TracyC

I am flying my cat back in October. he is having his rabies jab tomorrow and that still gives us the 21 day period before he can enter the UK. (not sure about the 5 month time frame from the other poster.....hope that is wrong or i'm in trouble!!) Prices: $120 rabies jab Animal travel $2154 Jet Pets $3020 Sky Pets $2200 hope this helps

The course was worth doing! The first 2 days in Blacktown were run by a really lovely lady, who new her stuff and had answers to all sorts of questions that were put to her. There wasn't any information that was a complete surprise to me but it was good to get confirmation about things that I "thought" were the case. The placement for me was in a High school 5 mins drive away (they place you in a school near to where you live). The Head of PE was really nice, all VERY laid back. I only had to teach 3 lessons over the 5 days (can do more if you want). I made the most of my time watching lessons to get a feel for how they teach in Australia (very different from what I'm used to!) and asking lots of questions. I got a bit bored to be honest and ended up rather than just watching, getting involved, talking to the kids, team teaching really. The biggest difference is, at home, I always did: quick talk about aim of lesson, warm up, skills, maybe into small game, quick plenary, whereas here there was very little structure. The vast majority of the lessons were straight into games. As i was being "assessed" I felt I had to do everything properly even though the kids were obviously not used to that kind of structure. Anyway (I waffle on - sorry), it all went really well. Very straight forward, nothing scary about it. Got a very good report from the school. Had a 20 min interview with guy from DET the following week, my DET number came through within days. I contacted the school I was at and have had a few days supply with them. Dropped a mini CV into some other local schools (as suggested at the course) and one in particular has put me on their books regularly. Have had between 2-5 days for the last 6 weeks. I'm happy doing part time but I'm sure if I had contacted more schools, especially further West of here I would be able to get pretty much full time. Hope this has been useful, I would recommend doing it (it's free) Tracy

Hi Barry Welcome to Australia then! How are you finding it? If you are going direct to schools (independent and Catholic as you can't do state without the DET approval) I would probably turn up in person, with a cover letter and CV and looking smart. I think it really depends on what areas you are looking in as to how successful you'll be. I am on the PEP course, starting Thursday and Friday, with the whole of the following week in a school. After I've completed this I should get my DET Approval to Teach, which will allow me to do Temp or casual in ANY school (independent/state/primary/secondary). However, I still couldn't apply for a permanent PE position because I still only have PROVISIONAL eligibility. To be honest I can't see me doing the extra units to gain full eligibility either. I saw a job on seek the other day looking for a football coordinator, but I don't know if that was Ozzie football or Soccer, or even if thats your sport! I would assume that even coaching they will be looking for their own Coaching Qualifications!!!!! Good luck, if you want to find out more about the PEP course I'll let you know after next week Tracy

Hi Barry No, not been on the course yet. There is one on the starting on the 24th May which i may try and get on (assuming I can find childcare!) Supply REALLY depends on the area. I'm in the 'The Hills' and because it's a nice area there is not much supply. I've been told that older teachers semi retire and then pick up any casual/relief that's around and of course the schools already know them. I've applied for a couple of independent schools, but no luck. Understandably, in a country where so many people are sporty, they are not desperate for PE teachers, especially as we don't have the PDH bit in our degree and don't know the curriculm. Sorry to sound a negative, but to be honest it has been harder than I thought it was going to be. Hopefully you will have more luck and be able to get yourself out and about on courses and into schools. Tracy Tracy

Hi. We rented in Castle Hill (Waterside Apartments - no water in sight though) for 3 weeks and we were probably lucky that we found something in that time. I think that company (Waterside) would allow us to extend the rental period if we had needed it. When you know what furnished apartment you are staying in I would check whether they let you extend, and with how much notice. It is really impossible to stay how long it will take you to find something you like. It's possible you will find something but it won't be available for a few weeks. Good luck

Hi I too am a PE teacher and NSWIT wanted me to do extra courses (Personal Development Health bit) in order to get Full eligibility. However, having taught for 19 years, all of which included PSHE or Citizenship, I was feeling a little "peeved" at the thought of going back to Uni!!! Have since found out you can do the PEP (pre employment programme) with DET, without doing the xtra courses, and that will allow you to do temp/casual work in state schools (just not permanent). I believe you can work in Independent schools without any of this? Still trying to get my head round all the bureaucracy and sort out child care in order to even look for work! Good luck.

