egrek

Seems I lied. My partner was told 6 weeks to bank her cheque of Oz money and none of the banks could tell her the charge?! Rip offs all around!

Just thought some people may find it interesting to hear we've done it and it worked and it's 38% NOW! And it's not easy!

So we have been back a few months now, but about 6 months since we left Australia and only tonight can I say I have my Super! The process is simple. You get the form from the ATO, fill it in and send it off. They come back saying yes, you've left and visa ended and forward it to your Superfund. The superfund then check details and give you back your money! In theory. Well we applied as soon as we left Australia - partly as we knew there was a 6 month timeframe to get it sorted. We were travlling around New Zealand. My partner gets an email saying she needs to get certified copies of everything and send them in. Not great when we're travelling but found a policeman who could help, if was bewildered why in the sounds, he was certifying UK docs for Oz reclaims! Send off and hear no more. So 3 months later we arrive back in the UK and start to chase - whats going on? My partner is told they send a letter and a cheque. Did we nto get them? No. I'm told they sent a letter - no emails - did I not get it? Somehow from 3 items posted, none reach our shores? (and yes, they both had the right address) Some chasing and hassle and a cheque is reissued and my partner gets hers. Mine? Well I get told a list of items I needed to get certified and then sent off. Certified, on the whole, by Autralian professionals (not easy when you're not in Oz) - but I manage it, send them off. Nothing. Thus I begin to call once a week. They had the documents but now they sent them to another department who needed another form. And email was recieved telling me with with 'the form attached' (nothing was attached). Replying got me no where. When I asked the 'financial support' I was told I 'had to do the process' - the fact there was no £$£$%$£%$£ing attachment seemed to bypass this simple instruction. Pointing this out. No reply. When I finally called and got through to someone I was told I needed to fill in the form. Can they send it? Yes. Could I get it online (as there seemed to be a 30 min delay from them sending emails to me getting them - i know as I wouldn't let the guy off the phone till I got it). And no. You can't search for this mythical form as it's not availiable online. Brialliant. Finally get it and find my 2 month delay is for me to fill in my name, address and sign. Obviously this couldn't have been sent and requested with all the other information I sent in. Nor could they process my claim without me writing out ALL THE SECURITY INFORMATION THEY ASK ME ON EVERY GADDAM CALL! So 2 months of chasing a form with nothing new on. Still. It's sent. Then nothing. I call up again. "They have it and no one is doing anything with it". What? Even the girl on the other end seemed a bit confused. "I can see you have sent in everything, just no one has checked or looked at your emails and information" ... At this point it was 'escalated' (I didn't have much faith 5 months after I started at this point) But 2 days later it seems it was sorted. The 38% tax rate (checked, that's what is is now) is removed and the money put into my bank (not all need to be cheques sent to the UK it seems - though my partner was told her Super couldn't put it in a Australian account) Not that anyone said anything. I had emailed. No response. When I called to try and speak to a manager at this point I'm first told my account is closed. Closed? Apparently a letter was sent out (probably never get it if it's anything like the initial ones) and all the requests I made in email, letter and on the phone - to be emailed and notified if ANYTHING happened with my account - were more wasted time and words. But it's done. Just need to transfer the last bit home and we're done with the AUD! Seems you CAN get your super back, but with varying degrees of chasing and hassle. And we both needed docs signed and verified before anything would go on. Not quite as easy as they make out! AMP. Can't say I recommend them. But being home, same crap here. Idiots in positions of power screwing up our lives. Have a good xmas all! One less pile of cr@p for me to stress over now (but plenty of others)

Hello all A friend was told they had 2 weeks notice at a place on a 457 visa, having been there over a year. They handed in their notice, agreeing verbally on the 2 weeks notice in their resignation meeting. They have now been told they actually don't have 2 weeks but 4 weeks notice (from their initial contract). Added fun: they have also signed a further contract with an update to all roles, which (we believe) states 2 weeks notice. This is because everyone else in the workplace (Australian) have 2 weeks notice. 1) Can they have a different notice period for 457 as other workers? My readings of this: "You are entitled to fair pay and to basic rights and protections in the workplace. Your sponsor must provide you with the same terms and conditions as Australian workers performing the same work in the same workplace." (http://www.immi.gov.au/faqs/Pages/what-are-my-rights-as-a-worker.aspx) Is that the terms and conditions (eg notice period) must be the same as everyone else working there. So here I'd assume it's 2 weeks notice. Other options: 2) When resigning they asked their notice period, the manager said it was 2 weeks and accepted (verbally) - does this stand up? I know a resignation has to be in writing, but does an acceptance? Here I am unsure if it would be the 2 weeks verbally agreed or the 4 weeks when agreed in writing. 3) Assuming the new contract does state 2 weeks and it doesn't say it supercedes the previous contract - they are saying as the initial contract was done with a 457, it was for the longer notice and so that remains in place. Can they do that? They appears to be picking and choosing what they want from each (I know we need to find the contract and check) 4) If the new contract says it does supercede previous documents (which the first one states) and it has 2 weeks notice. I would assume it should be the new contract and so 2 week notice (unless there is a rule where the longer notice period takes priority? Maybe?). To me number 1 seems their best bet? (otherwise we really need to find the contract!) Number 2 is possibility. 3 & 4 depend on the contract. Any help advice, or best - links! appreciated. Too much information to read through it all! (at least I am unemployed with time!)

So which do you recommend? And what did you do in each. We're wondering about Canberra, just been told it's crap.

PS. Apologies for the huge amount of smilies...

Luck - that's about all you need and all that can help you! So good luck!

Hi all Just thought I'd add a few notes about my current situation and asking how many others are finding these issues? I came on a WHV to Melbourne. When I finally managed to get to agencies (they won't accept you just walking in to chat and register) I was, like almost everyone, told I had no local experience. :frown: However I managed to luckily get a good job within two weeks (why? A 2 hour commute, each way) :wink: All good. After 6 months I left, (as turned down a visa - maybe a mistake) The agents couldn't help me before as didn't seem to believe I'd leave my job? Now I had local experience. :wink: But only 5 months left on my WHV. :frown: And it was WHV - so not the right visa. :frown: So I couldn't get work. Infact I was declined even an interview for a 3 month position, as I only had 5 months. Australian Banks... :frown: But managed to get another role within 2 weeks. :wink: And that lasted for quite a while as my partner applied for 7 months to get the 457 visa processed. :eek: Now I had a defacto 457 visa. A long term business visa without the need for sponsorship! Perfect! :wink: But no. Now been 5 months without work. And from the last interview I had - I was asked about my visa as they didn't know it, infact they didn't think it was real. So I can only assume I've been getting overlooked as have: 1) A 457 visa (reject due to needing sponsorship) :mad: 2) A defecto 457 visa (obviously doesn't exist and is a lie) :mad: ... So onto the main point of the post? A) Add to this, I've been to four interviews in my time in Australia - which didn't have jobs. I found out this little fact either in or after the interview and indeed asked what the interview was for if THERE WAS NO JOB! :arghh: FOUR TIMES! :arghh: FOUR! :arghh: (I actually got one of them) :wacko: B) I've had three roles where the feedback is, they have decided they didn't actually want the role they advertised for and were now changing it. :realmad: C) And did I mention I was told I couldn't work a 3 month contract as I didn't have enough time, as only had 5 months on my visa? :wacko: D) These above have been through agents and direct. Oh the jobs not existing is from the company, I've obviously been to a number of interview for jobs that don't exist with recruiters and agents. Including one where I called and confirmed the role was available, half an hour before I left for the interview, to then be told at the interview - it was gone. E) Communication appears to be a universal problem we've found in all our roles in Oz. And it starts by never being told if you've applied for a role, or better yet - if you've not got it, no one lets you know. Infact no one tends to respond to anything. (Though I have heard this has started to happen in the UK too?) So a little warning to those coming over and looking for work. It's all down to luck and mines run out. So good luck to you! We're looking forward to heading home soon! (Unless I manage to get a job) Otherwise. Weathers better. And I feel a bit better for sharing!

Well I really liked - Uluru - very good sunset when the rock glows (reflected copper and rust does that!) Kakadu National Park - Not been to but in our plans. Lichfield National Park - Not been to or really heard of!? Oh the little one by Kakadu - what's here? Melbourne - good place to live, to visit? Nothing outstanding here? But a nice 'European vibe' (less impressive if you're used to Europe). Day trips around Melbourne we like Philip Island and Domain Chandon! I also wanted to go on the Indian Pacific Highway across the continent. To get a feel for how big it is! - After a few hours I bet you'd be bored. We have friends who have done this! Great Ocean Road - Less impressive than we thought (after all the hype) but we liked all the animals. If you go make sure you check out 'Tower Hill Reserve' near Port Fairy and Warnambool - great at dusk or dawn to see the animals in the wild! Coober Pedy always looked good, but a bit out the way. Living underground, underground bars and church, and many opals! Sounds like you just have to get your kids to really love and want to see koala and roo!

Yeah - TBH just sounds like you're already planning a future holiday!

you can die falling off a chair or your bed? And I bought all this death furniture...

I've certainly heard/seen something saying the same - "you can pay us and we will sign off your 3 months rural work" - but also read articles about how it's looked out for now. Hadn't heard of people getting turned away with a visa (can believe it though). I've certainly had friends/acquaintances post about the need to get a rural job to be able to get the extra WHV, but we were "lucky" and got the 457 - so more time, to be unemployed it seems! I've also heard of people getting documents from these same companies who will "sort" the visa. They get all the "official" docs and happily stay and work for another year, only to leave/go on holiday and get in trouble as they didn't have a visa! Sadly - no concrete proof on anything.

Is it not? Maybe I should go separate all that? I guess it's as we're thinking of doing that East coast all in one go.

Wow thanks for the pics and info - I was going to ask the same as GeorgeD. Did you not get bored? We imagined there wasn't a huge amount to do (or see in the middle)

Hi all As I've been out of work a bit, can't find real jobs to apply for (and am on a temporary visa) I was wondering what places in Australia you wanted to go to. Our plan was always to come here, work a bit, see it and head on. We've just here a little longer (and will be more if I can get another job) but in this gap, after being here two years and just working, we have started to travel and see the place. It's quite big. So far we've been to: Melbourne - Great Ocean road, Domain Chandon (Champagne winery), Philip island, Echuga, Ballarat, Healsville sanctuary (platypus). Adelaide - Kangeroo Island, Barossa Valley, holding a Koala. Alice Springs - Telegraph museum, Ayer's Rock*, Kata Tjuta, King's Canyon*. Sydney - Blue mountains, Harbour*, Bondi Other targets are: Tazmania - (just to go?) Gold Coast - Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney, GBR, Whitsunday islands. Perth - (just to say we've been?) Broome - Ningaloo reef Darwin - Kakadu NP Melbourne - Hanging Rock (just reading the book now) Canberra - (to complete the states/territories) Things we're going to miss: Coober Pedy - didn't have time at Adelaide, too far - most people say after an hour or two there's nothing more to do? Just wondering if people are here to work, travel or both. And if seeing things, what are top of your lists? What's worth seeing? What's not? We came to work and travel, but when we got here it became just work (due to exchange rate) but now without work it's back to travelling too (even if odd when we're spending more when not earning as much!) Our core places were (*starred*) Ayer's Rock, King's Canyon and Sydney Harbour. GOR was added coming to Melbourne. Now you're here, is it just too expensive to travel? As a backpacker - a week here is a month elsewhere. Seems painful!

India will give you the best value for money - depends how much you're trying to spend. Can get luxury for a reasonable price - or go very cheap, lots to see and they speak English. Otherwise I loved S.America 10 years ago, but friends who just went, said it had changed a lot - scams and more expensive than they thought. I'd make a list of the top 10 places you want to go to (city, country or attraction) each (even your daughter) and then compare and see what matches up - discussing each and seeing if you can change someone else's mind before they change yours! I always wanted to go to Japan (Tokyo), India (Taj Mahal), China (Terracotta warriors), Mexico (Aztecs), Peru (Nazca lines, Manchu Pichu), recently added Greece (ruins), Italy (Romans), Egypt (pyramids), Argentina (steaks and wine!) While my partners never wanted to go to Japan - and I've never felt much of a need for Africa? The more you travel the more it grows! Still got to do Mexico - and never 'noticed' Greece - maybe it was too close? But it's on my hit list now! Myamar (Burma) is being praised by a lot of friends due to it only recently opening. And SE Asia was good, islands, Ankor Wat, Halong Bay - and cheap!

My friends Aussie resume was 11 pages! (experienced contractor) while mine is 2 pages. So I've wondered the same! But I've still been told 2-4 pages by the agents I use. I've also been told 2 pages max is best by others. Depends on the job, person, experience etc. Sadly there is little way to know.

British - I'd not think so. At least in Melbourne there are so many people of every background. Maybe if you have a non English accent (eg Indian rather than Brumie) I've heard of some people thinking they have issues. In fairness, it depends who you're working for and what they look for. I was working in a team of 10 where there was only 1 born and bred Aussie, 2 more emigrated Aussies - so 9/10 weren't born here! Visa status is different. A permanent resident is treated very differently than a temporary. And then you start getting into Australian experience, then it's city experience, then sector experience, sector experience in the city? I've been told with 6 months on my visa - I can't apply for a 3 month role. And now with 4 years on a visa - I can't apply for permanent roles (but again, different people say different things). Keep asking around. It's all out there, just got to find it.

