Geordielass44

Hi thanks for the reply and the advice.I've had a look at a few properties to rent at all of the above locations....very lovely!! My husband doesnt like living too far from where he works due to shifts so Edgehill looks a good possibility. (Though it seems quite close to the suburbs beginning with M?) is there a particular nursing agency he should register with? Thanks again!

Thanks for replying. As our daughter isnt coming with us but staying in the UK for university we are a bit freer to travel and explore Australia - we looked at Brisbane due to the university. We hope to move around but like the idea of Cairns as a start - having lived in Botswana previously the climate and lifestyle should be fine. Sounds like it could be a goer!!Any suggestions of suburbs, areas to consider etc would be great!

Hi myself and OH are hoping to make the final move over at the end of 2015.... We really liked Brisbane but we also like the possibility of moving further north specifically Cairns. I am a secondary school teacher but i have specialised in Special Needs Education with experience working with children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. I have 15 years experience in this area as well as qualifications up to Masters level. My OH is a nurse - he changed careers in his early 40's and will have 2 years experience by the time we arrive. (Degree in Adult Nursing) Its sounding like a CV now but ..... I am wondering if anyone in Cairns knows about potential future job prospects in education/health for us both? :biggrin: (We have PR)

Hi we live in Staffordshire....in a 1930's semi...family of 3 we pay electricity £35 a month gas £65 a month water £52 a month for 8 months council tax £132 a month for 10 months petrol - varies but now £1.30 a litre public transport - no idea as we all have cars medical - NHS!!! But do pay £13 a month for private dentist (thats for me and my daughter) prescription charges - £7 + now for each prescription mobile - for 3 of us with i phones £90 (contracts with vodaphone) internet - £60 includes sky tv (not sports or movies) and line rental TV licence - about £13.50 a month Life insurance - again no idea house buildings and contents insurance - £15 a month pet insurance - £36 (we have a dachshund so have top cover in case she has any problems with her back) Groceries - we spend £100 plus a week (far too much) Car insurance - £16 (a month) for me £20 (a month) for hubby - both business cover too (we are in our mid -40's) my daughter is 17 insured on her first car this was £1200 for the year Road tax - citroen c3 is about £135 a year, hubby has a van £240 a year and daughter a corsa £180 a year i pay union fees too (teacher) £40 a quarter Hope this is helpful!!!!

I got a PR visa for my daughter without needing anything at all from her 'biological' father - he is not named on her birth certificate and has had little contact with her. It wasnt a problem at all.

We had a similar dilemma - after validating our permanent residence visa last year my daughter decided Australia isn't for her at the moment. We are staying in the UK so she can complete her A levels and start University this year. The fees in Australia even with PR were too expensive for us and she can access all the loans in the UK. We still have over 3 years before our visa expires and i think we will only leave her when she is totally settled and happy at Uni. I am hoping we can get RRV's for her as she will still be in the UK studying when the PR expires but as she said its her visa and she needs to make the choice. It isn't going to be easy leaving her but on balance - for her - it is the best option.

Hi I'm a secondary history teacher originally but i have mainly spent my career working as a SENCo at a secondary school (5years) and then as a Behaviour Support Teacher (nearly 9 years) In my role at present i work with schools from Nursery to Secondary advising and supporting staff around EBSD. Really not sure what I will look for in Australia job wise. I have a lot of experience working with children on the autistic spectrum so that may be the ideal next step. I did see jobs for Behaviour Support Teachers advertised in Brisbane when i was there last year too. Any other SEN teachers out there?

