Joob joobs

We brought all our camp equipment with no issue. Although we have since bought a tent in Aus... Our Scottish tent had limited ventilation... One summer camping trip here in QLD where we felt like we were stewing alive overnight was all it took to make the decision to buy an Aus tent with lots of ventilation.

Sorry for the confusion, I should have said that we took out the Bupa Classic Visitors Cover plus extras.

We took out Bupa visitors cover plus extras... And have been happily paying that for the last three years thinking we were paying for private hospital insurance. However, I've just been referred for a procedure which Medicare say isn't covered under the reciprocal agreement. Called Bupa only to find out that the visitors cover basically tops up the limited cover you get under the reciprocal agreement to the 'normal' residents Medicare cover. I can get the op through Bupa but it must be on the public system. Also, when you are on a 457 as soon as you apply for PR you can request a new 'interim' Medicare card which gives you the full residents level of Medicare cover rather than the reciprocal visitors cover.

I'm after some advice! I am currently on a 457 visa and have been with my current employer for over 2 years. My employer has agreed to sponsor me for PR (ENS 186 subclass) through the Temporary Residence Transition Stream, on the condition that their preferred migration solicitor is used. I have filled out all the required forms and submitted these to the solicitor, together with police checks (13 March 2014) and it was my understanding that the application had now been submitted. However, two months down the line it has come to my attention that the solicitor has only submitted the nomination and wants to wait until this has been approved before he submits the visa application. Is this normally the way it is done? I thought that it would save time by submitting the application at the same time, or just after, the nomination submission in order that both could be considered on the first touch by the Case Officer. Am I wrong in thinking this? Does anyone have any similar experiences with this? I would hate for legislative changes to be made before my application is submitted, as we all know, Dept of Immigration regularly implement changes and the changes do not always go in our favour! Plus the longer things drag out the more likely it will be that the police checks expire before the visa is granted! Any advice would be appreciated. I want to make sure I have the correct information before I contact the solicitor again. Thanks in advance!

I'd be interested in finding out what folk say about this too. My PR application is due to be submitted in January and I'm not sure if I should be arranging things like this before hand or if it is safer to wait until asked by the CO.

Welcome to Brisbane! If you are looking for internet to keep you going, remember that a lot of the shopping centres and some parks around Brisbane are set up with free wifi. (I'm not sure if this is as common in Mooloolaba)

I was looking into this recently and read online that if it is an older property then you will have to sell up if you are asked to leave the country. However, if it is a new property then you will be able to retain the property and rent it out. I can't remember the website I read this from though, sorry.

Mines is arranged via Letsure. I've never had any problems with them... but on saying that I've never had to make a claim. I arranged my contents insurance via Letsure back when I was a tenant too.

I only had to provide a certified copy of my degree and professional qualifications. They didn't ask for my school certs... thank god as I've no idea where they are either!

Anything along the Ipswich train line would suit you for getting to Toowong. Try Indooroopilly, Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood, Corinda etc.

Check out http://www.stayz.com.au.

We used Expedict in the UK, there's bound to be something similar in Aus. The only problem with working for Expedict is you'd have to check that they would pay in AUD and not GBP.... http://www.expedict.com/6-what-we-do

I think the only good thing about the company branded stuff is you can claim for washing them in your tax return! Lol.

Yeah, I didn't see much of it in Glasgow but we have a whole catalogue of company branded stuff that we can order if we want to.... a nice pair of nylon slacks anyone!!? Lol.

Sorry, my post should have said January 2014... so I have 16 months to wait and we all know that Dept of Immi changes can scupper everyones best laid plans!

My tip would be plenty of tea and biscuits! Complete opposite to the guys who unpacked at this end. Had to convince them to stop for a cool drink in the January heat! We only had a few things turn up here that shouldn't have been packed. I had intended to throw out my old hair dryer and just use my travel one until I got a new one in Aus... but I'm still using the rotten old thing... since it was packed I'm using it til it kicks the bucket! Lol. They also packed a wicker basket with all the dogs old toys that were going to be donated to woof's pals before we left.... customs opened that box and removed 2 packets of dog treats and let the wicker basket through, which I thought was a big no-no... if only I'd known, my mum went home with a car full of wicker when she left my house for the last time as I didn't think you could bring them... oh well, no big deal... you can get the exact same ones here in IKEA too so no real loss!

I can't help much but I'm interested in hearing what responses you receive on here. I'm in a similar position, my 2 years on 457 visa will be up Jan 2013 and work have confirmed that they will be willing to sponsor me for PR at that point. However, my concern is that there could be any number of unknown changes made by Dept of Immi during that time and I'd like to try and get PR sooner rather than later. However, my dilema is that I doubt I'd pass a skills assessment for my 457 nominated occupation (spec Manager) and I'm not even sure it's on the CSOL list. However, my past work experience is as a Loss Adjuster, which is on the CSOL list and I'm sure I can jump through the relevant hoops to get a positive skills assessment for Loss Adjuster. I'd be interested to find out if it is possible to nominate for a different occupation when applying throught the Direct Entry stream (as to what is noted on your 457 visa)? In fact I would say that the work I am doing just now relates more closely to Loss Adjuster than Spec Manager in any event...

We arrived mid Dec '11 (Brisbane) and o/h was job hunting for an IT Manager position. I definitely wouldn't recommend job hunting during the Xmas/ New Year period, it was really frustrating for o/h sending off his CV and hearing.... nothing. He couldn't even get the recruitment consultants on the phone as they were also on skeleton staff too. He did get something at the end of Jan '12 but that 5-6 weeks really got to him. However looking back, and after hearing how long some people search for jobs he was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time as he could have been looking much longer. Only downside is it's a contract position with a government organisation so doubt he'll have the job for much longer thanks to Mr Newman!

We have ours with Bupa, no problems encountered so far.

I found that if we only looked at properties that said in the ad that they were pet friendly, then we didn't run the risk of falling in love with a place only to be told they don't accept pets. The one we found is lovely and at first they said we would have to keep the dog outside... not on! So they agreed for him to be an inside dog. Thank goodness cause we get LOADS of cane toads here in summer. He licked one in the garden on our first night in this house. Scary stuff! Although, not sure how easy it will be to get a reference from the landlord for the next place... the dog was out back and we were at work when a thunder storm struck and he chewed the back door trying to get in the house! That was an expensive thunder storm... not looking forward to storm season this year...

I work in the insurance industry in Brisbane and for meetings/ interviews etc it's more formal but the rest of the time the guys mostly wear company branded polos.

Only 300 in my occupation! :eek: I'm here on a 457 at the moment but looking into applying for ENS 186 - direct entry stream (as only been here 8 months)....

We asked about CC but our agent only accepted cash or direct bank transfer. We were able to pay it in two installments though if I recall correctly. We paid half up front then once my company had reimbursed me for our relocation costs I made another direct bank transfer for the other half about a week or 2 later.

Have any of you guys tried Chumley Warners? I was looking forward to going but it was a Monday night when I turned up and it was shut.... anyway, I've spoken to a few folk since, who live round that area, and they said it was very greasy and not that great.... still want to give it a shot though at some point, I haven't had a fish supper since 2011. Lol.

Hi Hazel. I moved over from Scotland in December and I also work in the valley - Berwick Street. Is that anywhere near your office? )