benj1980

Yes you keep your other driving licence, although that will you do when it expires?!

Scary stats (if that's the right wording!) Presumably such multiculturalism is prominent in the big cities?

Therapeutic yes, it gives you a sense that you are doing something constructive. The little extra cash is helpful it may pay for something... I managed to sell both my cars the day before we flew out which was obviously fortunate for us. I had 'we buy any car' on standby! We managed to get money back from our shipping as we over estimated what we would end up taking. We bought various things second hand and cheaply over here and have slowly been replacing certain things but kept some of it as well. Fantastic Furniture is great as a starter, maybe not long term.

Hi @Big girl I see you're in my neck of the woods, how's it all going? Anything you are stuck with? I can't help with NatWest!

It's just scary people have A) been desperate enough to do this and B) lost so much as a consequence.

You have a 3 month grace period to switch over so don't stress about driving licence.

There's SmartTeach and TES are trying to make strides into teacher recruitment in Oz. Generally school websites (if private) and the state recruitment sites have jobs advertised. However many schools won't take you seriously until you walk through the door with a CV.

Can't say I miss family and friends too much, I'm not that sort of bloke. With social media as it is I don't have any pining to go back any time soon. I'm fortunate enough to have family desperate to visit which is great, but I'm just as keen to see them leave as well as they disrupt our routines! I was surprised by the amount of paperwork you get through when you first arrive, I thought I had done plenty before we left but that was just the start. I just miss a good Cornish pasty...

@Lanky Lad feedback is basically what I have read and have heard. Can't say I agree with it all but no doubt in some places it is like that!

Age discrimination at it's finest! Over 35's dont do drugs or drink and have no children to be concerned about?!

Love the post, nothing like my experience but find it hilarious!

There seems to be less Jet skis for sale is that a good indication?

I message my family more than anything. I'm on family whatsapp groups and it means I wake up 50-100 of trivial tripe text messages, but I can't complain that I'm not in the loop!

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/earlychildhood/detcms/school-support-programs/early-childhood-education/home/calculator.en?oid=Article-id-11572345 Hopefully this helps...

I understand the concerns as I had the same coming over but as @Quollsuggests, they'll be fine as soon as they start school. If they seem to working at a higher level in Oz than their year suggests they'll end up in an accelerated class (I would hope!) My concern was the grades that my son received last year. Basically he was below average in some areas and that wasn't the case in the UK, but the reality is the curriculum's have different emphasises and now he looks like he is making remarkable progress, but in reality he's simply learning the areas that are being assessed.

Nah it's all good...

You know what season July is over here right?

You'll find that most people you meet can trace back their migration story be it, themselves, parents or grandparents so to be honest there is a subtle connection. Aussies are used to migrants unless they are indigenous they come from a family of them at some point! As others had said, if you join the local groups, go to the local clubs and speak to other parents at school you'll make new friends!

Ouch!

Sorry to butt in but I'm intrigued, is the spouse visa route much different to Australia's then?

We weren't asked to show evidence in terms of a lease however had a bank letter addressed to our friends house. It was an electronic type letter that we actually printed off from our internet banking. That said schools will have different policies and processes, we may have simply been lucky?

It costs us $20 for two of us to go to the cinema here, therefore Perth must be nearly twice as expensive as Mandurah!

Absolutely, you'll end up with people simply speculating. Unless of course someone was in the exact same problem from India (maybe). AITSL are very strict on their criteria and they won't care what experience you have or the schools you have taught at I'm afraid. They focus on your entry into teaching qualifications primarily although you can gain extra points for experience if successful.

Good luck! I know a few who have transferred from the Navy but they had specific submarine experience but none from the Army, hope it all works out!

Glad it worked out for you, there seems to be plenty of teachers who have made the transition successfully. Through local networking events and CPD I've been amazed by the amount of Pom teachers around.