smivel

It's pretty easy on the government's website. Cheaper as well.

I think as long as it is one of the types on there (visa, mastercard etc) they will take your money happily. I can't remember which I used but it was probably Debit.

Go for it. I've handed my notice in, after this week I've only got 3 more at work til I go.

I leave England on the 23rd of Oct as well, but I'm off to south east asia for a few weeks before I hit Aus. For getting from one city to another flights would be easiest and quickest I would say, but probably the most expensive. You could drive but that would take a while for some journeys. A campervan would be a good way to do it.

I've got my visa sorted, flight to Thailand booked for 23rd Oct with my mate. Plan on spending a couple of months in South East Asia then book a flight when we feel ready to hit Aus. Probably be there late December I reckon.

I've just opened an account with Norwich & Peterborough Building society. There are no overseas fees for using your debit card so it seems pretty good. I went to a working abroad expo thing, and I think it was commonwealth bank that would give you a UK account number which was tied to an Aus account number.

I've never booked a hostel but I think hostelworld.com seems pretty good, has reviews on there etc. I'll already be over there by March, where abouts you thinking of going?

I reckon anything like that would be decent. Travelling round and being outside getting to actually see the country.

From what I've heard off a few people I know who are there now, it seems really easy to find work. I think it just depends on what you are willing to do. They have done door to door sales, worked for a carnival, office work, all sorts.

I'm definitely taking a backpack. Although I'm going to south east Asia for a couple of months before Australia so that's part of the reason. I reckon I would probably take a backpack even if I went straight to Aus though, it just seems easier if you're going to be doing any amount of walking with it. I go 23rd Oct so will probably be in Aus sometime in December, maybe bump into some of you

I'll be in Aus from Dec(ish) this year. Going to South east Asia in Oct, haven't decided where to go yet. You stayin in Cairns or travelling about?

You don't need insurance, you get 3rd party cover included when you pay the registration for the car. I think that's right anyway, someone else can probably clear it up better.

I didn't have to print anything or do anything about a medical either. This was on the Government website.

I wouldn't bother attaching a letter at first, on my application I just put the offences and rough date, as in Sept 2001: Possession of class B drug, Caution Aug 2005: Criminal Damage No point telling them anything they aren't asking for yet.

Well if I meet any Northern Irish girls I'll be asking if they are "ghostgirl", and if I look an idiot it's all your fault haha.

Haha 1 Irish girl in a whole country? That's not nearly enough ha. How long have you got left there?

Yeah it was about 2/3 weeks ago when I applied/got approved.

Flatpack, from what I read about the ACPO check things will not show up if they have been "downgraded" (i think they call it that), depending on which of their categories your offence is in (A B or C). So say it takes 10 years for your 1992 offence to clear, and you commit no more offences in that time it will not show on the ACPO check, so your offence from 1992 would of gone in 2002. If you commit another offence in that time, say one that takes 5 years to clear, it resets the clock on the ten year offence and both clear after the ten years. Hope that makes sense. I looked into this for myself and mine have got another 2 years till they are both cleared.

Good few people going then! I wonder how many people from the UK/Ireland arrive on WHV's each year? Must be a shitload.

Also, one of mine is for possession of cannabis and I would imagine drug things are looked at more seriously than other offences (other than rape, murder etc) so I think you should be OK. Just be honest.

Just because something is spent doesn't mean it won't show up. I have 2 things on my record from being under 16 which are both spent and both showed up on a CRB check. Different offences have different periods of staying on your record, depending on how severe the offence is and the age when it was committed. For the WHV though I put them both down on the online application, with rough dates and what the offence was. The visa was granted 5 days later with no questions asked by them so I wouldn't worry.

I applied on a Thursday and it came through on the Tuesday. This was with a minor criminal record declared on it too, I was expecting it to take longer to be honest.

I wouldn't mind knowing some more about this as well. My boss has said there may be a chance of doing some work for him whilst I'm there. I reckon if they just paid into the usual account as though I was still in the UK it would be fine, but not too sure.

Me, not sure exactly when yet though, or where. I'll report back when I know ha.

£220 mine was, plus a 6 pound by from Lloyds TSB for using my card for foreign money ha so watch out for if you will get charged or not.