PaulRaynor

Regarding emergency tax I was told by HMRC that my new employers should send in a Stat Dec form 1060L and tick tax code box A when I start work next month. This apparently avoids emergency tax

After 16 years in Australia the time has come for me to go home and I leave for London in 48 hours. I read this forum every day and although I don't contribute much I wanted to say how much comfort it has brought me reading messages from names I have come to know so well particularly in this part of the forum. I'll look in from time to time but for now its farewell and God Bless. Paul x

Thing is though Parley, Very Stormy is right Brisbane does have those things. 2011 springs to mind to add QLD has had snow this winter. Those things are facts, not opinions.

Shame on you Caroline!! :twitcy:

After getting my Graduate Diploma and then Post Graduate Diploma in the UK many years ago I thought I might consider doing an MA in Applied Theatre Studies at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. I just made a tentative enquiry in the first instance and they wrote back informing me that I had been accepted on to the course, congratulations! So now as its all distance learning I have accepted a job back in London that will help me complete my research for it. I have never experienced the delights of Armidale or the campus (although I'm told its delightful in Spring) and don't suppose I ever will ! Funny old world.

You sound like you had a really good time at home Shelly, thanks for all your posts and your photos, they made me smile!

Perhaps not so much the Pig n Whistle meet ups as they tend to be on Friday nights. Its a crowded pub and can be loud. If you look for other types the BBC organise, lunches etc these are more child friendly.

Come to our wonderful BBC ! Brisbane British Club. We meet up every month at the Pig as well as other places. Lot's of great ex pats! Our next one is 26 July. Look it up on meet ups. Sounds like we could form a Brisbane Welsh Club. I would be interested but I'm going back to the UK in September for a few months.

On the southside Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood, Corinda and Oxley are all nice. Also all on a train line line straight into the city, 20 mins from Oxley where rentals are cheaper. Forget the car. hey you can take that from me even though I'm a Swansea Jack, I would never lead a Cardiff person astray! Ha ha!

Hi everyone! Good news for me too! Just landed a teaching job in London for September, I really quite like this Skype lark. You can surreptitiously refer to notes and stick post its everywhere to refer to in response to questions.

I remember having to rush there both times when my parents past. Good that you were there. My condolences lady R.

I recently opened a mygov account and linked my centrelink account to it. As mentioned you have to already have a CAN number to claim but once you have entered your my gov password you are not asked for your CAN number to access centrelink. Confused? why not? it is a government site after all ! :laugh:

Nooooo ! Lady R no! Tropical climate? Please allow me to name drop. Marcia, Lam,Yazi, Tracy. I believe the next one is going to be Lincoln!

Everyone is a visitor to your life, except your children who are part of you. Look forward now, do not give a backward glance.

Can't sleep. It's so eerily calm! much more than usual. Hope I wake up in my own street tomorrow.

and clearly verbose sentences

Ok my friend that is why I have PM'd them to give them the info they want. Say what you like but I stand by my advice to them, I wonder where in QLD you teach? Sorry I'm not going to entertain you in this conversation any further, got some planning to do for tomorrow. Have a great evening!

Sorry wrong again. I did a Grad Dip in English and Performing Arts at the University of Birmingham (2 years) then a PGCE (1 year). Mandatory across the whole of Australia means nothing at all, it entirely depends on the state you choose to live. Ed Queensland accepted it without problem, i started with supply work, then yearly contract and eventually permanency. Yes i met a lot of influential people along the way but it happened to me just as its happened to many other teachers. NSW questions the validity of the PGCE in its entirety, but not so the sunshine state!

i respect your view Sammy but totally disagree. It may be true of NSW but the OP addressed an enquiry to me about Queensland. It may be some time ago but I don't have 4 years of tertiary education, but my PGCE which was not dependant on any amount of years education is quite acceptable here, it is not in fact mandatory at all, if it was then I have been lying to Ed Queensland for the last 14 years after they have made me a curriculum manager, student mentor and on a couple of occasions acting deputy principal, and to quote my friend on other forums Chortlepuss,"In Brisbane who you know not what you know is the rule!" Whatever your qualification is Go for it!

Could I just add that there is no one in my school of any nationality who has a masters degree.

Then why should a PGCE be accepted? You could do an undergraduate degree in a totally unrelated field to education in engineering, sociology, psychology or anything else but that extra 1 year to make 4 years tertiary study shouldn't take priority and certainly doesn't make one more of a teacher than someone who has done a Bachelor of Education for 3 years.

Hi, I'm assuming this one is for me unless there are any other Paul teachers in QLD on here. The 4 year thing is weird as the Aussie BEd is 4 years but the British BA (primary) is 3. I have a PGCE which is acceptable in QLD as they consider you to have done 4 years tertiary education. However they are all the same, no qualification is really considered more value than another although I can't speak for other states. If you are not coming until the middle of next year I would have them assessed again. The Queensland College of Teachers is effectively your licence to teach. You can join as a provisional member for 2 years after which and when you've reached a number of days, you have to get a report from a principal submitted to the QCT to enable you to move to full registration. I really don't know the position regarding your visa, maybe someone else could advise on that. I have dual citizenship but I seem to remember that I used to have to have PR before I could teach. I can tell you one thing though, forget agencies! They don't do well here in QLD because we have a very efficient system called TRACER. The teacher relief and contract register which is a central based call out register partly funded by Education QLD. For supply work you need to be signed up with them (for the state sector) independent schools usually sort out their own relief teachers. TRACER is a great system and the pay currently around $360 a day is one of the best rates in Australia. So quals assessed first, then QCT then TRACER and you should be on your way providing you have the appropriate visa Paul

You mentioned Cardiff, well an hour west is the Gower peninsula just outside Swansea. I wouldn't call it warm, in fact I'd call it quite wet but the surf beaches, although not Bells Beach or Surfers paradise are not bad at all with some stunning rugged coastline.

I guess that the reason primary teachers are off the list right now is because there is an over supply. I have been a teacher here for 14 years on contract and supply and looking for a job at home for the moment but have to do induction! Things may change and an MA would certainly help in the independent sector here I think. But Petals is right, sunshine coast is highly sought after in the state sector as is the gold coast, everyone wants to work there. I have heard of permanent jobs going in Bundaberg and Maryborough though.

You must have missed 'Jack Irish' bunbury, with Guy Pearce that really was excellent. Lots of Gallipoli drama coming out this year for the centenary but yes British drama is in abundance particularly on ABC