elderberry

We are in a long queue pzuk. I applied end of May and no update yet. Also in Melbourne - don't think there are any test centres open yet due to our covid record

Great News Lavers. First job I found wasn't paid too well either - about 1.5x in $ than in GBP, but that changed with time (and that thing they love here of local experience!). At 2x plus things get a lot easier I'd say - Just avoid doing the currency conversion too much when shopping as you'll only remember those that are much higher here! Glad your daughter is happy with the school, sounds good.

Wow, you've done so well Lavers, it's like an episode of 'wanted down under' how positively it's gone! I had a rather longer road to where you are, so great work - particularly under current circumstances

Please don't put any more wind into the sails of that petition. It landed up spamming every forum on citizenship. They won't start the tests if it is unsafe to do so, and quite frankly that situation is getting less rather than more certain at the moment. Just be patient, stay safe and be grateful to be in a country with such good healthcare and relatively low numbers at the moment. I'd suggest it is not a priority when we are fighting a battle to save lives, avoid transmission and ensure businesses can survive.

Good for you Lavers, under the circumstances quite understandable.

What are your escape plans now? You still hanging around this pariah state or are you exiting before they get the barbed wire out?

I think I'd get out of Victoria as fast as my legs could take me! I reckon it's going to get worse rather than better. Hopefully you are gonna rent somewhere with a garden for your next 2 weeks iso in Adelaide (or anywhere else as long as you are the right side of the border), so you can at least get some fresh air. Then, finally you should be free!

I agree, great choices

Are you allowed an exemption Lavers? As in taxi straight from your airport hotel to Geelong knowing your final destination is South Australia? If so then (at the moment) you would be outside the lockdown zone by then. Seems the South Australian border is shut for Victorian residents now (except for essential travellers) but of course you're not a victorian. No one wants a Victorian, may as well cut us off and drift into the tasman.

I'd forgotten about the secondary quarantine...yeah, I can understand spending a few days en route that being the case. Lorne is a really nice spot, Kennett River great to see koalas naturally in the trees. You could book hotels through the likes of booking.com with free cancellation, just a thought

Still following your journey Lavers, great to hear as a family you are staying positive through the experience. So glad you came when you did, I remember you posting when was the right time to make the move. Well, it seems that getting in now is becoming harder by the day (and more expensive to boot). I'd save the Great Ocean Road for another day - just get out of this state before you get stuck!

I might be waiting a while then in Melbourne.

I tried to apply for skills assessment initially with CPA when I was a finalist but not qualified (CIMA). They wanted a breakdown of all the modules and pass marks, then rejected my skills assessment highlighting about 6 modules to complete with CPA to be able to be pass the assessment. I then waited a few months, passed my finals and applied again as a member, came back very soon as a pass.

You pay for lots of things and have to wait. Maybe its just me, but I'd say just be grateful to be in a country with such low levels of coronavirus right now (and it would be even lower if everyone did the right thing) and do all you can in the short term to have a better long term. Immediate fulfillment of your needs isn't that important compared to life and death. Sadly, I think younger people (I'm nearly 50) may be more driven by their desires right now - to have no impact on their freedoms and lives, rather than taking the overall community into account.

Sorry IndianinOz but I am not signing this petition. In fact I think it is quite reckless and improper to push any Government to get your citizenship at the expense of putting other (Australian) Citizens at risk for your own benefit. Why can't you just accept that we are in very abnormal times right now, and, if you want to be part of this society going forward then the right thing to do for your fellow Australian citizens is to be quietly patient and wait!!!!!

Just realised, will you have to do 2 lots of 2 weeks quarantine now? Welcome to Australia! (Personally I may as well be in quarantine, working, eating, sleeping at home, not allowed in the office, and sadly I think this lockdown starting tonight will expand to more of Melbourne before we get over this)

Glad you've arrived OK, thanks for posting your experience, it's really interesting! You just missed being diverted to another airport I guess - way things are in Melbourne at the moment you're probably better off where you are than in the community, seems like Victoria will be cut off from everyone soon.

Maybe not now...

I bet you loved writing essays at school

I said this would happen Lavers Hopefully you will be OK - 1st July is the start of the new financial year - may be the reason. Hope your trip goes well and you get a decent hotel

I don't think anyone knows right now, but you, me and lots of other people are wondering the same thing! Mind you I'm under Chairman Andrews control down here in Vic so it's likely to be after Christmas!

Crikey you're a doomster Nemisis. I've not heard of anyone starving so far in quarantine, and we all know it's for a very good reason. Let's face it some airline food can be a little less than desired but its amazing what you will eat when you have to. If it was me, I would take some processed food with me (biscuits, crisps) as back up and declare on arrival; being processed they are likely to be checked and then allowed to proceed. And some decent coffee/tea! Also I would make sure I had a credit card with zero conversion cost (assuming I had no Au bank card at that stage), the likes of Santander Zero, as I believe they allow Uber Eats and the likes to be delivered if you order in quarantine. For example, in victoria 'It has now been revealed those returning travellers with allergies that are unable to be accommodated by their designated hotel in Victoria have been entitled to up to $85 per day on food delivery service - Uber Eats.' So pretty certain deliveries would be another back up for food. It may be unpleasant to have to quarantine, especially with kids but the numbers speak for themselves - in Victoria the majority of cases lately are those of returned travellers in quarantine. Once quarantine is over just think how great it is to be in a country with such low rates of community transmission and all you can do as a result - only achieved by this quarantine.

I believe all applicants of the family have to comply with their initial entry date requirement.

At least once you arrive it'll take a few days to get over the jetlag, so by the time you're taring your hair out hopefully only have a week left of quarantine. I believe Singapore Airlines have only just started flying back here now as with Emirates, bit more competition and the costs should come down a bit. I'd bring some playing cards, maybe a board game...anything to take away the boredom. At least it'll be getting dark early so spending a lot of time sleeping may be an option

Application in, let the waiting begin