Well we have been back for 2 weeks from our validation trip to Brisbane - what an amazing time we had too! We flew from Manchester to Singapore with Singapore airlines and the flight was fine (i am not a fan of flying but the 15 hours went quickly - short stop in Munich on the way) We stayed in Singapore for 4 days and loved every second of it! What a fabulous place! And hot! My daughter loves noodles/rice/sushi etc and was in her element! We ate in the food courts in shopping centres and the choice was incredible! It is also the cleanest place i have ever been! After a few days exploring and downing an obligatory Singapore sling in Raffles long bar we boarded our flight to Brisbane. 8 hours later we were met at the airport by an old school friend i had not seen for over 20 years which was great! We booked into our apartment in Spring Hills (excellent accomodation and not too expensive) and went off to explore....We had a fab 8 days and went to the Gold Coast (mmmm not sure) the Sunshine Coast (liked!!) and explored Brisbane! My friend and her husband took us to Springwood (?) i think national forest for a 4km walk on one of the days! Apart from nearly killing me the views were beautiful and the ocassional need to remove leeches from our legs all added to the adventure! I loved all the birds and wildlife....sitting eating a picnic we were joined by 4 kookaburra, a kangaroo and a metre and a half long monitor lizard! we had a great day out at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary too! We shopped in Coles and Woolworths and found them expensive like everyone else when exchanging pounds to dollars. However on our return did a Tesco shop here that made my eyes water when i was given the total....i think eating out in Oz is a lot. We took our daughter out to a Japanese restaurant in Brisbane for her 17th birthday and it was over £100 for one main each and one drink. But it was a lovely place and the food was good too and ot was her birthday! Then we came back to the Uk....34 hour trip from door to door wasnt great....quite a turbulent flight on the way back (both flights) which has probably cured my fear of flying! After six hours i gave up being scared!! Sooooooo our plans now.....well i think our daughter will go to Uni in the Uk....and we will leave her after she has settled in....Main reasons are that we may not get work in Brisbane (and if we dont settle in Oz for whatever reason) at least i know she will be ok in the Uk.....the Oz dream is ours and may not be hers....she will stll have time to move to Oz if she wants after her degree as the visa is valid until 2017.... As for us....hubby will get a years experience in nursing when he qualifies next year.....we are deciding what to do with our belongings..probably sell the lot and use a move cube to send smaller items and clothes...put the house on the market next year and then set a date for the big move...probably mid 2015... ​ And we have decided we are going to go overland to Singapore then fly to Brisbane! Has anyone else done this?we are looking at the trans-mongolian express to Beijing then trains to Singapore? So that is us really!! A little bit clearer about our plans after our trip and looking forward to going back! :biggrin:

Going for the recce in April...only have 8 days...was all we could get...validate the visa...have a look around...meet up with friends....then back to UK to make the big decisions....off to Brisbane by the way....first time in Oz....bit nervous about the lack of time but at least the visa will be validated....not sure if i could have just upped and moved (and i have done that plenty of times before - this will be 6th country...but maybe i am getting old!)

Hi I did my pgce with the ou and it was recognised by AITSL - got our visa last October. Good luck

. Did you get the PR on your skills? Hi Ali i have just seen this message. Yes we got the PR based on my skills - i am a secondary school teacher but specialised in Special Educational Needs. Not sure how easy it will be to get a job but i have lots of experience including working with children with autism, running a Nursery school in Botswana for 2 years, managing the SEN department in a secondary school and a position an advisor on how to support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs within mainstream education....not all at the same time though!! About 22 years experience but still concerned about the job situation for me. Hence the hope hubby would get the job and i would look for employment after....was hoping it would be more straighforward for him but we will have to wait and watch the situation. Made slightly more tricky as daughter is due to go to Uni here next year - she had thought about taking a Gap year and applying to Uni to start in Jan 2016....which gives us 3 years maximum....But would give hubby chance to get 12 months plus experience under his belt...

Hi Ali. I think it is worth him applying and we will plan around both possibilities. He is loving the course and at 43 it is a totally new career path for him (after 25 years working as an engineer on the railways here!) although it is early days he is particularly interested in occupational health.

He has permanent residence and there are other things to consider (age/ daughter etc) so we want to get over asap. There have been quite a few Newly Qualified Nurses who have previously gained places on the programme without PR status. He will give it a go because its open to him to do so ......

[ Would a year's experience working in the UK make him less or more employable in your opinion? Sorry i think thats probably straightforward to answer! I think we will have no choice if he doesnt get on the graduate programme. :smile:

Thanks Ali and Johndoe for your replies. My husband is going to apply for the graduate programme to see if he can get on it - nothing ventured nothing gained and all that! However if unsucessful will do as initially suggested and complete his first year here. Now we have PR and will be out in April for our recce we are thinking dates etc for our big move - 2 years (preferable) or 3......:swoon: johndoe are the nurses who get onto the scheme gaining employment at the end or are all recent graduates regardless of getting on the scheme struggling? Would a year's experience working in the UK make him less or more employable in your opinion?

Hi we have got PR visa with myself (teacher) as main applicant. My husband will finish his degree in Adult Nursing next June in the UK. He is planning to apply for a place on the Graduate Nursing programme in Queensland but we were wondering at what point he can/should be applying to APHRA? Thanks for any advice! (plus will he need to do the IELTS test?)