Maybe it wasn't clear - I was trying to say Adelaide has (we were told) a reputation for the best food, but the food we've had in Melbourne is great and there seemed to be more choice IN Melbourne - mainly as it's bigger I'd assume. I guess you can read my post either way! ...though looking at your list, we've still got a way to go! As for the jobs, I've had a lot of trouble recently looking for work. End of year and change of government are the agencies choice for blame at the moment. Heard it's gotten a lot harder to get jobs in the past two years. So came at a good time, but starting to suffer now! (and as you say - different people, levels, experience and requirements mean a lot of different results!)

When you get here/before - sign up to Groupon, Living Social, Scoupon, etc - voucher sites - BRILLIANT for eating out. Can get 3 course meals with a bottle of wine for two people for $29 (though normally more like $39-49) normally about half the price - and you try new places and foods you'd not thought of. We went to Gurkhas for $39 for two, when we went back (really like the one on Flinders Street, the others not so much?) we spent $77 on about the same meal. Now we look out for vouchers! PS. careful with vouchers as not everything works great, meals we've had no problems (except the limited "unlimited" wine in one place), also had a tall ship wine cruise around Sydney harbor we liked, but a friend hated his scuba diving deal - didn't research it much was his problem) - but apparently a better reputation than in the UK! We found $700 would be fine for all our living costs a week. Are you a couple? We pay $450 a week rent (expensive living in the city, 1 bedroom apartment - but large with swimming pool and gym - saw $300-800 a week for CBD) but then bills are maybe $50 a week? If that? So about $50-100 food a week and $100 on other costs, if needed, normally have money left over. Some may say we live frugally (eg: not doing $20 lunch every day! or $200 meals) but we are happy enough. Cash converters can be good to get DVDs and computer games etc, coffee machine etc. So $3000 should be fine for two people. Cars can be very expensive, while public transport is good and cheap ($7 a day for zone 1, to save money - try and live within zone 1, I think it's about 45min out of the city generally!)

I think picking up cards as you arrive in branch is normal - to make sure you are there. And there is often confusion over a lot of things in Australia! No one knows what they are doing But when you get here, you should be able to get your cards within a day/few days. Otherwise it looks like you can get them sent to the UK (from other posters) Finally - just keep calling the same number till you get someone that can help. Amazing how it works in Oz!

I'd recommend NAB too. HSBC has work hours only - so I've never been to the one in Melbourne centre and any issues, you'd have to call. Meanwhile there are NAB everywhere. I believe my friend used Commonwealth and said he'd recommend. Oz is full of ATM's that charge, NAB seems to be a good choice for finding many of them! (I am still with HSBC in UK, but after being told my HSBC card wouldn't work in the HSBC branch or ATMs in Argentina, I've never felt too confident! - this was many years ago - but I still remember it!)

Ours took 7 months! Mainly as there was confusion over the 'role' being applied for, what we were told was different to what the agent had and was different again to what the immigration department had. So there were a few very confusing conversations when we were all talking about different things. My partner works with children - so it was medicals, police checks (and obviously different to the ones required on the WHV) The main hold up was getting all the qualifications passed through two different government bodies (which we were told would take 3 months each and were given 2 weeks to get a reply... not helpful and we actually started packing, before we finally got the reply from the last qualification body and then a day later had the visa issued. So I would say it depends on the 'type of work' you're going for. Otherwise just keep trying to get in contact to keep updated - especially if they are 'waiting on you' when you've not been told anything (it happens). Good luck!

I agree with snifter Hostels are a good place to start - as lots of others are doing the same. If you are just wanting to work and travel around: café & bar work is likely your staple, with odd jobs mixed on: There are some agents specializing in these sort of things (I don't know them) but had a friend's friend go travelling all over, painting yellow lines on roads, digging ditches - and was always flying off o the next job. He loved it - and most of that was through an agent - he lived in hostels/friends so was flexible to move around. Myself and my partner are professionals and while it took a while and we are on less 'level' - we're still getting good money and looking forward to our travels soon! So it's all possible, luck helps a lot, as does perseverance! If you will do anything, you just need to find the jobs

Just keep trying - I think Gumtree sends an email and it depends how many other people message! I know I've never had many replies asking questions there - even when trying to buy things! I would recommend you look into a hostel or hotel for the first night or two, so at least you've settled when you first arrive, then head off to meet/go to a home! (dorm bed should be about $20-30 a night, in Melbourne, others should be around the same!)