Graham Fletcher

I work for a rural car dealership group (4.5 hour drive from Brisbane) and we are keen to bring in some talent under the Skilled Regional Sponsor program. The visa is actually for Mechanics but we have already managed to source several from other parts of the world, hopefully arriving in March. What we really need are two guys to run our biggest workshop. UK training is very similar to Australian but both are much better than most, much better skillsets. If you think you can handle living in the Australian countryside (small town of around 7,000 people, right on the QLD/NSW border) for up to 5 years, have experience as a Workshop Controller or Foreman in a new car environment and meet the sponsorship criteria (under 45 is one I believe!), please personal message me! We are offering above average salary, discounted accommodation, all sponsorship fees covered, ongoing Toyota training and the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after 3 years!

I live in a town west of Toowoomba, similar size to Roma, and would rather be here than in Toowoomba itself. Fewer facilities but less social problems! Roma is a buzzy little town, maybe you should visit it first before assuming you can't live there

My son lives very close to the shopping centre but heads towards the city for "entertainment" - taxis and Ubers are plentiful! If you are looking for schools and shopping then Indooropilly is fine, if it's nightlife then nah

just do it, it will just start when the current one expires anyway

One of my sons worked there one summer, in his teens. I guess for small kids it's OK, I prefer my Queensland parks!

Australian TV is appalling and has been ever since I arrived in 2004. If you don't like "reality" shows or re-runs of cop/fireman/doctor drama shows from America then there is nothing for you. My TV goes on for a bit of sport or movies (way too many adverts but what can you do?). If I didn't have Netflix my TV would probably be in someone else's house because it would be redundant in mine

Just in time for the good weather and your not too far from Perth's massive theme park, ADVENTURE WORLD!

It's a bit like the old adage, we won the war but are losing the peace

Honestly? Neither

well that's my life over then!

Most countries have caught up with us already - we got back to pre-Covid levels in April, so did the UK!

You are missing my point. The abject failure to provide mass vaccinations (see the UK already at 50%+) is forcing the government to keep the borders closed and costing us, our taxes, $7 billion a month. As other countries vaccinate at far higher rates it is they who will benefit from the opening of borders and reap the rewards of a massive economic improvement. Most countries have recovered the GDP loss experienced last year and will charge ahead of us. All we have is staff shortages and vastly inflated property prices

Yes, I'm a bit stuck! hahaha I have a house and restaurant waiting for me so I think my choices are limited

According to Ernst Young, keeping the borders closed is costing the Australian economy over $7 billion a month!

As shown today in Victoria, cases are inevitable. Being isolationist is just going to damage us economically and there will still be outbreaks on a regular basis. Putting a timetable on reopening may spur people to get vaccinated - far too many people are saying they aren't getting the jabs because there is no need in Australia, which in term continues to slow down the reopening. it's a vicious circle

I have looked extensively, my other half is Thai!

After 15 years I have come to a few conclusions in this regard - 1) never returning to the UK, been once for 6 months and hated it, 2) I am mostly an Aussie now but it's ridiculously expensive to do anything, 3) I am retiring to Thailand !

There is a fair amount of pressure on ScoMo to be more definitive but, as usual, he leaves us all hanging. With evidence coming out of the US and UK that the vaccines are showing signs of restricting onward infections I suspect he may well have to cave in to the travel/education/cheap labour forces stacking up against him. I hope he does, I haven't seen my GF for 15 months!

when we first arrived we used those multi-socket boards from England with one adaptor - works for things like TV/DVD player set-ups. Otherwise, just switch them yourself, you have the skills

As a car dealer I say buy local! hahahaha

Churchlands has a fantastic music program if that's a thing for you. Both my sons went there and it was a great school - the younger left 13 years ago so no idea what it's like now but it was a great all round school then. My daughter went to Willeton High, also was very good (she left 10 years ago!). In my view, decent areas have decent schools, just like anywhere else - find a suburb you like and roll with it!

Not sure how long stuff takes to arrive but we booked 6 weeks of furnished accommodation when we arrived, after 2 weeks of holidays on the Gold Coast - basically 2 months. We still moved in to our first proper home before the furniture arrived! Fortunately we rented a giant house to start so buying additional furniture was necessary anyway. If i did it again I would give myself three months, you can always leave stuff in storage for a while, rather than be waiting on a ship to dock

I live in rural Queensland, virtually in NSW. I have one jacket that I haven't worn since September maybe. On the Sunshine Coast it never really gets that cold so don't waste money on thermals!

Some of my workmates still have "small holdings"... by which they mean 50 acres! hahahaha