Captain_Tor

Thank you so much for your insight and advice. I have two friends that are mental health nurses and they love what they do, albeit, it can be very challenging. I am actually a volunteer for my local MIND charity and have been for the last 5 years I organise events and outings and also help support the drop in centre, so I have some experience of working with people with mental health issues. It would be a consideration if I take the nursing route to perhaps specialise in this area. It is good to know that AUS recognise the UK nursing training so highly. Your post gives me food for thought, so thank you. I will do some further research into this.

Glad to hear you have re-trained and it has been a success and getting paid to walk the Great Wall of China sounds amazing! Geologist sounds like an interesting profession, what made you want to be a geologist? Yeah I know the goal posts for Oz are constantly changing so it's always going to be a risk and it might well never happen, I just feel I need to be doing something to at least try, 5 years ago I almost re-trained to be a midwife, I talked myself out of it for various reasons, I felt I was too old to go back to uni - I was 26! and I chose to continue full time working, two redundancies later... I feel annoyed at myself for not taking the leap when I had the chance, so I don't want to miss the boat again so to speak!

Thanks

Thank you so much for your reply. Your story is inspiring and it sounds like you knew what you wanted and went for it! That is my thoughts exactly, if I don't go for it I will always wonder what if...worst that can happen is I re-train, it isn't on the skills list, so I have a fulfilling career here in the UK. At least I know I will have given it a good shot... It's nice to hear you did it with a child in tow too, as most people think I'm crazy changing careers at 31 and hoping to have a family at the same time!

No I haven't but I will take a look...seems like this is the case for accountants, internal auditors, teachers, nurses...makes me wonder why they are all still on the list if the demand has been met or exceeded in these professions. I will definitely choose to train in something that I am interested in and that would also work for me in the UK if Aus isn't an option.

Seems like this is representative of most of the occupations on the medium to long term skills list at the moment from what I'm reading there are more applicants than jobs for most of professions, why do they remain on the skills list for so long if they don't actually need them? My current thoughts in terms of my interests are Midwifery, Radiography, Nursing (Child)...

Yes, thank you. Here's hoping!

Hi all So I have posted a few times in this forum in regards to re-training as my hubby despite working in Oz on temp contracts over the past 7 years on both WHV and temp work visas, we haven't had the chance to make it more permanent as my husband who is an experienced graphic designer but without degree has struggled to get anything more than temp contracts on temp visas and due to him not being educated to degree level we haven't been able to apply to emigrate when graphic designer has been on the skills list. It's been a bit a bonkers to be honest as Australian companies pay him a lot of money to work for them including flights and accommodation for 3/4 months at a time but won't offer sponsorship which they could then get the work done more cost effectively. Anyway I digress... SO We have reached a point now where we know we would like our future to be in Australia as it is never far from our minds and I am kicking myself for not re-training sooner but now we feel time is sensitive as we'd like a family etc. and we know for certain that sponsorship for my hubby isn't an option, I have decided to re-train. I have just been accepted on an Access to Healthcare course which is 1 year, then I am looking to apply for a 3 year university degree in either Nursing, Midwifery or Radiography. I am still undecided as to which, as I am drawn to each of them for very different reasons but this is something I am now researching and I have a year to make up my mind on which is more suitable and perhaps will give us the best chance at emigrating! I'm currently 31, so by the time I qualify I will be 35 (we are also thinking we may try have a child alongside me studying but that's a whole other conversation!) I know the skills lists are updated all the time and that there is no guarantee that any of these occupations will be on one by the time I am qualified but I would be happy to work in these professions in the UK also so it's a risk we are willing to take as I know my biggest regret would always be not trying to get us to Australia. At least this way I will have at least tried to! I guess my main question is can anyone share their experiences of re-training to get to Australia? (and does this sound like a crazy idea?!) Thanks

I think given what it takes to get a Visa and all the hoops people must jump through, it is then laughable that they go through all the visa checks for qualifications and experience and then you don't actually have to even then work in the skilled occupation. It's bizarre.

Thank you !

Do they update the visa lists every year? I can see the lists for 2017-2018, just wondered if they will be a 2019-2020 list updated and when?

I meant as in what accountancy qualification does she have? ACA / ACCA ? Sounds like they won't accept her as chartered unless she is ICAEW or equivalent from the moment she began practising as a CA. Perhaps do some research and speak to a migration agent, I'm sure there must be some way to transfer her relevant experience across.

What Accountancy qualification does your wife have?

I've been looking at a similar route to you and after some research and people's feedback on here, it's likely that due to the high saturation of applicants for Accountants, a lot of Accountants are now turning to apply via auditing so the points needed for both professions is high and competitive, 75-80 points desirable. So if you have 70, you may be waiting a long time. If you work for one of the big 4 accountancy firms and have an option to transfer, I would think that may be a quicker route although a skilled independent visa is much more preferable for your own security. Post qualification experience is also generally required. A lot of people also gave me feedback that Accountants may be removed from the skilled lists in the near future because of their over subscription. Interested to follow your journey (as it may give me some hope!) Good luck!

My husband has had his shorts and flip-flops on for past two days...in Yorkshire. Reckons it's too still cold to paint the shed or the fence or do any general garden maintenance though...

Not sure if this is helpful or not but you mention financial service sector, have you looked at the Big accounting firms in the city that have offices established in both UK and Australia? maybe reaching out to their UK talent Recruiters on LinkedIn? The big four regularly sponsor candidates to move over to Australia for senior roles, however with recent visa changes it is becoming more tricky so they might welcome applicants who already have their visa sorted and are actually already in Australia, saves on relocation costs etc.

I'd sell your TV there and save on the shipping costs & hassle...you can buy a Smart TV here fairly reasonably. Perhaps bring back a lifetime supply of Espresso Martini Tim Tams? Us Oz wannabe's would pay good kudos for them on the black market

What is your profession?

Aw I loved travelling through Bateman's bay when I was in Oz and I'm from Yorkshire but not currently in Oz..so not helpful lol but the title pulled me in!

So sorry to hear this, it sounds like lots of people who have emigrated are struggling to find work regardless of age, so can't imagine frustrated how you feel. What type of work do you do?

Not so much a hidden gems, but being a Yorkshire girl, there are so many places I love! Saltaire and Salts Mill - there is something so lovely about walking through the old textile mill in summer looking at all the books and the strong smell of the lillies in the sun on the window sills. Malham Cove - walking the limestone paths on the top of Malham cove and down to the waterfalls at Janet's Foss. Haworth - I love my local village of Haworth, the cobbled Main Street at Xmas, lit with fairy lights and sprinkled with snow it's the home of the Bronte parsonage and so much literary history. Ilkley/York - Betty's tearooms are my favourite treat

Aw fantastic, I suppose next steps are to look into areas to live in, secure jobs (if you haven't done already), sign up to some agencies. Do as much research as possible, shipping costs etc. I haven't emigrated yet so I suppose I haven't got much I can add, but good luck!

Congratulations! I guess it's time to make lots of to do lists Out of interest what is it you and you other half do for jobs?

I agree, travelling on a WHV and permanently residing in a city or different country for that matter, are two very different things and I think most people who look to emigrate or have emigrated will have considered this. I also agree it's more realistic for a single person or childless couple to spend some time travelling than it is a family. However, I do think sometimes people go to one area of Australia and think that is the representation of the whole of Australia, so if they hate it they assume they will dislike all parts of Australia, which might not be the case. The only way of knowing if you can settle in Australia is trial and error, much like if you moved from north of UK to South or otherwise (even though that's a minuscule move in comparison to moving cities in Australia), it's new, different, unfamiliar, not like home as you know it so will always take a period of adjustment and the amount of time it takes to settle is individual to each person, some might never settle. I suppose it's just about doing as much research as you can and matching up the places which can offer the things that you're looking for. All I know is, I found different parts of Australia to give me better feelings than others, there was some areas I know I would struggle to settle in and some that felt more familiar. So you can get a feel for a place even if you only experience it for a short time, as for knowing whether you can settle there or not - it's apparent from reading people's experiences on here that you can only really decide by giving it a go.

What about taking some time to do some travelling around Australia and seeing how you feel in different places? Australia is vast and every city is different. I've travelled all over Australia over the years and I definitely preferred some places to others. I have to say I preferred Sydney to Melbourne and I loved Brisbane. I think if it was me, I would need to do some travelling before making my mind up completely, I agree with others, 7 months is a short amount of time to feel settled, trust your gut instinct but make sure you explore all options to enable you to help you make the right decision.