Jlew

We're in the process of doing our own. Lots of great info on this site as well as the skills select and the site of the state you would like to apply to. We just started a blank word document and kept the snippets of info there we found useful which is now a to do list in effect for us. Skills assessment was the long part for us, but thankfully done. No reason, in my view, why you can't complete yourself. Good luck

Difficult one this. After what seemed like forever, we now have the skills assessment complete and in the hand. While all that's been getting sorted out, my brother has announced he's getting married in September 15. Really can't justify, or afford, to come back for it, and we missed my other brothers wedding years back due to the arrival of our son, do cant miss this one. So, waiting til later in the year to get the visa with the plan being to fly out after the wedding. All good stuff, but the waiting reaks real havoc with the mind, wondering if we should still go etc, should we just apply now and go. We'll still go, but man alive its tough!! our plan those is to hopefully have enough money gathered together to give us 6 months living expenses without necessarily needing a job. We will of course be looking, but the hope is that this will take some of the stress out of things. Time will tell though..

Only flown to australia once as a family of 4, and we used Emirates. Great experience. Flown emirates enconomy with work a few times and always been good.

Yeah, this is true. Interestingly, my parents told us that it was us keeping them in the area, and actually if we make the move it would give them the freedom to move elsewhere too. Never quite sure of the position others are in

Difficult one this, and is something that plays on my mind somewhat in relation to the move. I keep coming back to thinking that nobody knows what's in store for any of us, and if you always worry about the unknown "what ifs", you wouldn't do anything all. I think it's something that you have to go and do if you want to. You can always reassess in the future if you need to through changing circumstances.

We did a reccie trip 2 years ago, but the purpose of our trip was to see if we wanted to move or not. I've always been keen, but my family wanted to have a look first which was undertandable. The trip confirmed we wanted to move. We're now trudging our way through the skills assessment and visa process which is taking some time. We had planned to get the visa sorted, then head out on a trip to validate, but when we worked out the numbers, decided best to put that money towards the move. Certainly an expensive business all this . reccie trip is a great idea, but if you've already decided you're going, that money would go along way towards the actual move.

All in the timing. Could you arrange with the buyer for them to collect it the day you leave or some other suitable time to you?

That's a fantastic price!!

Thanks for all the replies. Thought I was on to a winner there, but looks like the airport is cheapest by about 120 AUD rather than another location. Big car rented from the airport is the best option I think.

Just a case of hiring a big enough car for all the suitcases? Probably cheaper to go bigger and pay slightly more rental cost than to get a taxi. Also, I expect its no different to arriving on holiday with 4 adult suitcases. I think im Thinking too much about the small things...

Possibly a bit of a daft question, but getting some of our plans in place (loosely) for the move. Our plan is to hire a car for the first couple of weeks until we buy one, and intended to pick it up at the airport. 4 of us travelling and we'll no doubt be maxing our baggage allowance. Don't want to get too big a car, so just wondering how people have done it? Taxi to the short term accommodation then picked car up, jammed the cases into the car and gone with it, or something else?

A couple we knows parents eventually moved out as well. You never know, and you can't force your dreams on others, but they could spend a good bit of time with you each year by heading out too, even just for extended holidays.

It's certainly a very difficult part of the process. My folks have been ok so far, but the in-laws aren't so. One of the many hurdles to work through for the move. That said, if you consider all the 'what ifs' of any big change, house move, chance of job, having kids etc, you simply just wouldn't do anything.

Thanks for the input folks

All part of the adventure that is life! Best of luck with your plans to return to Oz.

for us part of the lifestyle element for our kids will be the sense of adventure, experiencing something new, and the appreciation when they're older that pretty much anything's possible if you put your mind to it.

Working through various options for work when we move. One option is to potentially continue to work for my current employer for a period of time effectively from our new home in Melbourne. The question is really around the tax implications. If the company continued to pay me as normal as if i was in the UK, and i then take care of the money transfer on a monthly basis from the UK to Australia, what would the associated tax implications be? Would i pay tax on the salary in the UK, and then just transfer it across, receive the salary gross in the UK and then pay tax in Australia following transfer, pay tax in both countries (hopefully not!) or something else? I'm sure someone must have done this so just looking for some thoughts / advice please. :smile:

This was a nice post to see. Our boy was a rescue dog and we got him when he was around 6 months old. He's now 14, in great health and such a cool dude. We would love to bring him with us next year, and it's nice to know that older dogs have made the trip too. We are very realistic about the prospects though given he'll be another 18mths older by the time we fly out.

Keeping plugging away at it. It can be a very long journey, but it will be worth it. We did a reccie trip around Easter of 2012, decided we would emigrate, and we're still just dealing with the skills assessment element (partly our fault). We'll get there though!

Was that adults each, or including children as well? We're expecting to pay around £1k for our family of 4 which is 2 adults and 2 children under 12.

That's a great start to life in Oz - congrats!!

That's perfect, and a relief, thank you!

Our long winded application process continues. My wife will be the main applicant. We're working through the skills assessment process and should be complete in the next few weeks or so. Our plan was to head out on a validation trip this year but this has now changed to moving out to Victoria straight after my brother gets married in September 2015 as we can't miss this. Our plan is to now complete the skills aassessment now and then complete EOI and visa application later in the year so that September 15 is within the 12month window to enter the country following the visa award (if I have this right?). the question I have those is the IELTS element. The test was completed on 01 December 2012 and I understand it has a validity of two years. Does it need to be valid when we submit the EOI or when we submit our visa application following receipt of an invitation? It's an 8.5 score and would prefer not to resit.

got it set up to record too. to be honest, i always fast forward the video from home bits. I'm sure it makes good tv, but i'm interested in seeing where they are looking, some of the house options etc. Quite liked Phil Spencers's secret agent down under. it was pretty good.

Could be an option. Thanks, will have a look