Phoenix16

Yes, I do apologise. I understand your fears of 457's but having arrived in OZ on that route (and quite frankly not being bothered whatsoever about emigrating to OZ previously) it was actually a pretty amazing experience, to gain PR within 6 months (under the previous regulations) was very much appreciated, 4 years later to become citizens was humbling, I was trying to make the point that it can and does happen, I didn't want to burst their balloon before they had even landed. I do believe if you want it enough you can make it happen. my mate landed with 3 kids on a tourist visa, got a job on a 457, worked her nuts off and yes they're all citizens now, living very happily in Rockingham. Some sad stories out there, but also some very inspiring stories out there, like I said if you want it enough you can make it happen.....

We came on a 457, very quickly, and are now citizens. Yes, a 457 has its risks, but if it's a genuine job offer, your husband has the skills the company really need and most importantly of all you trust and have a good relationship with the company then why not? You can actually apply for PR immediately with the company's backing and sponsorship, we were granted PR within 6 months of landing. my advice, do your homework and trust your instincts! it sounds like hubby has a pretty good job offer, just like we did and it's been a wonderful journey! I'm no school bod but my daughter goes to one of the schools mentioned and I can't recommend it highly enough so please do feel free to PM me with any questions and I'll do my very best to assist you! Wishing you the best of luck with your new journey xx

Best of luck!! A 2nd interview is really positive! PS a tip from a friend in very senior construction role (global company) don't undersell yourself, construction managers in OZ can earn quite significantly more than equivalent to 50k sterling!! PS No don't ask for a Recce, that seems to imply uncertainty, just go hard nosed for the best relocation package you can get, if they want you they'll want you pretty quick and if it's a large company that often recruits from abroad a 457 can happen in a matter of days (mine was granted in 2 days)...

If price of property isn't an issue and you would like to be near the beach, not too far south/North and in reach of good schools I would say as a starting point Cottesloe, city beach and floret to the north, Mosman Park, North Freo, Freo and South Freo to the South and western suburbs overall being a few mins drive to a beach or the river. I'm sure all the public schools in the area are good (I don't have particular knowledge) but you will certainly be within easy driving distance of all the good private schools, they're all pretty much single sex but plenty of boys and girls.....Scotch, Christchurch, PLC, MLC and St. Hildas. On a 457 you will have to pay a fee for schooling but obviously fees for the private schools will be significantly more.

Don't feel guilty! its a lovely,generous offer and they obviously think a lot about you, I'm sure they will have known the costs when they made the offer, it's very kind and wonderful for you too! Enjoy the degree and all the best xx

Im just about to start a degree, my qualification was a BTEC national diploma (from 1986!), I had since done a professional qualification in 1993 who, when I recently contacted for evidential documents sent me a wonderful email reply and went to the effort of quantifying my qualification in terms of Australian qualification standards, these together with my work experience got me a place on the degree course quite easily (to my surprise and joy!). I found the whole process of applying to an Australian Uni really straight forward, they were very supportive and valued what I had to offer, a great experience! Do take heed of the cost comments though, you do have to pay up front if you're not a citizen although if you are PR you pay local rates not international.

I know a senior director in the construction industry who says at the moment there is a genuine shortage of bricklayers in WA, at a BBQ the other night over a few drinks he was reminiscing his days as a brickie in UK earning 200 sterling per 1000 bricks laid, he was saying he's been told there are brickie's here earning $2 per brick laid, possibly an urban myth but at the moment brick layers are in demand which should mean great earning opportunities!

Great post!! I did O'level sewing at school (not sure it's just called sewing but I remember the lessons well!), we had to make a blouse! I haven't done much in the many years since but this year particularly I can't find the summer dresses I like (gathered under the bust and hide the lumpy tummy!!) so much so I'm seriously thinking of buying a sewing machine and having a go myself! mum used to make me and my sister matching dresses all the time in the 70's and a matching head scarf with any spare material, used to hate it so much and when we shot up a few cm's she would put a load of lace round the hem to make them last longer, got so much stick at school!!!

My very wonderful friend was back packing and in Bunbury met a local lad who 15 years later she is very happily married to with 2 amazing kids :wink:, and, he's a pretty awesome guy too!!

Was very close to Harvey today, it's on the list!!

@HappyHeart! Many apologies, in my excitement about WA I didn't read properly Dooh!! Wave Rock does tend to get a bad rep and it's a bloomin long way but I found it pretty exciting although I was having a night over on way to Esperance, not sure I'd have been quite so excited after 6 hours there facing 6 hours back an hour later!!!

