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

You could try the WA Health website : http://www.jobs.health.wa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=215&windowUID=0#report or www.seek.com.au and put in your search criteria, I havent found any specific allied health sites but have found seek and http://www.jobisjob.com.au/healthcare/podiatry/job-category to be helpful, http://www.indeed.com.au/jobs?q=podiatrist&l= aswell :-) hope some of these help

Hi, I added my CV to the seek.com.au website, around a month/6 weeks ago. So far I have had two companies in Australia contact me, have had one Skype interview last Friday and have a follow up face-to-face interview this weekend. Both companies that have contacted me have offered 457 sponsorship, so it does happen! :-) Good luck

I'm not sure if you've seen these sites, or even if they would be any good re possible sponsorship, but they may be of help to someone Good luck http://www.infomine.com/careers/jobs/r7c7a23/australia.machinery.operators.jobs.aspx http://www.australia-migration.com/page/Positions_jobs_available_with_sponsorship/1134

Hi Mat, Welcome to PIO. Hopefully you'll find this site as invaluable as I have. I'm an OT too, with 2 years post grad experience hoping to head out to WA (though OT has just been taken off their State Sponsor list - ARRRGGHH - hopefully it will be back on soon). You'll need to pass the IELTS Academic test, each state has different score and work experience requirements so it's best to have a look on each state plan. You will also need your skills positively assessed by the OT Council in Australia - http://www.cotrb.com.au/introduction.htm before submitting your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) - http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ What type of visa are you planning on applying for? We are wanting the 190 State sponsored to give us an extra 5 points, although we could also go for the 189 independent (planning to resit the IELTS for those extra elusive points!) Work wise, look at www.seek.com.au and put in that areas that you would be interested in, to see what the job situation is like, State Governements have websites for medical positions, andalso google hospitals in the areas too - St John of God Hospital to name one. You will need registration with APHRA as well to practice in most states - there are loads of threads on this on the forum. OT jobs (equivalent to Band 5 here) start at around $60/65k pa upwards Someone posted this report recently on here which I found really interesting - http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/LMI/SkillShortages/Pages/OccupationalReports_Healthdiagnosticandtherapyprof.aspx#8 - if you go half way down the page you will reach OT, it shows the stats re the different States and the jobs advertised/applicant numbers etc Hope this helps, good luck :biggrin:

The older property and better schools. The kids education is more important than a pool or decoration (the house can be 'prettied up'), and our current drive to the beach is over an hour - 20 minutes would be luxury!

Hi there, you have to go through ACPO for your police checks rather than a CRB. These are the details from the DIAC factsheet: UNITED KINGDOM Relevant document: ‘ACPO Police Certificate’. Police certificates are issued by The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and cover applicants who have lived or currently live in England, Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey), the Isle of Man, St Helena and Northern Ireland. Residents and non-residents Application forms and information on how to apply for the police certificates for residents and nonresidents can be found on the ACPO website or by contacting ACPO directly. Phone: 0845 601 3999 email: acro.policecertificates@acro.pnn.police.uk www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx This is the DIAC Character Requirements booklet PDF: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/character-penal.pdf Hope it helps :biggrin:

Hi Lisbet, We have had a similar experience with our eldest who is currently 15. She has gone through stages of really loving the idea, to hating it with a passion and flatly refusing to go. I recently sat down and had a massive heart to heart with her, we discussed the reasons behind why we wanted to go - better job opportunities for both myself and my husband which would then, hopefully, lead to us being able to provide different/possibly better opportunities for her and her sisters, different life experiences and travel opportunities, amongst so many others, and the fact that it has been a longtime dream that we have put on hold for too many years. I gave her the opportunity to discuss her reasons for not wanting to go - friends and family being left behind etc - and we talked about the options should her decision be not to go with us. I would be distraught if this was the case, but it had to be discussed. It was hugely emotive. The compromise that we came to was that, if she agreed to completing the visa and validating it once it was granted, and giving it AT LEAST 6 months with us in Australia, we would sit down again, and if she was totally unhappy we would arrange for her to come back to the UK and stay with her grandparents, (but this is in an area away from where we live now, and she would not be able to spend as much time with her current friends) I think what really sold it for her was travelling throughout Australia - she said that she and her friends had discussed gap year travel there, with a PR visa she could travel for longer and settle if she wanted to, but she could also choose between living here or there...whereas, if she didn't have the visa she would be restricted to just living in the UK with only holiday visas. Two countries are better than one!! It's so tricky. I was one of those people who always said "she's a child, and will go where we tell her", but its not as black and white as that. I really suggest sitting down, keeping calm, and discussing everything in detail, from both sides and look for a compromise that works for you. Good luck x

As Snifter said, I would advise looking on the nurses thread for information re sponsorship, bu have a look at the WA health website for a list of jobs and sign up for the alerts that interest you. I just did a generic alert for myself as an occupational therapist and it shows lots of job titles that would be pertinent for me that are not listed as OT. www.seek.com.au and the Hays website have nursing roles up, I contacted some companies on seek and have had great feedback, and invited to interview once we eventually get to Aus Its definitely worth a try. Look also at the St John of God hospital website as they have roles that aren't listed on the WA Health site or on seek. http://www.sjog.org.au/ Good luck Gem

These guys sell the Lucozade Sport powder, and will deliver to Aus http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=42304

Fantastic news, can't wait to be saying the same thing myself, can imagine your relief, now the fun can really begin!

Totally agree, it IS a gorgeous city - I tend to avoid it at the weekends too and stick to early morning shopping...either that or I use the pushchair as an ankle battering-ram for people who stop still right in front of me!