Jimmy P

Final entry on this thread from me:

Applied: June 2018

Interview and test: September 2019

Ceremony: 26 January 2020

Passport applied for 8th February 2020 (regular service, not priority)

Passport received 18th February 2020

15 years in a 6th Form College in UK was my background, teaching a specialised subject (Accounting). I knew when we moved I wouldn't be working in the same environment. I have only worked in the private (Catholic) sector in Qld, and after 5 years I have carved a new path in terms of General Maths (Maths A) and junior maths. In a 5-12 school I have had supervisions well out of my comfort zone, from Y5 French to Y12 Drama.  Plus, you might also get some RE to fill up a timetable initially.  Probably wouldn't get Y12 classes in your first year, need to prove yourself.  Also, don't underestimate the difference in assessment compared to A level.

8 hours ago, LouDYorkie said:

Brisbane City Council letters have not gone out yet apparently.
I was told they will go out two weeks before the ceremony.

My daughters, both in Brisbane City Council area got their letters a week ago.  Ceremony in Nundah

The occupation is generic Secondary Teacher, not subject specific for visa purposes. As far as I am aware it is still on the Skills Shortage lists

14 hours ago, Rvee said:

Hi friends 

do we need to keep still hope  for ceremony on 26 jan 2020..?

what yours point of view?

merry Christmas to all

lovely group members..

If we are anything to go by, letters for Ceremonies on 26 Jan  went out about 10 days ago...

6 hours ago, gwheng said:

sounds like quick , when did you submit your application and when got told to sit for you test?

My bad...

Applied June 18, Test date provided May 19, eventually sat test Sept 19

Final update from me...

Citizenship Test 2 September 2019

Ceremony 26 January 2020

Moreton Bay Council (daughters have theirs in Brisbane on same day)

Update...

Applied 29 June 2018  online, acknowledged same day

Test/interview letter received 6 May 2019

Interview/ Test date 18 July 2019 Brisbane- re scheduled to 2 September so whole family could do on same day

All approved 4 September (2 applicants on same day, rest 2 days later)

Moreton Bay Regional Council

UK applicant. Family of 5

11 hours ago, shiveringpom said:

thanks! will start a special  whinge group for the 20 month  wait groupies soon i think !  You can see why i get frustrated when people who then want to leave / dont live here properly/ get it faster than us for no reason  lol....... i watch this forum to pick up tips on what to do next but i think i have exhausted all avenues for now lol x

I've PM'd you shiveringpom

I've been waiting a while to add to this thread....

Applied 29 June 2018  online, acknowledged same day

Test/interview letter received 6 May 2019

Interview/ Test date 18 July 2019 Brisbane

Moreton Bay Regional Council

UK applicant. Family of 5

Just need to get fresh Police certs from UK as they are now over 12 months old...!

Not sure about other states, but here in Qld Psychology is new this year at Senior level, and Sociology not available.  Flexibility is the key, and the willingness to have a go at something else, perhaps in your case humanities subjects.  

I came over as a teacher of Business and Accounts, but got my foot in the door teaching maths to yrs 8,9 and now I am co-coordinator of Maths A/General Maths.

We came out with our 16 yo daughter, arriving in June.  She should have slotted in to Y11, but didn't want to have missed half of that first senior year, so she had just over a term in Y10.  She was one of the eldest in the year, but it really helped her to find her feet, and now has a great bunch of friends from both school and Tafe

20 hours ago, shisman said:

Hi All, Just a quick query. I'm planning to apply for citizenship next month. 

Form 1195 asks for -Transaction Reference Number (the number that you were given when
you lodged your online application). Do you get that when you apply online for Citizenship? Or are they asking for what's mentioned in your PR grant notice? 

And would it remain the same for all family members? (In case it's the former as it's the same for all 4 of us in the Visa grant Letter when the PR was granted)

Did you all apply for the Citizenship online from one online account or does it have to be separate for all adults?

Many thanks

Shisman

You get the TRN when you start the application.  One person can use their immi account for everyone else's applications.  You link the applications using the TRN

Just got a cheque through from a PPI claim I put in before Christmas.  Check out Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert website.  Because my bank is still going I printed out their generic form, filled it in and posted it back.  If you know who took over the building society you could look up their PPI department and give them a ring.  I found these people very helpful.  Didn't need  claims company.

Once they've received the form you will probably get a phone call to go over it.

Payment took out tax for interest, so now have a form to claim that back as a non UK resident!

Jim

Make sure you double check that the PGCE course you do meets the current requirements for AITSL skills assessment.  This is in terms of number of years degree/post grad studies (4 years when I applied, ie 3 yr degree + 1 year PGCE) and also number of days teaching practice on your course.  The requirements could change though by the time you are ready to apply...

