Opal Fiend

It seems there are very few social workers on this forum. I know I'm on the skills list. I've taken the ielts x2 and have it rebooked for end of month More importantly I'm 40 so I need to get my skates on I'm not going with rose coloured glasses as I think it will be bloody hard work just as it is here, as I intend to work in children's services More importantly any tips re ielts as if it was work focussed I'd fly through it but discussing free speech and graphs, OMG I also have a migration agent any other tips would be fab Ps I want to do the independent visa but if others think the sponsored is better then please say why. If I ever get there I intend to let my house as my back up plan Plus my dog coming is essential.

I am kicking myself as I need 8 to migrate and only got 7, and I'm even more miffed as I'm a native speaker. I thought I'd slip on the writing, but although not good it was the listening and reading that were the worst, 6.5 for each again pretty poor for a native speaker. 8.5 for speaking however that's nothing to boast about for a native speaker. I match all of your criteria as I'm just turned forty and British, type rather than hand write and had I been asked about child protection, (I'm a social worker) would have aced it but population growth was lost on me. I will get there eventually, I really will.

I am sure you'll do fine. especially as you have a masters. keep up posted :-)

I paid first instalment to visa agent on Wednesday and can't wait to see what happens next. I applied for skilled independent visa I've read loads but accept that nothing can really prepare you So watch this space for all of us I guess.

what wdnt I give to be 29 again lol I had a long holiday last year I met loads of people all lovely and am now trying to sort a skilled independent visa I saw Sydney, Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu, Cairns, Brisbane, Lightning Ridge and back to Sydney I envy you doing it at leisure and time to take in the view I did the independent trip and had a ball many many good memories Meeting people is easy and if you do any organised tours try the smaller ones, far more informal and easier to make friends. as for paying for it all I can say is save save save you can be more choosy with the jobs you take too, but you'll know that already :biggrin:

I have a Renault Clio DC 88 it does 50 mpg at the moment in town and better in summer which although not as good as stated in log book (are they ever£???) is bloody good. I did the maths re converting figures to Km and litres and it not much less that the new ones over there. I have no idea how road tax works in oz and guess it will vary across the states but mine is 94 co2 so is free here :biggrin: I felt that with the miles to cover and the eco aspect it might be worth taking with me but I really don't know its had one owner, me, since new and was registered 26th Oct 2011. I know its sad but I don't buy brand spanking new cars every week and know exactly when I bought it.:biggrin: it cost £11000 new (retail £12450 and I haggled for my price) and I have valued it as about £8000 when I insured it in sept this year much as I love it its the fuel economy and my awareness of miles I would be covering that makes me think it might be worth bringing with me. I'm also conscious that although its doing well and only two years old I'd need to consider servicing and potential repairs. I tend to keep my cars until I've saved up for a new one rather that trade in reg as I had the thought of bloody HP and loans.

Thanks for the advice, much as I love my car and I'm leaving it here.

I can see that I'm going to need to read this a number of times before it makes sense but the gist seems to nbe that of you're desperate enough to take your car then you're willing to pay through the nose. I would consider taking my car only because it cheap as chips to run over here and given the distances I can see myself covering over there would think it might be similar there too. a silly question maybe but are most cars petrol or is there a fairly even spread of diesel and petrol? I query only because I have a diesel but equally would have to consider cost of diesel with petrol?

Rainbow beach was fab, prob spot on for a family

OMG that opal is fab and a million times better that the milky white rubbish I see in UK I cant imagine how fab it would be when finished absolutely stunning wow

I went to the 'ridge earlier this year and thought it was fab, I only had a couple of days and it was a mad rush. The people were really friendly and I got given the tiniest sliver of opal. I bought three from there and more earlier in my trip from Cairns and Coober Pedy. I intend to hire a car for my next visit and see the opal fields for myself.