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OK fair enough. Like I said I don't currently work in the sector, although the hospitals I did the recruitment admin for a couple of years ago didn't have any of the job titles you have mentioned so it sounds like hospital settings could use different terminology...I'm not sure to be honest. I was just trying to help and remember seeing some AIN positions which didn't (m)any require qualifications if you had experience. scottishstacey, casual and temporary contracts definitely exist, I suppose it's just a case of finding them and seeing whether they work for what you're after. Good luck! I have a great admiration for all healthcare workers.

Hi, first of all I must be clear that I don't work in the sector, although I briefly worked in recruitment for NSW Health, so perhaps I can assist a little. Although I may have understood your question wrong so if I have, please feel free to ignore the following. I think the job title in Australia for what you are looking for is probably Assistant in Nursing (AIN). If correct, this info might make further research easier for you. I think a Certificate III or equivalent experience is normally required, but there's no obligation to have PR, you can do these roles on a temp/WHV visa. Not sure what state you're going to but jobs with NSW Health are advertised here: https://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/Default.aspx Hope this helps and all the best for your journey in any case.

We have a joint card but he's the principal card holder on that too! He'll just have to come with me next time!

Totally agree with you about the complementary insurance through a credit card. It's what we usually use and I even booked my tickets for the upcoming trip on my partner's card so I could get the insurance cover, but checking through the documentation, I'm only covered when travelling with my partner, and he's not coming with me this time. So looks like I need to get my own policy for this trip. Better safe than sorry!

Hello, I'd really appreciate some advice on travel insurance for my upcoming 2 month trip to the UK, I am a British citizen living in Australia with PR. Is it feasible for me to get travel insurance to only cover the international flights between Australia and the UK? I'm thinking that in case of an emergency in the UK, I'd be covered under the reciprocal agreement with Australia, and my luggage isn't worth much! Or am I just being short-sighted / stingy and I should just get insurance for the whole 2 months I'm away? Any advice on insurance companies to use or avoid would also be gratefully received. Thank-you :notworthy:

Good to know! My ceremony date letter says to wait 10 days after the ceremony before applying for a passport but somehow it doesn't surprise me at all that it's not necessary!

I'm in the go camp too. Like others have said, it may well make you feel more unsettled when you come back, but you've seen the price of airfares from here now and who knows when you'll next have that chance to go back to visit. I think there's more chance you'd regret not going than going. I concur about making friends here too, it can take a really long time. All the best with whatever you decide.

I doubt there would be an issue leaving Australia and I imagine it's perfectly ok to apply for your passport from overseas as long as you wait until at least 10 days after your ceremony for them to update the systems as advised by the DIBP. I'd expect it might take a little longer to process and perhaps be more expensive. Maybe you could call the passport office and ask what the provisions are at your destination? My situation is similar: I am going overseas 2 weeks after the citizenship ceremony date I was given, so also not enough time to apply for an Australian passport before I go. The best solution was for me to decline the citizenship ceremony date and wait for the one after my return to Australia. Something else to consider perhaps.

That does sound rather frustrating. Possibly someone misread your form for your credit card number, or typed it in wrong, I guess they're only human too. I do remember thinking the online application required the same details to be entered several times! You could perhaps photograph your documents to get them in the required JPEG format to upload? I didn't upload the ID check at all, just took a paper copy to the appointment. In fact I only got it signed the day before my appointment and luckily I checked the validity of the form 1195 I'd printed off a couple of weeks previously, because I found that it'd been updated the day before. Having the most current form doesn't perhaps make a lot of sense to the applicant, especially when the differences don't seem significant but it's part of the process we all have to follow. Overall I found it much simpler and cheaper than the visa process - I look at it as a privilege and a way to avoid having to got through the visa process again! Good luck!

Hi there, the DIBP website says processing times for the 820/801 partner visa are currently 12-15 months. I waited for 12 months for a CO a few years ago, and processing times were 6-9 months when I applied. So you could be in for a long wait I'm afraid I didn't include form 80 but was asked for it by my CO. Our statements were about 2-3 pages I think. When I lodged my visa they said not to bind it, use paperclips or anything so I just put a huge pile of paper in an Express Post envelope and sent it off! I did use coloured paper to separate sections in the hope of making it clearer and easier to read. I understand that you can now lodge your application online, and it's a bit cheaper so if I was applying now, I'd apply online.

I used Adobe Pro to convert my PDFs to JPEG's because I was at work, but my backup plan was just to take photos of the documents rather than scan them. I used Paint to reduce the size before uploading. I didn't upload form 1195 at all, I just took it to my interview and it was fine. Randomly at the interview I was asked to provide my Medicare card which wasn't one of the docs I'd uploaded!

