whatsitallabout

Like a previous poster said a lot of people think that it is easy to land a job once off the tarmac!! In reality its tough out there. MY OH had a job lined up in Melbourne which was a blessing for us as it took me a year to find work & really couldn't believe how expensive OZ was but once I secured a job it opened many doors for me. Dont give up apply one will come along Good Luck

Look at skyscanner some airlines have early bird deal we got our flight s for Sept return for $1300 1 stop with Brunei

How nice for you to put your family 1st, its a shame that you couldn't have had a timescale to see how you all felt . We said that we would give it two years, if we was still unhappy we would go back. I really struggle for 19 months then things started falling into place, am glad that we had our pact as now here 4 years later & love OZ!

Its like starting all over again, bring as much references as possible, everyone has different story to tell wasn't easy for us to find a rental, but for overs it was a breeze. Take pictures of your current home too to show how you kept it, just have as many references on hand. Every state is different we are in VIC so that our experience.

I Know how you feel, but things will get better, it was tough for us on I wage & we had kids to clothe & feed, you have to stick to a tight budget, don't give up your gym membership as it is probably keeping you sane! I had a gym membership, if I didn't have that I would have gone stir crazy!! it was the one luxury I wanted to keep. but like you I didn't spend anything on anything else. Good luck hang in there.

You can do it with less than 10 grand but it is very hard we came 4 years ago with not lots of money, we had a budget every week which i tried to substain. I must admit now the 1st 2 years were pretty rough & tough but we stuck it out now we have managed to save quiet a bit & have a very comfortamble life. GOOD LUCK

Hi I work for a dealership, not that easy I am afraid as you have no credit history here & they like you to have a steady job for 6 months, but saying that some dealerships will offer you finance but this will have a high interest attached to it. I would look a renting a car for while. Hope this helps & good luck with you move

I work for a dealership & am afaid you might not been lucky on getting finance as you have no history here! & they would like you to be in work & have had the job for at least 6 months, you might get lucky but your intrest will be high. Try renting for while.

Don't give up Herbert, was in that same situation, like you I took out all reference to England on my CV made it more aussie, I am in finance & I couldn't even get a cleaning job, I applied for anything just to get me out of the house. Stay positive I fuond when I found a job & I put that on my cv, it opened many doors & I got more interviews after I had worked in Australia Good luck Guys

OMG cant believe that you said that people do it for attention" get real! he was bloody desperate he wanted an easy way out, which is not as the effect it has on the loved ones is terrible.

Having lost a dear friend to suicide as he was in debt was so devasting.His poor wife & three young children their lives changed forever. I just wish that that he had talked to friends who might have been able to help him. He was a very proud man who didn't bother anyone, but feel he felt a failure that his business went down the pan. The pain is family went through & are still going through, I would never wish that upon anyone!

I have a friend who has been in Australia for 2 years this Feb he came on 457 he has changed sponsors twice as not liking his employers, he is getting his papers together for PR does he have to do his TRA as he has been working is Oz for two years, or because he has changed employers does he have to wait 2 years from the date he stated with his new employers. Any Info would be great thanks

Hi Taylors, that was us you might be better prepared, But I would advise gaining your PR 1st as it opens more doors for you, my current employer wouldn't have employed me if he knew I was on a 457 (he didn't ask so I didn't tell him) as being out of work for more than a year & living on one wage was very very tough, we found OZ very expensive when we 1st arrived.

As others have said you must by a Myki card which can be purchased at 7-11 or train station, when I purchased my the lovely attended didn't inform me that I had to top it up straight away, I thought the $6 meant I could use it. So remember to top up & touch on & touch off>

We came on a 457 visa imo was the worst thing we did wish we gained our pr 1st 457, but that's just my opinion was very hard financially as I couldn't find work & i believe that being on 457 put employers off, our friends also experience this too. If your financially prepared then go for it, our savings went very fast supporting our family. good luck

Look on Sky scanner as a lot of airlines have their early bird on at the moment, we booked in Jan $1380 return which I thought was a really good price my travel agent friend in the UK couldn't match my price, hers were coming up a lot more than what we paid.

I am sorry to hear what you are going through, had similar experience here ourselves, it took us 3 years to settle & a year to find a job, I really didn't expect such a culture difference. One thing I will say am so glad I didn't pack up & throw in the towel, it was very tough & very challenging but things changed for us, we have settled more & enjoying our life. Hope things improve for you soon.

Wish we kept our house back home. Australia has the same old sh*t that we had back home, it isn't until you give up everything to realise that you had a great life in a fantasic country! Don't get me wrong I love my life here, but this journey has nearly destroyed my family due to lack of funds, you think back home that you can survive on 1 wage to feed a family then have a heart attack at the supermarket at the cost of foods! EDUCATION is shocking here, I cant believe that they are so far behind, I really thought that the schools would be amazing, small classes fantastic, lack of teaching.FAMILY the lack of is very hard to deal with. Good luck

Royal Brunei we have just booked through we paid $1380 return not sure if they have this offer still on! but check it out I booked through skyscanner & check out webjet too.

I too think what a lovely story & say just go for it as you have waited 30 years. Good luck & hope you live happily ever after!!!

I struggled when I 1st arrived it took me nearly a year to find work, I think that being on a 457 visa doesn't help. My current employer didn't ask me at my interview if I was permanent, so I didn't tell them. When I gained my PR they "joked "that they wouldn't have employed me if they had known that I was on a 457. Good luck don't give up hope as one will come along soon.

Just Booked my return flights to UK $1380 on skyscanner Royal Brunei but their offer is to book before 31st Dec Going back next year.

Like others have said I would wait a while before even considering getting a mortage, make sure this is where you want to be. Aus doesn't suit everyone, so would wait until you settle in job finding an area you like, also you would need around a 15-20% to put down & if your work has 6 months probation period then you would have to wait until that has finished, its not as easy to apply for an mortage here am so glad we didn't rush in & get one as I didn't realise how expensive it was to live here. Good luck

I Know how your wife feels, as really couln't settle myself am from east london & I really missed the london life, we had a great circle of friends had a very active social life. I got very depressed & it was a reall strain on my marriage as all I could think about was returning. It took my nearly 3 years to settle I now have a fantastic job which I have made some really good friends I have my mojo back but it wasn't easy & i wasn't the easiest person to live with either lol!!! For me I stopped fighting the negatives & let Oz in my life my kids were happy here why not me?? I got involved with groups & started to enjoy my life never thought I would say that I love it here but I truly do!! Going home next year for a visit so excited but am worried about what this is going to do to me emotionally as am worried I might go back to my dark days of homewickness but I will deal with that when the time comes. I really hope that she finds something to help her with her homesickness. Australia doesn't suit everyone, but for me I am glad that I didn't throw the towel in.

Everyone has such different feelings, took me 3 years to settle was very homesick for the 1st year, but I stuck it out & truly love my life here!Going home next year & can't wait but also very scared as I finally fine settled, going back might truly upset the apple cart!