - changing money can be quite complicated, there are companies who will handle it for you and you can specify minimum/maximum rates. Obviously they will take a cut!
4 Did you have anything do to with the travel arrangements? Do they do it all for you ie book the airline etc and arrange the stop over or do you have a say? - You can request some things, you do this with the travel company then they make the bookings for you. Eg you can request particular place in Malaysia for your stopover, you can say where you need transport from to get to London to sign on etc. They will tell you all of this once you get & accept an offer.
5 Did you look into taking a car across at all? - On balance it is not worth shipping a car. They will not pay for it (or pets either) and you will have to pay taxes & modification/check charges once in Australia. Better to buy one over there. I think the only exception to this is if you are dealing with very specialised collector-style cars - for ordinary ones just buy there.
You are the second I know with the WO/Cpl Dilemma.
I am currently in Darwin With Artillary as a Sgt, done 18 months with them now. Got a WO/Cpl RLC arrived this week Mac Mcgarry,(although I haven't had chance to meet him as I am in the Solomons Peacekeeping at the Mo)
Mac Had the big dilemma and took the risk.
Said he had been there before, so could manage it again.
It will be interesting for you guys
I personally think the Aussie SCMA visiting team in london were having a bet over a few beers to see if they could net you guys in..By the looks of it, they did.
Aussie Army is totally different, you will be in for the shock of your lives
I can't speak for the rest of the ADF but the Artillary is now like the Brit Army was like when i joined up 20 years ago....
Parades for Parades....Cake & Arse party!
By the way I am ex RLC now RAAOC and Mac is the same.
My advice to him was don't take the drop lower than SNCO. Darwin Mess life is crap without being an NCO.
Best of luck as a CPL mate.
Go For It!
Geordie Cahill
Geordie - interesting to hear from someone who is there already.
What's your perception of mess-life for officers?
And would you say there is a stronger/friendlier army community out there in comparison to the UK? (This is something I have heard from other people).
Martin - if you read this before you go then GOOD LUCK with the jouney! If I'm too late, then I hope it went well and let us know how it is for you 'on the other side'!
Re drops in seniority - this seems a common factor in most offers, I suppose they would argue that it will take time to learn their way of doing things and to settle in before you can be as effective as you were in the UK. They are also offering the chance to live in Australia with citizenship! So as others have said it's a question of weighing it up and deciding what you want for yourself. Money-wise, beware of converting $ straight to £, as it will not give you an accurate idea of the lifestyle you would be able to afford out there.
There seems to be more and more of us ADF people all the time! Good to have a place to swap ideas & info. Hope things are progressing for everyone - soon be there! :wink:
I wondered as you said you were off to Aus next year, how long between your offer at interview and your offer on paper. We were given the offer at interview on 23rd October but have still received nothing in the post. This leaves us a little jittery as only got 10 months left in the forces. We are currently overeas and will be until 8 weeks before we leave. Does that give un enough time etc. Unlike some of the others, we don't have to take a drop in rank - only in seniority so that looks good.
Is there anyone else out there who is going about that time? (end Oct 07)
Or anyone else who is heading for Victoria and wants to make contact?
I am in the same boat as Dave Asher. I am a WO1 and was offered a job as a Sgt on the interview. The interview took place on 13 Oct 06 in London. They did say that a mistake had been made on my Job Evaluation and they would get back to me with either a WO2 or Capt post.
I received an email this morning stating no vacancies as a Capt for my skill set and my time of arrival. It's not looking good for the WO2 either. At the end of the day its a whole quality of life issue. I've been offered a commission in the British Army but it has still not swayed me to stay.
Salisbury Plain or Australia????????
I think its an easy decision no matter what rank you will be. If after 4 yrs you don't like it then sack it and come home. You will always have the option to go back as you will then have the passport in your back pocket.
As for the formal offer I have to give them a decision by Friday then they will send the formal Written Offer. I know a couple of other lads that were on interview around the same dates and they have only just received the written offer.
They told us on the interview that there were 1800 applications this year and 140 interviews. Less than 10%. Not good odds.
I rang SCMA last night after receiving an email asking me why I had not replied to the revised Offer, an email which I had not received! After chatting to the WO2 they resent it, what great news. They have revaluated my case and offered me a SGT in the RAAOC attached to the 4 RAR CDO in NSW. Took me 5 mins to download, print, sign, scan and send back my reply of acceptance.
So after pleading my case I have not only managed to upgrade my rank but am now back with the Commando's where I belong. So it proves the point - if you want something bad enough then go for it. Maybe I was lucky or SCMA just got fed up with me being the “winging pom” but surly there must be a God! Still don’t know if I would have accepted the first offer!
My advise is to keep pestering SCMA, if “uksniper” is correct in that there are about 1800 applicants then that’s a hell of a lot of emails so pick up the phone and ring them. That way you get an instant reply, it may not be what you want, but at least it beats the waiting.
UPDATE ON SCMA
The reason why SCMA need replies back by this Friday is that they are having a man power change and are due to start their Xmas/Summer leave, I know the WO2 there is being posted and is trying to tie up the loose ends before she does her hand over. Also I am told that the vast majority of personnel get drafted during the months of Dec and Jan so there will be a slow down on processing people applications.
I just feel that so far I have been extremely fortunate and pray that the next stages go without a hitch. I would also like to thank all those people who have shared their experiences and passed on their advice to me and wish you all the best in your applications. If I can help anyone else or you need advice/support then please feel free to drop me line.
