drstu

Hi All, particularly any migration agents out there. I am a doctor (GP). We’ve been here just over 2 years on a 457 visa which was sponsored by the practice I am still working at. We’re lookimg to apply now for business sponsored PR via the 186 visa route. There has been some suggestion that to do this I would have to become an employee of the practice rather than the current arrangement, where I am an independent contractor? Is this the case?

Hi All, We'll be living in QLD from next week. Any recommendations about which car insurance company to go with? I hear that they will accept a UK no claims bonus? Best wishes, Stu

Thanks. I must admit part of me is thinking, "What the hell are we doing?!" :chatterbox:

After several years of talking about, we've taken the plunge and leave the UK tomorrow via a week in Hong Kong. We'll be living on Bribie Island just north of Brisbane. it all seems a bit surreal and a bit nerve racking at the moment, but everyone on PIO has been an invaluable source of advice, support & guidance. Hopefully in the years to come I can help others plan their move. Thank you all! Best wishes, Stu

Where are you going to be living is Brisbane?

We've just shipped (yesterday!) and I would say unless your stuff is tatty and needs replacement anyway, then ship it but be critical about what you take i.e. if you haven't used it for 2 years in the UK then you aren't likely to in Australia. We have a large house but got it down to a 20ft container of essentials, which included beds, dining table and chairs, kitchen table, shelving units, lounge furniture - sofas, chairs, coffee tables etc, as well as clothes and personal items. When we totted it up for insurance the replacement value in Australia was >£35K. Good luck!

There's heaps to consider Scottishmatilda for sure but the pants deal part of it is that only you can make the choice. The forum is an extremely valuable source of support, guidance and objectivity but in the end you've got to work out what's best for your family. The biggest risk of not going is the "what if ...". We also have 3 kids all under six and are heading out on a 457. I'm lucky that in my profession there is almost guaranteed work, both in Aus as well as in the UK so the risk of unemployment is low plus if it doesn't work out resuming in the UK should be straight forward. The 457 route is much less secure than PR and many would advise against it, but for us it is the best option as it allows us to dip our toe in the water and see. We're letting our UK home and will be renting in Oz. If we love it (which having been before we're sure we will) then we'll move to PR and stay, if we don't then we'll have had a nice long holiday and the knowledge that we've tried it. Yes the kids are a massive consideration. I am not sure how old yours are, but ours are of the age that they can enjoy the experience, without it screwing up their education if we end up returning in a couple of years. if you choose not to proceed with it and can then put it out of your mind then the safer option would be to stick in the UK. If the itch is not likely to go away and you'll spend the next few years looking back and wishing, then you're best off taking the plunge, building in as many safety nets as possible and having the experience. Life is for living, where possible without regrets. Good luck with the decision making.

Hi All, We're travelling on a 457 and are letting our UK home. For electoral roll/banks etc I am not sure if I should just leave our permanent address as it is (at our home that will be let) and simply set up a mail divert, or change it to for instance my parents address. I'd be interested to hear what others have done. Thx and best wishes, Stu

Hi All, We've had a few estimates/quotes which are all similar for sole use of a 20'. What additional charges did you all have which was on top of the original estimate/quote? We've read a lot about breakages - did everyone experience some breakages? 3 months and counting! With best wishes, Stu

We're moving to Bribie Island in Nov Pat ... do you mind PM me when you have a post Dec meet up? Best wishes, Stu

We're moving to Bribie Island in November. Our kids are a bit younger - 6, 5 and 2 but i love wine and coffee! :wink:

Hi Suzanne. I've enjoyed reading the posts. Our family (me, my wife and three kids aged 6 and under) are moving to Bribie Island from the UK in November. We're on a 457. I'm a GP. I've been going through the roller coaster of emotions like you have (which will likely continue for a good while yet) ... leaving the comfort and security of our UK life for the unknown. In the end though, like you and your husband, we enjoy travel, experiencing new cultures and ways of living. Life is for living and if things don't work out there are always options. It's clear that you're heading into your new experience with a great attitude, your eyes wide open, a healthy streak of realism and an open mind. I feel sure that you'll have a great time. Good luck with the move!

Hi All, A question from my wife ... We're heading out in November so will be taking the kids Christmas presents with us. We've heard about people getting taxed for importing new items. Does anyone have any experience of taking over Christmas presents ... and is it best that they are not wrapped in the luggage to save the kids the despair of seeing a customs person ripping them open? :arghh: Best wishes.

Hi Chopped Pork. As others have said I think that the pants deal of it that with all the advice in the world the decision in the end has to be yours. I posted a very similar dilemma some months ago and although hearing everyone's experience helps, it won't answer your question. I accept that as a GP I'm in a bit more of a reassured position of getting work at either end, but I think in the end you have to ask yourself if having had the opportunity to go you will spend every waking moment wishing you'd given it a try, or if having made the decision not to go you can simply settle down and get on with life without looking back. If it's the former you've got to accept you'll worry about it up until the day you leave (and probably a bit after) but you have to give it a try - you can always come back. If it's the latter then you should definitely stay in the UK. Like you I spent lots of time stewing on it but realised I was in the former category and my wife (who is the side of giving it a try) firmly said she didn't want to spend the next 40 or more years hearing me talking about "what if ..", so we're going.

Hi All, Anyone had any experience of this school? We're making the move later this year to Bribie Island and are looking at schools for our 5 and 6 year old. Thanks and best wishes, Stu

Hi All, We'll finally be heading out in October. We're likely to be going into a paid furnished rental for 6 months initially as part of the job offer, so we're not planning to ship furniture but pick bits up over the first six months. From experience what would you suggest we should definitely take from the UK? Thx for your time with this, Stu

Hi All, I'm looking at a job on Bribie Island. Does anyone have any advice on the area for living etc? We have 3 children, 2 of school age, any thoughts re schools? With thanks and best wishes, Stu

Procrastination is my middle name currently! I have a job offer to start as soon as we can get the paperwork sorted - medical registration takes 6 months or so. All being well it will be June/July. Part of that will be 457 processing time but we are thinking, after everyone else's thoughts here, about just getting PR.

I forgot to add re 457. Since we are treating it as a long holiday initially rather than emigration, the 457 gives the option of bringing my superan contributions back which PR doesn't. PR is obviously more expensive too. My understanding is that schools in QLD are free to 457 holders although I accept that could change at any time.

Thank you everyone for the wise words and balanced views. We recognise that no one can make the decision for us but it is helpful to get a range of opinions, particularly based on personal experience. Rachel - to answer your questions my wife if anything is keener for us to give it a go, although she'd be also be content if we just stayed put, as she's someone who goes with the flow. We've been travellers all of our married life. She is also a doctor (hospital based) and will likely work a few days per week once we're settled to keep her skills current. She's my best mate so decisions are always made jointly, indeed if anything she's the boss! If one of us wasn't happy then we'd come back. in many respects in our minds we're not emigrating, just going for a long holiday, which in many respects should make it easier. I guess that it is just the practical aspects eg giving up a great job, pension, what to do with the house etc which I worry about, my wife less so. Thank you so much again. Watch this space ....

Hi All, Tell me to "pull myself together" .... We live in the Midlands - my wife, 3 kids all under 5 and me (in my early 40's). I'm a GP, a job I love and am a partner in a great practice, with great partners and a very comfortable lifestyle. Australia has been on our minds for a fair number of years since we spent a few months travelling in the country before we had kids. The reason for making the move is lifestyle - we are a warm weather family, enjoy the outdoors and find the UK quite restrictive at times. Also in the UK increasingly working in the NHS is a challenge. I often leave home as the kids are getting up and get home within a short time before bedtime. We're planning to hang onto our UK home, at least initially, just in case. I've been offered a job on the Sunshine Coast in what looks to be a very nice practice. It would be working 9-5. Funnily enough Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast was not somewhere we visited whilst we were there, but we loved QLD generally. As you might know, GPs in Aus (as in the UK) are self employed but in Aus income is all dependant upon billings (UK income is still variable but a bit more certain since people don't swap and change GPs so much). The income where I have been offered a job is a little vague although I accept that as a GP we're not likely to be on the breadline. We're not planning to rent our house but just "shut it down" - we have lots of people to keep an eye on it - so will need to service the mortgage from Aus that will eat a little of our income. So what's the dilemma? Well firstly it's leaving a great job. Although of course it's likely that I could get a job if we returned, returning to where I am would be difficult, unless someone leaves. Secondly I never thought I'd get to the stage where I was doing retirement planning but this is a consideration. I was a bit of a "free spirit" in my 20's and 30's, did jobs that interested me rather than necessarily paid well, didn't pay into a pension scheme so only starting in my mid 30's. It won't be as good as it could be anyway so taking time out will make it every worse! Thirdly income is a worry because of the need to pay our UK mortgage (it isn't massive, but even so). Fourth I have had a struggle with Aus location. Although the job's in QLD I do worry that although we love the heat it might be restrictively hot and would NSW be better, plus although we know that we love the country, we've never been to the Sunshine Coast so it is a bit of an unknown and being on a 457 it wouldn't be that easy to up and move. We did plan to come over 2 years ago (job at that time was in Newcastle) but due to ill health of a parent at that time we didn't come - thankfully now all settled and fine. Thoughts, slaps, "get a grip" comments much appreciated!

Hi Nina, It would be great to know how you're finding things. We're currently planning the move from the UK to the Sunshine Coast with 3 children, at the time we move they'll be 6, 5 and 1. How have you found the community for settling into and what have schools been like? With best wishes, Stu

I'm afraid I can't help with schools but we're moving out the Sunshine Coast, probably July - we had three kids aged 5, 4 and 1. It'd be great to keep in touch!

Hi All, My family and I are making the move next year. I have been offered a job near Budina. We have 3 kids aged 5, 4 and 1. Where would people suggest living ... on the sunshine coast or in the Hinterland? With the boys we need to have good access to facilities including a good school within a safe community. I don't mind a drive to work but would like to keep it to 20 minutes or so. Thanks for your wise words.

Thanks Kapri, all very useful tips. We're thinking of basing ourselves more in the lakeside suburbs eg Eleebana, Warners Bay, Valentine etc - have been over that way? How have you found settling in? Is it easy to get settled into a community? How are the beaches?!