1 hour ago, imthedave said:

Thanks for this. Actually I phoned immigration yesterday and asked about this and they suggested the same thing but to go back and change the answer before I submitted it. I didn’t realise the whole page disappeared though.

They reconfirmed my eligibility date is 16th Feb so I’ll do exactly this to get it ready to submit. 

Thanks again!

One thing to remember, but it may not affect you...We were granted our visa, activated it then only emigrated twelve months later.  Because we were out of the Australia for a certain length of time we had to get Police Clearance certificates again from UK.  It flagged it as a requirement when you input all the times you are out of Australia

On 31/01/2019 at 11:10, imthedave said:

Hi again

About question 4 above. I've started to fill in the online application on my immi account however it's reached the point of residence eligibility and won't let me proceed.

I've entered all my passport, ID and current grant number first but when it gets to this next page it says:

'An error has occurred. The applicant is unable to proceed with this application. Access the Residence calculator to check when the applicant will have been in Australia long enough to be eligible for Australian citizenship.'

I'm trying to pre-fill the application online and then save it until 16th February but it looks like I can't even do that. Anyone else experienced this?

Is filling out the application through the 'new application' on your immi account what people mean by filing online or am I missing something?

Thanks

When I did ours I started filling in the online application about 3 months before our eligibility would be reached.  It allowed me to complete the whole application up to review and payment.  It meant I was able to pay and submit on the 4 year anniversary of our arrival.  It was a new application for all of us. I put my 13 yo on mine, and did my wife and 2 adult kids all on my IMMI account, linked together by TRN.

We have found in our nearly 5 years here we pay less for rates, electricity, and transport than in U.K. Food about the same. The big mistake to make when you are planning is to convert AUD to GBP as a comparison. Look at what a gross annual salary converts into net fortnightly (ATO does one) and build an AUD budget from there.

Can't help with how realistic $120k is for your line of work, but that sounds like more than enough to support 2 people comfortably in Brisbane. Obviously depending on how lavish your lifestyle is!

A few years since I jumped through the AITSL hoops, but I recall them needing the specific evidence of teacher practice. If in doubt give them a ring. They might just say follow the directions and apply, bit it can't do any harm! How is your PGCE different?

2 hours ago, justme said:

Hi Jetblast, we’re thinking of flying Singapore in November too. To Sydney via Singapore stopover for a couple of days. Probably flying from London but could do Manchester. What are your thoughts about the aircraft flying on the London - Singapore route. There seems to be a choice to take the 8pm or 10pm flight - one is Boeing 777 something and one airbus 380? Are these aircrafts newish or is the Manchester flight better? I’m a bit of a nervous flyer  ... 

We've done both SIN to LHR and SIN to MAN.  To London on the B777 and Manchester on a very new A350.  The latter was considerably quieter, really noticeable, even down the back. Seats were "skinnier" by far but were comfortable.  Armrests very narrow on the A350, but not a problem if you know the people around you!  Only issue is MAN-SIN is only 5 times per week at the moment, and departs Singapore at 2.30 am

We've done Etihad, Emirates, Malaysian, Cathay, Qantas/BA and Singapore.  Singapore wins hands down for us (2 adults +13yo who isn't a keen flyer).  Good choice of departures from Brisbane, choice of connections in Singapore. We've had a 2 day break in the city, but bags checked straight through without having to claim them at Changi.  Good hotel to spend 24 hrs or more between flights, good inflight service and entertainment.  Little things like hot towels, announcements only in English.

Pricing seems competititve-particularly as we have to travel in school holidays. 

But if you get the child who cannot sit still in front/behind you for 14 hours, none of it really matters...!

For my PGCE placement days I informed the Uni (Nottingham Trent) of what I required in evidence and they wrote a letter substantiating details of the course, units covered, and most importantly no. of days. I completed that course in 1998. Original degree transcript was from back in 1991!

When I was going through this in 2012 I didn't have a transcript from Portsmouth Poly.  Contacted them with my details and they sent back a 2 sheet letter outlining the units I had done and grades achieved.  That satisfied AITSL.

Good news, I have had my teaching registration approved for QLD. I wanted to see if anyone has had any experience of Smart Teachers and been successful finding work through them or if it better to serach and find the jobs through other methods. TIA

We've been here just over 2 years. I got my first contract job in the Catholic sector through their website within 6 weeks of being here. Right place right time! That lasted for 5 terms. I've then had 2 one term contracts through Smart Teachers. The local experience from the first job really helped. Good luck!