hadenoughrain

Yeah I see your point; if I applied though (if you think what I'm looking at sounds roughly along the right track?) and I ultimately achieved PR would she not be able to come with me being my partner?

And from http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupations/c/community-worker.htm that is where I had thought my route to PR would be a Skilled - Nominated (Subclass 190) visa as Community Worker (411711) is on the occupations in demand list for Western Australia by going through the Skillselect option after getting my skills assessed - I'm assuming I would then use an agent if I'm successful after a skillselect application and invitation to apply for a visa? With regards to the point system just through reading through it I've got a minimum of 60 points and maximum of 70 just through reading through it myself.

Ah sorry yeah its under the Community Worker (411711) which is on the occupations in demand list for Western Australia. There are a few other jobs which come under the Community Worker (411711) and they are: 411711 Community Worker 411712 Disabilities Services Officer 411713 Family Support Worker 411714 Parole or Probation Officer 411715 Residential Care Officer 411716 Youth Worker From what I can see that is - at least thats what it looks like from looking at http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupations/c/community-worker.htm Where it says "This occupation has a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma. At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 2)." and if you click on the link Unit Group 4117 - Welfare Support Workers it then breaks it down saying "Indicative Skill Level: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below. In Australia: AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2) In New Zealand: NZ Register Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2) At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification." It is from this where I thought it would be OK with simply her work experience alone unless I've got completely the wrong end of the stick!

Thanks both, Rupert; the more research I have done I think that it is looking like the only viable option for me to apply for the Community Worker occupation which Western Australia are currently sponsoring as it is on there occupations in need list so am currently looking at getting my skills assessed as being 'highly relevant' through work experience as both a Police Community Support Officer and 3 years or so as a Police Officer and I also have a Diploma in Policing all being 'highly relevant' to the role of any role within the Community Worker Occupation but the one that it looks more closely fitted is that of a Probation Worker. As through working as a Police Officer we are required to monitor people who are on probation and prison licence and ensure they are adhering to their conditions of licence etc etc. I thought about this for my partner as although she doesn't have a formal qualification it does state that 3 years working in the nominated field or highly relevant field may be enough to substitute any formal qualifications listed. How does this sound to you? I might just get my skills assessed for that role as I hold a diploma and stick my partner down on my visa application as such if that sounds like the more viable route? From our qualifications and experience I don't think there are any other occupations which really fit; the only other one for my partner may be contract administrator as she has had experience with administration within her role however I'd suggest the community welfare officer fits her work experience to a tee really looking at tasks required she has performed every single one of them within her current role. Thanks for your help.

Ahh thanks for that yeah I've been reading that for the last half an hour and came to that conclusion I'd need a Skilled - Nominated (Subclass 190) I will speak again with Vetassess to make sure that they still feel that my work experience is 'highly relevant' to the community worker role and get myself assessed with them for that and start going through the different bits and pieces; I've done a quick evaluation and I think I get 65-70 points on the scale they have on the website; so I THINK I'm sorted for that. Thank you all very much for your help; much appreciated!

Ah OK Joseph thanks for that there looks like there are loads on the internet so will do some research as to which are recommended thanks

Thanks for that lebourvellec; if we went down the route of applying for Community Worker in that case from looking at the sponsorship would we need an offer of 12 months employment? As it looks as though both my partner and I can satisfy everything except that requirement if it is one. It looks slightly contradictory as it says that the nominated occupations on that list do not carry any offer of employment which suggest you are simply required to find your own work over there (which isn't a problem and we would both be happy to do this) however when you then click on criteria for state sponsorship it then states that you require an offer of 12 months employment if applicable?

Thanks for the replies; I can use an agent but I thought if I get a good idea of what routes are possible and then look at using one from there; what agent did you use out of interest and what sort of costs were involved. And with a skilled independant visa - that isn't the one that you get invited to apply for after applying through skill select so that would mean that I could apply for the Police Officer post through the consolidated occupations list and it wouldn't have to be on the occupations in demand list for Perth for me to be able to obtain a visa and work there doing whatever job I am able to get whilst I am over there? (the ultimate aim however would be to join WA Police)

Yeah just thought it sounded a bit witty! Hah :cute:

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and it looked like an excellent community to try and get some help regarding the involved process of obtaining the right visa and the general process! Both my partner and I have made the decision we have had enough rain in England and after a fair bit of research we would like to emigrate to Australia and from what we have seen we think Perth looks like the ideal place for us both. I currently work as a Police Officer in England and originally looked at simply joining Western Australia Police however found that I had just missed their most recent overseas recruitment drive by one month as it closed in December 2012! Doh! :nah: My partner currently works as a Police Community Support Officer, also in England, but they do not recruit overseas for this position. My qualifications amount to an A-Level in ICT at C grade and a Diploma in Policing. My partner's qualifications amount to three A-levels - Perfomance Studies - C grade, Media Studies - C grade and English Literature - B grade. So, we have looked at the occupations in demand list for Perth and Police Officer isn't on this list; nor is Community Constable (which from looking at it I think is Australia's version of our Police Community Support Officers). I have contacted the assessing body Vetassess who have said that I am eligible to be skills assessed for the role of Police Officer however this role is on a consolidated list of occupations - from what I have read if we wanted to migrate to Perth then we would have to satisfy the criteria of one of the occupations in demand list? Also I am assuming it would be a skilled independant visa that we would apply for if they assessed my skills as a Police Officer; what would be the criteria for obtaining this visa? Would I have to enter into the occupation which I have obtained the visa for (Police Officer) straight away or not? As with most constabularies they are not recruiting all of the time and I would have to wait for the next recruitment drive (and also hope that I am successful through their recruitment process!). The only other occupation on the occupations in demand list that looks relevant to both of our work experience is Community Worker. Through this it looks as though my experience is 'highly relevant' to the Probation Worker role within the Community Worker occupation; I have 3 years work experience as a Police Community Support Officer and 3 years as a Police Officer and I also hold a Diploma in Policing - would it be worth getting my skills and experience assessed for the probation worker role on the basis that it is 'highly relevant' work experience? Also the fact that the Diploma that I hold obviously isn't in probation work but it is fairly closely linked to the work a probation worker would do! What would be the process if I were to go down this route - presumably I would apply for a skilled independant visa and if granted could then move over to Perth and try to find work as a probation worker when I am over there? Or would I need to get a job lined up before we went over there? One final thing (sorry its long!) my partner as a PCSO looks as though she has the 'highly relevant' to a Welfare Support Officer; which she can evidence her experience in performing all of the tasks - once again we have contacted Vetassess who are the assessing body for Community Worker and they have agreed that her experience is relevant but then when I go through the application process to get her skills assessed the form specifically states that you shouldn't use the form if you do not hold any higher formal qualifications; even though it states that 3 years work experience could substitute any formal qualifications? (I realise this is something that I will have to speak with Vetassess about; just wondered if anyone on here had any prior experience with this) Sorry again its so long; any of your help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading! :wink: