MaisieK

Thanks Ozmaniac, yeah I think it would be AME (Avionics). Are people usually successful with jobs on the CSOL and getting sponsored etc. or does it happen once in a blue moon? If this fails and means he has to do a degree then we'll just have to bite the bullet I think.

Thanks Shelly. He's emailed someone who's in charge of careers etc and asked about opportunities so fingers crossed we have a positive reply, even if it means waiting another 5 years! Someone he works with knows people who were sent to Australia a few years back so its not unheard of. I'm just wondering how we'd go about getting sponsored. We're determined to make it happen so where there's a will there's a way and all that jazz

Interesting. We'd be very happy to move to Melbourne! We've both worked there on our WHVs and loved it. I honestly don't think he'd mind the change of trade but where would we start with the sponsorship route? Is it likely that he would get sponsored if he's only had experience on military aircrafts or do you think we should move from BAE and look at civil companies? Sorry for all the questions! Can I ask where you work and what qualifications/exp you had before going over there? Was it an easy(ish) process. No further questions

By the way, thanks for the help

Not offended at all lol, I was expecting that he may need to do a degree. The posts I've read about people being successful were from 2011 and before so I'm guessing it was much more doable back then. I'm just wondering whether there would be any opportunities to work for BAE in Australia but I'm presuming that a security clearance would be needed there too!

Yeah I've read that he would need a security clearance do you know if there's any way around this? The person who emailed from EA just gave us a link to the skills assessment booklet which I could have downloaded myself!

This is my millionth post in the space of a few days so I'm sorry but we need to get as much info as we can as I'm sure you all understand! My partner works for BAE Systems and has almost completed his apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering (NVQ Level 3) and is also working towards a B2 license. The contract he is working on is with the RAF so at the moment he is working on military aircraft only which could present the first stumbling block for us. I've read that people can't usually get jobs unless they are an Australian citizen with the relevant licensing BUT then I've just been reading that some people in our position have been sponsored (particularly in Vic and SA) and have been successful. Is there any BAE employees (past or present) on here who can offer any insight? We've emailed Engineers Australia but they were VERY vague in their reply. I'm trying to hold off contacting a migration agent for now.

It certainly feels overwhelming! We've emailed Engineers Australia so hopefully they'll get back to us. In the meantime my partner is also going to ask his company about any opportunities to be transferred overseas. Do you happen to know whether agents do a free consultation or something similar to what lawyers tend to do?

Me too, I wish I'd done it straight after school but I had no idea what I wanted back then. Does anyone know whether doing an access to health course before I go to uni would contribute towards finding a job or getting accepted?

Stacey when do you think you'll train? Do you know how soon you could apply for a visa after qualifying and how much experience you'd need? I know I keep banging on about it but I'm just wanting a course that I'm going to enjoy at the same time as not missing out on my children growing up. I might email some Uni's and ask what the a typical uni/placement week would be like.

Hi, I think I just replied to one of your posts I really think I would be suited to the job. I have a lot of personal experience with mental health (family members) and helping people is something that I'm passionate about. I was accepted for an adult nursing degree last year but I found out I was pregnant. I'm going to do a lot of research and maybe do an access course until my little girl gets a bit older or maybe do something else to help towards my application. Can I ask what kind of hours you work as a MHN? Is it ok for people like me who have young children or would I have to sacrifice a lot of family time? And is the course really full on? Sorry to ask lots of questions, I just want to get a good idea of what I might be going into. I would rather have a job I love for the rest of my life than just do something I'm not keen on just because it gets me to Oz. But I'm not going to lie, I fell in love with the place on my WHV and can't wait to get back!

Wow, you're where I want to be in a few years (need to start MHN course first). Good luck you'll be great I'm sure!

Lorna you're giving me hope! I'm considering either MHN like you suggested or OT, these are the jobs I'd enjoy the most. I just want to make the right choice for my daughte. more than anything. Did you move over on your own or with partner/kids? Whereabouts in oz are you? Feel free not to answer, I'm just interested in how you did it

Hi Becky Yeah I've considered the accelerated course and I wondered whether I could somehow manage to get accepted. Thank you for all the helpful advice. Does being an OT offer a decent work/homelife balance would you say? It really does appeal to me but need to do more research really. Which area of OT do you work in may I ask?

