fairystar32

We had to have medicals for our 457 6 yrs ago and chest x rays? the kids did too, so did everyone my hubby knows ( several came from the UK company) who came over and friends we have met over here on 457 or know here, did too? Although things change, you now have to have private health for 457s which we didnt have to have, so likely changed??

Oh OK, No he went to a public high school, all my kids do

Paying for it? Unsure what you mean?

457 is temporary as others have said, we came on the 457 and after 2 yrs got sponsored for PR, we are now citizens. BUT lots can happen in that time which may prevent you getting the PR such as health issues which can arise unexpectedly which can cause you to fail the medicals, changes to the Visas and of course loss of jobs or sponsorship, if you can apply for PR in your own right, do it as soon as possible.. My eldest had just started his GCSE when we moved, he is now at University here and loves it. We have found the education here excellent, but then we did in the UK too.

I didnt find this with any of my children, infact my A star student at the local Grammar school was getting B's here. He found the work more difficult and said in his UK school they 'spoon fed' the answers, here he was made to work for them. I guess individual experiences

We owned in the UK, remortgaging to move, house price crashing meant we auctioned and walked away with what we owed, so here we rented, for 4 yrs we rented. We now own again as we inherited a small amount of money but was enough for 5% deposit. I find we are way worse of owning, costs are much higher, maintenance, rates, water, loss of rent assist etc.. however unless circumstances meant we had no choice, I would much prefer too own. However we now have a large mortgage of 25 + yrs and hubbys is over mid 40's.

Yes, it comes up on the systems i think?

My husbands work collegues family are now citizens and they rushed home on british passports for family issues, they had to get an Australian passport to get back in. You no longer have a visa once a citizen, so need a visa or a Australian passport too enter.

So according to the above link, we should not, in QLD have to have it recognised..

This also lists the topics, although not in any depth http://www.lemonjellychildcaresolutions.co.uk/qualification-guide.html

I was told this regarding the NNEB my above comments, although I havent actually tried to use them yet, however what state are you in as according to this, I just found, it doesnt need to be recognised in QLD as it is already oifficially recognised and on the list? http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeta.qld.gov.au%2Fearlychildhood%2Fdocs%2F2-year-approved-qualifications.doc&ei=WGXLVJjCPIuf8QWKqYDABw&usg=AFQjCNH4KybIcf0Iq0K9E4VBvM0lWit7Rg&sig2=hzL689CvgHlEl3I_-PZicA

I have no details from the course sadly Unsure how too obtain them.

Do you like living in OZ? Yes. Why do I like living in OZ? The minute I stepped of the plane, I had a great vibe and knew. Funnily I am born and bred British, my entire family live there but I spent most of my life dreaming of living abroad. My best friend moved here when we were 16 and I felt part of me go with her, we now live 20 mins away from each other and we slotted back in together as if we hadnt spent the last 15+ yrs apart. We never really felt settled in the UK (both myself and hubby) we spent days walking in afternoons with our dogs, dreaming of being here yet we hadnt even had a holiday here. We wanted a different lifestyle, we wanted to bring our children up in elsewhere. It has been a hard journey, I have dreadfully missed family, more as time passes not less. I do love our life here though, despite going through so many personal journeys, health issues and losses overseas. We love the lifestyle, the homes, the food, the beaches, the nature. I dont think we ever compare between the UK and Australia and if we did it was for a very short time, we saw this as a new country, new adventure and as so, isnt comparable, but different and I think thats why we have settled so well. We dont search for British products, we embrace the Australian ones. Would I go back for good? Highly doubtful, although nobody can ever say never, as we never know what will happen in life.

I live on a half acre, so we have a nice yard, however where we live heaps of new builds are being built on smaller plots and heaps of those do have pools, not paddling pools, inground pools However outdoor lifestyle does not = a huge garden? if you stayed in a huge yard all day, would be petty boring, outdoor lifestyle is WAY bigger than the yard

As others say the 457 is a temporray visa. We used it as it was our only way in and we took the gamble, luckily it paid of as we are now citizens and the cmpany had already agreed to sponser us for PR but needed him very quickly. It could easily have not though, employers dont always sponser, may change minds, jobs make go or illness preventing PR may occur during that time frame. Its a huge risk,.. Sorry it didnt pay for you

although weirdly on our street some do have septics ? very weird

LOL maybe yep our last rates bill was high. we pay $210 a mth DD and we owed money!! We have town water and town sewers too, so I guess we pay for that LOL

My bill is all in one, rates and water together all in one lump sum although it does say how much water on the second page

Our food bill is $350+ a week but we buy mostly fresh and as much organic as possible, we also use co ops and local produce to save costs and buy on special. Our animal bill is around $180 a mth, but we have 2 large dogs which eat premium food and raw and 2 cats

We are also In Brisbane Our electric is $200 approx pr mth and our gas is bottled and one bottle is $100 ish but lasts 3 or more months. Car insurance is $37 pr mth for us You dont pay rates renting and no TV license. I dotn have private health, public has been great

How are your rates so cheap! We are on half acre and our rates are more than $700, I bet its my kids water usage!!

Sunscreen wont stop you getting skin cancer. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2655355/Wearing-sunscreen-NOT-prevent-skin-cancer-Study-claims-SPF-factor-50-cream-lets-UV-radiation-damage-skin.html

Yes I agree, its very pricey here but we still love it.... That average wage, sounds more realistic, I have friends who are managers, work for themselves and one a teacher and this is roughly what they earn.

WOW I didnt realise the national average was so high, thought it was much lower, guess he isnt paid that well, he earns around $100k just over, we are on one wage with 4 kids. Compared to LOTS of Aussies on groups I am in, he is WELL paid in comparisson to what they earn.

We didnt really research, hubby had a job to go to, which was more than he was on in the UK, for the same company , we checked out house prices and then moved. We didnt see any point comparing everything as we would be earning dollars and spending dollars. We struggled in the UK, so it didnt really make a difference, we wanted too emigrate, so as long as we could pay the bills, the kids could eat, we were not really concerned. Not for most, but works for us LOL. We never have any extra cash, I thought hubby was on a high wage until I compared on here, apparantly he is not!!! compared to what people claim to earn on here. On forums and groups with Aussies on, he does earn a high wage in comparisson to lots...But regardless, we love our life, so alls good.. I will be happier when I can get a job when littlest is a little older and we can afford a few holidays and luxuries though