Toots

I think your best bet would be the parents visa.  There are members on this forum who have a fair bit of knowledge about this visa including migration agents who will offer advice.  I'm sure somebody will be along soon to help you with your query.

4 hours ago, Parley said:

But how much did your solar system cost and how many years does it take to pay for itself in ongoing savings.

Most people still do not have solar. I doubt it is worthwhile in Melbourne (for me).

We have solar and it's worth it even here in Tassie.  Not a big set-up but it certainly keeps the leccy bill down.  We had one day last summer when it reached 28C and the rest of the summer hovered around 23C most days so no air-con necessary.  We have a log burner for the colder months.  

7 minutes ago, bearbear128 said:

Hello Quoll, just wondering do you got an updated link from NDIS as the old link is not effective anymore.

My concern is that whether what kind of support does a child with mild ASD will be eligible to receive if we were granted any non permanent visa ,eg. 482, 491

Cheers

The NDIS is in a bit of a mess just now.  Can't understand why it has been allowed to get into this state of affairs.  There's always somebody somewhere ripping it off.

I feel sorry for the people who really need NDIS assitance.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/ndis-disability-taskforce-to-target-organised-crime-fraud/101332668

16 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

Originally it was my choice, but now I couldn't drive anyway for medical reasons. I'm sure there are many others who have to cope one way or another without the convenience. 

It has been frustrating, but also funny at times. At one point I couldn't get a govt body to acknowledge that my current UK passport was valid ID. They sent me to Queensland Transport to get an ID card. QT laughed me out of the building saying they were for kids buying alcohol, and why would a 45 year old want one. There solution was "you are too old, you MUST get a driving licence" 

That's ridiculous.  The people I know who have an ID card have no problem using it at banks and wherever they have to produce ID.  They had to use all sorts of other ID e.g. passport, medicare card, copies of rates, bills etc at Service Australia when they asked for the ID card so it's as good as a driving licence.  Lots of people don't have a driving licence so QT need to get a grip.

52 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

You have no idea how many discussions and even arguments I had with Aussie bureaucrats insisting I show my licence instead of my passport! I even got told a couple of times that EVERYONE has a driving licence so why wouldn't I just show it!! 

I know a couple of people who have never had a driving licence - never driven a car but they have a photo ID card with dob and address on it.  They have never had a problem using that as ID.  They got the cards from Service Australia.  Need to be renewed every 5 years.  Just taken one of them up to get hers renewed.

Of course that's not much use if you've just arrived but it is very handy to have once settled if you don't have a driving licence.

I've made an appointment to see the dentist next week.  I go every year and usually just need a check up, scale and clean but this time I know I need a filling.  Haven't needed a filling for years.  A while ago I had a cracked back tooth caused by crunching on an ice cube about 20 years ago.  It didn't bother me at all for a long time then it started to ache.  The dentist recommended root canal at a hefty cost and as it was right at the very back I told him to pull it out.  He wasn't keen on doing that at all and muttered and mumbled about not wanting to extract the tooth.  I said "it's my tooth, just pull the ruddy thing out". So he did.  Saved about $500 and I didn't miss the troublesome tooth at all.

I'm inclined to agree with Parley.  Too many stories on this site about the other half not keen on making the move and ending up being miserable and very unhappy here.  You have a house a decent job and friends where you are so you do sound like you have put roots down.

Who knows though  ...................  maybe your wife will be happier to move in a 3-4 years.

Good luck

46 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

I appreciate that there are different types of insurance cover, but for an owner-occupier the longest period you can usually leave a property unoccupied is about 30-60 days. If you leave it longer than 6 months then the property can be classed as an empty dwelling, leading to all sorts of problems.

Buying apartments would be a safer option, but it doesn't negate the fact that it would be a tremendous waste of money. If you owned three properties then obviously two will be always be empty at any given time. From my own perspective this would present me with a moral dilemma, given the lack of affordable housing around the world.

Three houses in three different countries would take quite a bit of upkeep.  It doesn't take long for a garden to look very unkempt if nobody is there to keep it under control which would highlight the fact that the houses were empty.  Apartments in the different countries would be a better option if you can afford to do that.

25 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

I think as long as you bought apartments, not houses, you could largely avoid those concerns.   In a well-maintained, secure complex, it's not even obvious whether an apartment is occupied or not.  Insurance is certainly an issue but only if the property is vacant for six months or more.   Ausvisitor is proposing to split their time fairly evenly across the three so that wouldn't be likely to happen. 

Like I said, at their age, I would have found the idea attractive, but now it doesn't appeal to me at all.  It's difficult to be part of a community if you're only dropping in for a few months each year, and as I get older, that is becoming far more important to me.

I'm with you there @Marisawright.  Also the thought as you get older of the long flight/s.  What was an adventure when young doesn't have the same appeal in older age    ..........   at least for me.  

8 minutes ago, Ausvisitor said:

Yep - cos it's dirt cheap and populated with people with young families who just want to hang at home/park with the kids.

It's a cultural wasteland and a place to avoid if you have any ambition in life (unless you are a politician)

I don't think Canberra/ACT is dirt cheap at all.  Maybe compared to some swanky areas of Sydney but certainly not what I'd call cheap.  Got a friend who recently moved from Sydney to Canberra and is enjoying life there.

First frost of the year this morning.  Beautiful sunny day.

15 minutes ago, InnerVoice said:

@Marisawright yes, we're on the same page there. That's why we're looking at the possibility of spending some of our retirement years in Europe, although not looking at is a permanent move. Whilst a spell in Portugal, Spain or the south of France sounds idyllic, the reality would present some challenges - the main one being the language barrier. I'm confident I could learn enough lingo to get by one a day-to-day basis, but I think I would find it hard to become sufficiently fluent to enjoy those social interactions that you can in one's native language - a bit of banter, if you like. Long-term that could be quite limiting socially, which I guess is why expat enclaves come about.

