MattC

Hi folks As the heading suggests I have landed back in the UK. Just secured a job and a rental unit. All good, however I figured to know if anyone on here has been in a similar position and tried to obtain a personal loan and how you went about it? Any advice appreciated. matt

Does anyone know if it is possible to keep your Australian mobile number whilst being in the UK-not on a contract, but pay as you go basis. Any suggestions welcomed.

Only got a small amount of clothes and belongings to take back to the UK, but what's the safest and cheapest option? reccomendations appreciated.

Dear Poms in Oz Looking to rent out my unit and head back to the UK. Question:-Is it worth getting a tax deprecation report undertaken on the unit? Thoughts? MC

Before I start, thoughts go out to those that have lost there homes in the fires down South today, there is always someone worse off and can't think of anything worse than at the start of the year to lose everything. Now, I am a little tired and feeling a bit philosophical, however I need another view point. Lost my job in October, been hanging on in there and now on Centrelink. I am a citizen of Australia and have a property here. Seems to me the way the economy here in Australia the future isn't very rosy here and I have to look for alternatives. I have tried to get work in Australia in other parts and the other option is too head back to the UK and to be honest I can't see myself going back and working. Question is, do I go back to the UK without the prospect of work and rent my unit out here. Or do I hang on until I get a job offer wherever that may be and then head off?? There must be other people in a similar boat?!! Loving my life out here, but some days I do wonder why I keep hanging on in there!!

Thanks, that's exactly what I'm trying to do-applying for a distance learning course in the UK rather than an Australian one. By the sounds of it I'm probably best to finance the course out of my own pocket, rather than search for finance.

Ok, so I'd like to undertake some post grad study via distance learning while I'm in Australia and unemployed. Trouble is I need a loan, which seemingly I can't get unless I'm on British shores as the loan companies need to run a credit check on me at a UK address-where I haven't lived for 6 years!! i am a dual citizen of both countries. Anyone got some suggestions on funding for study??!!

Where, UK or Oz? I am a dual national of both countries.

I agree that nothing is impossible. However I have previously lived in Sydney and have tried for jobs on the East with little success. I just don't know how long to give trying here in Oz!!! I am a dual citizen, which is a bonus. I am also settled in Perth and have made good friends.

Thanks all for the responses. I do not have a job to go back too, as I have been advised by many companies including recruitment agencies that I need to be in the UK before being considered!! I see myself in a "chicken and egg" situation savings here are dwindling and keeping me going I have centrelink, but it's not that much. My unit is up for rent and as such think it might be better to let someone pay the mortgage for a bit while I try and sort myself out with work!! Anyone with some bright ideas that I have thought of before, please chip in!! Cheers

G'day Cobbers!! Hope everyone has had a jolly good Christmas! Can't wait to call in the New Year and put 2015 behind me. Having been here in WA for 6 years and as a dual national I am one of many who are unable to get work, so far it's been three months and counting. In my thoughts at present is that of returning to the UK, not that I want to, it's circumstances which dictate. As I would not have a job upon returning to the motherland I will need some form of income to get myself on my feet so to speak, this leads me to ask:- Has anyone here gone back to the UK and tried to claim dole or signed on? If you've answered "Yes" then what was the process? Are there any people you have dealt with in the past that could potentially assist me to understand what I have to do? Your thoughts, guidance and prayers are appreciated! Matthew

Bit of an open ended post and very hypothetical, however I am keen to get other peoples views. Made redundant from the iron ore sector in 2014. Retrained as a learning facilitator and taught in a TAFE and not for profit organisation over the past twelve months, however work in the sector has also dried up. I have now been out of work for 8 weeks. Can't get a job in Perth metro due to having a lack of "Perth metro Experience" or alternatively I am over qualified. Can't get a job in the UK as I am not on British shores. Although the work environment is more positive than here. I am a citizen and utilizing savings to get by, which won't last forever. I have a mortgage and my unit is up for rent. I am quite settled here in WA, but at the same time I can't live on "fresh air". It's all very much a chicken and egg situation. I acknowledge I am very fortunate, but at the same time and to a certain degree "standing still". Anyone else out there that is in a similar situation?!!

