scuffythetugboat

Make a list for yourself, detailing everything you want to find at the other end and keep it. There's no need to go into detail as removers just list most things as 'household goods'. The items that AQIS are interested in like wood, shoes and bikes should be in separate boxes and noted on your AQIS forms.

You are spot on really. I'm only here for the money and when I've got enough I'm off.

Is everyone suddenly back in work then?

Be prepared to be disappointed and in some cases shocked by what you'll get for your money. A house in good condition with a pool in the Sutherland area for $600 will be be a miracle. There would be a viewing queue all the way to the harbour bridge to see it.

I can't say anything about your specific skills but Perth has a history of boom and bust and although it has been booming for a while the inevitable will come. In the meantime people from all around the world have been pouring in here assuming that employers are desperate for their particular skills only to find that it's not that simple. Perth is full to the brim with all types of skilled people and more arrive every week so eventually the balance will tip. Manufacturing and mining are suffering and although the LNG game have some projects on the go (all at the same time) it will become quiet in about 3-5 years in that game as well unless more projects are given the green light. Employers don't like a shortage of skilled workers they're happier when there's a surplus.

With regards to moving your stuff over, we got quotes to move 13m3 from Newcastle NSW to Perth and was given quotes around $3000 so for the same price we shipped it all back to England. It is the same as migrating again.

You would have to know a bit about cars to be looking at one in that price bracket, otherwise you may get caught out. NSW have a yearly inspections on cars and in my experience they're quite strict with the testing.

On the ABC news site today in the WA local news section under the heading Mining investment boom over, a BIS Shrapnel chief economist says that the boom is an orderly decline and will be over the decade. For anyone that has lived in Perth when a bust arrives it's not good news. My brother lost his job last week and the reason given was because of the downturn in the mining game. Although not directly employed by a mining company his work depended on them so the ripples will be felt far and wide.

Stamp duty must be taken into the equation as it's around $18,000 on a $500,000 house. A lot of money to throw away if you move on in 6 to 12 months.

From what I've been told you start off with a good credit rating and then it's up to you to keep it that way.

6G is the standard test. The material, sizes and thicknesses depend on the job. Most of them are TIG or TIG and FCAW or MMA but once again it depends on the job requirement. Structural tests can involve various plate tests. But as l said, at your age you can afford to just throw yourself at any job that comes along to get experience. Best of luck.

Hi Taylor, Fluxcore is the go over here but with your training you should be ok. If you can get yourself over here and get stuck in you will find your own way whether you want to work in workshops or on site, structural or piping. I came over at your age without any information or advice and got on alright. If you're keen enough you'll get on.

Is it April the 1st?

Hi Marc, according to the Department of Transport website, as you are on a working holiday visa, you can drive using your UK license, providing it is valid, in all the classes you are qualified for.

I would open it anyway.

Having sent your letter from the UK on the 15th of December it can take up to 3 weeks to be delivered over here. Add to that the time of year it may take longer. The ATO are not famed for speed if it's anything out of the ordinary. No amount of geeing up will help. I had to wait 8 months to get my return sorted out 2 years ago, and that was with using an accountant in Australia. It is usually best to lodge a final return before departing using a local accountant. You will just have to be patient.

It's a fact that sharks live in the sea and human beings have evolved to live on land. When a human being goes into the water and is attacked by a shark I can't see why the shark is in the wrong.

Why on earth do you want to emigrate to Australia if you have a good lifestyle in the UK and you are not affected by the recession? You actually seem to have the life that most seek when they migrate here. Personally l am only here for work and as soon as l have enough money I'm out of here (Perth) and l don't think l'm alone. And it does rain in Australia, sometimes like you've never seen before and also it gets cold in the winter.

Bulk billing is what the medical practitioner does to Medicare. Each procedure or item such as a doctors appointment has what is called a schedule fee which is the amount of money that medicare will pay for each item. For example, my doctor charges $60 for a visit, l pay the $60 and claim back $35(l think) from Medicare. So a visit to my doctor costs me $25. A bulk billing doctor or any other medical practitioner only charges the Medicare fee for each procedure so you do not pay anything providing you have a Medicare card.

Every boom has a bust. WA is having a very large boom at the moment with mining and LNG projects on the go but give it 3 to 4 years when the LNG jobs come to an end then the bust will surely happen.

To add to the previous post. I was once told that Perth is a sandy graveyard by the sea (not my words).

With reference to the "old people" bit I can assure you that being older by no means makes Perth a better place to be. We have been here 5 months and I can assure you that our feelings for the place are the same as yours.

Stuff them. You're just a number to them. We all are. When we moved out of our property we were charged $40 just to read the meter. They make more than enough money to worry about the odd one that doesn't pay.

The boom in WA has naturally attracted a lot of people from around the world, but as they keep coming the job vacancies will eventually be filled and then there will a surplus. So as jobs are advertised they are quickly taken. I've noticed a sharp drop off in adverts for my trade in the last month and it's nowhere near christmas yet. It could be a minor glitch but the boom will not last forever.

Only at the present time. Watch this space in 5 years time.