Hi Cal thanks for the info. I think we will probably spend 4 nights in Brisbane to look at University for my daughter and hubby is trying to get contacts about nursing opportunities. I think my looking for a job will be governed by that. Really just want to get a feel for the place - areas, food and living costs etc etc. Also want to see a lot ( my husband keeps telling me its not a holiday..) but have a teenager who needs to experience what is on offer so she is a bit happier about the move. Is there anywhere that is a must do? I love the thought of exploring the Hinterlands and really want to see Koalas!! Thanks again (ps one person has said not to bother with a car as public transport is so good...we are on a tight budget but not sure if trains/buses for 3 travelling from Central Station every day if we stayed in brisbane for the entire 8 nights would work out cheaper than a car and staying in motels for the other 4 nights....

We have just the visa and are now planning the recce trip as not making the move until 2014... I really need some advice! We are arriving in Brisbane on the 2nd April and we have until the 10th to have a look around! So a few questions 1 do we need a car to get around Brisbane and surrounding areas or can we depend on public transport? 2 we plan to spend a few days in Brisbane but would like to explore the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast...thinking 2 nights at each?? Is that doable and also could i have any recommended bed and breakfasts in both areas? 3 can anyone suggest an itinerary so we get to see the best of Brisbane and surrounding areas in 8 days!?? Please!! Thanks in anticipation!!

hiya I am organising the whole thing through Trailfinders. They are excellent and would highly recommend them! At the moment everything is reserved....just need the visa!! We looked at hotels and car hire but the motor home works out cheaper - I am trying to find sites which have good public transport links so we can park up and go off for the day....Sooooo exciting! Good luck with visa etc xx

Hi we are doing the same thing! We have to go at the end of March(work/uni commitments) and we have only 2 weeks. I have got prices including 3 nights in Singapore (just have to!) and 9 days in Brisbane (around £5500)We have decided to hire a motor home and spend a few days in Brisbane then head to the Sunshine Coast then down to the Gold Coast! There is so much to see I am struggling putting together any sort of itinerary! We also have a 16 year old (turning 17 on holiday) to consider! Its so exciting (just hope our meds finalised this week!! -and visa issued!) When are you thinking about making the move for good? We want to look at the various areas but where we end up will probably be determined where my hubby (nurse to be) gets a job! I am a Special Needs teacher but not surewhat the chances are of continuing to teach when we get there so hubby gets the job first (hopefully)... hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread! Tracy

Thanks everyone for your replies. Queensland Uni have confirmed that her A at GCSE will meet the Year 12 English requirement. She needs Biology and Chemistry at A level and Maths to AS (though she will take it to A level). She has decided to take the English Lit AS level (which also meets Year 12 requirements) as she wants to take a Gap year in the USA before joing us in Oz and it would be a more recent qualification if that makes sense. They are planning changes to their Medicine programme and have suggested aletrnative routes. i think she will be taking a Science degree - her interest is genetics which they do offer. :-) (now just waiting for the visa!!)

Thanks Bob1 i am going to contact qtac. Competition to get onto medicine is tough in the UK too - i think she is happy to start/do a Science degree and then try to get into medicine if she still wants to try (we have friends in UK and South Africa who have done this to get into Medicine) - we will have to see and she has decided to go to USA to work for a year after A levels now too! We hope to be over by 2014/15 at the latest with my daughter joining us in July 2015 so she wouldnt start til Jan 2016! I have never planned ahead so much in my life!! Just hoping to cover all the bases and hope entrance requirements dont change too much in the next 3 years! (and i had better start saving!)

Hi thanks for all the replies and links! Just to clarify my daughter will be doing her A levels in the UK in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. What she is unsure of is whether she needs to do an A level in English or whether an AS level will be sufficient. She has opted to take English Literature as she is unable to fit English Lit/Lang into the option blocks. I have found information stating that an AS level is fine for the Maths requirement (though she will do it to A level) and that her A level Biology and Chemistry will be equivalent to Year 12 - it is the English requirement which is confusing us! her GCSE results were A* or A's. I will call the University if i dont hear from my e mails in the next day or two. I have e mailed admissions for clarification. :-)

Thanks for the replies. Hi i am not too worried about the fees as we will pay for her and she will work too to help. I would rather pay there than the ridiculous fees they are charging in the Uk now. If she does science i believe it is the lowest of the fee bands anyway (less than 4K Oz dollars) ..... But do tell me if i am wrong!?!?! I have asked the uni to confirm whether an AS level in English Literature will be enough to meet Year 12 English requirements. I hope it is as she loves her maths and science and will not be happy having to do English for an extra year!