Marisawright

Hi Pom Queen, based on your experience would you recommend taking the private insurance then?

You'll notice she said that if she was living in Melbourne, she wouldn't bother. So it partly depends where you are.

For many people, private health insurance is a must - not because of health, but because you'll suffer tax penalties if you don't have it. Most professionals in Australia have it for that reason alone (but you can get special minimum-cover policies from the health funds if that's what you want).

Medicare in Australia is not really that different from the NHS If you're sick, you'll get good treatment in an open ward in a public hospital, and have a specialist chosen for you. If you need an operation, you'll get the operation. Like the NHS, if it's not considered urgent, you may have a long wait.

The difference is that Brits just accept all that. It doesn't occur to British people to join BUPA unless they're wealthy. But the health care providers have done a great job of convincing Aussies that's not how it should be. Sleep on a big open ward - horrific! Be treated by any old specialist - appalling! Wait six weeks for an op - disgraceful! Take out health insurance and you can choose your specialist, stay in a nice private room and have your operation when you choose.

They don't mention that it will end up costing you money. Get treated in a hospital under Medicare and it's free. Get treated in a private hospital and there is always an excess to pay - and it can be substantial. You have to pay the doctor, the anaesthetist, the pathologist, the radiologist, and the hospital - plus extras like phone calls or satellite TV or wifi or special food.

If you've got a serious medical problem then having insurance does feel good - you feel much more in control. But it doesn't mean you're necessarily getting better or faster treatment.

A couple of years ago I had a spinal fusion. I was glad I had private insurance because it was done within a few weeks, my specialist was one of the top men in his field, and the outcome was excellent. It cost about $35,000 of which I got about $25,000 back from the health fund. I thought it was worth it.

Then my friend's father had the same problem. I was so worried about him because he had no insurance. Six weeks later he had his op, on medicare, done by one of the top men in the field. His outcome was excellent. It cost him nothing!!

Yep, still the plan:)

Why are you asking about accomm on Sunshine Coast then? Wouldn't you fly straight into Cairns?

What CaptainC said. You're not obliged to work in the occupation you get the visa for - the important thing is to get the visa!

You don't need qualifications to teach in community colleges and even some private schools. To teach at TAFE in most states, you need a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

I'd second GoMatilda. It's pointless unless you use someone who knows both Australian AND UK tax and that's a fairly rare thing.

The job may never be put on the CSOL so I don't think it's worth holding out that hope.

An employer can't sponsor you if the occupation isn't on the CSOL. They could try to make a special case for you, but they would have to prove they can't find a single suitable applicant anywhere else in Australia, so it would be a very long shot.

It sounds like either getting NZ citizenship or retraining in another career are your only options.

I'm in IT since 2000 in multiple roles but mostly as Project Manager and/or Team Lead (mainly in IT Infrastructure if anyone is interested Think along the likes of Atos, HP, Fuijitsu, Telstra) Looking on Seek I have of course noted al the NV1 and other clearances requested. Not being a citizen that seems to throw a bit of a spanner in the works... If I read the offical statement about getting a clearance it leave s a bit of wiggle room. But has anyone real life experience of this wiggle room being used? Or does it sounds nice on paper but it never happens in real life? How exceptional do I/the circumstances have to be?

They have to be desperate. If there's another applicant who is even half-way acceptable, they will appoint him rather than go to the trouble of getting you through the system!

There are employers who are not government-based so it's going to be a case of tracking them down and hoping they have vacancies. Or looking for jobs elsewhere where you can work remotely - I do know IT people in Canberra who work for Sydney firms, they work in Sydney one or two days a week and from home the rest of the time.

With the busy factor in mind and given we don't like 'very busy' are there any places guaranteed to be rammed or will everywhere be busy? I mean busy in Margaret River (peak season) is acceptable to us will it be any worse?