Hi, I'm not sure if this is still relevant as I submitted my form 80 about 18 months ago. I had a similar issue of having lived on the continent and made various trips and being unable to recall dates, not even the months of travel. I listed the country and put a note along the lines of: between 'year' and 'year' I made numerous visits of 2 days - 2 weeks to 'country', dates unknown. This was accepted without any questions or issues.

Hi there, You send all the forms at the same time. As you can apply online now, I assume the forms are available when you select Apply Now. I also found them under the Visa Applicant tab, under Document checklist for applicants: https://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/801-820.aspx For stat decs, templates are available for download on this page: http://www.ag.gov.au/publications/pages/statutorydeclarations.aspx Have you seen the Partner booklet? It's quite long but very useful as it steps you through everything you need to know and do in regard to lodging a partner visa: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/1127.pdf I hope this helps.

Congratulations on your visa grant bessiedoll! It must be a huge relief. When I applied for mine processing times were 6-9 months and DIAC asked applicants to submit police checks and medicals at time of application. After 9 months, processing times had jumped to 9-12 months, and my visa was finally processed after 13 months - luckily my case officer could extend the validity of my medical but I had to do another police check. So it's worth bearing in mind that just because someone has had to do 2 police checks and medicals, doesn't necessarily mean they didn't read the information correctly in the first place!

Hi, Just in case you missed this information (as we did!): when registering your relationship in NSW, there's about a month's 'cooling off period' before they issue the certificate. Immigration only accept the certificate to waive the 12 months requirement, they don't accept the receipt of lodgement of the relationship registration. So I guess I'm saying don't leave the relationship registration until just before you submit your defacto visa application! All the best with your application.

Sorry but I disagree! I lived in France for several years, and have travelled a fair bit so I am definitely 'suited to leave home'. Furthermore I never experienced the slightest culture shock or homesickness until I got to Australia when it hit me really hard - it was so unexpected that it took me several months to even work out what was 'wrong' with me. It could be that because Australia is in a lot of ways very similar to the UK, but in others very different, that people get culture shock... Of course everyone is different, but I think Marisawright was making an important point as culture shock can strike when you're least expecting it. emmab1995, that's really disappointing of your friends. Glad you've beaten the cancer though

Have you looked at World Nomads? They used to be very affordable with good cover, and easy and quick to sign up, but I've not used them in a few years.

I cycle to work and around town and I love it. I do catch the bus or a lift from my partner when it rains though! My partner has a car which he takes to work, and we can both use in the evenings and at weekends and while occasionally it'd be nice to have 2 cars, having 1 works just fine for us. Might be different if you have children, although we have friends who have 2 kids and one car and that seems to work for them too.

Just wanted say that the above is not strictly true; there is a train service from Newcastle to Sydney but it's not high speed - the journey takes between 2 hours 40 minutes and 3 hours, so commuting to Sydney isn't doable. It is cheap though, only $8.60 single. Saying that I really like Newcastle and it's definitely worth considering. We're in Merewether, renting as buying here is out of our price range, but the lifestyle is fab, 5 mins walk to the closest beach, local shops including supermarket, cafes and restaurants. As for other suburbs to recommend, it's difficult as everyone's tastes are different; Newcastle East is very cool and changing fast, otherwise Tighes Hill and Maryville seem nice and a bit more affordable. There are lovely suburbs on the lake too. Good luck with your research and move.

Have you thought about going to a second hand white goods place? Some are better than others of course but you can save a lot of money. We got a fridge for a good price and it also came with a 12 month warranty. They often have factory seconds too.

I didn't get another UK one as I think it specified only a Australian one on my paperwork but I think the forms have changed slightly even since last October when I did mine so hopefully someone who's done it more recently will come along and help. Good luck!

Hi Sarah, For the 2nd stage I submitted another Australian police check, my 3rd in 2 years! I am not sure if you could reuse the one from last year, I didn't really consider that but perhaps it's better to err on the side of caution and get a new one... Not sure if you know this already but I discovered for my 3rd police check that you can lodge your request online which sped up the process quite a lot. My partner is Australian and we didn't submit any police checks for him. Hope this helps a bit and good luck with your application. El

My application took 13 months to process - my CO when I got one said they could extend the validity of my medical but I did have to do another Australian police check. Hope this helps, good luck with your application.

If you're in a state which allows you to register your relationship, I believe this would also waive the 12 month requirement. If you are, be aware that you need to do it sufficiently ahead of your application so you have received your relationship certificate to send with your applcation, as there's a 30 day 'cooling off period' before it is sent out and your relationship is not fully registered in that period.

We didn't have that many Australian witnesses despite living in Oz. We asked my British relatives and friends to write a statement (rather than use the form 888) and get that and a copy of their passport witnessed by a solicitor and then post both to us. I think the DIAC want at least 2 from Australian citizens but if you don't know any Australian citizens then you don't, that's life! I'd probably get as many statements from friends and family as you can. The Partner Booklet is really helpful if you haven't come across it already: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/books1.htm Hope this helps, good luck with your application.