Birch4

Hi everyone, We have been here for a few months. We left our 2 dogs in the UK one was 14 and died a few weeks ago. We are heart broken. The other dog is being looked after by a friend she's a Llaso Apso - anyone got any advice on best company to get her here? Also I have heard horror stories about smaller dogs not coping with the journey? Any help and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks - missing my fur baby X

Thanks so much to Pat and Bob for arranging the ex pat meet up at North Lakes yesterday! It was so lovely to meet everyone and have people who understand some of the challenges! Hope to see you all again really soon. Thanks - Lisa

Hi everyone, I have forgotten the date of the North Lakes ex pat meet up. Is it the 17th September @ Aurora park? We have been here almost 2 months. Husband still struggling re getting an Electrician TA job. However, he's working and I have a teaching contract and a tutoring job too! Any other families fairly new here???

Hi there, you would need proof of income or bank account details to prove you can pay the rental period you sign up for. Also usually your Australian Drivers Licence, bank account and Medicare card. One of the first things you should do when you arrive is get you ozzy licence and Medicare card sorted. Other stuff they might need is passport and copy of visa. They also require some references. We have been in our property almost a month now and signed a 6 month lease. It's a 4 bed typical ozzy home in North Lakes. There was no drama with this as long as you have the documents they require.

Hi everyone, I have been here in North Lakes for around one month. I am a Secondary Teacher and I am constantly being asked to submit all documents and have them verified despite the fact I now have my QTC Registration. If you are coming here as a teacher I would advise you to get that done as soon as possible as it does take 12 weeks! I have some work tutoring kids in foster care starting this week - just a few hours a week. I have another interview with an agency tomorrow and despite having filled all paperwork and having everything verified by JP and scanning this and sending it I have to take everything again to be checked. I have registered with TRACER and then it is 10 days for them to process and start work - that is when you then get your employment number with them. Apparently there is a lot of contract/supply work around but might need to do the commute or travel over an hour or more for work. The commute to Brisbane which my husband is doing everyday is a nightmare! He leaves at 5am. He is an Electrician but does not have his Queensland Licence and he is struggling to find a company who will take him on as a Trade assistant so that he can work towards this - we won't be giving up though. The TAFE college no longer deal with the Electrical licence here. We called and visited. This post is not intended to be negative but realistic and honest. We have been out cycling everyday almost and the weekends we have been to beautiful beaches and wonderful places. It is NOT easy getting starting and established though IMO - I never came with rose tinted glasses but some days have been a bit harder than I had thought :wacko: Other days we have wonderful experiences and I feel so lucky to have this experience regardless of what happens longer term :wink: The Sunshine Coast is stunning and have loved travelling to different places. We have also been to the Gold Coast too. Our son has been at school for just over a week and he is really enjoying it and he has made friends. My husband and son have been chatting to people locally via playing football on a Sunday at local park area. I am really sociable however, I haven't met anyone yet probably because everyone seems to be already in groups when we go to the parks etc. I maybe need to join a local group or something soon. Although it will depend on work. I am surprised how dark it gets so early. Anyway just a wee insight so far. Feel free to ask any questions and I will help if I can :-) :notworthy: Overall, no regrets and things I worried about before we came are not really worries. Things we hadn't planned for we deal with as and when they arise! And they do!

Hi Pat, that would be great! We will defo come along to the meet up in September. We have done most of what you have suggested. Our Medicare cards came this week to my cousins and we have sorted the driving licenses and tax code I think my husband was dealing with that part. Moving to North Lakes tomorrow so I'll be in touch. We are not going to be far from that primary school I think. We are a five minute walk from the rugby playing fields with the bbq area at the back - if my memory serves me correctly - thanks! Lisa

Hi bobboe2016 - we didn't realise this and we have family in NZ and will look into this - thanks

Hi yes - he is going to try and get some labouring work to start with we have been sending out job applications left, right and centre but once we move to North Lakes he is going to try and do as you suggested and see if someone will take him on to get a foot in the door so to speak. Thanks! Lisa

Hi AJ Thanks - he has just contacted them but he needs a jobs first and then they will issue a permit

Hi Pat We are moving to North Lakes on Friday would we be able to hook up and chat? please? we are going round in circles here quite literally! I am still waiting for my Queensland Teacher Registration to come trough - that should be in another few weeks. Lots of proving self over and over again. I thought the visa and the IELTS was the hard part..... wrong!!!!!! Thanks Lisa

hi there are there any more meet ups planned? We are a family of 3 moving to North lakes later this week. We have only been in Australia for a few weeks. Thanks

Hiya, my husband and son and I have been here for only a few weeks and would be happy to catch up meet up? Share experiences. Or indeed hear your views as you have been here longer than us. Let me know. Cheers

Hi there, we are a family of 3 recently moved to Sunshine Coast. Staying with family at the moment. Moving to North Lakes soon. My husband is an electrician and finding it difficult to find out where he can go to sit electrical license? Jobs are slow!! Applied for loads even as labourer and no one is biting. Are there any ex pat electricians who could offer some advice to us? Either here or face to face? Another wee question does anyone know if any ex pay meet ups are planned in Brisbane? Many thanks in advance!

