SerenaJ

Thank you everyone for your help - I think I'll just stick with the bank account we have in the UK. One less thing to sort out :-)

Hi there, My family and I are due to be emigrating on a PR visa in October and are just looking into setting up a bank account. We will probably go with either ANZ or NAB. In the UK we currently bank with NatWest and were planning on keeping these accounts going. However, I've heard it said it would be much better to switch to banking with HSBC, since they have branches in Australia. I'm not clear on why this offers any benefit (since I assume the best way to transfer money would be via a broker not a bank). Am I missing something? Thanks in advance.

Thanks Marisa - this is really helpful. It does feel little like a catch 22 situation... we need to feel pretty secure about job prospects before choosing Brisbane (over, say, Sydney), but can't really get a proper feel for things until we have arrived, by which case we'll have made our decision and burnt our bridges (i.e. moved to Brisbane, not Sydney). I will definitely do as you ask and give the agents a call though. Thanks.

Thanks Marissa. I do spend quite a lot of time on SEEK, and have done over the past year... I just don't see many jobs come up in my area of expertise, so I wondered if I'm looking in the wrong place (i.e. maybe you have to be on the books of the agents to even find out about certain jobs). Or perhaps it's just reflective of the market that there isn't a lot around? I emailed 3 agents that offer work in my field, letting them know when I'm arriving and asking whether their websites hold all live vacancies, but none of them have replied to me. I think I need to get a bit more focused and hunt down ALL the agencies and make sure I'm registered with them. Thanks.

Hi Zack, Thank you for your honest and helpful answer. We will consider most things and plan not to be closed-minded about anything. You say unemployment is at 20% where you are - is that Brisbane? 'd be interested in asking you a couple of questions about the driving work your son did. Am I OK to private message you? :-)

Thanks everyone for your comments. Does anyone have experience of going via recruitment agencies - and if so, are there any that are recommended? Or did most of you scan the jobsites daily and applying for positions directly with employers? My husband is a structural engineer, not chartered, but a good range of projects behind him. Re casual work, can this go against you if wanting to purchase property? Whilst we plan to rent for the first few months, we are keen to buy. Do mortgage lenders consider people on fixed term contracts or do you have to be permanent?

Thanks for your help so far... :-)

Hi there, Thanks for your reply. My husband is a structural engineer. We'd be fine with any work to begin with to be honest, casual or permanent. Just not sure the best way to go about it - is is better to go through recruitment agencies, or direct to employers would you say? Or perhaps cover all bases and do both! :-)

Hi all, My husband and I are in our mid forties and are in the fortunate position of having PR visas. We plan to move to Brisbane in October with our 7 year old son. My background is in marketing, communications and fundraising and my husband is an engineer, however we are realistic about the fact that it could take many, many months before we both find work that matches our skills. Whilst we have been putting some savings behind us over the past couple of years, so should be able to manage initially, we're wondering what the situation is in Brisbane with finding general, unskilled work (temporary office / admin work?) until we find something more suitable. Does anyone have any experience of either temping, or finding permanent work initially in a field outside of their main profession, and are there any specific recruitment consultants (or larger employers that are active in recruiting) that anyone can recommend? We're not fussy about what we do. We are in contact with recruitment agents in our respective fields, but they are reluctant to talk seriously to us about positions until much nearer the time, and say their clients wouldn't recruit anyone while they are still off shore. We're just seeking some reassurance about the prospects of finding paid work there once we arrive, as it's pretty nerve-racking taking such a big step with no jobs to go out to...