Hi folks Been on leave without pay due to health issues since March, living off savings having done FIFO for a number of years. Potentially due to return to work in June. In the meantime I've done some training in training and assessment. Has anybody on here done the course or could help out I'm n construction and the post coursework is hard to do as an "independent contractor". Any advice appreciated. Matt

Hi there, first of all thanks for taking the time to read this post! I'm a single Geordie lad moving from the Southern suburbs up to Clarkson (Pavonia Links, near the train station) this coming Friday 6th July. It'd be great to hear from anyone either from the UK or the North East for a bit banter and the like. Currently writing this from the UK and moving when I get back, so intend to be a bit busy over the next few days, but would be great to hear from anyone!! I'm also reading a number of bad reviews about Clarkson, is it really as bad as what people say it is?! Hope to speak to you soon. Matt

Thanks

Thanks. Have done and there are alot and I mean a lot of people in the same boat as me. I applied after viewing a property yesterday with at least another 20 people. Advertised at 420 a week, I went a bit higher and still missed out. There was a guy at the viewing yesterday who has 3500 tied up in holding deposits!!

Hi, relocated from Sydney back to Perth. Used in live in Perth 12 months ago, lost touch with people I knew and would like it if they could get back in touch. Also open to making new friends in the city. Look forward to hearing from you. Matt

Just relocated from Sydney to Perth to commence employment-F.I.F.O 3/1 roster and seek accommodation-something to call home. Given up with Estate Agents, it's a total scam. If anyone out there can help, feel free to drop me a line!

Aye gan tek a waalk! I'm actually a Liverpool supporter and would never dream of supporting the toon!! Also born in Ashington, which makes me Northumberian!! Totally agree about the opportunities here, I find though it's not what you know it's who you know.

Thanks for the response. I worked as a site engineer. I am a degree qualified construction manager with four years UK civil experience on insitu concrete structures. Having written the above later today I think it might be a backward step to go home. All I can do is keep going!

Hi Poms in Oz Not sure if this is the right place for this post, but here we go and I need to get my thoughts out of my head and hopefully provide some advice to Brit's coming out here. First of all yes I'm from North East England and 30 years of age and single, I had a job in the mines in WA up until November 2010. Being sponsored and having been made surplus to requirements I had 28 days to find another job. So on my 27th day a job comes up in Sydney,which obviously I had to take. 15th January I land in Sydney and at the same time start my job up in the hills district, the company provided accommodation for 2 weeks, which went incrediblly quick and in fact so quick I didn't succeed in trying to find somewhere after much plea bargaining with work my accommodation was extended by a week.-There is a crazy amount of competition for rentals in the bracket I can afford and I've found that to get anything decent you have to pay at least 500 a week and even then that doesn't come with furniture. I was once advised by an estate agent in Sydney to purchase a furniture pack for $2000!! Within this time frame I also had to buy a car, again after much plea bargaining with work they wouldn't provide a hire car or any allowance or I ended up on Paramatta Road and ended up buying a 21 year old Toyota Camry. Little did I realise even after a road test that the gear box had gone and the car also had a damaged wheel bearing, all of which cost near enough a grand to fix. Needless to say 3 months ago I scrapped the car and got $100 for it, yes lesson learned. After the 3 weeks in company paid accommodation I then ended up in a house share in North Rocks, which only lasted 3 weeks I was accused of creating an infestation of ants and wasn't allowed to put the air con on even considering the high temperatures at night. From there I then moved to a motel in Blacktown, a holiday Inn and then finally into Meadowbank with a couple. After 6 months in Sydney and much perserverance I'm now fairly settled in Meadowbank, but have no circle of friends and have not been able to save any money (considering I'm on quite a decent salary), but feel that reflects the cost of living in Sydney. I feel I'd like to live in the city, but that is only going to add to the cost of living considering the road tolls, increase in rent and extra fuel to get up to the office. I have now used most of the money saved from the mines in WA during last year to finance living in Sydney. Therefore losing any sort of financial security I once had. I'm now considering the following: Returning back to the UK-sourcing work first, being amongst friends and family once more seems an easy option!! or Returning back to the mines either in QLD or WA-anybody on here got any contacts? Whereby I can then enhance my career and also get some money behind me. I honestly feel that if anybody is going to come out here they need to be financially prepared and also willing to fight, it may be easier being married or being in a relationship, but I find my life is no real different to that that I once had in the UK. And if your going to buy a car check it out with the NRMA and be aware of the sharks on Paramatta Road! If anyone on here can see where I'm going wrong or could may add further to what I've written I'd greatly appreciate the advice and guidance. Look forward to hearing from you.

Interesting post about the mines. I worked for six months in WA DIDO (Drive in and Out) 5 hours North of Perth, beautiful drive. My experience though is it's not what you know, but who you know. Can't comment on other states, but found that was very much the case in WA. I went in as an Engineer, but wish I had truck licences etc. Be warned it's great money, but I found it very hard going. Particulalry doing 3 weeks on and 1 off. Without the money I saved working in the mines I'd be back in the UK by now!!