Noosa's population more than doubles in the school holidays! Personally I would not go anywhere near the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast in the summer holidays, I don't like crowded beaches either and it's too much for me. It's a very personal thing and some people would just find it "lively"!

In one post you said you were forgetting about Brisbane and the South, and were going to spend your holiday Up North. I still think that was the best idea.

I am from London, maybe that is why I believe Sydney is not as good as it would be for others.

I think that's a fair comment. We're in the UK now (my oh is Aussie, and I spent 30 years there). The Sydney lifestyle suited us and we are struggling to find anywhere in the UK that can match it - EXCEPT London. London offers a lot of the good aspects of Sydney life PLUS lots more. Sure it is crowded and horrendously expensive but if we could afford it, we'd be happy to settle there. Unfortunately we can't!

We want to share accommodation without wifi(but with wired internet) in Sydney. This is really good for families with small children, pregnant ladies and otherwise electromagnetic hypersensitive people. Rent around $300 per week.

You will need to search on the site JockinTas provided and then contact the advertisers and ask them individually. However I think you are wasting your time.

Even if the flat itself does not have wifi, some of the neighbours will, and their wifi coverage will extend over the flat. I don't think it is possible to escape wifi networks in Sydney apartment blocks, Sydney is absolutely blanketed with wifi. Consider many apartment blocks also have mobile phone antenna on their roof.

I was very sorry to hear you refused the job in Kingston due to concerns over wifi exposure, because I think Tasmania is your best hope of reducing exposure - and I don't believe you will find anywhere in Australia where you can avoid it 100%. It is too much a part of Australian life. I would be very, very surprised if you can find a workplace that does not have wifi throughout.

Perhaps if you go far out into the country it might be different - but I understand you have concerns over solar too, and in the country that will be far more widespread. Although I must admit, I have no idea why you consider solar panels a problem. The panels themselves do not emit radiation - only the controllers which are probably not on the roof.

I'll only go out for a month at a time on a holiday I guess until something's sorted,

When you go to Australia on a tourist visa, you can stay for up to three months at one time. The trouble is you won't be able to work, of course.

That's really good advice. Thank you. Does.anyone know of the best job search websites? Or agencies to help find work? X

There's two different kinds of recruitment agencies in Australia. One is the commercial agency, (the kind that most employers would use to find secretaries, accounting staff etc), and the other is the kind that's subsidised by the government, mainly to get the unemployed off benefits and into work. There are no commercial agencies in Bateman's Bay, only the subsidised ones.

Seek.com.au is the best site for job search.

He needs to go between the 2 countries for work and family so I'm guessing that's why he needs to do the last 8 months but would it make a big difference in the sponsorship if we are not living together whilst he's over seas?

No it doesn't matter.

Reading your posts again, the main thing is that even once you've made the application as de facto, you'll have months to wait before it's approved. So if the idea is that he'd like you to join him in Australia in May, you might already be a bit late to be applying.

He's gonna seek advice when he gets back to uk. He's concerned as he as of yet is still short of the 2 years that's why he says he's got to return for the 8 months and wants me to go over with him for as much as possible, it's all confusing! Thank you do much for your advice, he says he will properly explain it all to me when he comes home

If he wants another RRV then yes, he does have to do the 8 months BUT the thing to remember is that the RRV is totally and utterly irrelevant to whether he can sponsor you for a de facto visa. If he's a permanent resident then there's nothing to stop him doing it as soon as he moves back to live, so it seems weird to delay getting advice when there are migration agents in Australia just as good or better than any in the UK. Some of them are on these forums, like @wrussell for instance. After all, putting all the paperwork together takes time and there's a long wait for processing after that.

No it expires march 2017 so next year, so he's got another year to go, can the authorities refuse to renew as he's working over here?

Oh sorry, misunderstood!

Yes they can refuse to renew in March 2017 if he hasn't fulfilled the requirements (i.e. the two years in five). Then he could lose his right to return to Australia altogether.

