FifiJ

Thanks for all your replies. Some very useful information. I will be coming out on a 457 visa and will hope to apply for PR after 2 years, as I am on a five year contract with my future employer. I will contact my insurance companies and see what they say. Thanks Fiona

Hi everyone , I am a 46 year old Mum , married with three dependant children , about to move to Australia in July. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if they have been able to continue contributing to UK life and /or critical illness policies they have in the UK , and therefore if they would pay out if claimed on if living in Australia? I started policies several years ago and I know that to start similar policies in the UK would cost me more now because of my age and health status (I have high blood pressure since taking them out) Does anyone have similar experience? Does the cost of transferring money back to the UK to pay premiums offset any savings made by continuing the older policies? Any advice /tips welcome thanks.

We are about to ship our household to Sydney in July and wonder if we can bring our rocking horse into Australia without having to cut off the real horse hair mane and tail. We were told by the shipping company that this was the only way we would be able to import it. Has anyone had experience of this? It would seem such a shame to have to do this as it was an expensive horse and has become a future heirloom for our three children , the youngest has only just started riding it as he is just a year old today! Thanks for any comments.

Thanks for the advice, I will take it on board and nearer moving time will get some more accurate figures etc, I thought originally I wouldn't bother, but I didn't reckon on mercedes being so expensive in Australia and I do love the car which has been looked after and trouble free from new.Also we have bought the usual "kit" such as roof bars etc and had been thinking of having a towbar fitted until we knew we were moving ,when I thought it wouldn't be worth the expense anymore. Now we might go ahead and do it!

Thanks for all the replies, hugely helpful!

ok looks like I am going to have to do some negotiating here.Thanks for the advice.

I will be 46 almost 47 when I move to Oz next year. I have signed a 5 year contract with the company ,which has a "get out " clause on both sides at the end of the first year.I will ask the recruiting /sponsor the question though, as I would like the added security from day one, plus I would like to buy property in Australia if I am settling.

I will have to bring this up with the company involved. I am older than 45 , but my skills mean I might be excepted on age ,plus there is obviously a shortage of GPs

not according to the company who are sponsoring me, I get a 457 visa and after 2 years am eligible to apply for Permanent Residency apparently.

Thanks for this advice. I will be on a 457 visa as a GP , and sincerely hope to become a permanent resident after two years. If I did return to the UK ,I wouldn't be able to get my old job back or live in the old house . There is no emotional tie to the house for me, it is purely a question of what seems sensible in the current economic climate. I doubt the value of the house is going to rise substantially in the next three years as I don't live in the South East of England/London area.In fact sometimes I think I might want to sell the house so that I make a clean break and IF I had to return to the UK wouldn't have to worry about owning a house in a different part of the UK to which I will have to work. Also in the current climate it could take some time to sell I guess.

Hello everyone, We are moving to the Wollongong area next year. We can live within 30 mins approx. of the city and would like to know what areas/schools are nice for primary and secondary aged children. My daughter is keen on drama and I have read about Wollongong High school for Performing arts in Fairy Meadow. I wonder if anyone has any thoughts? I will be on a 457 visa and have just read that it means I will have to pay for state schools.Thanks for any help or advice

Gosh,I have just got a nasty suprise reading about the state school fees. I have accepted a job near Wollongong for next year and will have two school aged children. My recruiter never told me about this expense! Thankfully it should be affordable. Does this only apply so long as I am not an Australian Citizen?

Thanks for the advice

Yes this story is horrendous! I live in part of the UK which makes my home ideal for Holiday Rentals rather than a Long term let , I have a friend who has just done this while waiting to sell her house, and I don't think she had any problems. I have no idea if a tenant for a holiday let would have any "squatters rights " or not.I sincerely hope not!

That is what I was afraid might be the case. Thanks for the advice.