We are a family of 3 arriving in July 2016! Starting off in Sunny Coast as my cousin is there. Where we settle will depend on work. Hope there is a wee meet up we can come to? X

Hi everyone, It has been a while since I have posted. We now have our 189 Skilled Migrant Visa and we are heading initially to the Sunshine Coast in July. I have been applying for Secondary Teaching jobs although my Queensland Teacher Registration is still in process. Has anyone had a telephone interview with SMART teachers? I have prepared some information on skills, qualities and experiences however, I am not sure what they will ask. Has anyone got any experience of this??:chatterbox: I guess the main thing for me will be to not talk fast and make sure they can understand me :yes: TIA

Hi Wooba, sorry can't help with question re car. However, I notice you are an Electrician. We were recently granted 189 Skilled Migrant Visas. I'm the main applicant as a Secondary Teacher. My OH is a bit confused if he has to have skills assessed here in UK or wait till get to OZ? Do you know? Thanks! Sorry didn't answer your question..

Hi everyone, we are well into the process of applying for our visas. Our medicals were on Friday. Visas were lodged and police checks have been sent away. My sons medical is classed as grade b - this is because he takes medication for a condition called Diabetes Insipidus. This has nothing to do with insulin or sugar. However, he would need to be reviewed by an Endocrinologist in Australia. I have a few questions and I was wondering if anyone can help? I will ask Go Matilda too. So far they have been great at answering questions. So, grade b means that my son medical will be referred - what does this mean exactly? Does anyone know how long we should expect to wait? Thanks in advance. Good luck to everyone going through this process! Not for the faint hearted :arghh:

Hi there, I am in the process of applying 189 skilled migrant visa. I'm a Secondary Teacher. We are just at the stage where the visa has been uploaded and paid. We have been invited now to get our police checks and medicals done. Then a waiting game I guess. We have used Go Matilda to get us through the process. So far they have been fab. We are planning to go Brisbane/Sunshine Coast area. A bit scary when I see the work situation however, we are going to take it one year are at time and see how it goes. Pretty much keep the house here and rent it out etc... If it works out we stay longer then great if not worst can happen is we come back skint!! Lol

Hi drstu, We have just lodged our 189 visas. I did procrastinate quite a bit with the final payment and lodging the visa. I guess it's like anything in life if you think too much then you would never do anything as you can always find reasons not to go. We have applied for the skilled migrant visas but have no job offers yet... Hoping that one of us can secure an offer. We are planning to rent out our UK house. I think when you have children as well it is easy to worry if it's the best thing for them. But then I think of the travel, outdoor lifestyle and experience we will be giving to our son. We are planning to head to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast areas depending on work. When are you planning to go? Someone recently said to me 'it's better to look back and say I can't believe we did that! Than to look back and wish you had' Good Luck!

Hi everyone, Happy New Year to you all ?? we have finally lodged and paid the visa fee yesterday for our 189 visas. Go Matilda said that we should be invited to have police checks and medicals done within the next few weeks and if that is all good then there is a wee bit of a wait for the visas to be granted. A few months.... This is all becoming so real now it's exciting and a bit terrifying! ? We are planning to rent our UK house and take things a year at a time. We are planning to head to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast not properly decided. It will depend on jobs. Planning to head there in July 2016. So much to get sorted and do in the next few months. Good luck to everyone else on this journey!! ???????

what a lovely positive post! I'm in the UK planning the big move. Lots of luck to you with the next chapter :-)

Hi SkippyLou! We are the same received our invites and my passport is out of date. Next steps for us to upload all documents via Go Matilda then for me to register as a teacher I think. Where are you planning to go?

Hi everyone! We received our invite to apply for 189 visa! Now the hard work begins! I'm a Secondary Teacher and my husband is an electrician. Planning to head to Brisbane/Sunshine Coast but I guess it will all depend on the work situation for us both. Anyone have any ideas in general how work is looking in our professions? I know I have to register to teach and my husband will have other courses to do. Then schools for our son. So much to think about. Guess I better get the visa stuff sorted first! Good luck to everyone on this journey ?

Hi there, thought I'd join in here seen as we are patiently waiting.. 1. Not sure of code? 2. Secondary Teacher 3. 65 points 4. EOI submitted - the most recent round in November 189 visa - invites didn't come of Friday due to a computer glitch. Think invites will be Monday? Thanks :-)

Thanks for responding! Today I realised I had these wee questions floating around my head. Good Luck!! :yes: