robfromdublin

Well I don't know their financial situation but they aren't wealthy. I just checked here and the pension is $661 each per fortnight! https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/age-pension I had no idea it was so generous. They don't drink or smoke, and they own their own home and grow a lot of food. You could easily save airfares with that and they have a lot of hospitality at home so it's doable.

Health care shouldn't be an issue as UK/Australia have reciprocal agreements.

A couple of my relatives go over to Europe for a few months most years. They are resident in Australia though so they can claim the Australian pension. They stay with friends/family so not quite the same as your situation. Airbnb is another option. If you own a flat that is likely to be a popular location then you can rent it out for the periods you're not there. You should be able to cover any costs/mortgage if the vacancy rate is low enough, but you can retain the flexibility of not renting it out for the time you're there (unlike a long-term rental).

I thought this was cool. A categorisation of Aussies based on their political views. Really interesting project from a data point of view. Apparently I'm a 'Progressive Cosmopolitan', meaning socially progressive but not keen on wealth redistribution (so not a classic 'lefty'). The biggest fraction was Prudent Traditionalists, who are social conservatives and savers. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/society-is-changing-fast-where-do-you-fit-in-20170203-gu5bi7.html

Yeah maybe. They'll become like the Greens for Labor though. Sure it takes some of their primary vote, but at worst the LNP will lose one or maybe 2 seats. The Greens poll 10% first preferences nationwide, but only get 1 seat. More worryingly it shows that shift to the extreme right is gathering pace, which will mean a move away from the consensus middle position and generally more conflict and populism in politics. The LNP might give Turnbull the heave ho to avoid losing their base, but he's been acting as a far right leader in any case so functionally it won't make much difference. Dutton and Morrison call the shots anyway.

1. Possibly. WA engineering is mining focused and there has been a downturn recently. The iron ore price has been rising recently, however, so that will help. 2. You'll need FIRB (foreign investment review board) approval if you are a temporary resident, but not if you're permanent I don't think. Otherwise, straightaway. However, you will likely struggle to get a home loan with no Australian history. Also, you would be crazy to buy straightaway. Stay a year or two and then decide if you want to put down roots. 3. Pretty sure it's like a weekend course and then you are registered. It's a very low barrier to entry. It will be state-specific but that's the case in QLD I think. 4. If it was me at your age I'd just go for it and treat it as an adventure. If you decide you hate it then just treat the time as a working holiday, see the region, and have fun. Depends on how much you want to keep your current jobs though. If it's a big decision to give them up then I'd probably visit first. Only you can make that call.

Listen to your lawyer, that's his/her job. If you have no intention of going back to England then why do you need passports? It sounds like permission to leave the country would not be forthcoming from the father, so why fight for this? You've bigger fish to fry. Sounds like a terrible situation, my heart goes out to you and your family.

I think someone is having a laugh. First post, four pages of comments and hasn't come back on their own thread. And Norwich is less boring than Sydney...?

Nice summary, Dtiru!

Probably you'll need to be out there before she can apply (see below). Could she get a working holiday visa and you could then apply onshore? There's significant extra cost though. Alternatively you might be able to move out first and then sponsor her while you're resident? Dunno. This kind of non-standard application would benefit from talking to an expert I reckon (MARA agent). https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/309- Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens are expected to be living in Australia. Eligible New Zealand citizens might need to have a health examination or character check. We will tell you if you need these checks.

Well you'll be giving yourself a serious commute either way! I presume you'll be working at the St. Lucia campus? Bayside will have access to the water but no waves or Aussie-style beaches. Having said that I know a UQ researcher commuting from Bribie Island! I don't really know anything about the bayside suburbs so I can't help, sorry. What Northern suburbs are you thinking?

You might find that it comes down to individual recruiters in those areas, rather than companies. I would see if the same name pops up on Seek ads and contact that person. Collie is right, you might struggle to get financial work outside of the big capitals, but it depends what you're looking for. Youi insurance are a big employer on the Sunshine Coast and I know that they don't use recruiters at all. The new Kawana hospital will open this year so there might also be opportunities there https://www.health.qld.gov.au/scuhospital/workforce-recruitment

Yeah the company will have to demonstrate two key things (there may be others): 1) There is a business need for an employee that cannot be met in Australia (usually this is done by advertising the job for a month and then demonstrating that none of the Austrlalian applicants were suitable) 2) At least 1% of the current payroll expense has been spent on training in the preceding 12 months I don't see how a business your brother rocks up and buys can demonstrate that either of those criteria are met. I'm sure there will be other business visas that are more suitable though.

