arrumac

I worked at AEMO thats the Australian Energy Market Operator and may be a good place to start, nice offices at 530 Collins St. They manage the GAS and Electric networks, as they operate the SCADA networks the distributors own you could also try those guys. i went to APA's site in Dandenong once for an IT Security review of their SCADA infra, they have a sizeable site there, apa.com.au. I'd help more if I could bum I'm back in the UK now. Good luck.

Are your sure you NEED to have Vetassess a degree especially when going via the ACS already? The PTA assessment is only an opinion, its not binding in any way. I'd suggest if your degree is from a reputable institution and is of comparable quality to an Australian degree it may be fine. In any case its always recommended to use a reputable Migration Agent.

a,b & c were pasted form the ACS RPL template :biggrin:

yes I did too, and at the beginning. Seriously though, I worked on what I considered the easier areas of the KAK. I used the KAK as the basis for my headings, if I knew nothing of the sub heading in the KAK I just didn't include it. Its very laborious but its what they want, keep thinking to yourself for each area/sub heading. (a) What you have learned, (b) How you acquired the knowledge, and © Your experience in applying the knowledge in your working environment. I was told by my agent that everyone ought to fill out TR1, 2 and 3 in addition from memory I did SM1 and 3 and OM2. It was 17,000 words in the end. Something i never want to have to do again!

As you know passports applications are now online and processed back in the UK, their site states it will take at least 4 weeks, it does seem they are sticking to this 4 week SLA, i have spoken to them 2/3 times over the past 10 days (i have now given up and am just waiting until Monday with is 4 weeks for us and tracking on their site). As Cliffy43 mentions you can get an emergency travel doc, my wife has spoken to a helpful lady in the Melbourne office and its quite feasible to get one for about 100GBP.

and should you want to apply for a UK passport as well as an Aussie one https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports and supporting odcumentaiton help is here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-passport-applications-supporting-documents-guidance

my ex-wife and her husband were both in a south central county Police force, they applied and were accepted by SAPOL, they paid for their visa's themselves (it was PR I know that), constitutionally i don't think you can arrest anyone on a temp visa, they also paid for their own flights and shipping. I believe you may get a one off payment when you start too plus after 3 months training in Adelaide hey opted for a remote location (you need to be so many miles from a major popultion centre - easy in Aus!), they only pay 30% of their rent due to this.

Hi, we are looking to fly home on 12th April and sent my daughters renewal for her passport (exp in November) back to UK as no longer done through NZ. We sent it on 24th February and guy at passport office said on Friday it was in for "processing" Flight prices are going up significantly so really want to book. But know its a bit risky with no passport. However from when we sent the application to when we want to fly is 8 weeks so thought this may be enough time even if there is a problem. Trying to way up what is cheaper - waiting for passport and more expensive flights or changing dates depending on when we receive it? Has anyone had a recent experience with passport renewal? (rules changed in Jan) thanks

why not get a couple of quotes from movers, they are usually not too bad on estimating. I moved 330 cubit feet for 2000 gbp (insurance and inspection was extra) with Doree Bonner, thats a bit more than the large move cube.

My young niece died suddenly in January from meningitis, we went home for 3 weeks to be with family and help arrange the funeral etc. After a few weeks reflection we have now decided that it is best to return home as some members of my family are not coping well. The only major snag is that we have tenants in our house, they had an initial 6 month lease and then we agreed to a further 2 years, they are 8 months into the 2 years. We asked our agent to put our reasons for returning home to our tenants along with an offer of their last months rent free (925 GBP) along with a preferred repossession date of 1st June, although we would be flexible and obviously our sincere apologies for asking. The reply was a 'maybe' if we covered their entire moving expenses, and only then if and when they found suitable alternative accommodation. 3 bed houses in Bournemouth are not cheap and easy to come by. My question is, does anyone have any experience (good or bad) with repossessing a home using section 8 of the housing act? i.e. removing sitting tenants on an assured tenancy. We would be looking for a judge to look favorably on our case given our unexpected return and subsequent need to return to our house. Finally the agent does seem to be self serving, obviously he is going to miss out on over 1000 GBP fees and suspect some details of our reasons have not been conveyed. As there has been quite a lot of to'ing and fro'ing we have asked him to summarise our request in writing for us to review and then for send to the tenants.

