jomark2oz

Brentwood Park is an excellent school. My 3 children attended there until last year when we moved area. My eldest had been there from grade 1 to leaving at the end of grade 6. Very high expectations and very good results. It has doubled in enrolment size over the past few years though and I do feel has lost its personal touch, the principal used to know everyone but obviously with a school of just under 1000 kids that’s just not possible. The school is very well resourced. I have heard that it is slow to pick up and provide help for those children who need it though. But overall I was extremely happy, I think you can’t go too far wrong with any of the schools in Berwick though.

We fly out to Melbourne 3wks Thursday! Head also spinning! Container went 6 weeks ago, Fed up already of not having most of our bits. Just want to get out there now and get on with our new life but still so much to sort out!

We arrive in Melbourne next month and I've started looking at utilities so we can get them set up prior to arriving. There are lots of broadband providers out there who do tv bundles but not all do all suburbs. I quite liked the look of Optus, they seemed a bit cheaper than than the others but don't do my suburb! As for electric there are a few price comparison sites which seemed simple enough to use. My job for this weekend is to have a proper look and sign up for some as now 4wks till we fly out!!

Hi, the 5 year RRV does require an extended length of stay but the 3mth one just requires you to have spent 1 day in australia. I think you still have to prove you have genuine reasons for needing to return to australia, job, schools etc. No we've not heard anything about it being an issue that our visaa have expired. I guess its not an expiry really I guess. Just takes away the right to to and fro. Oh and we've been warned by our case officer that the wait for the visa grant is at least 9mths. We lodged on 4th june, got allocated a case officer about 4wks later and have been told to get meds done from september onwards. I guess its then a waiting game. Jo

Hi! We're not there yet but arrive in 5wks! Its me aged 33, my partner aged 42 and our 3 boys aged 7, 3 and 1. We'll definitely be looking to socialise with people. We've managed to secure a rental from the UK and will be living in Berwick. Our 7yr old will be going to Brentwood Park primary school. How you finding it? Jo

Hi we're in just the same position. Have pr 175's for myself, my partner and our eldest who's 7. We've since gone on to have 2 more children now aged 3 and 1. We've lodged their offshore 101 visas and move to melbourne in 5wks eek! We've got 12mth visitor visas for them in the meantime. Our visas expire in jan and we'll get 3mth right to return visas (hopefully!). You can get it it if you have a compelling reason to leave country (I'm assuming this would qualify!). The RRV visa can be applied for online and costs about £100. Hope that helps! Jo

Bump, anyone any idea? Jo

We lodged our 2 childrens 101 PR visas a couple of weeks ago. We sent them special delivery to the London office but I haven't heard anything at all, nothing to say they've been received etc (I appreciate we'll likely wait months for a CO). Payment has been taken so I know they WERE received. I need some sort of reference number so I can post on our police certificates to add to the application. I'd also like to get meds done sooner rather than later for them as we are actually moving to Oz in September (have visitor visas for kids in meantime). I emailed immi using the online query form but its been over 24hrs and I've had no response. Anyone know what usually happens? Many thanks, Jo

Hi hope someone can help. My other half has secured a job in melbourne starting early september. He'll be working in Glen Waverley and we like the look of cranbourne east to live (anyone think this is a doable drive each day for him?). We're a family with 3 children aged 7, 3 and 1. From internet searching I'm finding it hard to find temporary accomodation anywhere near that area, infact seem to to be finding it hard to find anything outside of the city. Also don't want to spend a fortune as its just as we find our feet and I'm hoping we'll be able to secure a rental within a month. Any advice welcome!