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Seizethedance

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  1. Seizethedance
    For anyone else who might be looking for similar information - I went back to Barclays and asked them to confirm that they wouldn't close my account as the guy on the phone had assured me. Their response was that in the past month or so people had been turning up with letters from the bank stating that as they are non-resident their accounts will close unless they have £75k in the account. The bank guy said he had called higher-ups but not been told much about it so he couldn't advise on whether this was a new policy or anything. Had a moment of panic but he basically said just to use our UK address even though it's not our residential address. So that's what we've done. Crazy business.
  2. Seizethedance
    Panic over - thanks to everyones' comments I rang the bank and they said of course I could keep my bank account! Dont know what the guys in the branch were talking about, they seemed very sure that it would be closed but I have now been assured that they are wrong. Phew. Thanks everyone who replied
  3. Seizethedance
    I had planned to keep our UK bank account to pay our UK mortgage from (we are letting our house out when we move to Australia in a few weeks). But the bank has just told me that they will close the account when I move. What do other people do? If I pay the mortgage from an Australian account wont I lose out on exchange rates and money transfer fees? Anyone help please?!!
  4. Seizethedance
    Just to add - although isofix is available in Australia now, I think it's only in seats for little babies, though I'm not sure. If you're on facebook there is a group called 'child restraints. Is your child restrained correctly?' You'll get an answer if you post in there.
  5. Seizethedance
    As others have said, you cant use UK car seats in Australia. In the past year or so new seats have been released in Australia that harness until at least 8 years old (and often several years more) and these seem to be considered the best on the market for older kids. The main two are the maxi guard SICT and the infa evolve caprice. There are a couple of other newer ones that are cheaper as well I think they're called type G seats. We've got 2 evolves for when we arrive in Australia for our 2 and 4 year olds.
  6. Seizethedance
    Oh crap, they've cancelled the flight we were on from kl to melbourne!
  7. Seizethedance
    I am planning to, but already on a PR (spouse visa). I dont know the answer to your question but what do you want to teach? If it's maths, science or engineering then that is more in demand. Also worth noting that they are phasing out diplomas and replacing them with masters which would cost you more. I think 2017 might be the last year you can do a diploma (not sure though) but you have to think how employable you are compared to most teachers who will now already be graduating with a masters.
  8. Seizethedance
    I expect you'll find remote indigenous teaching isn't something you can/want to do now, but still you might find this other blog interesting which will give you a sense of the politics and challenges of indigenous teaching. It's written by the teacher husband of the blog I posted above (the wife's blog is more about the challenges of life there, this is specifically about the teaching). https://jarvisryan.wordpress.com/
  9. Seizethedance
    Here's the blog, it's written by the wife of a teacher while they were living in Arnhem land. You'd definitely want to visit before living there - it takes a certain kind of person to live in these communities. https://remoteareamum.wordpress.com/ I'm not sure what you can do to get a visa, I have no idea if remote schools would even sponsor someone, I dont really see why they would, especially if you have no experience in remote communities (but I could be wrong). There is a teachers thread somewhere that you might find helpful.
  10. Seizethedance
    Yes the only reason we were considering remote service teaching is because we have lived with indigenous communities in remote Congo basin so understand the emotional and practical issues. I love this kind of work but even then we have decided to wait until our kids have left home (a looong time from now) and then reconsider as we didn't feel it was right for the kids. Having said that, there is a good blog I read from someone who did remote service teaching with young kids that I'll see if I can find, it will give you an idea of what it might be like. Places that are not so remote and are actually nice places to live (especially for kids) probably dont have a problem recruiting primary teachers.
  11. Seizethedance
    Very remote indigenous communities really are very remote - rainy season you can often only access them via plane. Definitely not commutable but even if they were, it's important that teachers live in the community because living elsewhere can create a sense of division. There are bigger town though which you would probably want as your eldest would need to go to a high school. You may be one of the only non-indigenous people in the town and indigenous towns can have a fair amount of social problems (for example, most are 'dry', as in alcohol is banned for everyone living in the community). It may well be quite isolating especially for your eldest. However, some of the bigger towns have mining families as well. You have to be very committed to this kind of work and it is not easy. I dont know if they sponsor applicants for primary teaching or not, but here is the website http://www.teaching.nt.gov.au/remote/ As I said there are easier options that are small rural towns but not 'very remote' which might suit you better as there would be more cultural familiarity for your kids. They are still very cut off from everywhere, no way you can commute. Think remote Scottish island with a small community (but sunshine) and then add several more hours onto the journey to the nearest town and you come close. No idea if these places sponsor teachers.
  12. Seizethedance
    Remote teaching is often in indigenous communities, which is usually quite unlike other kinds of teaching jobs and can be particularly tough and challenging but also hugely rewarding. Teachers are generally wanted to commit for three years as turnover is high which disadvantages students. Communities are varied and you can get a sense of what they are like by looking on the NT remote teaching website. Sounds like this isn't really what you're thinking of but might be worth considering if it's something that interests you. We very nearly went that route but our eldest son would be 6 and we felt it was the wrong age for him as we really want to go somewhere to settle long term (younger one would be fine and hubby would look after her). Rural (rather than remote) communities could be an option, though you are still likely to be in small quite isolated communities. But I'm sure many of these places would be great if you dont mind the small community thing - personally I'd rather that than go to a major city but it's personal preference
  13. Seizethedance
    Anyone know if biology teachers also in demand, or is it mainly the other sciences and maths? I'm planning on training as a teacher in Australia but can only train in biology methods, maybe general science if I up my chemistry (this despite having an MSc and PhD in social science - madness!).We'll be in north-east vic.
  14. Seizethedance
    Thank you everyone! We've been married for 6 years and have two kids. You should go straight to 100 as well then right? It was important because I'm hoping to study and we may depend on the Austudy benefit if my other half cant find work initially while I'm studying - and I would not have been entitled to that on the temporary 309 visa. So good news for us.
  15. Seizethedance
    VISA GRANTED!!!!! Wahoo!!!! Straight to a subclass 100 That's 8 days short of 10 months - we applied on 28th july and were quoted 10-14 months. Cant wait to get there now, we fly on August 26th and are heading for country vic. Exciting times!
  16. Seizethedance
    Congratulations!! Hopefully not long for us now then
  17. Seizethedance
    I think we're in the limbo between those that were quoted 6-9 months and those that were quoted 10-14. We applied july 28 just after it went up and now on 9.5 months. Hoping it will be on the 10 month mark.
  18. Seizethedance
    As MaggieMay said - applying online is much easier. Wait for medical and police checks as these are only valid for 1 year and you must enter Australia to validate the visa before these expire and visa grants are currently 10-14 months so you may have to get them again if you did them prior to applying. Waiting doesn't slow down the granting process, they will tell you when to get them. Good luck (I applied online 9 months ago, fingers crossed the wait is nearly over!)
  19. Seizethedance
    One more thing - the notes on the application talk about having 2 statements from friends about your relationship but I was only asked for one and later clarified with my CO that this was correct. In our case this was obviously all that was needed (married for years with 2 kids) - my point is that you dont have to have everything done and ready, apply and they will let you know what you need as it may vary for your circumstances.
  20. Seizethedance
    I cant remember clearly the application process (it was 9 months ago) - I think though that the personal statements about your relationship are part of the application form - as in the application form contains a series of questions about your relationship and you can just answer these online with the rest of your application - this does not need witnessing. For signatures I think you can print the form, sign and scan it, though I cant remember doing this we might have.. I dont remember posting anything so I think you can scan the photos. Birth certs and the like I dont think we had certified (though cant be sure...) because you scan the original they dont need certifying. Dont rely on this though, I really cant remember. I did find it very straightforward though. Dont worry about having everything done before starting the application. I think you initially submit the form and pay and then they tell you what you need to do very specifically so it should all become clear. Again cant remember the specifics... sorry that's a bit of a rubbish response!
  21. Seizethedance
    Has anyone been granted their visa who applied after the change to 10-14 months yet? I applied on 28th july, I think about a week after it went up. I'm wondering whether they are going to continue granting at the current time-frame which is around 9 months or, as the post further up indicates, no one will get it sooner than 10 months if that's what they were told. I suspect the latter...
  22. Seizethedance
    Oh no! I applied on july 28th and was really hoping I'd hear in the next couple of weeks. Mind you, another month doesn't actually make any difference but still..
  23. Seizethedance
    Your letter said 9-12 months and you applied in december yes? So does that mean they've dropped it back to 9-12 months? great news if they have! I applied end of july just after they raised it to 10-14 months, but at the moment grants are being made at around 9 months, and I cant see why they would suddenly jump to 10 months.
  24. Seizethedance
    One of the things we are most looking forward to is being near family - here we are 5 hours away from my mum and the thought that our kids might be able to spend an afternoon with their grandparents while we have a child-free few hours - WAHOOOOO!!!!! I think it's lovely to be near family for us and for the kids, 20 minutes away is perfect. I hope it will also give me a sense of connection to the people and place.
  25. Seizethedance
    Thanks everyone for your interesting replies. It's actually very reassuring because it seems like we're in a good midset to settle in Oz. It's not quite his hometown - it's nearby. He doesn't know anyone in the region (or the whole of Oz bar family) anymore though as he hasn't lived in country vic for 18 years so it will be a new experience for both of us. I'll be training as a teacher and we'll get involved in the kid's school and toddler groups for the youngest. We joke that I'll have to find an AFL team to follow because I have zero interest in sport, despite marrying a sports journalist!
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