ste

Hey guys, I am a social worker and I am moving out to Aus on Monday so I'm really happy...the AASW are the worst governing body to work with and frankly not fit for purpose (if you ask me!) and their criteria is absolutely strict. Initially it costs approx $1000 just to have your skills assessed, you haven't even joined yet! I think it's another $750 ish to join. But those figures aren't exact! The good news is that you don't have to register with them as social work is not a protected title like it is in the UK so there is no need to pay for it, however all SW jobs usually ask that you are eligible to join the AASW, if your newly qualified and haven't got a fair few years post qualifying experience behind you forget it! But what you can do is get the australian association of community workers AACW and can be eligible for affiliate membership which helps a lot during the job search....thank fully I have a care coordinator job, which is pretty much based on SW principles so I'm cool about that. But also look at case manager jobs as they are usually social worker jobs too! Good luck and don't let it out you off, I hope I have helped you guys! Ste

Hey, i can't wait either I leave on Monday! Happy times )) enjoy!

That's cool, I'm thankful for the job as I couldn't have managed without working, it would have driven me crazy....and although ill be on low wages its a start and for that I'm grateful, in time I'm sure I will climb that career ladder and wages will go up with it! Bobj I will be in chinchilla! I didn't know that I was lucky to even get a job with me having the defacto visa! So I think a decent car is out of the question on these wages

Hi Guys, I move to Queensland next week and start my new job a week after that! I am moving out there on a 457 defacto partner visa. My new job is $52900 which I'm really pleased with, however anyone with experience, is that a decent wage? I know I will have my partners wage coming in too, but I want to contribute my fair share! I will be living rural a few hours in land from Brisbane! They also do salary sacrifice, will anyone put that in simple terms!? Hope you can help! Cheers ste.

Hi, Let me just tell you my experience! I am about 3 months from finishing my last placement/portfolio and dissertation for the MA in Social Work and I dont qualify to join the AASW so be very careful. To join the AASW they want you to have either studied Social Work for at least FOUR years or if you didn't study for the four years they want you to have four years post qualifying work experience....So if you took the Social Work route it would take you around 6 years before you could work/get a job out there! I am 'lucky' because I am going out as a de facto partner, however it is a bitter pill to swallow knowing that I have studied so much and put so much effort into becoming a Social Worker in the UK and having the job prospects of a shelf stacker in Oz :-(

Harsh reality is a little hard to deal with. However I think I need to just say to myself its progressing me as a person and it will be beneficial in whatever job role comes along! My partner has re-located to Chinchilla about 3 hours inland from Brisbane so the opportunity to practice as a social worker was low to begin with, but reading through the criteria I wouldn't be successful in getting membership (Even though my university is the largest producer of social workers in Europe!!!). I suppose I'm just uber frustrated with the whole circumstance and now I need to get this MA finished, out the way and under my belt, which will be brilliant if I return to the UK. Get out to Oz and begin a career of some sort. Staying focussed and trying to think that Australia will be a better place to play!! :-)

Hi everyone, I have a predicament and would appreciate some advice/guidance... My story is this: My partner left for Australia last month and has been settling in there, started work, got a rental etc I am a de-facto partner and so my visa is all sorted out. However the reason I couldn't go at the same time is because I am finishing my masters degree in social work. My concern is: I will only have the 2 year MA in Social Work and an unrelated BA (Business Management). My paid work experience is working with the elderly, now I would really like to join the AASW as it may help me to find employment - Although I read on their website that I would have needed to study Social Work for at least three years or have years of post qualifying experience - both of which I haven't got!!! From what I have read their fees are around $850.00 to assess my qualifications and then I may or may not progress onto membership which has an extra $$ cost. Should I get my qualifications assessed? Should I not bother? Will I find it difficult to get a SW job in my circumstances? Any general advice would be extremely helpful as I don't want my 2 years of hard slog to go to waste. Thanks Guys I really do appreciate it!!!

Hi everyone...I unsure about how to go about this so any help/advice would be massively appreciated. My partner got a great job in Australia, near Brisbane to be precise and he lodged his 457 visa, everything is great and he is over there now waiting for me. My issue was that I had to stay behind to finish off my masters degree in social work and now I need to organise going on his 457 visa as his de-facto partner ready for when I finish in July. How do I go about this...I was reading about the 1066 form...? Do I apply for my own 457 visa? I am attempting to do it on my own...but im unsure whether to get a migration expert... Thank you in advance for any help/advice, Cheers, Steve