DrewNE

Hi all If you work in a job that require a CRB or Police check what happens if you return to the UK from Aus so they they can trace your history or at least see that you don't have one? Should I get an Aus Police check before I leave and take it back or can I apply for one outside of the country? Cheers Drew

The agents right royally get on my wick, mine charges me to make my weekly rent payment, no matter how I make it!

I've heard and continue to hear a lot of bad press about all of the states, what Magden says is true from my experience here, some people stay some people go. There are some English workers in my area that have been here almost 10 years others have left after a short space of time. Magden were you based in Metro or Regional location? Yes we have that also it's called VACCA, I have no experience of working with them so have no view to offer really. In principal it works well, however, I can see where it would not. Drew

Hi Wendy, If you require a visa, then you will need to get your quals assessed, wether that be welfare worker or social worker. But i personally would get them assessed as social worker as i am sure this would open up more work opportunities. Wendy This depends on how you come across to Australia and whether you are coming independently or sponsored by a State/Employer. If you intend to apply for a Independent Skilled Migrant Visa Subclass 175 - you will need to get your skills assessed by AASW. If you intend to apply for a Sponsored Skilled Migrant Visa Subclass 176 - you will need to get your skills assessed by AASW. If you intend to apply for a Temporary Business Visa Long Stay Subclass 457 - you do not need to get your skills assessed. Drew

Hi Suzanne Quite a mix, Community and Welfare, Youth Work, Psychology - don't have to be to degree level either. The terms Aboriginal People, Indigenous Australian or Torres Strait Islander is more respectful language. Have you done much research into The Stolen Generation? Drew

Hey Wendy I'm in Melbourne, I would agreed with Madgen and think that the best route would be to share your CV with an agency or recruitment consultant over here. You normally find that they have an ex-pat social worker within their team who works with all UK recruits as they have a better understanding of how the UK system operates and translates to the Aus system. You do have to have your degree approved for some roles here, if your job title is 'Social Worker' you must be eligible for AASW registration which is ascertain through the skills assessment. If you found that your role in UK is here in Aus but not classed as a 'Social Worker' then you don't need to. Drew

Hi Madgen Where about's were you in Aus. I've never heard the term 'Abo' being used by any of the practitioners here - maybe because the majority of my team are English?. I agree that there is a significant amount of racism and prejudice here, I'm not sure how strongly anti-oppressive practice features in the teaching over here. Maybe the fact that you don't need to be SW qualified to do the role has something to do with it. Drew

Hey Wendy It's all quite confusing, lengthy and money spinning. In short, and I can be more specific in a private message of you need me to be. Posts that we held in the UK as 'Social Worker' are not Social Work roles her in Aus. So, I was a safeguarding SW back in the UK - I too did a 3 year BSW. I am doing the same job here, but because i'm not a 'Social Worker' I'm a 'Protective Practitioner' I don't need to be assessed or registered with the AASW. I don't know what the situation is in Mental Health here or if their is a AMHP equivalent. The AASW will assess your Degree with 3 years PQ to make up for the 1 year short fall - they need to know the course content from your degree transcript. However, if it's not up to their standard then they won't registered you. It's over $800 to get your degree assessed. Drew

Hey JoJo Just a bit of friendly pointer from someone already over here and working in Child Protection, if you use the term 'the aborigines' it's not going to be well received, it's quite offensive terminology. I hope your interview went well for you. I had to wait for references and a ACPO check to be done before they formally sent me a contract, all done in a matter of weeks though. Drew

Anyone else see Rod last night? We went, thought he was excellent, what a venue too! Highlight of my time in Oz so far I think.

I intend to approach a migration agent about this and gain there advice but I just wondered what peoples initial thoughts are about whether this is possible or not I'm currently here on a 457 visa my employer is the sponsor, my partner is on my visa as defacto, he's secured work since we got here. The issue is i'm struggling with work a bit and question whether i'll be able to stick it out. We both have a skill that's on the shortages list. I guess the easiest solution would be to see if my partners employer would take over our sponsorship which would free me up to look for alternative work. Would we be able to lodge an independent skilled migrant application on shore, then if I left my job could we apply for a bridging visa while we wait for the application to process? Thanks Drew

I think let him stay, it looks like he's paid his way under his false identity, 1979 is 30 years ago, who says he has been in further trouble since then it says in the article that he has 'turned his life around since then' capacity for change and all that. Give him a fine to pay to a charity or community service. It doesn't look like his motivation for having the child was to use as a tool to stay in the country, I'm assuming that he has some ongoing role in the childs life for them to consider this argument - why should the child be separated from his father because of something he did 30 years ago? Also what's up with the ex partner, she reported him because she wants justice to be done? what an absolute crock - she didn't report him to the police when he told her did she? no, she carried on her relationship with him, probably spent a significant amount of time with him, holidays, maybe even lived together. Dobbed him in when the relationship ended though eh, complete hypocrite. Maybe she should be arrested and interviewed for aiding and abetting, harbouring a fugitive or withholding evidence, lets see how much 'justice' she'd like to be done then.

Just so I am understanding this correctly; - I have a UK bank account - Family in the UK who I'm happy to give the details to - They can book flights from Melb - Ncl in my name an use my bank acc**** I can't do this because any flight out of Aus has to be booked in Aus and paid for at the AusD rate?

Another thought, car insurance policies where you are both on as a named driver, life insurance policies where you have registered the beneficiary of the policy as your partner?

Hi Jove I remember commenting in your other post about your application. I may be stating the obvious here but i'm just sounding out what I think so bare with me - if you both live together and rent a property then both your names must be on your rental agreement? - if you both live at the same property then both your names will be on the council tax bill for each year? or have you supplied this and they are stating that this does not prove a relationship? Do you have anything held jointly -Savings account -Joint credit card -One mobile phone bill with both lines attached to it - Any bank statements showing that you have transferred money to each other - Joint hire purchase agreements for cars or larger household items How long have you and your partner been in a relationship and how long have you lived together? Drew

Plaver You've done very well to secure a rental prior to getting here. My understanding is that this is very difficult. As scuffy says you can pay the bond when you pick they keys up. Drew

I just registered, saw Totem in London this time last year, it was amazing! What show did they bring to Australia last year and where abouts do they put it on at?

Hey Richard I'm from Consett in Co Durham, now settled in Melbourne. I'd complete all the forms yourself and not use an agent if you feel able to, it's a lot of money when you're starting up new somewhere! Drew

I think there are standard police certificates that you have to provide depending on your country of origin. The UK is from ACPO - i'm not sure of outside the UK what the procedures are.

Nor did I, or get it signed.

I didn't apply for 176 so the process may be different but I believe that you only need to start getting your police certs and your medicals when the CO asks you to. The CO will consider everything you submit now in the application and then 'progress' it to the next stage ie the character and health checks.

Is this a 457 visa that you are applying for? If so you do not need to provide police certificates, we weren't asked for any. They may assess your application and then request further information such as a police check or medical later in the processing.

Yes, they are only valid if they are a statement made by an Australian Citizen, so if you have someone who is not an AC complete one and then you pay someone to certify it you would be wasting your time and money. Yes, our parents just wrote how long they knew we had been together, that we were considered a 'couple' within our respective families, that we are invited to and attend family gatherings together, that they believe our relationship to be genuine etc couple of paragraphs really is enough

LAFHA is not going to be available for much longer so if you've factored that into your financial calculations you'll probably need to revisit that. RE the original post I came over on a 457 visa, this took a very short space of time, from interview to offer to being here it was 4 months and that was with me factoring in a further month delay so that we could attend a family wedding. I guess the drawbacks of a 457 are that you would have to pay on the school fees for your children, you would have no access to the 'benefits/healthcare' system, if your 457 sponsor withdraws their sponsorship you have 28 days to secure another sponsor or you must leave the country - so if you really dislike your job you're stuck unless you can find another employer willing to take it over OR if you lose your job or don't successfully complete your probation then you have 28 days to find another job and sponsor.