petersloan

Eastern Europeans...

Our situation is this, We have three young kids. Our little girl is 5 and she has scoliosis which is a slight curve of the spine. She wears a plaster vest 24 hrs a day and this is changed every 4 months or so as she grows. If it works she will need a single operation when she is a teenager to prevent further curvature. We have two boys 4 & 3 who are diagnosed ASD. Both are mild/ moderate but will require specialist education in their primary years at least. We don't want to go through the whole process only to fall short on the medical. Has anyone had their medicals done first before putting a lot of money into the process? I've contacted an agent regarding info but to be honest most just quote costs for eligibility etc etc and all we want is to know whether the medicals can be done first? Any help is much appreciated and apologies but my "enter" button doesn't appear to be working :wacko::biggrin: Thanks Peter

Grand National Day...., The day when people become either a betting expert or an animal rights activist

Hey guys, I recently sent an email to the Australian Immigration people. We are a family, myself 36 (carpenter) wife 35 (teacher) and three kids 5,3 & 2. My daughter has scoliosis which causes a slight curve to the spine. She will need to wear a brace until she's a teenager where an operation will be carried out to maintain her spine. My two boys are both diagnosed ASD (Autism) The reply I recieved from the Australian government said that a medical will be carried out by a doctor who will assess each person and put a figure on their medical costs to the tax payer. We have plenty there on our plates and are wondering if there is any point in putting money into the application process just to fall at the last hurdle? The two boys are mild/moderate and are progressing well. There is legislation due to be changed by the government to look at each case on its individual merits as opposed to each child with ASD falling under the "Rainman" umbrella. My wife teaches special needs so the boys are in good hands at home which apparently stands us in good favour also. I think it would break our hearts to go through the whole process to be denied at the very end whilst I understand the need to consider considerable costs to Aussie tax payers. (I wish here was as considerate to it's tax payers regarding immigration) Anyone any experience of our situation? Should we try it and face whatever comes our way? We would love to make the move as we know it would give all the kids a better life but at the end of the day it won't be the end of the world and they'll get the best we can give them here at home. Cheers guys Peter

Even if that shower managed to take you to court, the judge would see that you have been paying an agreed amount and tell them to bugger off!! It's hard to take the knickers of a bare arse, so I'd be telling them to come and have a go!! Bankers demanding money from you!!?? Ya couldn't make it up!!

Yeah it was George who I contacted and in reality I'm really just thinking of the cost of an agent. In the bigger picture it's a small price to pay if the process is handled correctly with all the t's crossed and i's dotted. I was just wondering if anyone had attempted it themselves in a similar situation and how they got on.. Cheers for your reply!! Peter

Hey guys, theres probably been a million of these posted but I'm wondering what people in a similar situation would do or have done? I'm 36 a time served carpenter with 15 yrs experience and also a qualified tree surgeon/ arborist with four years at that. My wife who will be main applicant is a special needs teacher with 15 years under her belt. We have three young children Erin 5, Jude 3, and Rory 2. Erin has a slight scoliosis (twist of the spine) she wears a plaster vest 24hrs a day and this is changed every 4 months as she grows. She will need one operation in her teens to reinforce the job the plaster vest has done throughout her childhood. She will lead a perfectly normal life and only the plaster vest prohibits her from swimming etc.. Jude is 3 and has been diagnosed with mild Autism. His development is coming on leaps and bounds and with 1 or 2 years of support here at home should be ready for mainstream education. We know that the Autism may be a stumbling block but after correspondence with a qualified party there may be a change in legislation regarding this as atm every diagnosis of ASD is put under the "RainMan" umbrella. As my wife is a special needs teacher, the feeling is they will now look at how a family can support a child as much as possible in the home regarding their development and techniques to further the childs understanding of the big world. Our plan is to make the move in two years as the kids will be at school and we would both need to be working. We have quite a large family network in Melbourne all of whom think we would do well. Since the system change where "An expression of interest" was introduced has it increased the possible need of a migration agent or is it simpler with less chance of making a mistake? I realise there are a number of scenarios and different elements to the application process, but if anyone has gone through the DIY route with kind of similar circumstances to ours any input would be great!! If we begin the process now on average how long would it take to get a yay or nay with regards to PR visa? Many thanks Peter!!:biggrin:

I haven't logged on in a while and can I just say a big thanks to everyone whos posted but Damn you JD!! I'm supposed to be a hardened tree surgeon devoid of emotion but your post has me in bits!! What a wonderful story!!! I can feel you, your wife and your sons pride through the monitor here in Belfast Northern Ireland!!!! I've been contacted by an agent who tells me the legislation may be changed in the next six months and instead of putting every child/person under the one umbrella regarding ASD etc they may look at how a family is able to help practically in helping the child. He said that with my wife being a teacher of special needs that would help our case as he will recieve a fair amount of support with his progress at home. This makes sense to me although nothing is set in stone!! We are happy to wait a few years here to give him the best start to his life without the interruption of emigrating. I have already been offered a job in Utility Arboriculture when I finally arrive as there is big demand for that. My wife has a good job here teaching so it will all depend on how her prospects pan out??? We know from a friend of ours in Sydney that finding a Permanent Teaching job may be difficult but we would hope in time that her experience will shine through and a school will realise what an asset she would be. Thats a different thread though and one for another time!! Thanks again to everyone whos posted its good to hear both postive and less positive posts but posts like your JD are great to read regardless of whether it directly affects a person or not!! Thanks mate and well done Jake!!!!!!!:biggrin:

Thanks Quoll I've emailed George Lombard so we'll take it from there. I understand the burden of cost to the tax payer and in the big picture its the right thing to do for a country. I wish here was as strict!! We'll just have to remain positive! At the end of the day if we can't get to Australia its not the end of the world but we know it would make a world of difference for the kids especially Jude.. Here's hoping!!

It's all quite depressing really.... Understandable to a certain extent when it comes to a financial burden on the economy but ASD is such a broad spectrum it seems unfair that a child with a mild form of Autism with no further learning difficulties (as Jude has) can be refused on the basis of one medical? Do they not take into account his progress, letters from people involved in his development etc etc. My wife teaches special needs with many autistic children in her care and she feels unbiased in saying that Jude will be able to lead a normal life with maybe a year in a special nursery to get him that one to one care he needs to prepare him for a mainstream school. We feel that he would thrive in australia! We have many family members living in Melbourne so we would have our own support network as such. That probably wouldn't make a difference to an application as its a box ticking exercise. It'll be three years before we will decide whether to make the move to apply and maybe by then some common sense will prevail and a better system of assessment will be in place. Either way its a little disheartening at the moment but that's life. Whatever will be will be!! Thanks for your replies guys hopefully get a few more. All the best Peter

Our 3 yrd old son has been diagnosed with ASD. Early Intervention is the key and he is doing fantastically well with the support we have here in Northern Ireland. We've stalled on our application to give him and us time to adjust and to ensure he gets the best possible care to enable him to understand and cope in the big bad world. I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about how Autism is treated in Australia and how schools are set up to deal with it? If anyone is in the same situation as us and are already out there, how are you finding it? Any advice or experience greatly appreciated!! Thanks Peter

Just reading this and find it unbelievable the audacity of that woman!!! It could've been a child. She should've looked where she was going. Totally her own fault. I would suggest that she takes a refresher course on driving as I wouldn't be happy with a person driving on the roads where my kids are playing without due care and attention!!! I wish I was there as I'd soon put her straight!! If you let her away with intimidation now she'll always do it!!! Let her know she doesn't own Australia and to worry more about her driving than coming after you to fix her wrong doings!!

All the best Diane!! Exciting times!! Our ones all live in Rowville in the suburbs so hopefully thats where we'll be heading!! This whole flag carry on over here has surged my ambition to leave here. Everything seems to just stagnate over here without any progress for the good of everyone and I'm fed up with it!! Safe trip and good luck to you!! Peter

Thanks for all the comments guys!! The fortunate thing regarding Jude is that we realised early on that he had autistic traits. (My wife teaches soecial needs) Early intervention is the key and to get a confirmed diagnosis at 3 allows us to implement different learning techniques which apply to him. He is coming on leaps and bounds and he has no other learning difficulties such as adhd etc... so we're feeling positive that he will be able to go to a mainstream school at some point but we are ensuring he gets the best possible start to his education. Fingers crossed things work out and with a lot of family already settled in Melbourne we know we'll get plenty of support if we do move. I'll carry the dream into 2013 but whatever will be will be! You never know what life will throw at you!! Thanks Peter...