Hi, we have decided to move back to the uk are breaking our lease. we have a. 4 bed house plus large rumpus room with balcony, kitchen diner, under 10 mins walk to beach, or 90 second drive. 2 Moore street, mount martha, apply directly to agents as below. This has not been advertised yet by the agent as we only told then a day or two ago. we have some furniture we are happy to leave or it will go to the op shop, some we will be selling. Bonaccorde Property Services 42 lockhill avenue, Mt Martha VIC +61 3 5974 8900

Hi, we have decided to move back to the uk are breaking our lease. we have a. 4 bed house plus large rumpus room with balcony, kitchen diner, under 10 mins walk to beach, or 90 second drive. 2 Moore street, mount martha, apply directly to agents as below. This has not been advertised yet by the agent as we only told then a day or two ago. Bonaccorde Property Services 42 lockhill avenue, Mt Martha VIC +61 3 5974 8900

You really need to keep on top of the agents, as was mentioned in an earlier post if applying for a role call straight after, then follow up and try to get a rapport. Quite a lot of the agents are Brits so not too hard. As for not getting back to you - it is the norm I'm afraid.

hi, target these companies. http://www.crestaustralia.org/approved.html. when hiring pen testers i wont use firms not on the list.

Small update. Spoke to my old manager last week just asking career advice and his thoughts on applying for jobs from Aus. He said should be no issues and that he didn't have anything except some spare project money (as you do), he said he'd speak to finance to see what could be done, long story short he called me the next morning saying he had the OK for a 6 month contract for me. I got the formal offer email last night and I accepted. So happy . Told my current manger today, he fully understood, but much to my surprise the CIO pulled me into her office and asked if I'd consider a 6 month sabbatical with the option of a further 6 months. Which is nice. We have no idea what is around the corner so happy to accept that if we want to return. desperate to book flights but still waiting for a passport for our 5 year old. anyone any thoughts in breaking a lease 10 1/2 months in, am assuming not much they can do in terms of charging for advertising etc as contract is nearly over and we'd be leaving anyway.

I didn't read anything that said you could then nothing to the contrary either. You are probably best calling and asking them really.

you can do it online now here -> https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports I just did it for my daughter and sent it registered post to the UK, they will courier it back to you direct, you specifically have to pay extra for that. You can send your application express post, details here http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/express-post-international.html

thanks so much SKW. I guess I get wrapped up in what people think or people passing judgment but you are right it doesn't matter and you never know how you are going to feel unless you are in this situation. Which I hope to god no one ever is! We have decided to make plans to go home so will see what happens over the next few weeks and coming months. I'm down on the mornington peninsula - what about you? Thanks so much for your reply x

Thank you mikinqld my OH and I funnily enough did a list of pros and cons back in October! And you are right it was very one sided! Our obvious concern is "giving up" to early and regretting it but I also think Australia may be the right place but the wrong time. I hate having to make such life changing major decisions! But do feel like someone is trying to tell us something - I'm just very sad it hasn't worked out but the positives are it's made me appreciate what I have in the UK so much more. Thanks again

Thank you for your lovely and supportive message - it does help so much! X

Thanks Lady Rainicorn that is sound advice - you ve made me look at how I really feel at the moment and after my niece died I suppose I have just given up. The turn of the new year I was no where near "happy" but looked at what a good opportunity it was and throw myself into finding work and just get on with it. I totally agree with what you're saying about making decisions when you are in the throws of grief but I suppose I was desperately unhappy before my niece passed and this I feel is the final straw and in a weird way one of my beautiful nieces many parting gifts was to give me a final reason to go. I do not want to feel any regret and it's so hard to know what decision to make for the best. I guess we will just have to see what pans out over the next few months xxx

Thanks for your reply QUOLL - totally agree with what you're saying I guess because we are so desperate to make a go of it we need some sort of reassurance that's it's ok to go home. Have found our friends here a bit unsupportive as I suppose they selfishly want us to stay and have all said we need to give it more time - BUT not one of them has had the problems we have faced and on the contrary Australia has been good to them. We expected it to be hard but not quite like this. Thanks again for your reply x

thanks for your reply sarahelle, OH is happier than me here but not happy if that makes sense, he loves his new job and his manager has been really good to him. BUT he feels we should go home to support our family after our nieces death and has said this is reason alone to return. So add in all the other factors against us he is 100% wanting to go home too - I can't help but think though it's because of me and seeing me so miserable that he doesn't want to say - but I know he can't be completely happy as our lives in UK were much better than we have here. He hates his commute and moving nearer the city where he works isn't an option so he's pretty fed up too.

