Mogwai

Thanks Mansaab, nomination was approved September 15th 2015, visa application submitted September 15th, visa granted 8April 2016

Hi all, I am not on the spreadsheet but wanted to let you know that we were awarded our 186 visa yesterday afternoon. Low risk country, no request for further info other than the medicals, approved by the WA team. Would have posted yesterday but the celebrations were flowing! Still in total shock but super happy. Good luck everyone, feels like ages but, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that long for a life changing email!

Hey Dora, We live in Coffs and love it. As anywhere there are areas to avoid and areas to love about the place. Depends what you are looking for really. If you are looking in the centre of town the Jetty areas is for the majority of it, lovely. It has a café/restaurant strip with great Italian, Thai, Mexican and Indian food, a supermarket, bakers, butchers etc. The areas around the golf course are also good. Avoid the Park Beach area for rentals, as well as the Bray Street/Marcia Street area - these can be a little 'iffy' in areas (not all admittedly) Toormina is also not the best area. There has been a spate of burglaries within a specific few streets there recently, however this is being closely monitored by the local police. Sawtell to the south is beautiful as is Repton and Bellingen (a bit further in land, approximately half an hours drive from Coffs) Both Sawtell and Bellingen have some great shops and cafes/restaurants, Repton is just a little village on the river and very sweet. Inland from Coffs, to the west is Karangi, Coramba, Dairyville, Nana Glen and Glenreagh. They are all very quaint with often one pub, one shop and maybe a school. You tend to get some cheaper rentals but with lots more land in these areas. To the north of Coffs there are some beautiful beaches and areas to live. Korora is lovely, clean and a great family place to live, as are Sapphire Beach, Sandy Beach and Safety Beach. Moonee Beach has a largish shopping centre, a tavern and an estuary. They're pretty much all very good family areas. Emerald Beach has a small shop, an Italian restaurant and a small contemporary café/restaurant called Saltwater with some of the best brunch dishes ever. It has a lovely headland where you can walk through groups of roos, and has a few secluded beaches at either side of the headland. It has a few rentals going at the moment too. Woolgoolga, or Woopi as the locals call it is also very pretty. It has two beaches, both good for surfing, a small town centre, some good schools and a nice pub. With the Pacific Highway extension opening up currently, travel times are lessening, Woolgoolga to Coffs is driveable in 25 minutes, Safety Beach in 30 minutes and Corindi Beach further north in 40 minutes. House rentals are approximately $420/470 for a 4 bedroom per week on average. You've picked a gorgeous area to move to.

Hi Sam, If you're looking for nursing roles within the hospital system here in Coffs and surrounding areas this is where you need to be looking: http://nswhealth.erecruit.com.au/SearchResults.aspx?k=&C=0&L=0&E=753&I=0&J=0&SC=0&P=0&S=0&H=0 As you probably already know, Coffs has the large Base Hospital and there is a also a smaller hospital based in Bellingen which is around 30 minutes drive from Coffs Harbour itself. Also look out for roles on the Baringa Private Hospital website too: http://www.baringaprivate.com.au/ As David said too, many nursing jobs come up within the care/nursing homes, a search on www.seek.com.au or www.trovit.com.au may help. Coffs is beautiful, you've chosen a lovely spot to move to, we've been here now just over a year and we're loving it Good luck with your move.

Hi Rach, I've been sponsored as a Rehab Consultant Occupational Therapist, I had uploaded my cv to Seek.com.au and was really, really lucky as two companies approached me asking if I would be interested in a role with them.

Ours took approximately 2 weeks, it would have been sooner but they requested information that we didn't have and which took our solicitors a week to sort for us. Once it was sent over we got the grant the next day Still hasn't sunk in and we leave in 2 and a half weeks! Better start packing :twitcy:

Hi Shantelle, We recently gained permission (in December) from a relationship that also had become violent. In my 'breakdown of relationship' information I presented it in a diary-like form (dates and then a brief description of what happened - no need to go into massive detail). My 5 year relationship was condensed into 5 pages. I included details of any professionals that were involved etc. It's difficult to keep emotion out of it - it's a hugely emotive subject, and you may find that from some responses here as well. My tip on the report is to try and write it as if you're an 'outsider looking in' if that makes sense. You will need to prove that you've explored each avenue in trying to gain permission outside of the court. That will include mediation meetings and discussion, and you also need to show that you are prepared to facilitate continuing relationships between the child and father from Australia. My pack, I was told, was enough to be used as a statement for the court and for Cafcass. I condensed a massively packed A4 ringbinder into a word document, that I presented to them and this included job offers, evidence of jobs available out there for us, budget breakdown, income and expenditures, childcare, healthcare, insurance, area history, pictures & research, interest and opportunities for my daughter, support network out there, schools and contact plans. I sent a copy of this to my solicitor shortly before the court hearing, and I'd also sent a copy to Cafcass who had been in touch with both myself and my ex prior to the court date. I have copies of everything that our solicitor sent to my ex's solicitor and to the courts. If I can help with anything please feel free to private message me, Cheers, Gem

I agree with this, I've always been advised to eat Marmite on toast at least every other day whilst away, or take vitamin B supplements as the mozzies don't like the 'taste'! It's loaded with B vitamins. I never get bitten (*touches wood*) ....though I tend to top it up with a fair bit of quinine in my G&T's too....just to make sure! x

Hi Victoria, I've sent you a copy of the stat dec on your email, hope it helps. I THINK the forms need to be sent at the same time as your visa forms, but I'm not 100% certain, I'm sure someone else will be along soon to help. Gem

He would need to sign either a statutory declaration or a 1229 form, or possibly both, giving permission for you to take your boys out of the jurisdiction. http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1229.pdf I have a copy of a sample stat declaration that I can send you if you need it, pm me if you do. Cheers Gem

Don't know if you've checked this site, but it's worth a try, good luck http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx

I do, and the 1229 form too, if you pm me your email address I can send it over to you now

Hi all, Recently our plans have completely changed - we had planned on moving to WA on a 190 with my skill being the main applicant (Occupational Therapist). WA have now taken OT off their sponsorship list, and within a week of hearing this news I had an email from a company in NSW asking me to interview for a role they had available. I interviewed via Skype and then in person, and was offered the job and a 457 visa for myself and my family. The dilemma we have is that my husband is a Teaching Assistant here in the UK and would like to train to become a Primary School Teacher. We're aware of the international fees already and we have checked the website for Charles Sturt University for courses. Here in the UK he would be able to do his one year PGCE - is their an equivalent to this in Australia?, I can only find courses for Inclusive Teaching or a 4 year Honours degree - he already holds an Honours degree in English, so surely he wouldn't need to do the full 4 years? We were wondering if any of you PIO'ers could shed any light if you have gone through similar? Thanks in advance