BrownEyedGal

It is a massive risk to come to a country with no job! But you have to be in the country for some of the skills that are wanted and his are three of them on the short skills list! He tried to secure things before coming over but to no avail. What I write is not the full extent of his story. As soon as he got into Perth, he got a phone sim, his driving licence, white card, re-did his CV and started calling the vacancies advertised only to be pushed to recruitment agencies. He even went to the offices for the Gorgon project to talk to the staff there. There's nothing he hasn't done or tried. Don't get me wrong he knew it would be hard. But when you are looking for work in your skilled area, you don't imagine that there are so many barriers - hence my comment about who you know. (He doesn't know any one!). There may be adverts saying there are jobs available but those do not appear to be 'real' jobs for the skills he has. He has been applying for jobs all over NSW including Newcastle soon. He's moved four times already to be near any areas that may hold work. As I said, he's looking at other type of work now. I really feel for others in similar situations and I am also happy for those that can find a role that suits them and can also adapt to something else. Just want to say good luck to all the searchers!

Fryertuck..I have to agree. My brother is here to look for work. Like you and your wife he is highly skilled in the Boilermaker arena and fills three positions on the short skills Immigration list. He paid thousands of pounds to get the visa and jump through hoops to get his certificates through. He hit the ground running when he got here, updating his CV, sending information to the recruiters such as Seek etc. and visiting recruiters at their offices. And still NOTHING. He's been here about 7 weeks and is fed up. I don't get it. How can Australia say they need these skilled workers and when they get here there is no job and its a not what you know but who you know network. And this major wall of having to go through **** recruiters that don't know what they are looking for is just damned intolerable. He's now resorting to looking for any job. What a waste of his 25 years plus of hard earned skills - it just gets me mad. Anyhow - He's given himself another couple of months and then he has to review what he is going to do. Maybe you're right Fryertuck - come back in 2 years but by then he will have to do his PR visa again. So a bit of a quandary. I'm wishing luck to everyone searching for job. Keep up the searching and keep your chins up.

HooRooo You can get a backpacks with hidden wheels/handle. Really invaluable for me on my first travels. May be a little bit heavier. wakeup! is great. I had fun there. You get your free sim card. I like that idea of the packing cubes, Quoll. I'll definitely investigate that this week

Wow! that is great recap on just what I want to enjoy with my friends. I will be religious about the water as I get sick very quick. (Currently fighting off another cold/flu/cough which Ive had for about month).Did you buy bottled water or did you boil the water first before drinking?

Hi All I am going to Vietnam in December with 3 friends. I have to go just after Christmas because that's when the others can only get their holiday. So just after Christmas will be going to Hanoi and then onto Ho Chi Ming City (Saigon) via a 12/14 day trek with some hotels and food included. BUT what I want to know is which is a nice hotel to stop in Kuala Lumpur as a stopover. I was told about the Citrus hotel but the reviews are mediocre on TripAdvisor. This will be my first stay - although short - in KL and I want it to be as good. I want a nice air conditioned clean double room with views, good bathroom/toilet, a bit of a nightlife and brekkie and an area that's fairly safe at night. As usual PIOers any advice gratefully received :cool: ps. also any advice for Vietnam would be awesome too!! BEGal

Oh gawd!..I do hope you are okay! I can only state what the others are saying, but you need to take care of you. If she contacts you again refer back to the insurers and/or take notes of the conversation so you can tell your insurers. I thought everyone HAD to be insured to drive in Australia?

Hiya I don't think you will need it for farm work but you may need it for any construction work. As I'm sure others will advise, its like a health and safety awareness card. Have a look online and you will see what it does. You'll love your stay in Sydney, its very vibrant and as said before you will make friends by staying at hostels. Good luck!

Yes registering with agencies is a great idea. Also get the local papers once you are here. I think you may for the first week be getting yourself acclimatised to the area. Do you know where you will be staying? If you are looking at construction/labouring, I am sure you will need a white card. You may be able to do this online before you leave. I recommend reading various threads on this site, checking gumtree etc as a way of getting started. I'm sure others here will chip in with information. BEGal

I have to agree with Blossom and I re-iterate, you really should concentrate on getting a student visa. Dependant on the course you have at least 2-4 years together on it if you choose. I would definitely get on board with changing to a student visa for if her previous partner has advised Immigration then you have less time to get something sorted out onshore. That would be my priority. But at least you know from this forum that you have some positive options.