Hi, Thanks for the reply, my OH is quite philosophical about not seeing them. We ve seen the children once since we ve been here and his Mum was over from the UK and had to pay for their flights - was $800 to fly them over for a week as they live in rural SA so needed to get two flights. His eldest is 18 and off to uni so unlikely to see much of her regardless. We re obviously a lot nearer than being in the UK but sad as it is it's not regular enough to make us want to stay

Hi there, here is our story so far - looking for any advice or similar situation! Moved to Melbourne 9 months ago me, my other half and our two kids 5 and 3 and we ve had one disaster after another. Husband got a job quite quickly which was lucky albeit he has a two hour commute each way (4 hrs in total) and found a rental that was OK mad would do for now. The house turned out to be a house of horrors literally one thing wrong after another - had no tv or cooker for nearly a month due to delays in agent getting it fixed, and it was absolutely freezing all winter and the utility bills were astronomical due to old efficient boiler and gas fires. A month after we arrived my only surviving grandparent died which I didn't go home for as couldn't afford it and kind of expected this situation would arise, and that we would miss out on such things although it was hard. Around the same time we had a letter from the CSA in Australia (husbands two other kids moved SA two years ago) and based on incorrect tax returns filed by his ex we were ordered to start paying $1600 a month in payments, absolute total shock and no where near could afford this - but we were told tough and sent begging letters to his ex and CSA stating our situation but to know avail. this completely cleared us out of everything and even had to lend money from other halfs sister in UK as couldn't find our rent money one month. My husband filed a tax return in October which has brought the payments down but his ex has put in for a re assessment so the payments will shoot back up in no time (going to be high payments as he can't see them regularly as they live SA and we have sponsorship for VIC only) i cannot get a job for love nor money have tried absolutely everything from cafe jobs to temporary shop work (was a customer service manager in UK) have had a handful of interviews but the ones that bother getting back to me say they had 50 applicants for the position and others were more suitable. The financial strain on living on one wage is massive - and due to this my nearly 4 yr old can't go to any form of structured childcare as we can't afford it. He was going to kinder for 2 hrs a week which was $15 but they now can't stay on their own and parents have to stay which is pointless. He is really struggling at home and we have been to every park and mothers group going but they are all far too young for him, his behaviour is getting worse which I genuinely believe is down to not being stimulated and having some formal routine out of the house - he has also got ridiculously clingy. Then the new year came and with this I tried to shrug off all of the hardwork 2013 brought and look forward to 2014 - the hard part was over so now to give emigrating our best shot and plug away at finding a new job - then on 19th January our beautiful 16 yr old niece contracted meningitis and died. My youngest sisters only child - to say we are devastated is an understatement - we flew home immediately and spent a month comforting my absolutely distraught sister. Aside from the trauma at home - we absolutely loved being at home and felt instantly comfortable and an incredible sense of belonging - the weather was shocking! So now I am adamant I want to go home ( we were originally going to wait for a year before making a decision to stay another year or go home) I have felt so unbelievably low the past 6 months but was told by other ex pats they went through the same thing. My old job said they would welcome me back with open arms and we rented our house out so no worries there. I love where we live now and my little ones school but these reasons alone aren't enough to stay, I want to be at home helping my sister and amongst my family and friends but am trying to be rational and not give up too early but honestly don't know how much I can take. I'm not a whinger usually but feel like I've aged 10 yrs since being here and just not me anymore. People see to say you absolutely have to give it 2 years before going home and I am so worried about having any regrets on leaving Aus. Originally wanted to stay at least 4 yrs to get citizenship for kids mainly - any help or advice is appreciated! Alice