Sometimes the most random places turn out to be the most interesting and you definitely meet the most interesting people!! Follow your instincts and you will have the most amazing time xxxx

Denmark is beautiful, Esperance is amazing (go to Duke of Orleans 80kms further, Wharton beach...truly awesome, and Happyheart is right, wave rock is an anticlimax if you travel all that way then go home but it's a great one nighter on your way to Esperance and the caravan park has pretty good cabins and a pool!!) Rotto is awesome, it's a must!! Have passed through Bunbury on the way to Bussleton/margaret river, now these are a must!! So many places for you to see!! We are big campers, we did Ningaloo with a 2 year old in a roof top tent in 7 days, 6 months after landing, all our Aussie mates said at the time we were mad, it was the best trip ever and we bush camped most of it!! not been as far as Red Dog but I'm totally with you and now you've got me thinking about the next trip ha ha!! you our will have the best time SS, there is just so much to do, just here in WA, I think you need to get your 3 months fruit picking sorted as I think you will need 2 years here at least!!

kalbarri's great, were off there at Easter! last time we went we were in a roof top tent so couldn't really explore the national park! I'm taking both my passports too (OZ and UK) as I'm hoping to drop into Hutt River Province to get em stamped and hopefully meet King Leonard and Queen Shirley too!!!!

lane Pool Reserve/Dwellingup - Nanga Mill is awesome in winter for camping!! Can be cold so loads of blankets at night but always busy and fabulous fire pit at night! Had the best 'truckers' breakfast ever cooked by hubby on the fire pit there!! just come home home from a day at Preston Beach, we never really venture south (normally north to Ledge and Wedge Island at weekends) it was amazing, the sun was shining, we swam in the gorgeous sea, cooked lunch on the barbie, drove down the beach to myalup then had a cold beverage at the Old Coast Road Brewery which was an awesome place with horse riding, sky diving going on!

my advice, listen to your instincts, mine never let me down!! You've had some great advice so far, for what it's worth I do agree with 'if it ain't broken....' If you've got a good life there and the yearning isn't that strong, don't do it.

It's so tricky figuring out school years! I'm going to hazard a guess Year 4??

PS no children from previous marriages etc to consider, it's just the 3 of us...

this post got me thinking!! Sorry don't want to hijack it in anyway but we made a will in Uk when our daughter was born leaving everything to each other, we weren't married, we married the day before we flew out and had our daughter re registered and a new birth certificate issued the morning we flew! ( apparently you have to do this, can have inheritance issues, or so we were told???) we have never made a new will as a married couple, could we have issues if the worst case scenario occurred?? (Put ourselves through the pain of defacto proof then made it legal just before we got on the plane!!!)

definitely wasn't looking in the expensive suburbs, wouldn't get much for a mil there! We found ourselves in the suburbs around Freo when we landed, we loved it and very much bonded so wanted to stay! We wanted a 4 x 2 and of course we wanted a pool, around Beaconsfield, South Freo, Coogee, White Gum Valley they were generally a mil + and pretty modest blocks too! We ended up with a 3 x 1 in Hammy Hill for quite a bit less although even there we did see larger houses touching the Mil in parts close to Freo! We contemplated a block in a new development that is part Coogee and Part Spearwood (definitely not an expensive suburb) 500sqm was 500k thereabouts and when we looked into the cost of building was shocked to see a 4 x 2 2 story with pool, landscaping and all the extra plug points, lights etc was coming in at 600k, would have been a gorgeous home but certainly not swanky!!! anyway, after a few years of saving and waiting we picked up the forever home in Coogee at a great price as quite a few there are desperately selling up to build new homes in Port Coogee!!

I would recommend an iRoomba! I know they can be pricey but they are fabulous and I have 2 constantly moulting choccie labs!! I get it to work every morning and literally every time I go out so it's constantly hoovering for me when I'm not there!! I also have a cheapie stick vacuum for a quickie spot vac here and there, the combination of the 2 makes life somewhat easier!! Im thinking this suggestion might appeal with you having a gorgeous new bub to focus on and might help with the transition of the departing cleaner :cute: Xxxx

yes Peppy Grove is one of the posh areas! You wouldn't know it though off sterling hwy, there's a big red rooster at the bottom of Johnston St we stopped there 2 days after arrival and I thought it was a dumpy place, little did I know I was sat behind some of the swankiest pads in Perth!!

that's barking mad and I bet it's not a sea view!! Cottesloe is lovely if you live on the sea front, if you don't it's like any other suburb! Crazy money and even if I won the lotto I don't think I'd pay that!!

happy heart!! I totally agree with you! We had to rent our Uk home initially because of the GFC when we came here, eventually 3 years later we sold it for $75k less than we bought it, just luckily we owed slightly less on the mortgage so coming here really felt like starting again and at 43 years old you don't want to take on a mega mortgage!!! I know what you mean about the Cottesloe block, it's crazy money and I really couldn't get my head round it, I bet it's not a big block too!!! i do agree about location, for us it's about how much of a commute hubby will do, also I do think it's about where you start, we rented round here and kind of fell in love and built up a bit of a friendship circle and just got used to the area so when it came to buy we didn't look at what we could get in other areas we just looked at what we could afford in the area we had fallen in love with and is in life it involved compromises!! one good thing about the GFC is that if we had come here with the cash up front for a deposit we would have made a big mistake, we needed to get over the honeymoon period get the rose tints off and get real, luckily we had no choice!!

Well as migrants we all adapt, and we all manage to find our own little bit of OZ to call our own, I'm certainly very happy with mine but I was empathising with people contemplating migration, it's a bit of a shock when you see pretty regular houses with price tags above $1 mil but again it's relative to wages!