Rumblyvike

Hmm. I always find that most sentences that start "I'm not being rude/mean/racist BUT" generally are being rude/mean/racist. However I shall take it in the spirit it is meant. Im 45 not 95, so hardly about to expire from old age. We aren't "set" on Oz, it's a possibility we are exploring. We have family there; the closest people I have to a mother and a brother. We've visited several times since they emigrated, and each time it's harder to leave them. We love Melbourne and are exploring whether a move would give us the lifestyle we want as well as the closeness to our family we currently miss. Our kids are all on board and this is just as much for them. Yes, we are also exploring relocating within the U.K. and no decisions have been made yet. Which is why in my very first post I said " in the very early stages of looking at the possibility". If we can't have at least an equal quality of life as we have here, we wouldn't come. We are also exploring finances, uni and school options and other aspects, as well as the visa possibilities. Thanks for your input.

Thanks Verystormy. We fly back to the UK tomorrow (sob!) and once home we'll give ourself a few weeks to readjust and find our feet again and if we are still certain, I will make contact with wrussel and see what he/she thinks, and take it from there. The advice on here is really useful :-) Agree our situation is complex with our ages, and my job and our family and so on, so we don't want to mess it up xx

Thanks. I have contacted an agent online, we had a brief conversation and he told me that 'a permanent visa isn't an option' and 'you'll need to go for a sponsored two year temporary visa' He then hassled me via email for a phone consult, but stopped when I told him that he'd already told us we weren't eligible but if he thought that was an error I'd happily speak to him. No contact since. To be honest, I've learned more just looking at the Australian Immigration visa than I got from him, as there are several PR options available for us, so the whole 'pay someone to do what you can do yourself' thing isn't seeming very appealing after our experience so far. This guy was from Emergico, which was a recommended agency.

Termly, I gather? Not all three years up front!

Thanks. Hubby is 50 (today!) so no go for partner points. I can get 15 points for my degree (but no credit for my masters, which sucks) 20 for work experience and either 10 or 20 for English. I can go for regional sponsorship, but we don't want to live out of the Melbourne Metropolitan area for uni for the kids. Can't come on a temp visa as kids would then be classed as international students and we'd get hit for massive uni fees. We could possibly come in on a 190 if I get a superior English score, as my occupation is on the VIC list, and the extra 5 points for state nomination would take me to the 60 points. I've spoken to a couple of recruitment consultants who have indicated I might be able to pick up a sponsored 186 because my skills are quite specialised. That's our only shot, I reckon. If not we will spend the money doing up our house then move somewhere lovely and have some wonderful trips over to see our folks instead. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. If not, then our life will be fabulous in a different way. When we get home to the UK I'll make some calls and we'll take a proper look. Hope it works out for you xx

Realised a few abbreviations you might not understand, DLA -disability living allowance. A benefit to support carers of people who require support with activities of daily living like washing and dressing, and toileting and so on. Camhs neuro -the neurodevelopmental disorders part of the children and adolescent mental health service. Covers all neuro disorders including all autism and ADHD conditions. Ehcp -education and health care plan. Supporting children with special needs and disabilities in school. send -special educational needs and disability team

Support for ASD/ADHD will depend on your child's needs. With a confirmed diagnosis, you will need to contact the SEND team in the area you are looking at via the local council and ask for information on schools and support available. Most local councils have a website called the Local Offer, which will give you all the info you need. Depending on your child's level of need you may need to apply for a EHCP (used to be called a statement of educational need but all changed in 2014) which may give your child additional support 1:1 in school. Some areas now have special schools for children with more severe ADHD, or ASD and some children obviously need fulltime special school. Some children can get DLA but it's hit or miss and actually lots of kids with special needs aren't eligible now. Again, there is a huge amount of paperwork, so bring any stuff you ave from Oz. You will need your GP to refer you into the ASD and ADHD team of CAMHS neuro in your local area.

Old, and a police officer. We'll see.

Hi, I'm a nurse with 20 years experience and looking to move with my family to Melbourne. I'm too old to realistically get in on an independent visa, so need a sponsored 186 visa with PR. Has anyone managed to get a 186 visa with nursing skills, as hear that they are hard to come by. I have A&E experience, but now work within public health managing school nurses. School nursing seems to be within local government in Oz, so would be happy to look at that route rather than hospital nursing. I have a degree in public health nursing and a masters in Healthcare Leadership. Thanks in advance.

Okay, thanks. We wouldn't come on a temporary visa. Will take a look at local government, as have a public health degree, so might find something more suitable there, I guess. Otherwise will have to go back to the drawing board.....

What's an RSMS skilled visa? Sorry, I appreciate I'm being thick, it's all very new to me! Tring to avoid involving expensive agents unless I know it's a feasible prospect for us as a family as we will have to save like mad for a year or so :-)

We are at the very early stages of looking at the possibility of emigrating. It's something we've thought about for a long time, but my Mum got very sick and it wasn't possible to leave. Now, some years on, it feels like the right time, the kids (all teens) are now onboard and we thought it was good to look. Was looking at coming over on a 189 visa, I'm a fairly senior nurse manager, so thought it'd be fine......but have just looked and we are well under the points as I'm 45. I'm so disappointed! It looks as if our only hope is for me to get sponsored by an employer on a 186 visa. Is this even a realistic proposition? My work skills would cover me to work as a manager in a hospital, community setting, or within local government in children's health and so on. I have live Nursing registration in the U.K. and can get registered in Australia, it would appear. Thanks in advance.

Thanks Nicky. So back home the kids were going to have to get a loan for the £9000 fees, but then we'd worked out that because of our salary, they'd not get much maintenance grant, so we were going to have to pay their accommodation fees of approx £1000 a month between them, plus their living costs. So if they live at home, then even paying their fees at a mid point of $8000 a year each, that's still only $16000 a year; $1300 a month. And they graduate without £50k of debt each. Can't see the downside to that really?

Thanks snifter. Will be able to hang onto my babies for a bit longer, and cheaper -win/win!

I suspect I'm going to be in a similar situation. I did project 2000 training 1991-1994. Course doesn't exist, training institution doesn't exist. I have no idea how I'm going to get hold of any of the required paperwork.