Just to be clear though:

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) is something that's attached to permanent residency, it's not a standalone visa. You can't get one if you're not a permanent resident. So if he's got an RRV that means he's already a permanent resident. If he's a permanent resident and he's currently in Australia, he could sponsor you today! The process takes a while so the sooner he starts the better.

I'd be urging him to see a migration agent on Monday - if he's genuine he will, if not I'd start to wonder if all this visa stuff is a delaying tactic...

Each individual must apply for citizenship in their own right, so there is nothing to prevent you applying for citizenship for yourself. I don't know what the situation is for children but I'm sure someone will!

He's back in uk in 10 days time so I'll look at his visa that's in his passport then, I know he wants to go out there in may and spend another few months, but maybe he won't have to if that's the case

The thing is, what's in his passport may not be clear and that's why he's confused. And if his current visa expires in March and he can't renew it yet, then he won't be allowed back into Australia in May, so that makes no sense.

Just to explain:

There are two ways you can live in Australia permanently. One is if you're a permanent resident, the other is if you're an Australian citizen.

The difference is that if you're just a permanent resident, you can't just come and go from Australia as you please. If you leave the country and stay away too long, you may lose your permanent residency. To avoid that, you have to apply for a "Resident Return Visa" (RRV) before you go. There is one that's valid for 5 years (i.e. you can come and go as often as you like during those 5 years).

The point is that the RRV just protects your rights while you're travelling. If you move back to Australia and it expires, it doesn't matter (unless you're planning to travel again). So if your oh needs to shuttle between Australia and the UK, he would want to renew it, otherwise he won't be able to travel - but if he just stays in Australia, it makes absolutely no difference to his ability to sponsor you.

2 years out of 5 years will be for a further RRV.

But surely that means he's already a permanent resident - if he's not planning on leaving Australia does it matter if his current RRV expires?

If he's got a temporary visa of some kind, then he's totally confused - he can't qualify for permanent residency by staying in Australia for two years out of five, it's absolute nonsense.

If he has a Resident Return Visa (RRV) then he's already a permanent resident and he doesn't need to wait at all, he already has the right to sponsor you. It doesn't matter if his RRV expires - while he's in Australia he has the right to remain there. He only need to get another RRV if he's planning to travel outside Australia.

I think you should try to persuade him to go and see a migration agent and sort it all out. Surely you're worth paying a bit of a fee for?

Just make sure it's a MARA registered agent as there are a lot of shonks out there, the MARA registered ones are the good ones.

He never new, he has been told this year that he has had to of spent at least 2 years out of the 5 in Aus to be able to apply but as of yet he's only spent 14 months so needs to spend a further 8 months there, he's not sure weather he will be granted a pr as he sold his house and business when he came to uk so now he's out there looking for another house to buy and a possible business, it's all very complicated and though we lived together for 2 years the last 2 months we haven't due to him being in Aus

That's not making any sense, sorry. The two years out of five thing is for citizenship, not permanent residency. So he must be a permanent resident already, if he's trying to qualify for citizenship.

If he's a permanent resident then he can sponsor you already, as his de facto. The two years you've already lived together would qualify you no problem, you're allowed to spend some time apart if you can show it was necessary for work or other good reason.

He's a British citizen but has lived over there for 40 years from a child but his parents never neutralised him so he's been on a 5 year visa as been back over here for 3 years he needs to apply for residency...

Are you sure that's right? What kind of 5 year visa? If he's been living there for 40 years then he must have had PR (permanent residency) already. He wouldn't have been allowed to stay that long otherwise!

When he left Australia to live in the UK, he would've applied for a RRV (Resident Return Visa) before he left - or did he not know he had to do that? If he has the RRV then he's still a permanent resident and can go back any time, no need to apply for anything.

If you're his de facto and you've already been living together for 12 months then I'd have thought he could sponsor you as soon as he moves back.

So glad to have read this post. I am in a very similar position. No. 2 is arriving at the end of March and we have decided to return to Scotland end of May. My big worry was getting the new babies birth certificate and passport in time, so from your post, I take it it is doable. I don't even know where to start with the move it seems so overwhelming. Did you ship much back? I was thinking of leaving 2 weeks before Hubby so that he could tie up all the losse ends. Possibly shipping all are small things and start from scratch again. any tips you have would be fantastic!

Good luck with the planning! My personal view on shipping - take it all with you.

I know the idea of packing everything seems overwhelming. But just think, how easy will it be to trek all over town shopping for new furniture, crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, bed linen, towels, white goods, etc etc - with a new baby?

Of course there is always the dilemma of how to manage till your stuff arrives. If you can stay with family till then that's great, or maybe you can borrow some essentials to tide you over, otherwise it's a case of booking into a holiday flat for a couple of months.

I've changed my mind about this. We didn't use an agent, but that was 30 years ago and the whole process was far simpler. Having seen how complicated it is now, and knowing that one little mistake could mean getting rejected and losing your whole application fee, I think a migration agent is worth using.

Just check to make absolutely certain they're MARA registered, never use one that isn't.

I'm really disappointed it's not on the list as my partners daughter who lives in Brisbane I'd also a dental nurse and says there is always dental jobs being advertised so I assumed maybe there was a shortage and that it would be on the list

That's how the lists SHOULD work but it's not how they ACTUALLY work! The lists are slow to react to the real world. A lot of people apply to migrate and assume that, because their job is on the list, it'll be easy to find work - and it's not. For instance, accountants are really struggling to get decent jobs in Australia now. It is likely to be taken off the list soon for that reason, but it's still there right now. Likewise, there may be shortages in fields which the government seems oblivious of!

Hi - I'm new to this forum and was looking for some advice. I was born and grew up in the UK and came out to Australia to work. I was supposed to stay for a year but ended up staying for 22 years!

 

Should I apply for my Australian Citizenship before I return to the UK and if so, will there be any implications in doing so (eg. will this impact my British citizenship and any benefits, protections etc). Ideally I'd like to have the option to spend some decent time in Australia when I retire.

 

I did have a national insurance number many years ago and a UK drivers licence but can't find them, will these have changed? And how can I register for a GP / doctor?

 

 

You would be mad not to get your citizenship before you go! It has NO impact on your British citizenship whatsoever, and it has NO impact on benefits or protections.

If you don't get citizenship you may find you lose the right to come back to Australia in your retirement, so it is absolutely critical to get it.

Yes your NI number will still be the same and it's important to track it down. If you can't find it anywhere you can contact the UK govt department (see link below). Your UK driver's licence gets cancelled if you move overseas so you don't have to worry about that one.

https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

Hi - I'm new to this forum and was looking for some advice. I was born and grew up in the UK and came out to Australia to work. I was supposed to stay for a year but ended up staying for 22 years!

 

Should I apply for my Australian Citizenship before I return to the UK and if so, will there be any implications in doing so (eg. will this impact my British citizenship and any benefits, protections etc). Ideally I'd like to have the option to spend some decent time in Australia when I retire.

 

I intend on working as soon as I return to UK (my current employer is supportive of my move and are looking to see if they can offer any opportunities in England for me), and worst case I will do contract work until I find a permanent job.

 

I did have a national insurance number many years ago and a UK drivers licence but can't find them, will these have changed? And how can I register for a GP / doctor?

 

 

You would be mad not to get your citizenship before you go! It has NO impact on your British citizenship whatsoever, and it has NO impact on benefits or protections.

If you don't get citizenship you may find you lose the right to come back to Australia in your retirement, so it is absolutely critical to get it.

Yes your NI number will still be the same and it's important to track it down. If you can't find it anywhere you can contact the UK govt department (see link below). Your UK driver's licence gets cancelled if you move overseas so you don't have to worry about that one.

https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number