rachall

TRT came through today, nomination and application 6/5/15, occupation: Nurse thanks

Hi Samantha 11, police checks only last 12mths. We had to get new ones for Australia and the UK before applying.

NSW nurse

Hi All very pleased to report that my visa has been granted! Application and nomination submitted 6 May, all medicals and paperwork submitted at the time of application.

Hi All Came upon this thread as we are also waiting for some news. Visa lodged and received 6/05/15. TRN from 457. Department website states current processing times 6 mths

Hi wakeboard, we started off originally on the bridgewater estate with relatives, nice but very new and built up. We now rent down the other end on the boarder with elderslie, more traditional with more space, but overall love camden.

Hi, Minto is a place to avoid if you can afford to live a little further south. We live in camden and have done so since arriving in oz last year. I have to travel around with my job which covers the south west sydney area and my advise would be to not move any closer to Minto than mount Annan. Although saying that,There are some good areas on the outskirts of campbelltown such as glen alpine buts that's about it, there are also some ok areas in Ingleburn and Macquarie links is a very nice place, but expensive. Minto is quite run down and you will find this with most of the areas that have direct train links to the city. Hope that helps

Hi have lived in camden for a year now and commute to the outskirts of Sydney via m5. Very countryfied but we like it, it's very small. Campbelltown itself is not so great, nicer areas on the outskirts. Wollongong, nice but industrial in places and an hour commute at least. The state education system here is not as great as we were used to, but in saying that, both my girls 15 & 10 are doing well and most importantly,very happy.

Hi Andy yep, still here from time to time Caravan finally on the drive awaiting her maiden voyage. The compliance was easy, but you do need to go to someone who knows what they're doing! Our local swift dealer was helpful, but wasn't able to get the appropriate competent trades on board to the the job. The gas connector in the front locker had to be changed as did the hose and the BBQ point (even though our uk BBQ still has the original connector on it, so that will need to be changed in due course). We haven't had the electrics changed because we don't intend selling it, but these will need to be changed if we do and also depending on who you insure with, you may have to have the electrics changed. It cost around $650 for the gas and $600 for the registration. I am aware that depending on which state you are in, will depend on how much registration you pay. We are in nsw and its the most expensive state in oz for caravan reg! We insured with gio and they never asked for any certification. I phoned them once the van was registered and just gave them the reg no, they never asked if it was an import. We've had air con fitted and are ready to go! Hope that helps, let me know if you require any further info

Hi I live in Camden, finding it very pleasant to live. Green and leafy with plenty of open spaces, a river, nice high street for essential shopping although you would need to go to Narellan or Macarthur square in Campbelltown for the clothes shops etc. Nice 30 minute commute to work on out skirts of Sydney. Housing is not the cheapest here with a 4 bed rental upwards of $500 a week, but then you pay for the area. Good schools, mine are in the High school and the primary. There are area's around Campbelltown that you wouldnt want to live, but then you get that anywhere.

Hi Andy Your caravan import summary is great. Caravan arrived in fab condition at Port Kembla, Wollongong, NSW. We went with PSS who also arranged our container removal of households goods and car. They arranged everything bar the import approval which we did ourselves. Proof of ownership is the original bill of sale and your original reg documents, dosent matter if youve changed address since registering it, it just proves how long you have owned the caravan. Customs and quarantine are all organised through our shipper and then a customs brooker contacted us and negotiated the necessary customs and quarantine inspections for us'(for a fee, but you can do it yourself, although I wouldn't reccommend it). We were then contacted and given a date to collect the van, it passed quarantine with no problems!!! Depending upon where you are moving to there is a great chap in Dapto, NSW, he owns a company that imports British caravans, he has sorted out the compliance for us including registration as you cannot tow the van on the roads here until its registered. As it has to have compliance work and go over the weigh bridge before this can happen, it is not a simple process of taking it from A to B there is allsorts of paperwork involved and its a nightmere :arghh:. If you have a look at www.britishcaravans.com.au you will see what this chap can do, Noel is able to collect directly from the port. Obvioulsy we imported our caravan ourselves before we found him, but Noel can source and import what ever you want and do all the hard work for you. He is very good value for money. Just one thing I should mention though is that if you wish to sell your caravan on in Australia, you have to have the elctrics changed as well. As we dont intend selling any time soon we havent had this done, but some insurance comapanies also require an electrical compliance certificate as well as the gas - so you will need to shop around. If there's anything else I can do to help let me know. Happy Camping x

