hi all,we're new to this site.Just happen to see the pics posted by skippy about Illawara and other areas.We got our PR visa and hoping to be in Oz by end of August.We don't really know where we are going.Our first choice 2years ago before we apply the visa is Adelaide but house prices seems to have doubled since ,then we thought about Melbourne,and was put off with the stamp duty you have to pay when you buy first house;sydney's very little and so as perth.When we looked at the sydney thread last night,illawara just sounds a very nice place to raise a family;the lakes,the beach,and lots more looks gorgeous.We got a 4 year old boy.What is Illawara like?Is there opportunities for us?Me ICU nurse,hubby mental health nurse.Is it multi-cultural too,I'm originally from Philippines,hubby is english.I will contact agencies tomorrow about jobs;I would like to hear your views about the place please,thanks..
hello, the illawarra is so beautiful. We are planning to move there as soon as our PR visa has been granted, which is taking far too long to come I can tell you. We visited at Christmas and fell in love with the place. There is so much to see and do, you could never be bored im sure. We are hoping to go to Albion Park which is just south of the lake illarwarra. Im sure with your trades you will be fine anywhere is Oz. I would advise a recce visit before you make up your mind though.
visa applied for in Aug 07
Acknowledged in Feb 08
Meds done March 08 - awaiting eagerly for results.
it's nice to hear that there's a few of us.Just contacted an agency for nurses and she'll start contacting the hospitals and get the ball rolling.We can't wait...
Just make sure you behave and don't give me a bad name
It is quite multi cultural here, there is also a Phillipino group in the Illawarra, you will find that prices have soared over the last few years in all Aussie states, so it's much of a muchness really wherever you go.
The Illawarra has almost everything a person needs, except for jobs, but the government is working on that side of things s l o w l y, the Illawarra was mainly steel & coal, but modern technology has cut the number of people needed drastically over the years.
There are a few hospitals around the area, both private & public, so you shouldn't have much of a problem with that kind of work, Shellharbour hospital has a psych ward, that's a job not many people would be looking for thesedays, if you are looking for a place close to the countryside & the sea, then the Illawarra is worth a look.
Hello me again..
When we visited we noticed a lot of new building developments going on and have heard from several people that the illawara is up and coming area? Skippy what do you think on this? Ps do you know much about mining in this area only my OH fancys being chucked down there for some mad reason??
Gday RVN, I worked daan pit for over 10 years, it's not the kind of job you can just walk into these days unless you have underground experience etc, you could look up the Miners Union in the Gong [CMFEU] you have to be a member before you get a job, and the miners that are out of work get the first chance when a vacancy arises.
We had over a dozen mines in the 70's that went into the cliff face that surround the Illawarra, because they had been going for years, it took an hour to get to the coal face, so they put shafts down over the mountain that allowed miners to be on the job within minutes, many mines closed, an Indian company have bought a couple of the old mines and they are now back in production, but don't employ the amount of men that they did when we first came here, the further in the mines go, the more danger is attached to the job, because of the methane gas that has built up in the coal seams over many years.
It's different in the iron ore mines, they take almost anyone & are on BIG money, but they are in W.A. and you only see your hubby about once a month.
As you say, there is development going on round here like we have never seen before, I can only think that it is the baby boomers retiring & coming to live in this beautiful environment ?
Work has started on a big marina at Shellharbour, where there will be cafe's etc, etc, & the car carrier boats are starting to come into Port Kembla now instead of Sydney, so a few jobs will be created from these.
The economy is a bit slow at the moment, but it will pick up again at sometime, life, the economy & the interest rate are like a game of snakes & ladders, hopefully, under our new Labour Government, we will start moving away from being one of the American states or puppets and move ahead now.
That said, I wouldn't be dead for quids, I love this area & what it has to offer, it is a great place to bring up kids & the beaches are perfect as you have already seen and not far from any of the suburbs, 15 mins west of the ocean and you are in the bush.
What more can I say ?
Thanks Skippy..as ever very helpful..Ill let my OH read the above. We have friends in Sydney who have a family member who is looking into going to work in mines in the Hunter valley.. Not sure what type but apparently the company pay for all flights (chinese whispers though bare in mind!) so Im thinking if OH did work there, albion park regional airport may come in handy. Still need to look into it in more detail and find out how this other chaps getting on.
I just can't wait till we move..looks like it will be at least 6 plus months. too fed up with the cold wet weather over here. Even my poor dogs hate it!! They are going to just love lounging around being aussie dogs...hee hee..
I was talking to a bloke today RVN, who told me that there were a few mining jobs going locally, but it's only a 2 year contract, that is only so they can get rid of the no hopers when their contacts end, the good workers get another contract etc.
The Hunter region is just like this one, based on steel & coal, but they have what is called open cut mines also, we were going to move there when I got retrenched 20 years ago, but then they went through a recession too with the steelworks & mines closing, needless to say we stayed here & rode it out.
The dogs certainly love running around on the beach, the dog & I had the beach to ourselves today,
I'm sure your dogs won't look so sad when they can do the same, ha ha.
Thanks Skippy for the web addresses. My other half ( i had better use his name) is still quite keen, I had a look at some of the mining jobs on the net and it looks promising, just have to wait until we get there. Clive does not mind contracting as he has done so before. He used to be in the army so Im used to him going away for weeks/months at a time. He is a hard worker so hopefully if he did get a post they would re offer when contract ran out. But who knows. Im so impatient to get there. Which beach were you able to walk your hound on skippy? Is it a big mutt or ittle one? one more question? (sorry..on my lunch break and trying to write it all quickly...) which vet do you use and are they any good? (only asking as I may ask them for a job..hee hee..) I understand there is one is AP and one in APRail. is this right?
too fed up with the cold wet weather over here. Even my poor dogs hate it!! They are going to just love lounging around being aussie dogs...hee hee..