Another issue we've just discovered is that my partner is only licensed to work on military aircraft which rules out working on civilian planes I don't see how we'll ever make it.

Thanks Chortlepuss, it's really that demanding? Do you mean in terms of what the job entails or the amount of work etc.? I know I've made it seem like I just want a job that can get us to Australia - it's true that I want a job I could do over there but more importantly I want something that will enable me enjoy my family life with my daughter and partner. I did work very hard for my degree but an office job just fills me dread to be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do back when I'd just left college and really wish I'd thought it through more.

Thanks Peachy, yeah I really do want to give it a lot of thought before I go jumping into anything. My biggest concern about any career I go into is how much time I'll have to spend away from my child(ren) in the future. I don't want anything too time-consuming because I don't want to miss out on seeing them grow up but I know I'll have to make some sacrifices along the way. Luckily I really do want to go into health care so training as an OT or something similar would be ideal in terms of my interests and I could see myself enjoying it. I really do hope we can make it to Australia, it just seems so overwhelming!

Thanks for your replies everyone. engaus is correct, my law degree is not enough on its own as I would have to do extra units even if I went on to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK beforehand. It's such a shame, I wish I'd gone straight into health care rather than the legal route but oh well! My partner doesn't have a degree yet but he's considering doing an Open Uni degree in engineering alongside his job. Someone suggested mental health nursing for me which sounds like something I would really enjoy, my only concern is that I don't want anything too time consuming because I don't want to miss out on seeing my little one grow up. I know it seems like I want the best of both worlds but I really am willing to work hard to get to oz and achieve a better life for all of us. I'm just worried that time is ticking because by the time we're both qualified we'll probably be early 30's and then I'd have to get experience in whatever I chose. I had a look at the ahpra issue and that does concern me as well. Ahh why is it so complicated?

Thanks Lorna, that's very helpful advice. I love the idea of being a nurse and if it means that we can get to Australia then that would be amazing! Are you a mental health nurse in Australia already? Was the course very demanding? Sorry to bombard you with questions

Hi Everone I posted earlier about possibly training to become an Occupational Therapist but then I've just read about the difficulties people are having with AHPRA and now I'm a bit worried! My partner will be qualified as an Aeronautical Maintenance Engineer soon so we should hopefully have a chance with his job alone if he can get sponsored but I don't know which path to take for myself. I'm at a point where I want to retrain as I currently have a law degree but don't wish to become a lawyer. Can anyone recommend a secure occupation that could possibly help us get to Australia? I've considered nursing but with a little one, childcare would be a nightmare with the different shift patterns! Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks for your reply We're just trying to decide which would be the best route to take. I'm not sure whether my partner will have to study for a degree in Engineering or whether his current qualifications plus a lot of experience by the time we get there will suffice. As for me, I will hopefully be able to get onto an OT course when our daughter starts school but I'm not sure whether doing an access course or something similar in the meantime will look good on our application? Another thing is that we would like to have another child but I don't know whether to do this before I go back to Uni or to wait, that's a separate issue altogether though lol. I should probably try posting this in the jobs section too.

Hi Everyone I'm new to this so please bear with me! I'm 25 and my partner is 26, we have a 6 month old baby. I have a 1st class law degree which is pretty much redundant as I don't want to become a lawyer any more but I'm thinking of retraining as an Occupational Therapist when our daughter's a bit older. My OH is nearly at the end of his apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering but like me is thinking of retraining and going into Computing & IT. We've both lived in Australia on a WHV but want to move over there permanently. Obviously neither of us have a job which is currently on the SOL but we're both willing to train and get jobs that will enable us to migrate. I know the SOL changes every year but I just wondered what would be the most consistent, a career in IT or healthcare, or both? I will be training as an OT regardless but who knows whether it will still be on there in a few years time. If I'm qualified by the time I'm 30-32, roughly how long do you think the process of moving could take and is it doable? So many people have told us that we're wasting our time and won't be able to do it but we can't give up on our dream. So do you think we can do it? Should we start saving now? We also have family over there (partner's brother and Australian wife). Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you