Becks1972

In the course of my (extensive!) OT job searching I have come across quite a few graduate OT posts but I have to say that I have been qualified almost 16 years and I have applied for probably over 30 jobs , been interviewed 6 times and offered 2........ Much tougher than I ever found the UK job market. That said its changed in the UK too and OT jobs seem few and far between at the moment. Good luck with the remainder of your course....it's a great profession!

Hi ...I'm also an O.T and we head out to Melbourne in May on PR visa (175) .....no job yet which is a bit daunting but hey ho we wouldn't be doing this unless we like a challenge!

Thank you everyone (again!) for your help:biggrin: I have continued my research and am a bit concerned at some of the info I have found, so am hoping yet again your experience can help me iron out these worries. It seems that there is a high unemployment rate across tassie and have read several recent newspaper articles about the increasing crime rate. Could anyone expand on this please? Undoubtedly it looks like a beautiful state but I need more than beauty to raise my family so am really hoping for some insider info on the day to day living in launceston & surrounding areas. Also my job will involve community/home visiting (as I do now in the UK) and therefore will have little say over where I visit & where I don't. Thanks again folks....I really appreciate it & if you haven't already guessed I'm finding the whole migration thing really really stressful :frown:

I managed to get a 9 overall but I practised & practised & practised!!!! Hard to keep focused for so many hours in the exam itself but that is the key... Let your mind wander and then it's hard to get it back .... Good luck ..... Keep practising

We had to email through a copy of visa grant & then they allowed us 40kg .... Yay!

Thanks everyone for your input :biggrin:

:biggrin: Hi lovely people I have been offered a job in Launceston and due to start late April/early May. We are a family of 4 ( me, OH, son aged 12 & daughter 6). We love exploring, good food & coffee and generally having a mooch around! I am now looking for some advice on the following...if anyone can help please? We need to find short term (4-6 weeks) holiday let/unit/apartment centrally based in/to Launceston so we can explore and find a rental property. We have a budget of approx $450-$500 per week for this. Which areas should we be considering in terms of long term rentals? As I've mentioned we love our coffee & food and being close (ish) to parks, open spaces, coastline, cafes, schools, community facilities and generally feeling like part of something but neither do I want to be wall to wall people & traffic......can anyone please suggest some areas to look at ? I don't mind a 30 min or so drive to work & I will be based in Launceston CBD but am a community worker so will be driving a fair bit. Max budget approx $450/$500 per week....tops! Thirdly ( & the most important ) schools! Can anyone suggest any excellent primary & high Schools (state or Private) in any of the areas that you think might meet our needs please? My son (12) is a very bright lad so would like an environment that challenges him if possible. Finally, What malls/large shops are available in the area please? We will obviously need food shopping & some basics until out shipping container arrives. We currently live near a rather large & lovely retail park & am trying desperately to wean myself off 'just popping' there for a mooch around ( M&S, Next, Boots.....I could go on & on...mmmmm) in readiness for the inevitable withdrawal symptoms of retail therapy! It will do us good.....Shopping is not & should not be a hobby! :wacko: Thank you in anticipation.....You were all so helpful last time I posted....I really appreciate it :biggrin: Becks & family :biggrin:

Thank you everyone for your replies.... Having read your posts and done more research I would seem that Tasmania could very finitely be for us:) we are awaiting the outcome of some job applications/interviews before we can finally decide so fingers crossed! Could I please ask about house rentals and is there the fierce competition for them as there appears to be in other states & also are they always unfurnished? I have had a good look at our house contents here and as most of it is ikea stuff & old at that I'm not sure it would be worth the expense of shipping over. I thought if we could rent a furnished house for 12 months it would be easier. Also could I ask what people think of launceston V Hobart ..... Looking at jobs in both areas .... Thanks folks

Hi ...Just a quick reply ( rushing out to pick kids up!) but i'm an L.D O.T and also have struggled to find L.D jobs in Oz too. In Oz the client group is referred to as 'intellectual Disabilities' and any posts seem to sit within community care not health. Try seek.com.au ...lots more L.D jobs with private providers although the pay is not as good they do salary sacrificing and better A/L allowances.....happy seeking

Hi all i'm a regular lurker but not a regular poster but thought i'd share with you that we had medicals referred early July and were granted our 175 visa last Wednesday (10th) ......a long wait so glad to have it. Good luck to all still waiting.....its your turn next ! x

thanks again everyone for your replies.....have already started the job search! x

I'm an Occupational Therapist....qualified for over 16 years.