Ireland has a different agreement to the UK.

Anyone know what would likely happen if someone were to wear a political slogan on a tshirt to the ceremony? Something along the lines of #BringThemHere? Asking for a friend

You are right to focus on childcare as this is likely to be a large expense for you. Ordinarily you get a 50% rebate on out of pocket expenses but these are for providers that are usually open weekdays during the day. I know people who've recently had a child and both parents are on shift work and they are considering a nanny, which means they are not eligible for the government rebate. Some employers have family friendly practices and will keep the graveyard shifts for those with no kids or older kids. Basically it all starts with work for you. Find where and when you will both likely be working and go from there. Will you have jobs or at least interviews arranged ahead of time do you think?

I got mine while in the UK. I rang up a few companies to suss out what the market was like for someone with my skill set. My timing was fortunate and I was offered a job and a 457.

Just locked myself out because I couldn't remember my password! My account wouldn't be the best indicator anyway. The system screwed it up and I managed to find myself in a situation where they wouldn't send out letters because I requested email notification, but they didn't have an email address to send electronic stuff to (they did but not in the right part of the form). Took me a while to sort out

Got my ceremony invite a couple days ago for Brisbane. Ceremony is in a suburban high school and not City Hall which I was surprised at. Date applied - 7/7/2016 City/Council area - Brisbane City Council Online / Paper - Online Date received the acknowledgement email - Not received. But got letter 20th July Date of the Citizenship Test - 16/8/2016 Approval letter dated - 31/8/2016 but received 5th Sep Date of ceremony - 26th January 2017

This is nuts. I totally appreciate that you feel more at home in Australia. Those are your feelings and that is fair enough. You are also thinking carefully about the impact this may have on the kids and willing to get professional help if needed. Plus you seem to have a good relationship with mum. All that is great. But don't pretend this is for the children, or that they will have a better life or better options in Australia. They won't. It's just another 1st world, English-speaking country. The same level of opportunity exists in the UK (maybe you could argue Brexit will change that but it's just speculation). What makes you think that Australia will offer anything different to the UK? A gut feel? A sense that things are better over here? There is nothing you can objectively say that makes Australia a clearly better option. Even if you could make the case that they will have slightly better education and opportunity for employment, you're taking a HUGE risk with their emotional wellbeing. A happy kid in an OK school will do much better than a sad kid in a brilliant school. If there is something that you think is limiting your kids opportunities, I can pretty much guarantee it's not down to the UK itself. It might be down to living in a dodgy area or struggling with finances, but surely that can be solved by moving down the road or trying to increase family income through other means?

My experience comparing Brisbane to Plymouth and Dublin is different. I was spat at by a ute driver within 6 weeks of arriving, and I've been deliberately hit by a car on my bike. In both cases I was doing absolutely nothing wrong, although I did shout at the ute driver when he nearly hit me, which is why he spat at me. I used to ride motorbikes but these experiences put me off. On the plus side, there is pretty good infrastructure for (push)bikes so there's often a route that avoids main roads. In cars there's generally less of a problem but I think that tailgating is an issue. It's not out of malice though I find, usually a lack of awareness.

If the kids don't want them, bin them. You'll feel better for the lack of clutter! Don't be one of those people on the news with old cars in the garden and rubbish piling out the windows!

I am travelling overseas for a week soon and haven't informed DIBP. I have my approval letter but no ceremony date as yet. I think the only issue is whether you are in the country when the ceremony is. If not then just postpone to a later ceremony. Also, remember that as soon as you have the ceremony your Australian visa is cancelled. This means that if you have any international travel coming up shortly after you will need an Aussie passport.

Well your approach works better if you have built up enough stocks, etc. to provide you a good income even if you don't work. And you get to keep your 'premiums' whereas I 'lose' mine. Yours takes a long time though, so if you get sick before then it's a problem. It all comes down to appetite for risk. I have a low appetite because I'm the primary breadwinner and have kids, mortgage, etc. If I was earning the same money when single and debt-free then I would definitely be following your approach.

Looks like a good pathway to me, but I would be concerned that it may fall down in places (what if you don't get a 457?). The second pathway you suggest also looks good to me. Alternatively, you could look at going for a 2 year 417 (need a 3 month rural stint I think), followed by a partner visa. You would need to move in with your GF straightaway and build up at least 12 months of shared finances, responsibilities, etc.