captain maracas

We moved here in December 2013, we have 2 boys with ASD, my wife works full-time as a midwife which is why we got a 457 visa, it is proving very difficult/impossible to find appropriate schooling for our kids and we are struggling on one salary. We will never get residency because of the autism, should we battle on or cut our losses and go home?

Here you go. http://goo.gl/CgqebF Just down from the shopping centre and Rhodes train station.

Excellent! See you there.

Welcome to Rhodes! We got here just before Christmas and, like you, we're still settling. There are a few of us on here that have touched down in this area recently, perhaps we should meet up?

Posting this on behalf of my wife, who wants to know what the best haircare product is to combat dry hair-ment. (Can you tell how out of my depth I am here?) Thanks!

This looks like fun: http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/whats_on/family_fun_events/australia_day_celebrations

Okay. What about ambulance cover? And dental? If you're on a 457 can you just pay for these (which I don't think Medicare covers, does it?) Would love some clarity on this.

Hi Vikki Our family (me, my wife and our two boys aged 4 and 7) arrived from the UK just before Christmas and we're using Rhodes as a stop-off for a few months, while we investigate other places to live. We're on Shoreline Drive and there are three nice little parks nearby. One has a sandpit, which our 4 year old loves. Two have swings and they all have slides toddlers seem to use with a little help! There's also a play school just around the corner, but we haven't been: http://rhodescentralpreschool.com.au Taking our boys to the Olympic park this Saturday for the free open air cinema. (The Croods is on at 8pm, perhaps too late for your little guy?) Then on Sunday we're going to get Family Fun Day tickets. They only cost $2.50 each and you can go almost anywhere: http://www.sydneytrains.info/tickets/which/funday Last week we went from Rhodes to Manly beach, via train and ferry, giving us a great view of the Opera House and bridge on the way. My wife is working here as a midwife and I'm taking a career break for a bit, until we get the boys back into school. It can be tricky keeping them occupied all day, but at least there's no snow or flooding to cope with! Hope you're settling in okay.

We've been using this to get online and call home, while we wait to get our home broadband and phone sorted. Thought I'd share: http://blog.three.co.uk/2013/08/30/feel-at-home-3/ I'm using my Three pay-as-you-go account on a spare phone, with a £15 add on to give me unlimited internet and loads of minutes to call the UK. You can tether the mobile to a laptop and download BBC iPlayer stuff, but I think that breaks the terms and conditions.

Here for about two and a half weeks now. Here's our improvised Christmas tree. Looking forward to getting out and meeting more people around Sydney. Have a cool yule everyone!

Any of you guys know where the nearest hardware store is? I've got to get a washer for our washing machine before we run out of clothes to wear!

We're hopefully moving there this week! All being well, I'll drop back to this page when we're settled.

Thanks for posting this. Really useful.

Got our 457 today! Application lodged 18th Oct, granted 21st Nov. Horray!

Got our 457! Application lodged 18th Oct, granted 21st Nov. Horray!

The e457 visa online application checking service at http://www.immi.gov.au/Services/Pages/check-progress-online-application.aspx seems to be down at the time of posting, presumably for maintenance. Or is it just me?

Hi Paulo Some hospitals pay your visa application fee, some won't. It's more likely that they won't in Sydney. However, most hospitals will help you by paying for a Migration Agent to handle your application on your behalf. This can save a lot of time. I don't believe you have to have a specific amount of money in your bank account before (or after) you apply. If I were you, I'd start by getting in touch with medical recruitment companies in Sydney.

Checking the status of our application online at the immi.gov.au site. There are five of us on there. Are there instances where some applicants are shown as approved before others? Or is it all updated and shown at the same time? Also, is there any particular order in which the assessment is made? Is it health requirements first, then a deeper look? Just curious. [curious smiley not found]

Not long ago! My wife has a job in Manly as a midwife, and we're told that medical professions are 'fast tracked' - however, we'll see what happens in practice. We were aiming at a mid-November, but that seems too close now. Just waiting for that page at https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/inquiry/query/query.do?action=eVisa to update! [TABLE=class: cms_table_tablecolour, width: 100%, align: center] [TR] [TD=width: 15%]18/10/2013[/TD] [TD=width: 60%]Application received - processing commenced[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Everyone's health requirements finalised, apart from my mother-in-law's: Referred to a case offer to determine in further health is required.

Excellent! Congratulations.

Waiting's frustrating, isn't it! Our MA says there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to it at the moment - some applications are taking 2 weeks, some 2 months.

Interested to know how fellow 457 October applicants are faring. [TABLE=class: tablecolour, width: 100%, align: center] [TR] [TD=width: 15%]18/10/2013[/TD] [TD=width: 60%]Application received - processing commenced[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Everyone's health requirements finalised, apart from my mother-in-law's: Referred to a case offer to determine in further health is required.

Oh dear. Out of interest, where did this info come from?

I'm concerned that my son's autism will mean we will fail to obtain a 457 visa. His autism doesn't 'present a danger to the Australian community' or require medical treatment. He's very high functioning. However, he does attend a special school in the UK. I don't think he would fare well in a mainstream school, in the UK or Australia. Can anyone advise on what options we have?

Tony Abbott: