Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone with knowledge of ACT state sponsorship obligations could offer some thoughts on my situation. I was granted a permanent visa with ACT state sponsorship in Oct 2012, and moved to Canberra last October. I realised shortly after that there were hardly any jobs in my area of experience, and began applying both to the ACT and interstate.
Fast forward three months, and I've been rejected for every job I've applied to in the ACT. The rejections were mainly from two of the handful of organisations here that hire PRs in my area of experience - the ACT government and CSIRO. I've since lost hope in ever landing a job I am qualified for in the ACT, especially since there were hardly any such positions being advertised in the first place. The question I am considering now is whether to continue to apply for jobs interstate while living in Canberra, or to move out of Canberra and continue my search in another state.
As those who are familiar with ACT state sponsorship will know, I am obligated to live and work in Canberra for two years after my permanent arrival in Australia. I have heard from a number of people with ACT state sponsorship who moved to Canberra, found work in another state, and were subsequently released from their sponsorship obligations. But I have not heard from anyone who has sought to be released from their sponsorship obligations merely to move their job search to another state.
Just to explain why I am considering this, I have a feeling finding a job in my area will be a challenge regardless of state, and would like to begin building the networks that might aid me in securing one. I don't see the point of doing this in Canberra, given the low number of jobs that would be available to me in any case.
Another, more complex reason is that I was single when I got my permanent visa (two years ago), but have since gotten married. My partner has not moved to Australia yet, as we are waiting for DIPB to grant him a spousal visa. But what I've seen of job requirements in his field in the ACT indicates that such positions overwhelmingly require Australian citizenship. Even if I am fortunate enough to land a job here, I anticipate that he will face a similar struggle if he moves to Canberra. In the worst case, we could both face a significant period of unemployment - not something I signed up for when I agreed to my ACT sponsorship obligations, as my planning was based around only one person then.
If anyone with knowledge or experience of my situation could offer thoughts or advice on this - i.e. asking the ACT government for permission to move out of Canberra to continue the job search in another state - I'd be very grateful.