Hi Lynne I hope they are big tables, as I would like to join in too! Tracy

Hi Australia94, I am the same as your wife! Content at home in the UK, security of home, job, family, friends and knowing how much we earning every month to live on (even though knowing it was getting harder and harder). My OH was born in OZ and left when he was 10. He has wanted to go back for years and years and has tried to convince me for years. Last year, I agreed. It was more difficult in the UK, wages were pants, we had no money left each month, we were starting to feel we were on a treadmill in terms of work. I think in the end it was me thinking 2 things. 1- there has got to be more to life than this, where has the excitement and fun gone? and 2) If I don't go...how will I know what I'm missing, if life is better? and do I want look back in 3,5,10 years time and say " I wish....." So, I gave up my job (teacher) last Summer, came over in November and so far things are working out OK. It's not easy starting a new life and I know it will take time. So we are giving it a couple of years and then seeing what we think. I have my house in the UK rented, so I can go back to that if i want to. We have 2 girls who are having new experiences.... and at least I won't ever regret NOT trying it. Depending on your subject there are lots of teaching jobs (make sure you have transcripts). Not sure what Childcare Assesor entails, but loads of jobs in Childcare area and recent legislation means increasing numbers of people wanted in this area. For me, it was my husband constantly going on about Australia (but not pressurising too much) and then me coming to the realisation myself that I needed to give it a go. I can completely understand how she feels, I do miss home, family and friends but I don't regret coming here and trying it. Good luck and be nice to her!

Hi everybody. Finding this thread is great. I moved here (Baulkham Hills) a few months ago with husband and 2 daughters (7 and 2). I am not working at the moment so meeting up during the day with some other mums who have young ones would be great. Although I have meet some friendly Aussies I find myself listening for English accents so I can start a conversation with someone I have something in common with! My eldest daughter (7) is at Jasper Rd public school and has been finding it a little hard being the new girl. If there is anyone else Baulkham Hills based with a daughter of similar age it would be great to hear from them. I know there are a couple of people on this thread with twins around this age. Tracy

Do I really sound positive?! It's all a front - I'm pooping myself about the whole thing - however, no point worrying about things until they happen. As for my 7 yr old being out of school... if we arrive on the 9 th Nov, best case scenario she'll be in school for the start of Dec; but it's quite possible she won't start until they go back for the new school year in January. To be honest, that doesn't bother me. I'd rather find the right area to live and right school and for her to only be 'the new girl' once, than rush into finding a school and then deciding we won't be living there long. In terms of missing 'education'..... not at all bothered about that, in the scheme of things 2 months less of an OZ school will make no difference to her. Tracy

Hi Cartertucker, We are doing exactly the same as you in 4 weeks time. We fly into Sydney on the 9 Nov and have got a 3 week short term rental sorted. In that 3 weeks we will be driving round the possible neighbourhoods trying to get a 'feel' for them, looking at schools (7 and 2 yr old) AND trying to get a job!!!! I understand completely the pressure of making sure you make the right choice of area. The last thing I want, having moved the kids half way across the world and out of great schools and nursery, is to pick an area to rent in and get them into a school only to find out later that we made a bad choice and have to move them again. I am just hoping everything will fall into place and an area will just have a nice feel to it. Optimistic I know! I'm not expecting it to be easy - but looking long term what's a couple of months making sure you get the right area/school? Good luck to you and everyone else going through the same thing. Tracy

Hi Maddy and Lindsay, I am in the same boat. Moving in the first week of November and have a 7 and 2 year old. I will be looking around 'The Hills' district, but also looking at Mount Annan. I think I need to actually drive and look round the different suburbs to get an idea of what they're like. Let me know when you're out there which ones you find appealing! Tracy

We are moving to Sydney in 6 weeks and I'm doing the same as you. Trying to de-clutter but I end up reminiscing and putting it all back in the boxes! I'm chucking hardly anything of the girls stuff, if it fits in the container I'm taking it! Good luck

Thank you for the post. We are Sydney bound as soon as we sell our house, so it made good reading, specially the rental bit. Do you mind me asking how much you ended up paying if $500 gets you rubbish?

Sam C, yeah!!!! Many congrats - after your long wait. You must be so happy. No more checking of emails every 5 mins. Good luck with everything from here on in. Tracy