Tjsmum

There isn’t much work wise at the moment, it will be a few more years before we actually move, I have to make one more trip home for my dad (he’s unwell). Do you mind if I ask: How did you move from Sydney to tas? Was it via car and boat or plane? Did you bring any possessions with you?, if so, we’re they shipped over and how much did that cost?

Thank you @Toots for your reply. We are a family of 4, hubby and I are in our late 30s, the work shortage is my biggest fear relating to Tasmania, whilst I am multi skilled, hubby is very limited in his work choices. He has worked mainly on farms and within poultry factories, he has a HR & forklift license. I can work pretty much anywhere, I have a diploma in childrens services, I’m currently self employed as a domestic and commercial cleaner, I have experience within the hospitality and retail sectors and also fruit picking.

Hi PiO members, We are looking at moving from North Queensland to north Tasmania, has anyone done a similar move? If so, we have plenty of questions to ask! if not, feel free to put in recommendations or any other form of input you think would help with our enquire with moving to Tasmania from Queensland The main reason for moving is that we cannot handle the oppressive NQ heat Any longer! We have lived here for a decade (as a couple) and are looking for a cool change, moving back home to the UK is not an option.

Hi everyone To cut a long story short, I’m looking at bringing my parents over for a holiday (post border closures) on a tourist visa, they are in their late 50’s and my concern is the health requirements of this visa. Hs anyone brought their parents over and done the health test? What did it require? My concern is that my father will be denied because of his paranoid schizophrenia he has had for over 20years, would border have an issue with all the medicine he will need to bring in for his 1 month stay? Many thanks

My Uk passport expired this January my Aus one has 9 years to go However I have read that you can change your name on your Aus passport for free if you’ve been married

I have just read online that my pastor would have registered my marriage on my behalf My apologies. So my marriage is registered I just don’t have the offical govt document yet

We are married we just haven’t registered our marriage, we don’t have the offical govt document that says we are married we just have our certificate our pastor gave us, to change my name on my Aus passport I need to have the offical govt document.

Hi all I’m hoping someone maybe able to answer my question I have recently gotten married in Aus (Aus citizen), will I need to change my UK passport to my Married name even though my marriage is in Aus (currently not registered as married). My cousin who lives and was born in UK has been using her maiden name on her UK passport for the past 5 years even though her marriage is registered and border has never stopped her I don’t want to risk getting to London (next year) and getting stopped at the border over last names. I may not change my maiden name on my Aus passport if I don’t need to change it on my UK one.

Just a bit of input from my situation (similar to yours) I have been living here for 10 years now, (married with 2 boys, one has a different dad). I 1000000% understand how you are feeling! I get homesick at least once a month, it really isn't easy being on the other side of the world so to speak, when you have your own children and you want so badly to have your parents and family members present in your child's everyday life, for me i have come to accept the fact that my family back home will see my children every 2 years (flying home to UK is expensive!) and that when my eldest turns 18 he can choose to stay in Aus or move to the UK, for many years he has told me he wants to move to london and live with nanny when he's older (which my mum is ever so happy about!). If i were you, i would get citizenship of Aus (like i have, if you don't already have it) as a back up in case things don't work out in the UK, go back home and give yourself a time frame, say if in 5 years of being home in the UK it doesn't work you can always go back to Aus. You should also take into consideration the Pros and Cons of life in both countries, would being back with family outweigh all the benefits of living in Aus? I tell myself every time i get homesick, that my boys have a better life here in Aus, and that when my eldest is 18 we will move back home and see how we go, that my family is only a phone call away, the other thing that helps is that my family supports me being here and that it is the better choice for us at current. I know that when we move home, it will be hard to adapt, Financially and lifestyle wise, but having my heart complete again (being back with family) would be worth it!

Hi sloth Yes I did and I had filled out the form. It took 4 months for them to get back to me. I was confused because i was told when you are working you have to pay Class 3 yet they had approved me for class 2 they ended up telling me to re apply but for class 3. I may just give them a call after Christmas and ask them if it’s supposed to be 2 or 3.

Thank you for the info I am aware of point 1 I was not aware of point. 2 Point 3 I was semi aware, we are trying to trace his ancestry at the moment as his father’s parents are of English decent. My sisters friend had married and English man 3 years ago and just registered their marriage and Boom she got an English passport just like that, I have read that my husband would have to go through the rigmarole I did to get citizenship here but for home,, as we are talking about 30 years from now, like you say it all may change. We have just entered into a mortgage, so If by miracle I could take my firstborn back home with us, i would be chained to Aus by my mortgage I currently salary sacrifice $20 per fortnight from my wages I’ll get into contact with Vista, regarding financial steps. Thank you again for your help

Both my sons have Australian father’s. Sadly my firstborns father will not let me take him home to live permanently, he has after many court threats and all other manner of stressful threats, allowed me to take my eldest home for 3 visits. I sure do! There are both positives and negatives to both countries. My sister is looking at moving up north (ENGLAND) because she agrees how terrible my hometown is, I like that idea, not actually moving back to my hometown but some place better, where it’s only a few hours drive to my parents place. I don’t mean to come across as ungrateful, we have a blessed life here in Aus, it’s just too hot and it’s just not home, I feel out of place here.

Thank you for the info regarding pension payments, I have just checked my pension online and will aim at filling in the gaps.

Hi Mel Thank you for your response, I am unable to return home at current because of custody issues with my First born, he is not old enough to legally decide he wants to come home with me, my husband and his younger sibling. The other reason is because my children are too young, I believe that for them the best start to life is here in Aus where they were born, it is a mutual agreement between me and my husband that we would wait till retirement, where it’s only each other to worry about. We have been home several times in my 10years of being away, and my hometown is not what it used to be. Over populated, minimal green space, homelessness and poverty are rife, crime is high, minimal jobs, streets are filthy, shopping centres are pretty much deserted, some of my friends are too scared to go to certain parts of town because they fear getting mugged. Its not somewhere I want to raise my children, where we are here in QLD, small country town, 30mins away from the city, it’s peaceful, clean, affordable, only 2 empty cafes because we already have 4 others! , job situation is similar to my hometown, crime is minimal, great education, the list goes on... What home will be like in 30years, god knows! But I pray it’s going to be better than what it currently is!

Hi everyone, i have been living in Australia for 10 years and have been trying to figure out what section I am classed as when it comes to paying into my UK pension. I had applied as Class 2, then I got a casual job and was informed to pay Class 3, however I have seen online that I can still pay Class 2 even though I’m working?! I am looking at paying the maximum of 6 years catch up, plus the yearly rate until I retire to go back home to the UK (2050). I would be paying from my Aus bank via WU. If you are paying into your UK Pension what class do you pay? and how much? How long have you been away from the UK? How do you make your payments? Thank you for your time, one very homesick Pom.