Strangely, I'd have thought that people would age more quickly here given the strength of the sun, and those who've lived here all their lives seem to have pretty awful skin - at least here in Queensland. However, I think the older generation here tend to be more active than their UK counterparts, which is probably why they appear more spritely.

Aging is funny thing.  I know a fair few active oldies, still living independently into their late 80s and 90s.  My lovely old neighbour Edna (when we lived in Sydney) was active and independent until she was 102.  She died when she was 103.  I suppose it's luck really.  My paternal grandfather died when he was 72 but his twin sister was 102 when she died.  As long as you keep your marbles and decent health it's OK to live to a great age but otherwise, I'd rather cark it then live in pain and misery.

1 hour ago, Quoll said:

LOL I was teasing my niece that she needs to learn to knit her own socks to occupy her ramping time in Launceston, I dont think she took me up on it, but I am sure she would appreciate les ramping time.

I have no experience with Launceston General but I went with an elderly neighbour on Friday to the Mersey Community Hospital.  The ambulance arrived at her house 10 minutes after the call then the ambos unloaded her at the hospital (no waiting at all) and took her to a ward.  I thought it would have been busy but the whole place was quiet.  I've been a patient at Launceston General but never needed to go by ambulance.  Never had to go to an emergency department      .....................    yet.

Hobart, Launceston and Devonport are to have Medicare Urgent Care Centres by the middle of the year.  They are supposed to take the pressure of the hospital emergency departments.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-17/tas-to-get-four-bulk-billing-medicare-rgent-care-centre/102230106

17 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

@Toots looks lovely - is it still 'sitting outside' weather?

It was but today it's one of those showery days   ..................  lovely sunshine then showers then back to sun again and so on.  

The Hamilton Inn has an old fireplace to sit around on a colder day.  

Sydney and Melbourne are both huge sprawling cities.  Melbourne pips Sydney with 2,453 square km.  Sydney covers 2,037 square km.  Both will be more now as those numbers are from 2017.  Which is better?  All down to personal preference.  I like both of them     ..........................  just to visit for a few days though.  Always glad to get out of them.

33 minutes ago, Quoll said:

My 92 year old aunt was exactly the same, once the care home had called the ambulance and it had arrived, the hip replacement was pretty much the next day.  She did recover (to a point) and was essentially ambulant again but died within 6 months anyway.

It's the same here if you fall and break a hip - usually replaced asap   Not so for people suffering from arthritis in hips/knees.  A fairly long wait unless private.  When we first came to Tasmania the wait time wasn't too bad but over the years it is taking longer and longer.

Last week we went to the small town of Hamilton which is situated beside the river Clyde.  Both the town and the river are named after the town of Hamilton and the river Clyde in Scotland.  The Hamilton Inn was built of sandstone by an ex-convict in 1826.  The surrounding countryside is sheep and cattle country.

It was good to read your update @bug family.  Wonderful to know you are back in your beloved Wales and that you will soon be the owner of a little cottage.  Of course it must be hard for you at times but you have a job you love and your own cottage.

Please continue to update us with your life in Wales.  

59 minutes ago, Chris Gordon said:

We are 3 weeks away from going back to the UK for our 6 month trip and most things are falling into place. Globally and financially I think it's the worse possible time to be doing this but we're committed now. 

 

My only concern left now if renting our house out in Coffs Harbour for 6 months. I feel for the $20k it would net us it is not worth the potential down side for vandalism and Tennant's not leaving at the end of the say. Bad Tennant's could quickly rack up $20k worth of damage.  I'd rather receive the 20k in rent but because it's out family home and we plan to return to it we may just be best biting the bullet and getting a house sitter in. 

Anyone done anything similar or has any advice for us? Thanks 

A couple who live in our street have gone back to  Germany for 6 months.  They haven't rented out their house for much the same reasons you have given.  They felt a bit guilty as there is a shortage of rentals here but for 6 months it wasn't worth the hassle.  All the neighbours keep an eye on the place.  A mowing man keeps the lawn neat and the rest of the garden tidy.

32 minutes ago, Skani said:

Wow...how exciting!  Hopefully a very healthy little devil.  

It certainly looks very healthy.

Had a walk around the Devonport Motor Show.  It's only a couple of minutes walk from our house and the traffic in the street is horrendous just now.  Some very interesting cars to look at.  A lot of very noisy Harley Davidson motor bikes.  Lots to eat and drink too.  Quite a big crowd and a few cars on show from the mainland.

https://devonportmotorshow.com.au/#:~:text=26 March 2023&text=The Annual SeaRoad Devonport Motor,Northern end of Victoria Parade.

6 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

Of course the selling of $1.6 Billion worth of Australian property to Chinese has further aggravated the matter. In a time of housing stress, overseas buyers should be barred from buying housing .  

Foreign ownership of property happens in most countries.  e.g. Foreign owners hold 9.7 billions pounds worth of property in the UK.  45 billion pounds worth of property in London alone.  Shouldn't be allowed.

2 hours ago, Ken said:

7.1C ? When was it last 7.1C on the Gold Coast? That would be abnormally cold for a winter night let alone at this time of year.

Also not convinced of that max 36C tomorrow as 22 hours after you posted that, the maximum reported temperature in the Gold Coast over the last 24 hours has been 28.7C (and the lowest 21.9C).

Bulya lives in/near Canberra not the Gold Coast.

You've had a very tough time of it by the sound of things.  Can't say I blame you for wanting to return.  Fantastic that you have plans to move to a different area of the UK and that you have a job waiting for you.  I wish you and your family all the very best in your next adventure!