Peachy

Hi Maisie, I can appreciate your dilemma but before you embark on a career change to get to Australia, think carefully about what you want you do. You will be working for the next 40 years (depressing isn't it!!) so make sure that it is something that you will give you job satisfaction rather than a course that is simply a means to get to Australia. Can you do some voluntary work in different occupations to get as feel for whether you would like it or not? If you want to be as an OT then commit to it and overcome the hurdles, but if it was me I wouldn't pick a long term career based on ease of relocation. Good luck with your journey though - I am sure that if you are keen you will get there in the end!

I didn't use an agent. Dealt with everything myself. As long as you do your research thoroughly then there shouldn't be a problem. We did go to an expo too which was very useful so someone could check our points claim. Was probably a bit more worrying waiting for the application though - knowing that if it went wrong the wasted visa fee of £3,800 was entirely my fault!

Haven't checked my immi account, but imagine so. Got email from immi with visa doc attached. Also had email from SkillSelect to say that my EOI is removed due to grant.

Visa granted this morning. Can't believe it!! Perfect timing as got telephone interview in an hour! Very best of luck to all of you. :laugh:

You can also tell I am obsessing as on forum at 8am on a Sunday morning!

Hope so :-) However as we get closer, every time someone posts on the board about incorrect info in their EOI or visa application I start to doubt my own application. Not enjoying the wait.

If you have downloaded everything seems to be about 2 months. There is a visa tracker where you can check on other people's progress/ timescales. Link is on this thread a couple of pages back.

My understanding is that points are frozen at time of invitation.

I would agree with the terrible sausages. That said, since getting back from our visit my son has been going on and on about having "chicken sausages" that we tried when we were over. Now just have to track them down here...

Wow - that is speedy. Hopefully ours won't be too long now :-)

Hi Mufasa, Thanks for your info. Have now put my details in the signature so that we can see when everyone lodged etc. I was fine waiting but now the late Dec lot are getting grants I can't help but get excited and anxious in equal measure! No word of a CO yet. Suspect it will be a couple of weeks at least for us yet. Good luck everyone!

Hi Sri, My understanding is that it isn't compulsory. However, I have completed mine simply not to hold things up. It is quite a long form though and you may not get asked for it. I suppose it depends how quickly you need the grant.

Re Form 80 my husband as main applicant did one as did I. I worked on the basis that if they want that sort of detail about 1 adult then they would probably want both adults to submit. Isn't compulsory but I didn't want to hold up grant.

Hi Loopylu Thanks for the tips. Will try Linkedin too. Many thanks for taking the time to respond.

Hi Loopylu, That is much more reassuring. I am in a rather specific area of law - medical negligence, so I have only a few firms in mind. This rather limits my job opportunities! On the plus side I have 15 years of experience and provable good reputation in this field in the UK. The law in Australia is very similar so I am hoping that my experience will count for something over there. I was intending to contact the firms direct - in the UK in this field firms seem keen to recruit direct in order to save on agency fees. Would you recommend a recruitment agency instead? Many thanks for your advice - much appreciated.

Great idea Roberta. I currently do similar voluntary work in my spare time in the UK and it would be a good introduction to Australian issues.

I suspected as much. May have to think about a sideways career move....

Thanks Boganbear. Your comments are useful. Do you know if firms ever take UK qualified solicitors, pre-Aussie qualified? I have 5 courses to do to transfer and was hoping to do them while working. It is a really big financial commitment to go back to uni full time - although firms would probably be of the view that if you can't commit to doing the courses then you aren't that serious about retraining...Slight chicken and egg for me.

Hi We hope to relocate to QLD once our visas are granted. Going on my husband's (non legal!) skills and lodged at the beginning of January. Am looking into the job market. Does anyone work in the legal sector in QLD? Would love to hear of your experiences if you are a solicitor, paralegal, legal secretary or have set foot near a law firm!! What is job market like? General experience within this sector? Any comments much appreciated :-)

I am not that experienced with these things but think that if you just missed the invitation round on 23 jan then you should get an invitation on 13 Feb. Not long to wait!

That is a scary state of affairs. He is clearly v employable in the UK if he has got a job at Leigh Day! Family in Oz report a similar problem with not getting office roles due to lack of Australian experience, but you can't get the office experience unless someone gives you a job!

Engaus, What area of law is your OH in? A little concerning re job position, despite re-qualifying.

Hi, I am not sure of the complexities of the visa issues, but in relation to a 189, what skilled employment would you be going with? My understanding is that until you requalify as a solicitor in Australia you are not "skilled" so can't get a 189. Certainly the case in QLD. Have a look at the Law Soc for the state you are hoping to move to because they have quite a lot of information on skills assessments for solicitors. If you aren't going as solicitors, and under a different code, the situation could be different. Not sure that this reply helps you move forward and someone with more experience re WHV may be able to provide more guidance. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. Good to hear that positive reports on the job front. OH keen to remain in disability or mental health work, rather than child protection. Tricky situation because better chance of getting a job when we get over there but we can't risk going over without a job! OH will start uploading the CVs and see what happens. To a certain extent getting anything would be good and then can move sideways or upwards once he has got a foot in the door.

Hi, Just waiting for visa and looking into the job market for social workers. My OH is a social worker, specialising in disability. We are moving to Brisbane or Sunshine Coast area. From looking at the website there aren't many posts from social workers. If anyone has suggestions re job search it would be most welcome :-) OH is currently looking at jobs with Queensland Health, but are there any agencies that you would suggest? Although Reed had a recruitment drive for social workers a few years ago, this seems to have dried up. If anyone is working as a social worker in QLD, whatever the field, please do get in touch - it would be good to hear a bit more about it. OH is aware the social work is a bit different in Australia but is up for the challenge - just needs to secure a job!! Thanks in advance.