Emma132

That's terrible "Happy Heart" I hope Tilly is getting better. My cat was killed a few years ago by a greyhound lurcher that escaped from its house so I know exactly how you feel. Even though she was microchipped the owners had dumped her body in a black rubbish bin on their garage floor, I only found out what happened as someone witnessed the attack and pointed me in the right direction. Another cat was killed in the area a week later with the greyhound/lurcher owner walking off with the cat and ignoring the neighbours shouts to bring it back. Some pet owners are completely irresponsible. Big hugs for Tilly.

My 2 cats are booked into quarantine in August 2014 and we've already paid the invoice. If prices are to go up from July 2014 I hope we're not going to be asked to pay the extra!

Do they sell free range in Australia?

Just incase you haven't seen them this websites - it might help with organising import certificates and import tax, along with other costs, in Australia. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/quiz/index.aspx http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4371.asp#2ndHandVechicle

Haha! Yes! that does make Dave look better! Although Gary like to drink from the sink too. Hope yours don't try and come for kisses when they've been drinking out of toilet - yuck!

Since this thread has changed from "Show us yer pets" to "Cute photos of our beloved pets" I feel like a fraud. Dave could never be described as "cute" but he is very much loved. :-)

Dave - with a catnip hangover this morning and Gary - sleeps anywhere as long as it's not his basket. Both flying to Melbourne in July.

:wacko:I found it really difficult to find info too. We were going to ship both of our cars to Melbourne when we go in July but then found that it just wasn't worth the cost. If it's subsidised for you it might be worth it. We were quoted an extra £2000 for one car (if it was going in a 20ft container with our furniture) and then another £1200 if were taking 2 cars (40ft container). This seems worth it until you add up the costs below. Also I have read a few reports that imports are more difficult to insure and I also read that they are worth less when you sell as people are more wary of imports - how accurate that is I don't know. We considered taking one car that we really wanted to keep but at around £5,750 to ship/import and without an idea of insurance costs we've decided to sell in the UK and buy when we get there. The following are additional fixed costs in Australia: Import Permit $50 Quarantine Inspection $300 Steam clean car $500 (apparently most cars they insist on steam cleaning so not worth having in done before hand in the UK) MOT and registration $1100 Import taxes are: 5% import duty on the value of your car plus how much you spent shipping it. http://www.redbook.com.au/ can give you an estimate on the value. PLUS 10% GST (goods and services tax) on the value of your car plus how much you spent shipping it. The following might be useful to you: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4371.asp#duty http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/import/vehicles-machinery/motor-vehicles Good luck!

this might help: http://www.scambook.com/company/view/85003/Easy-Freight

Thanks for the update, glad your girlfriend has finally secured a job, permanent as well! It's good to hear that there is cover teaching work as I'll be coming over next August and will be looking to do this while I apply for positions. Good luck to your girlfriend, I hope she enjoys her new school!

Agencies: Smart teachers ANZUK Tradewinds Try https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.searchResults?in_organid=14904&in_jobDate=All&in_multi01_id=1108&in_skills=teacher too. It lists some state school vacancies.

Thanks for taking the time to share Millie, that's really useful info for me too. I teach science so I'm hoping that there will be something available, I might need to try private schools though as my husband's job will probably be based in the CPD. Although if I'm offered supply work it might be a good way of seeing what the different schools are like. Thanks again, Emma

Hi Anni, I've been teaching for 18 years but still had to apply for provisional registration. I can't remember the exact rules but you can only apply for full QCT registration when you've been teaching in Queensland/Australia for a year. If you "pass" the year then you can apply for full registration. I'd love to know how you get on as I'm trying to find a job for the start of their year in January - although being in the UK is difficult. Failing that I think we might move later on in the year. The registration came through a little over the 4 week deadline; it took 5 weeks so don't worry too much if it's a bit late. Emma

Thanks for taking the time to share, it's useful and encouraging to hear that someone has been successful!

Good to see that you got a job! If I remember you were looking in ICT? Was it via a recruitment agency or direct to a company? ​

"....don't like anything yappy or with a hairy face." :biglaugh: Made me laugh for ages Eera. Does that include men? Chortlepuss, your cat was probably not handled enough as a kitten before you had him. Although I think that cats and other animals are like people - those that love company, those that need constant love and attention, those that are loners, those that are mad, those that are grumpy etc I like dogs but couldn't commit to walk them everyday or pick up warm pieces of cXXX either! :arghh: Blossom 79 - I had a cat who was shot. No idea who or where - it came to light when he got older and thinner, thought it was a tumour but turned out to be a pellet next to his spine. He'd lived in a few places before coming to us so could have happened before we had him.

When I met my husband he had 2 cats, I think that clinched the deal for me! He is a massive softie towards all animals and I like that about him.

DMJG, it's good to hear from someone from the UK that's teaching Science in Australia, that's helpful information. Thanks for the info too Quoll, at least with lots of teachers it should mean that there's good quality teaching. Thanks both for spending the time to share.

Sorry to hear about your position Alexandgail. Hopefully things can only get better for you. As edonnelly says I would just go for it, at least get your visa and then it gives you time to think about what you really want to do. Maybe you should follow that advice too edonnelly?! I think if we're all considering moving when Oz is more expensive to live, there's a poor exchange rate, few jobs etc then we must really want to go! My husband's job is normally in a city so I'm stuck to working at a school within about 90min drive of where he gets a job (hopefully Brisbane as my sister and family live there). I think it might take ages for him to get a job though so I'm starting to think about applying for a few jobs and see what happens. At the moment we're hoping that one of us will have a job before we go. This is what the Queensland site says about subjects in demand: http://education.qld.gov.au/hr/recruitment/teaching/current-vacancies.htm The file that you can scroll down and open has a few science positions that they are struggling to fill. I don't know if there's something similar for NSW etc Wolvesaussie - as Head of Science at an "outstanding" school it's always amazing how few candidates apply for science teaching posts and also the poor quality of some of the applicants. I can't imagine your girlfriend having a problem if she returned to the UK. It would be interesting to see how everyone gets on, or not as the case may be!!

It hasn't sounded easy from the start Quoll, it's understandable what you say but also frustrating. I can see me spending hours applying for jobs that are not really vacant. It would be good to have a website with "these jobs are for anyone not having worked in Australia before and from employers who would be willing to consider you when you are not in the country"! ;-)

At the moment I'm starting to look at various science teaching positions and hoping to move out this year. There do seem to be science vacancies around and not in remote locations either. I've been looking at Queensland. There seem to be quite a few Head of Science positions advertised here for Queensland: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.jobsearch?in_organid=14904 I don't know how many people will apply though so it's difficult to tell if there's a demand or not. You might find the following helpful too: http://www.smartteachers.co.uk/contact http://www.teachers.on.net/ http://education.qld.gov.au/hr/recruitment/teaching/current-vacancies.html It's worth bearing in mind that the start of the school year is end of January so looking towards the end of the year might give you a more realistic idea of how many jobs there are.

Hi ScottishStacey, Lucky Eric to have two loving homes! Thanks for the advice, every time they go to the vets I spray the carrier with Feliway spray (they wont wear collars) but it makes no difference. Maybe it's like catnip - only effects some cats.

I think there are people who can't understand why you take them and those, that have pets, who understand why you do. Everyone's going to have a different opinion and you have to do what's right for you and your pet. I'm taking my two cats, Dave and Gary, with me when I go later this year. Me and husband couldn't leave them but I am worrying about the flight and the month in jail. The pair of them freak out when I take them to the vets and it's only a couple of min drive away! Of the whole move it's the thing that is worrying me the most. One loves the sunshine and rarely goes out when it's cold and the other is very clingy to me and so they both need to come with us...but too be honest, however you try and justify it, we just couldn't leave them behind. As long as you are making the right decision for you and your pet then ignore what others say.

Moving around August time, seems a bit unreal at the moment as loads to organise. Good luck everyone!

I don't see what is out of order. I'm just giving my opinion and adding to what he has said, the same as Alan has of mine and other posts. Two people like my post so it was obviously useful. Alan called somebody condescending earlier on, the post was fair, you didn't comment on that.