Hi I was a community nurse in the UK and have been sponsored on a 457. You may find it very difficult to find a community position here, it would more likely be in an aged care facility. If you can get pr first then you may be more likely to find an agency position offering shifts in the community. You would also find it difficult to back into a hospital without recent experience. That said, I'm throughly enjoying my experience here, despite not being in the community. I hope to go for pr independently in a yrs time and that will offer up more opportunities for me. I brought my 3 children with me and the youngest 2 have settled very well in to school, they don't want to return to England. Good luck

Hi looking for another post in sw sydney Thanks

Camden

Hi I am already registered with AHPRA and on a 457 in aged care but looking to move. I am currently in sw sydney, any vacancies out this way? Regards

We are 30 mins drive away, but visiting is not the same as living there. Most people tend to head for the suburbs of the cities, but that wasn't for us and we are considered semi rural, a country town and whilst wollongong is a big place you will have a fair old trek to Sydney, about 2.5 hrs drive. That may not bother you put just to put it into prospective as to where you'll be in relation to everything else.

Hi I think the rules for boats and trailers are the same and that yes so have to have owned and used them for more than 12 months before you ship them. You can't have them shipped after you have left the country in order to meet the requirements. If you're in any doubt you can look at the Australian government website, then you can't be left with any doubt as to what the shippers state. Anything less than the 12 months then you can't you the personal import scheme. If you are importing a brand new vessel then you don't pay the vat in England as you will all of it here. Hope that helps.

I feel for you, but in my honest opinion you haven't given it long enough, nsw is a great state, with lots to do. I have been here in Sydney for 3 mths and I know that realistically it will take far longer than the 5 mths you gave it, to settle in. I appreciate that you are not working and have a young child at home but how much effort did you put into finding mother and toddler groups etc. When you first set up in a new country life can be tough and believe me I know that as my eldest child has had a really tough time and my guilt with that is endless. Only you and your partner can make this decision, but you have been hasty and you need to consider the upheaval this toing and frowing will have on your family. Think carefully, I wish you all the best

Hi Just to let you know I brought my Landover discovery, vintage motorcycle and caravan. I did it all myself without any issues. It is a relatively simple process if you research and apply for your permits well in advance of your intended move. Bike and caravan passed quarantine with no problems, car had to be steam cleaned even though it was done before going in the container but hay how, still cheaper than buying one here.

Wollongong is lovely, just make sure you research the area well as the older part is coastal and beautiful but there are lots of newer estates springing up more inland. It would be a shame to live there and not get the benefit of the beach. Oh and like most coastal places - very busy in the summer and on public holidays.

Hi Just to let you know that we have been here just under 3 mths and only my partner had ever visited Australia before, many years ago in his early teens. We brought our 3 children, the eldest being 18. He had struggled to adapt as he is not at school, however he is now enrolled in the local TAFE and is starting to make friends and, look for part time work, the younger 2 went straight into school and are very happy. I am being sponsored so went straight into work and OH found a good job after a month, we are all now confident that we made the right decision. However everybody's journey is different, only you and your family can decide if this is the right move for you. Good luck.

Hi Metoo Air conditioning will have to be degassed, we had to get the discovery done before we could bring it. Having air conditioning fitted at the same time as the compliance. Sockets do not need to be changed. Hope this helps - enjoy France x

Hi All Good news! We have collected the van today from the port. She arrived dirty, but safe and sound from the roro. No GST or duty, just $620 for port handling fees and $400 to the agency dealing with customs and quarantine clearance. She passed through quarantine with no issues and is safely deposited with the dealer for the compliance modifications and an aircon unit. Well worth it and can't wait to get on the road to explore x

Hi I'm a nurse living in sw sydney. I am the sole earner at present for a family of 5 and we are comfortable. It depends on what your expectations are and the standard of living you want, expect or are used to. We came from sw England where we were comfortable with a nice standard of living, but we don't eat out or want expensive day trips and here we don't eat out, difference is that there is a lot to do out doors that is free, a lot of out door places of interest have free bbq facilities so it makes for a great inexpensive day out. If you're thinking about it, you need to have a good idea of how much you will be paid based on your years of experience, where you want to live, then research housing, bills and grocery shopping, plus transport costs. It is do able, especially if the OH finds work. Good luck

Hi All Just another quick up date - I got the info wrong, or should I say the shippers did!! They have tried to invoice us for the caravan, however have spoken to customs who state that no, we don't pay GST and duty as it's owned for more than 12 mths and for personal use in Oz. Phew, just having a battle with the shippers now, who want payment upfront before they will release it! Make sure you fill in a form B534 Unaccompanied personal effects, from customs@gov.au otherwise they will treat it as taxable import. Hopefully collecting the van on the 27th. @ Metoo - loving Australia, wish I'd made the move sooner. Many thanks x