Sean Golding

Does anyone know the minimum level of qualification I have to be enrolled on in order to qualify for a student visa? The course I wanted to enrol on is a Certificate IV in Programming, as it will give me the practical experience that I need to back up my current studies. I have an HND now, the equivalent of an associate degree. But to qualify for a student visa do I need to be studying a minimum of a diploma? Or is that just for streamlined visa processing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hey guys, I left Oz about a year ago when I finished my WHV and I did a tax return and a superannuation refund. I miss the place like crazy and I think it may be worthwhile to try and get my head down for a couple of years and work towards a permanent migration. Will the fact that I refunded my super pose some extra complications for me? Could it restrict my chances of getting a visa?

I've lived in both, Perth wins hands down! Brissy is nice, and cheaper, but it's hot as hell and not in a good way, going so far to the beach isn't great either. Perth all round is better in my opinion, great beaches, longer and more enjoyable summer although it's more isolated so you can expect delivery times on internet shopping to be a little longer. Something for everyone in Perth, as long as you can make the $$$ as its also more pricey. Have a look at Fremantle I love it there!

The student route is going to be a tough one for you given your age. It is tricky actually at any age. The only way I have found as a student which is a route that I am considering taking a risk on is 2 years training at a tafe college doing a trade qualification which is on the skilled occupation list, followed by a graduate visa, a job ready program skills assessment with TRA and then a points based migration, but bear in mind I will be risking £20k for the move and tuition fees and the career I am studying could be removed from the SOL at any time so it's a huge risk. But by the time you complete your studies you are unlikely to be able to claim any points for age! I don't see this as an option for you. I think your options are very very limited. I would get your kids a good education here, so that they can migrate when they are of a suitable skill/age or pick somewhere in the EU where your migration options are broader. Also you could look into possibly investing over there I am sure there is going to be some sort of visa available for a business owner that employs Aussie citizens. Good Luck

Better to study a trade qualification. If the trade remains on the SOL by the time of graduation you can apply for a Graduate (18 month) visa, Bear in mind that working 20 hours a week will barely be enough to survive let alone pay tuition fees, which will likely be around $28k AUD for the 4 semesters required. It's not an impossible route, but definitely not easy!

When I say a cash job I mean just doing odd domestic bits for friends, such as refurbishing their decking, painting their house etc. A lot of my friends over there are professionals and get confused as to the concept of using a screwdriver. Other things for instance is my former housemate/landlord couldn't iron clothes (and was too lazy to learn), so he would reduce my rent in exchange for doing his ironing haha. Odd bits like these may just cut down my expenses enough to make $500pw comfortable. Fortunately I don't smoke, rarely drink and eat pretty healthy. My expenses are often low and favourite past times are cheap/free in Aus. My whole ambition for being over there, that great outdoor life!

I am intending to give up sleep here in the UK for a year or so and continue to moonlight full time until I have an appropriate amount of savings. I want to at least be able to cover 4 semesters education (approx £15k) plus an extra £7-10k in reserve to cover flights and relocation costs, visas, a cheap vehicle over there and some general living expenses. As long as I can earn $4-500pw and live again in a shared house I will be fine. It would just be nice if I could survive more comfortably and not be counting every cent! I'm quite handy fortunately so I'm sure there's always going to be a few small cash jobs knocking around with friends. I was just trying to figure out how my former housemate managed it, I guess she was probably breaking her visa conditions. Do you know can you be self employed on a student visa? Thanks

No it doesn't affect it according to the government website as long as it is registered as part of my course. I believe I can also work in exchange for board/lodge but not receive financial remuneration. Think it will be a very tough 2 years if I am realistically only going to earn $4-500 per week. I can work unlimited hours during the holidays though which is a perk. https://www.immi.gov.au/students/visa-conditions-students.htm

Ah not to worry I think I have just found my answer anyway. It is not mandatory to be paid for any placement work, however I can be paid for it should the employer wish to voluntarily pay me, although he doesn't have to...pffft think I would be lucky to get someone to volunteer wages haha. http://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/policies-and-guides/fact-sheets/unpaid-work/student-placements

Hi guys, I am looking at going back to Australia on a study visa and was wondering what the situation is for working while studying? I will be doing a TAFE course which requires placement alongside classes, placement has to be sourced by myself (Carpentry). Am I eligible to be paid for placement work (as I believe this doesn't affect my 40 hours per fortnight that I am already allowed to work)? My housemate when I was living there before was doing social work whilst studying at TAFE and she was working and being paid for full time hours, she said she was not restricted on work as it was related to her course. Is this correct or was she technically breaching her visa conditions? I would just like the opportunity to make a little extra cash while studying as 20 hours a week wages don't go very far at all!

I have actually been looking at taking the exact same route as you, doing carpentry at TAFE followed by a Graduate visa and a Job Ready Program with TRA for PR Skills Assessment. However I am being told that you can only get the full Level III Certificate if it is studied as part of an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are only open to Aussie citizens. Maybe your work placement covers this part of the qualification? As far as I am aware, in order to do the JRP you have to be "Employed" as the company will have to be registered with TRA. However I would contact TRA regarding this as it is a permanent place of subcontracting so there may be exceptions since you won't be contracting to lots of various companies. I think it is more so that on a contract it's easier to prove the amount of hours you have done as this is a requirement for certain steps of the program. The 485 visa itself will give you the same full working rights as a permanent visa, you can do whatever occupation, if any, for the duration of the visa. It is however wise to work in your nominated occupation in order to claim points for Australian work experience and to gain skills assessment. You will also need to do step 1 in the Job Ready Program with TRA to gain skills assessment for the 485 visa itself. What exact qualification did you do?

Thanks, looks like it's likely a fingers crossed scenario then!

Hello guys, this may sound like a strange post...as nobody can predict the future...but I have been looking around the internet for references for the SOL for previous years and I can't seem to find anything. Basically I am trying to see how long certain trades have been on there to try and hazard a guess as to the future demand of such trades. I am currently training to be a carpenter, and realistically I know I will have to work 3 years full time in the UK before I can apply for skills assessment, I am hoping (and praying) that my skill will not be removed from the SOL in this time. So would anybody know how great the demand is for Trade workers? Is the market starting to saturate or is there a growing shortage?

Excellent thanks for the reply, at least I am on the right track then assuming it isn't taken from the SOL in the next couple of years. TRA requires 3 years full time experience post qualification I believe, but I need them anyway for 5 points unless I could find a sponsor before that. May go and do a year in NZ on a working holiday visa in the meantime! Cheers

That's great thanks, did you do your skills assessment through TRA or VETTASSES? And did you do your qualification through apprenticeship or other means? I am just interested as I read somewhere that the skill level for a carpenter had to be AQF IV or AQF III alongside 2 years on the job training in order to qualify? I am currently doing a fast track course with Able Skills and was hoping to attempt to get the ball rolling in 3 years time once I have met the eligibility requirements for TRA.

Does anybody know if City and Guilds qualifications are recognised by Australia and what their equivalent level is or is it much more straightforward to try and gain NVQ? I am working towards my City and Guilds Level 3 Carpentry Diploma but I am not sure what level (if at all) this could be recognised at in the AQF. I am looking to stay and work in the trade here for 3 years and then go through the TRA skills assessment and hope that Carpentry is still on the SOL. (I am 27 and hope to get an IELTS 8 by then and go straight for PR). Also if it is ideally the NVQ3 that I need will I need to do 3 years from the date that is awarded or 3 years from the C & G Diploma. Thanks

Maybe carpentry wouldn't be the best route then, does anybody know anything else that can be studied through TAFE that would potentially lead to PR? Once I have residency I want to apply to the police force anyway, so if I have to do something I'm not keen on for a couple of years then so be it. I just don't want to spend another 6 or 7 years here waiting to get over. Cheers for all the responses.

Doesn't sound so promising now, however is the Certificate 3 in Carpentry not a recognised Australian trade qualification? It should still give me the relevant points?

Yes I believe the program costs around $3000 but at least I will be at the start of unrestricted employment when I have to pay this. I am not at all worried about the 20 hour week work restriction, I should be able to pull $500 per week from it without too much difficulty, I live in a house share and I don't smoke and rarely drink alcohol so $300 a week for food etc. shouldn't be too much of a burden, I have plenty of friends over there that may also be able to throw me the odd little extra cash job as I am a bit of a handyman. A friend of mine also owns a small roofing company, he may possibly be able to sponsor me should my options start running out, I think it's a case of "who you know" sometimes. The biggest issues then I think will be hoping that carpentry stays on the SOL and that the current migration criteria/points system doesn't change too much over the coming years. I am always the hardest worker in the room and I really hope persistence pays off!

Hi guys, I have done lots of homework and I just wanted to check my plan is actually correct before I risk all my money and my hopes and dreams. I have just turned 27, I am unskilled and have recently returned after my working holiday visa. I know that I want to make the permanent move over there and have devised a 5 year plan. Study Carpentry at TAFE in Perth, 2 year course (4 semester) which I believe will satisfy the Australian Study requirement, returning me a Certificate 3 in Carpentry. Then go onto a graduate visa allowing me to stay and work a further 18 months. During this 18 month period enrol on the Job Ready Program with TRA to complete my skills assessment. If I am correct (which I may not be) then I should have completed all of this by the age of 31 (30 points), I hope to get the appropriate IELTS score (20 points), trade qualification completed in Australia (10 points) trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution andmeet Australian Study Requirement (5 points) One year of skilled employment in Australia (5 points). This gives me a total of 70 points which I hope would make me eligible for a 189. I know it's a huge risk as the migration options could well change over the few years that I am there, also carpentry could be removed from the SOL. But I am a keen believer that once I am there it is easier to stay then it is to get in externally. There may be an opportunity for sponsorship or if I am lucky de facto should my options be running out. The big bit is funding the $28kAUD needed to fund the TAFE courses. Can anyone please shed some light as to whether I am on the correct path or if I am totally wrong. Thank you in advance and sorry if I am being a dummy

I don't think there is going to be any quick fixes, I think I will settle in the UK for a while and use the time to work towards something that may be useful in getting over there in years to come. And yes if I had $5,000,000AUD I would still want to live there! It's the only place that I have been that has amazing weather/scenery and a good level of economy and civilisation. There are many beautiful places in Europe, I lived in Greece for 6 years and absolutely love it, but realistically there will come a day that healthcare, pensions and mortgages become an important aspect of life. Besides I slightly fell in love with the Aussie lifestyle.

Thanks again for the reply, I think I need to do some more homework Actually one of my housemates when I was living there also had her TAFE occupation taken off the list, I guess markets over there are starting to saturate. I get worried that staying in the UK for several years could introduce a factor that may well keep me here, besides living the temporary life for a further 6-7 years just isn't appealing, maybe I should use my one time WHV for NZ and try find a nice kiwi girl

Thanks for the input, I was looking at a degree with RDI who are affiliated with the University of Bradford, the degrees are aimed at 4.5 years but can be completed in a minimum of 3. They also said they would accept me without A levels as I have plenty of full time work experience (which doesn't have to be in a related field). However as stated which I didn't realise is that I would need a few years experience to pass the skills test. I am considering the study in oz route, and hope the choice of study isn't removed from the SOL. Then I believe I can go on to an 18 month temporary graduate visa, and take a skills assessment at work over that time. If all goes well I could then apply for skilled migration having already completed the skills assessment, 30 points for age, 20 IELTS, 5 for 1 year skilled employment within Australia, 10 for a Diploma/Trade Qualification and a further 5 for them being awarded by an Australian educational body giving me a total of 70 points. Although trying to find around $30k for the 2 years at TAFE and the visas may take a little time!

Thanks for all the input guys. Holy sh** I didn't know that I would need a certain amount of work experience on top, that puts me on a very tight deadline before I lose points for turning 33 after gaining qualifications and experience, besides that is far too long to wait, maybe the study in oz would be the better option then, although tough and expensive. If I can save enough in the UK beforehand to cover my 2 years education, then 20 hours a week of work is definitely sufficient to survive. Besides there's always a few cash jobs knocking around. The there is also the option of a de facto visa if I am lucky enough to settle down with one of those beautiful Australian girls

Hello guys, I am new to the forum and looking for some inspiration. I recently travelled Oz on a working holiday visa and spent most of my time working in Perth. I have decided that I would like to take the dive permanently and can't decide which route to take. Sadly my background is rather unskilled as I wasn't mature enough to enter further education straight from school and I have spent the last 6 years working between security in the UK and travelling. So I am in a slight dilemma, currently looking for my easiest route to PR. I am stuck between 2 choices... 1. Complete a bachelors degree in Computing with RDI, achievable within 3 years part time distance study. I believe that would give me 15 points. Add that to hopefully 20 on the IELTS and 30 for age and I would have 65. When you have 65 points does that guarantee you entry? 2. Go and study for 2 years in Australia, just a diploma I believe awarded by an Australian educational body can get me 15 points, at which point I could be also up to 65? Sadly the career that I most want is not sponsored or on the SOL, although they are always recruiting, but you have to have PR to apply so I am literally looking just at the quickest easiest (and hopefully cheapest) way to get PR. Thanks