Harriet Roberts

Yes LLB and BVC (2007 and 2008 respectively) but no pupillage. Can you tell me where you studied them? I'm looking to get costings of everything so that I can weigh it up. Good luck for your exams!

Well congratulations first off Do you mind me asking how you found the role and what area it's in? Best of luck!

Hello - a bit of a practical question, in terms of studying for the additional core subjects, is anyone aware if it's possible to get a student visa for this? I understand in QLD that you get up to 2 years to complete the core subjects. My thinking is it would be better to study in Australia whilst gaining paralegal work in Australian firms to build experience and connections, rather than doing the subjects in the UK (which I've read on another forum is possible. Southern Cross?) Also, where the LLB and the LPC/BVC is assessed, does the admission board differentiate which courses at either undergrad or post grad level need studying? I'm a bit confused as I imagine that core subjects will be needed for both levels to cross qualify? Which would obviously mean enrollment at an undergrad and post grad institution. If I'm making this more complicated that it actually is apologies! Certainly sounds like a very complicated and expensive route to migration! Grateful for any light shed

Yeah I've been all around Newtown today, the boarding house association has asked for me to wait and see if they can look into him staying at their boarding houses before going to the police. So tomorrow is likely to be the day I go! Thanks so much for your well wishes, and the twitter suggestion I will do that Also attached some updated pictures I have been sending around Newtown xx

Hello! Yes I have arrived in Australia a few days ago and just been setting myself up phone and tax number, job hunting. I may have a lead that Martin was last in Newtown quite recently - not definite. Does anyone know if there is a Newtown forum? I will be in the area today LondonGal - not registered with the police as when I was last here in 2013 they wouldn't open a missing person case until the tracing agencies were exhausted, that happened with Salvos in January, and the Red Cross in August. If nothing comes of this new lead I will be seeking the assistance of the NSW police but I don't have any guarantee they will help as they may still see the case as a tracing rather than missing person enquiry. Thanks all

Yeah just go for it I'm heading out there for a year as of October alone. You will meet so many people on your way

Amazing! All the information I was after thanks so much Pom Queen

Yeah exactly I'm after any information at all! Thanks so much x

I had a friend who worked at NAB who did a search for me but couldn't find anything, and medicare I'm not sure how I would go about searching but I will have a gander. I'm leaving the UK in 3 weeks for Australia and I will be able to navigate searches much easier hopefully once I'm there x

Wow that is amazing, I keep getting told that I'm in no way entited to see this information, would you mind telling me a bit about how you went about it (appreciate someone else said it's not poss but would like to try!) Pm me if needed xx

Hi there, very much in my family's consideration, but with all due respect we are just asking for people to spread the word, not for judgement. The Red Cross and Salvation army have provision in place to respect the wishes of anyone who doesn't want to be found by families but can let them know they are at least safe and well. Thanks

@Britpop thanks so much for the suggestions esp re the architect regulator I hadn't really considered that. I'll be looking into all those things. Really grateful for your help I have wondered about NZ annoyingly like Oz you can only search it in person (which is the first step in looking for him) but I'm looking for people over there who might be able to do that for me - or pay a visit myself once I'm on that side of the world Thanks all again means a lot to have your help

Similar to me but I'm 28 I'm landing in Sydney in October. I was there last year too, you will make tons of friends on the backpacker scene, hostels are your best bet! Couch surf is great just make sure you do your own vetting first (meet up etc)

I will definitely be posting regularly with updates thanks so much

Hi there! Yeah good call I've done that now (I'm not massively techy!) https://www.facebook.com/helpfindmartin Thanks for all your kind wishes means a lot xx

Yes this is definitely the plan once I get to Oz, I have people helping me but I think when you are out there actually doing the leg work yourself it's much better I literally can't wait to go and pick it back up again properly! I knocked on doors in Stanmore last year but yeah good thinking re the posters!

Thanks so much Stacey xx

Hello everyone! Been a while since I posted on here but I have a slightly better picture of Martin as attached. I'm moving to Sydney on 8th October this year, and carrying on with my search. The British Red Cross and Australian Red Cross have started to help me now which is amazing news Fingers crossed I have some luck in tracing him when I'm in Oz and that hopefully I don't have to escalate it to an official police report.

Thanks so much

Hi there! Well before 2004 it was generally writing to me, my sister, my mother, (parents separated) and he used to call drunk on xmas day as it was his xmas night by the time our lunch rolled around. He used to get very emotional talking to me in particular as I was 6 when he left and he was an amazing big brother to me. I spoke to him on the phone in AUgust 2004, because he hadn't contacted christmas of 2003, and I was panicked, he was find and had been travelling the outback, living a bit "feral" and being a farm hand. But he returned back to the city and said he was staying put. 2004 onwards, when I wrote to his address in Stanmore often, but I didn't receive any replies. And in 2009, I received every letter I had sent back in the post as sender moved on. I was pretty shocked and not sure what to do. I carried on writing to the address, to the "addressee" to be specific to try to trace him. A long time passed, and I had been busy starting my own life in London away from Wales, studying law etc, but decided in 2012 to get myself to oz to look for him, and my family have always had a fascination with Oz, because of how much Martin fell in love with the country. I contacted Salvation Army and enlisted their help – though they can’t let you know what they are doing without consent from the person. After saving for a long time, I went over last November, partly with my work to stay in Sydney. I also contacted Australian Missing Persons register, it’s a private register of missing people looked after by two lovely Aussie ladies who have helped me and supported me. I headed to Oz, I had his old address, potential name of his neighbour, I knocked on these doors, and also other addresses under similar name. Used the electoral roll, and I wrote to every Martin Roberts in Australia by handwritten letter. I have had responses trickle in but nothing helpful so far. I searched his business number, because he qualified as an architect’s leading hand and was self-employed – this was closed down due to inactivity in 2009. This was worrying to me. At this stage I was advised to attend the police station and just tell them my story, so I did. The police were so lovely to me, at this stage I was quite upset given I had been in oz for a while, I was alone, and just faced disappointment after disappointment I was struggling to cope to be honest. They carried out state and federal searches on all his information and nothing returned showing a record – so that cleared up any fear I had of him being banged up abroad, because there would of course be a record. Not to insinuate that he is a bad guy! But you never know and I have to keep an open mind. I then carried out what I was really stressed about which was the death register, fortunately it came back with no result. After than I headed up the coast to enjoy some of my time in Australia. I have to be careful about listing too much information in any public forum, like addresses and the like because there is a risk of identity fraud. But I hope I’ve given enough info that would give links to him. Yes totally agree regarding the not wanting to be contacted. I can accept that, although all my family and I want is to know he is alive, and not come to any harm. No one did anything about his lack of contact for a long time, and I just want to show him someone gives a crap you know? And no conflicts causing stopped contact, he just stopped calling and writing after 2004. As I said if anyone in Oz would be able to join the fb group would be massively appreciated. And besides my mission to find my brother really looking forward to getting back to Australia in September! xx

Thanks for the photo's! Apologies everyone for the bad quality. My family are in Wales, and don't have the best scanning equipment :ssign7: I have set up a group on FB as I find the share posts eventually die down - hopefully this will stay a bit more fresh. If anyone has Oz connections, particularly in Sydney, and my brother lived in Stanmore between 1992 - 2004 for definite, even people who have perhaps known him well before he went missing, it would be amazing to hear from them and get any info on potential connections. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1423706651207415/ Thanks all x

Is credit card balance definitely acceptable?

Thanks everyone! Means a lot xx