Thanks to everyone that replied....it sounds as if employment may be the key deciding factor as everything else seems to fit the bill. so guess I'd better get emailing out my CV and see what comes back. Many thanks again :wink:

Hi all Hope you don't mind the random/vague title but I'm hoping someone can help me please ? We are a family of 4 , me (40) OH (49) son (12) & Daughter (6) we are awaiting (v.soon our agent agent advises) our 175 visa and we are busy exploring jobs/places to live within Oz. We have been to WA, QLD & NSW a few times and have concentrated our research on these areas initially BUT find I am being drawn to Tasmania but have never been and know very little about this state...hence the help needed! :biggrin: Its probably easier to tell you a bit about us and what we like and perhaps someone would be kind enough to offer an opinion is Tassie fits the bill ! :smile: Both hubby and I work for the NHS here in UK ( him in IT & me in Allied health) and would be looking for similar posts. My son loves Scouts and all things scooter/skateboard related. He does very well in school and is on the gifted & talented register at his high school so a good school is v.important. My daughter is a real outdoors girl and never happier than when exploring and getting muddy! I love 4 distinct seasons and like all that's associated with chilly days/nights ( you know....log burner....getting warm after a good walk) but I also like the heat (but hate humidity). We all love beaches...trees....lots of greenery & wildlife. We don't do pubs but we love our coffee so a decent cafe culture would go down a treat! We like a mooch around the shops but its not a deal breaker as we usually shop online for clothes/gadgets etc. Ideally we'd like to live within commuting distance to a CBD but close to beach and rural areas.....sooooooo does such a place exist and if so where? TIA you lovely folks Becks & family x

Think it means all your paperwork/documents are good to go.....just two hurdles left ! :biggrin:

We lodged our 175 end of March and were allocated a CO early June, Police checks and Meds done late June & now the wait!!! :arghh:

You must be soooooo excited ( and busy! ) I have been offered a 12 month contract in Hervey Bay ( I'm an O.T) ....big decisions to be made for us (and quick!) contract officially starts 10th September! good luck and keep us posted ....would love to follow your journey:)))

Hi ....I am a Learning disability/Mental Health O.T looking to move to Australia ASAP. I have been offered a 12 month contract in a CMHT in QLD & was wondering how life as an O.T in Oz compares to life in the NHS? Can anyone give me any insider tips/ knowledge /general info please? TIA :biggrin:

I can feel your pain! :biggrin: I'm an Occupational Therapist ( you a midwife ??) ....we have quite a good life here....like my job...nice house in a nice area ....kids in good schools....etc etc I often wish I was the kind of person who throws caution to the wind and goes for it ...but I'm not BUT I'm wondering that if we don't at least try Australia we will never know if our life could be even better. Would I prefer to have regretted what we did rather than what we didn't do?? My answer to that changes by the hour :twitcy:

Hi all :biggrin: Think I may have just been offered a job contract in Hervey Bay! :biglaugh: Could anyone please offer me an insight into life there please? I have visited a few times, as my grandparents lived there for many years, but it was always as a tourist and except for the last visit was before I was a parent ! Guess I'd love to know what's there for a family of 4 ( 12 year son & 6 year old daughter) in terms of real life.. Day to day stuff.... Like schools, good areas to live , cost of housing/living and work opportunities for hubby ( NHS data analyst) I know that I loved the weather, beach, pace of life and beauty of the place but am very aware I may have been wearing my holiday rose tinted specs on at the time and I can't afford to be blinded by the good bits if the daily stuff will be a struggle:wacko: any insider, honest info would be greatly appreciated folks :wink: X