We were well into the process of emigrating with our three children. Our youngest son 3 has been diagnosed with autism and we feel it better to wait a few years to get him the best support he needs here rather than tackle the unknown in Oz where we'd be sort of left to fend for ourselves. Have any of you guys made the move in your late 30's or early 40's? I'm 36 now and my wife is 35. We would still qualify on the points system with our jobs (carpenter/ teacher) I'd just like to get any info or advice from people who are maybe in our situation Happy New Year Guys!!

After the Good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland can hold either or both a British Passport or an Irish passport.. One of the few countries in the world where this can be done.. If I was you I would apply for a British passport to save any hassle...

This is why I ask questions on this forum, you not only get answers to the question you ask but find out info on child benefit etc... In truth I am a joiner/carpenter by trade but after 2007 when the bubble began to burst I retrained as an arborist and absolutely love it!! Getting paid to climb trees and get to see the countryside with every single day somewhere different!! I have been researching and my relatives in Melbourne reckon I could make $1100 a week without overtime as a formworker..? I'm just researching to see if it would be feasable to live on a smaller wage doing something I really love... I think God willing if I get work as a formworker/joiner it'll give us a great start though I think at some stage I'll want to go back to the tree work.. Thanks guys for all your advice Keep er lit!! Peter

Thanks Byrned, We know it'll be tough at the start but we're just treading water here... We have a simple lifestyle and the wage I quoted is a basic starting wage as my qualifications from here aren't recognised so the company will put me through the relevant courses and then my money will increase. As you say most of this is all research and I'm checking everyday... It'll be a while before we're there so hopefully by then I'll get a clearer picture of what to expect.. some family are visiting Ireland at the end of this month so we'll have them round for dinner and a good talk about it!! They all went out there with the bare minimum and have done really well and are very happy Thanks for your honesty, Peter

Hey guys we're still at the beginning of our process and our agent (who was successful in my brothers application) reckons we should be accepted o.k. depending on medicals and police checks... Police checks will be fine unless my wife has been keeping secrets from me :eek: As far as medicals would scoliosis be a problem for our eldest girl and my eldest boy is being assessed for autism. Just wondering would anything like this affect our application.. We're not doom and gloomers and they are our wee superstars but I'm just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this? What are your experiences? Many thanks Peter

Ha! Guess I should've mentioned our three kids 4, 2, and 1 oops!! We're going for the 175 visa and according to our agent Suzanne will meet the required criteria to teach in Oz... Probably changes things a tad...

Yes Kath thats per week to begin with... Its utility arb clearing the powerlines and the company are very keen to employ climbers. They work in all states I'll pm you the name of the company and hope you get a bit of luck Peter

Hey guys, I've been contacting companies in Melbourne regarding Arborist work and have been offered a job with a take home pay of $750 plus $300 dollars for a Saturday.. Does this sound ok? I wouldn't need my own tools or vehicle so no outgoings to begin with.... We'll be looking to rent to begin with and are looking at around the $450 per week mark. My wife will be working as a part time teacher with a take home pay of $600 Will we have a few shillings to enjoy our lives?? Thanks Peter

Everyones problems are relative to themselves and I've always been one to take a step back and think that no matter what problems we face in life there are always people who would gladly swap their problems for our own... Just reading your post has me thinking that everything is in place its just taking a little longer to come to fruition than desired... Take a step back and ask yourself at this point "What can I do to speed it up?" The answer is.... nothing.... So stick the kettle on, watch a good film and let it happen... I look forward to your post when you get the big thumbs up!! Best wishes Peter!!

Ha!! think you mean "hairs breadth" matey.... :wink:

Don't see the point in telling everyone about the pornography part but it made me have a wee laugh to myself :laugh: Whats wrong with the porn in New Zealand? :eek: