Polkey

Thanks for your sharing, I'm sorry to hear it's been so stressful for you. My husband and I tried a couple of years ago to settle in Queensland but just couldn't find work (I wasn't a law student then though) and we just had to call it quits. You go over all guns blazing having prepared to give it everything you have BUT sometimes it just doesn't work out . Thanks for telling me your experience, it really does help when you are armed with all the possibilities. I know it's going to be a good few years yet before we can contemplate making the move, and it might jog even be to Aus but just assessing the options. hope it all works out for you and your partner. Take deep breaths and go with the flow. You've lived and experienced more in the last 12 months than some will in a lifetime, it's all good

Thanks for telling me your experiences! It really does help when you have 1st hand information. I know it's a good few years away yet but better to have the long term plans/ideas in place so you know which line to take! I'll see what the other states have to offer in terms of routes for admittance and likelihood of self fund costing x

Thanks for your post! I realise it's going to be stiff competition, much as it is in the uk too. To be honest, when I was talking about sponsorship I was meaning for the retraining, not for the visa. I'm in a lucky position that my oh has a job/skill that will easily allow us a visa. I'm wanting to know the nitty gritty about how you go about the retraining and whether it's possible to work at the same time as doing it. I'm going to assess the options from this end first, we're not in any hurry and I was expecting to stay on in the uk for a wee while as PQE. thanks for you help and advice x

That's so helpful, thank you very much. We have been to Aus before so I understand the issue with applying from the uk, very difficult! I am going to make a start at looking at larger firms in Aus that May have offices in London etc and start putting the feelers out

thanks! That's all I needed to hear. Not too worried about the visa side of things was more concerned about there being a possibility that a firm would sponsor the studies where necessary. Thank you for your reply x

Hi there, I'm in the process of training to be a solicitor and was wondering if I could ask some probably rather stupid questions here?!!! Once I have completed my training contract in the uk (I know I will probs have to do some retraining and studying when we come over but...) can I apply for NQ positions in Aus and work unqualified? Do companies sponsor the conversion studies so I can work unqualified whilst I convert and register in Aus? any help or contact with those who have done this will be gratefully received! Thanks Julie x:biggrin:

I feel for you. My family and I have been back in the UK for nearly a year after spending 4 expensive and stressful months watching the money slowly disappear! I applied for about 250 jobs and had only one telephone interview for which the interviewer said at the end there had been hundreds of applications and I wan't successful even though I was a strong candidate. I was advised to de-UK my CV and apply for anything going, which I did, but to little avail. With a young family and only limited funds we had to make the difficult decision to cut our losses. You could try a different state (although the moving cost for us were just too much)? Good luck, it takes the shine off what should be an amazing experience! xx

Money, money, money! Don't think £10000-£20000 is going to be enough to keep you going for long unless you have a job to walk into or are lucky enough to find work with in a month or two which given how things are at the mo could well take longer than you imagine. I think if you don't have a considerable chunk of money then stay at home until you do and it will take some of the stress and pressure away when you get there. Its an emotional roller costa no mater how positive or strong you are and its easy to pretend some of the things we all post on here won't effect you because the desire to go is so strong (understandably) that you think "no, not me, I won't be or feel like that" . If your half expecting the emotional disruption then your half prepared and can recognize it for what it is and except it all part of the process. But again, the more money you have the easier it will be for you to settle in. O, and what ever you do do not buy and old banger because thats exactly what they are, we have been over twice and been stung with cars both times. Buy a decent car or rent one for a while until you find a good one. I know when we go back again we will be put a large chunk of money aside for a car. I know it all sounds negative but it just being realistic just as saying Oz is a wonderful, wonderful place because it is, its just not as easy as it was 10 or 20 years ago when you could go over with say £20000 in your back pocket, buy a house outright and find plenty of work.

Nothing wrong with the way you feel, its not black and white. The only thing you can do is take the steps to change your life to what you want it to be. You need a short term plan to change the immediate problems such as where you live and then a long term plan to get you back where you want to be. My wife and I are sadly back due to running out of money before we found work which we put down to a combination of poor exchange rates, crappy occupations and shitty economy. I know it feel like a life sentence but you have to see past it and be determined to succeed. My wife is applying to go back to uni and study something that we can use to reapply and make sure that one of us has a better chance of well paid work. Its a long way around it but its the most sensible for us. Things over here are not that bad you just have to rediscover the good bits and be grateful they are there. Its easy to focus on the bad, we have and still do it but you know its know good in the long run. Change is never easy, good or bad and you have to do the best you can but don't beat yourself up about the choices you have made, your not dead yet so march forward and conquer.

Oh no, I feel for you... We were in a very similar situation, although we have PR. We spent roughly £12000 over about 3 months just 'existing'. It's such a stress when you know you can turn your hand to anything but no-one will give you a chance. We were on the Gold Coast and all in I think I applied for over 200 jobs (clerical/PA/Exec assistant etc) and only had one provisional interview!! It is so demoralising I know. Unfortunately, we basically ran out of money and couldn't risk being homeless with a 3 yr old so made the difficult decision to come back to the UK. I'm devastated and feel like we've wasted such a huge amount of money, but all the research in the world won't tell you how much competition there are for jobs... one job I applied for (which I heard nothing from initially) I called to ask for feedback and they basically said there had been over 250 people apply for it!! This was just a bog standard clerical job! I know its scary, and stressful, and you doubt you've made the right choice... but at least you're doing it, you're making a change, you're taking a risk rather than sitting back and letting life pass you by. It'll work out, or it won't, but at least you tried. xxx

Sorry, I have absolutely no constructive advice to give you... I just wanted to say how much I feel for you and your horrendous situation. You must feel so confused and distressed. Sending you courage and strength and a big hug. I hope you and OH can come to some sort of agreement or compromise xxx

And No, I have no regrets about coming, I've loved every single day here, even through all the stress

Why is it seen as a failure if you return before 2 years? This is so ridiculous! We've been here 4 months and are heading back... Not because we hate it or haven't settled, it's because we were an a tight budget and work is scarce. I can, hand on my heart say I've given it 110% and have put the effort into meeting people etc but unfortunately things have conspired against us. I'll (very sadly) be going back to the UK next Monday with my head held very high because I know I did everything possible to make it work within our own parameters. Maybe the same can be said for the OP?? Why should they feel embarrassed about returning after 6 months, we have no idea what they've been through as a family and shouldn't make them feel worse by adding a "legitimate" timeframe!

We arrived with about £12000, but bought a car when we got here for about £3000... That blew up after a couple of months(god damn it). We've not splashed out, haven't been out for dinner etc. my husband and I lived here 4 years ago so had some idea on cost etc but managed to get work straight away... We have a child now so you look at things a little differently ( and have added costs). Im in clerical work and my husband is a hairdresser. He's managed to get very casual work Lin like 4 different salons... But on a 'we'll let u know at the beginning of the week basis' so it isn't necessarily a full week every week. It's just too much of a gamble when there's only a few weeks money left in the bank.

So, D-Day has arrived. The savings are past the point of no return and we have been forced to make the awful decision that it's fly back to the UK or risk being homeless, with a 3 yr old. It's a no brainer unfortunately. Needless to say we are gutted and I have cried on and off, randomly for the last few days. Thank you to everyone for all your comments above, we have literally tried everything... even contacted Centrelink. Flights have been changed and we leave in 2 weeks, flat broke. Au Revoir Australia, I will miss you. x

Thank you all for your replies. It's nothing we haven't already discussed but it's good to hear we're covering all bases. I don't mind commuting and can get train from Varsity Lakes or Robina, I did the journey once or twice a week last time we were here. Just got to get the prayer mats out and hope something happens in the next week or we're toast!

Thanks Sapphire, I appreciate your reply. I was just saying to my husband that I'm not sure what I was trying to achieve by posting on here, it's not a decision that anyone can 'tell' us which way to approach... I just needed a cry for help! It's always good to hear that you're not alone. I'm not homesick and I like it here... my 3 year old son is certainly enjoying it. BUT you can't live off walks to the beach and BBQs in the park. We are not extravagant people and have been very careful with the $$$ but everything is just sooooooo expensive it's so hard. Even argued with my son at Coles the other day because he wanted some BabyBells and as far as I'm concerned, at that price, they're a luxury.... and then you can't help thinking that they'd only be a quid in Asda/Tesco!! Luckily we got return tickets as my son is on a Tourist Visa until his PR is issued, so we had to all travel on return tickets. Can't help thinking we'll actually be using them... never thought we would. Julie x

Thans verystormy, I'm degree qualified in env mgt and managed to get a great job LAST time we were here with Parsons Brinckerhoff but left for UK to have my son there. I've been to see my old employer and had good chat with him but for various (valid and not fobbing me off) reasons he can't take me back on just yet. Basically I've been applying for entry level positions and a fair few of them have been in mining... All over Aus. I've had a better response from these jobs considering I have such little experience than I have for a clerical job I could do with my eyes shut and my hands tied behind my back! Thanks for your suggestions, will have a good look!

We came to the Gold Coast as this is where we lived previously... we are open to moving else where in Aus, but starting again in a familiar place makes the transition slightly easier so we started here. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, but you don't know until you get here.

I have been sending e-mails and letters out to companies, i've joined agencies, I've met up with companies I work for when we were last here, I've had 'chats' with potential employers but NOTHING!!! I've been very positive about the whole experience of moving here, starting again (again, for like the 4th time - not just in Aus!) but my moral is flagging and negative thoughts are creeping in!!

Thanks for your replies, it's much appreciated. I have spent the last 8 years in administration but am trying to break into the environmental sector (have short experience from last time we were in Aus) and for the last 3 half years my husband and I have run a business. I have great skills, am VERY eager and i'm intelligent... I could do anything! I just cant seem to get a look in and I just can't understand it I've been applying for the Gold Coast area for immediate jobs that will get the money coming in, jobs ranging from Administrators to shelf stackers, but alongside that I've been applying for entry level Env jobs (which surprisingly, I seem to be getting more feedback from!) ALL over Australia. I know that if we've only got a matter of weeks left I should be organising a return to the UK but I can't help thinking "we'll just wait for another week and see if anything comes up"...where do you draw the line... when you can't afford a loaf of bread lol!!

So, we arrived on the Gold Coast on the 16th June... happy as Larry, ready to get the ball rolling again (we were briefly here 4 years ago but went back to UK to have our Son). Gradually, the weeks have rolled by and neither my husband or myself have had a sniff of any permanent work. We've been here 10 weeks and the money is rapidly disappearing. We are so happy and settled in every way... in a rental, son in Kindy and having swimming lessons etc, enjoying the warmer winters and just getting on with things. I suppose we just never envisaged it taking SOOOOOOOO long to get work! We didn't come over with a lot of money but have been very careful with what we have... it's just taking too long to get work and now we are having to consider the fact that we may have to go back to the UK if we cant find work ASAP. This is slightly rambled but, I suppose what I'm asking you all is, what the hell should we do? I'm applying for jobs (both in my field and very much not in my field!) left right and centre, I've changed my CV as per suggestions on PIO, I'm literally applying for 3-4 per day... for 10 weeks... that's lots of jobs! I honestly don't believe I'm that unemployable!!! My husband can only really get casual work for the odd day here and there but the crux of it is, we've only really got enough money left to last another 4 weeks at the most. The days that husband is getting work for is paying for food etc but is it only slowing the inevitable? Do we hang on til the bitter end in the hope that the sun will shine on us and a job will appear or do we cut our losses and 'organise' to go back to the UK before the wallet is empty (but still with our fingers crossed that something will happen before it's too late)!? I know there is no real answers to my problems but just thought I'd put it out there in case anyone else has been in the same situation recently. THANKS xx

As above?, I live on the Gold Coast and would like to grow my own veg but can't find any info on them, not sure if they they have them or if they have a different name. Can any one shed some light for me?

Thanks for that Cal. I know it's a bit of a specific question that not many people may have had experience with. Have e-mailed our case worker but she's been on holiday from 20/7 until 20/08 and i've had no response from her alternative contacts!! grrrrr! We'll wait and see, suppose there's loads of time yet just want to get it straight in my head!! Thanks JP x

Hi all, My husband and I have PR and have since had a son who we have applied for PR visa also but from the UK. We have since moved to Aus with my son on a Tourist visa until his PR is issued in October. My question is.... As we applied in UK my son will have to be out of Aus when the visa is issued and then can return as a PR (short holiday required!!!) so.... does anyhow much notice you get for when the visa is actually issued to arrange travel out of the country??? AND is it ok just to go to NZ or do we have to go further afield?? Thanks guys xxxx