In my opinion, if you are living together once she has informed DIAC then you are starting a new life together. Your options are the student visa and whilst on this you or her could apply for both of you for the RR waiver. That comes with its own set of rules as you will see. Whilst you are living together you can obviously let others know of your commitment to each other, and do all the things couples usually do i.e. create a document trail, banks, wills, leases, shared monies, photos, events etc. The RR waives the 12 months you would usually need to provide to Immigration. If you have enough evidence to go forward to then change from the student visa to the de-facto then great. I would get your girlfriend to concentrate on getting the student visa, then you can look at your options as to the defacto visa. Remember that on the defacto visa, she technically has to be the 'go-to' girl. Its essentially hers to do with your support. Well thats how it was for me!!!

What can I say..I HATE THEM and have had to actually deal with one..don't know what it was but I FREAKED out.. However I've been here a few years now and have only come across 3 at home. You will come across them and you have to know what to do for yourself to keep yourself safe - my friend was really bad and would faint..so its about how you can control your fear.. My initial recommendation is to spray - don't hate me everyone - but I can't catch them or shoo them outside now. Ensure your home is sprayed by yourselves or a professional. Unfortunately you need to recognise the spiders here as obviously it can be a life/death situation if you were to get bitten. I'm in childcare and I have to be on my guard for them at all times..couldn't bear it if I had to do compression bandage first aid on a child. Usually, as most others have pointed out they want to be left alone. I usually get the boys here where I live to get them and throw them out. I only had to kill one because I was on my own in the unit and there was no way it was staying with me. I also practice my deep breathing techniques to calm myself down when I see them and try to be practical i.e. when are the flatmates home, can I manage until they arrive? - yes I know silly, but has worked so far.

..how long will it take me to learn it all!!!!

Never thought I'd say this but its time for a change. Ever since I got introduced to Australian politics I've been sick of the in-fighting. I want someone to lead the country and do the best for everyone here - yes maybe I am naive but all this bickering has really put me off. So maybe its time to change back to Tony Abbott's team. Although I like Rudd, I dont think of him as a strong leader anymore for us, the public. I also think the bickering will not stop even if he is the leader. My goodness I wish I could vote!! Anyhow the true politics is on now...Go NSW in State of Origin

http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/births-deaths-and-marriages/registeredrelationships/registering-your-relationship

Ask them how long can they hold? Obviously you will have to pay for storage. I may be wrong but it could be a customs legality as to why they need an address. Can you get family members to send items for you once you are here?

Ok that is good. You have financial stability. Well its worth going home. I imagine it is emotional support for what is happening and helping the children and that is something you will receive in bucket loads from your family and counselling services via nhs in the uk. It is good to vent (on here and with friends) but you have to do something positive with that anger that you are feeling as it will no doubt affect you and the baby. Use it to be pro-active in sorting things out here in Australia with your husband and get ready to go back to the UK and have things as ready as you can for when you return. I would probably concentrate on that the house is in your name or you get the half share, before you go, as he may change his mind. Definitely engage someone skilled in these matters. However I really feel you want to stay. Is it fair to keep uprooting the children? Is is fair to fly with a baby that needs help?Ask your parents if they can stay longer or all of you arrange for support from any services that may be available in your area. You have to get your game on girl!!

My gut feeling is that you want to stay here in Australia despite the difficulties. Once you are back in the UK it will be difficult & costly to return if that is your wish. Your amazing network of friends, DO want you to ask and I am sure that they will be able to help you every wish way they can. Can I suggest getting help from the amazing Samaritans. They are angels and I am sure if you reach out to them , then your network will be even better. The Samaritans will help you with food-banks and centre-link. If any family or friends from the UK can come over as previously suggested by Cal, then get them over. Not knowing the home situation exactly, is it possible to have the help of an au-pair with live in status only? Only a suggestion. You need to start finding out your legal rights with regard to the children, home and maintenance etc. You also need to work out access for the children in the meantime with your husband. If you can't then you definitely need to speak to someone legal.

Hi Just chipping in with a little personal knowledge from myself. Generally it has to be a full time course to be a student - as I am presuming she will now become an international student? As Rupert has said technically she only has 28 days to get another visa sorted or she will need to do it offshore and apply offshore. Being an international student is very expensive. So she should make sure she chooses a course that will be a good one for her. She has to attend and not miss any classes as the education authority has to inform DIAC. Also which state are you living in? Here in NSW you can get the 12 months living together deferred (probably not correct word in this context) if you both apply to BDMarriages Registrar office. There is paperwork, stat decs and costs with this but once you have the certificate you can apply for the defacto visa with you as the sponsor. You both still have to show that you are both living a committed lifestyle and relationship together with all that goes with it. Joint accounts, wills, rent, friends, family, photos, jobs - all those types of links. If you fulfil everything for the defacto then your girlfriend should be offered the temporary defacto visa. If you are still together after 2 years, (don't forget that you will be checked out by the Immigration people), she then has to complete the second stage. This stage is to state that you are both still in a relationship. Once this is done she is then a permanent resident. You will find other helpful threads on this site on each of the stages. Don't forget that it is she that has to be the leader in doing the paperwork and its great that you are going to help and support her. But why did her previous relationship break down? That is something I personally would be worried about.

Hi All I'd love some info, tips and advice. As you may know I have been searching for accommodation for my brother. I think I have found one but as the saying goes, if its too good to be true then .... So I have found a really good unit, good price etc via another forum/website but how do I know that the person renting it out is the legal/responsible person to be renting it out? Can I ask this person for some ID - drivers licence, etc and maybe sight some household bills in his/her name and more importantly can I ask to see/verify that they have the lease/mortgage in their name? I ask, because my friend here in Sydney moved into a shared place believing she was living with the owner and it turned out it wasn't and the house was being re-possessed. She had to leave immediately. I'd be grateful for any advice. BEGal

Oh my favourite subject!!! I know this is a bit extreme but I find all the telephone numbers that are free phone and keep calling all the different brokers until I get a good deal via skype. I refuse to pay for 0844/0870 numbers. Okay it takes me 2 days to get the best deal but its usually pretty good. This year I am flying Etihad and I booked a return for next year (always back in the UK once a year to visit family) which cost me £772 from £993. I find its better to buy from the UK as it costs a heap from Oz plus. Also I like an airline/broker that offers 30kgs - I always have heaps to bring back to Oz! ps. just loved what Fifi had to say - I'm going to try that next time BEGal

Hi All Any help, advice or networking would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for a room share in Perth and nearby surrounding areas from mid June to October for a relative. He's housebroken, clean and tidy and can take care of himself. He does want to meet people, make friends and get ideas on where to settle once he's finished his holiday there as he's over looking for work. Ideally looking for somewhere with internet/wifi, access to a pool and gym, car parking and a community feel. Also good access to train transport or buses in case he doesn't get a car. Would prefer somewhere where the its just one bill with everything included. Any hints/tips/ideas/short term/family share i.e. anything !! would be greatly appreciated. BEGal

Hiya All I can say is I went with the default super because I could not get my head around this super stuff. But now I realise that Im in the wrong one and its so hard to get it transferred to the one I want. I know you sign over paperwork but the hassle the employer gave me and the old company still take some money out is so weird and confusing for me. If you are in a particular profession..i.e. then try to use the appropriate one for your profession. I would love to find a company or service that I could go to discuss what I need but so far have had no luck..which is a bit of a bummer as I really want to have the correct superannuation for me, especially as I dont earn that much in childcare BEGal

Hi Danielle The stat decs are legal forms in Australia, so unless any family/friends have Australian PR and happen to live the UK, no they shouldn't fill them out. BUT there is no reason why any family member or friend cannot write out something similar to a stat dec or a statement and back it up with a copy of their passport. I did that with my application and I had no queries. I asked my family and friends who knew me and my partner, even my 7 year old niece did a lovely letter and drawing for me! Obviously its better if you know any Australian residents but its not something that you must have. Hope this allays some of your worries. BEGal

Hey M2M! I, like DxBoz, was not aware you were ill. However I do know that you provide invaluable advice to everyone that you can. I just hope you take our advice now: You have to try to relax and try to use your positive energies on getting better. We want you around for a long time not a short time! Take care of yourself. BEGal

Hi Weldaboy. I understand where you are coming from but I dont think its a good idea to take any of your kit as technically you would be looking for work on a holiday visa, as already pointed out. My brother is doing exactly the same as you. He's going Perth for several months to see what it holds for him but he already has PR so he can take his kit if he wants. He has tried like you to get something here in the UK before going over but as you've pointed out possible employers want to see him and for him to be there to do any weld tests. My brother is also thinking of staying to do any courses that will update his skills. As already pointed out, it may be better to spend your monies and energies into getting the visa you require. If I come up with any other ideas or info I will PM you. BEGal