RubyMonday

Honestly I have looked into it as well and I don't think it's worth it. I did a mock shop on Harvey Norman and other places and all the main items weren't as expensive as I thought. Unless you've got reasonably new/high end or sentimental goods I wouldn't bother. Personally I'm going to upgrade my flight to business and get the included 2 x 32kg bags, stuff in as much as I can then just buy new when I'm there. I also don't know that I trust these removal companies. I've read stories of things going missing or coming up broken. That's assuming they turn up when they say they will as well without delays.

I’ve been looking and it’s annoying that to get a quality used car isn’t that much less than a new car. I don't want to pay $20,000 for a 5yo car when I can get a new one for $30,000 but my budget is closer to the $20,000. Also do you happen to know if I need a permanent address to transfer my UK license to? I’ll be in probably motel accommodation provided by the employer for the first 3 months but I’m assuming I can’t get my license registered to there?

I'm looking at used cars since I've seen Australia is also having the problem of long wait times when ordering new, currently 7-9 months in UK. I'm wondering if anyone recommends any places in the Townsville area. I'll need to get a car asap when I arrive to not waste money hiring one for an extended time. Also any recommendations on types of cars to get? I've been reccommended to go with Japanese, Korean or Australian makes. I'm used to driving a Toyota Yaris Cross and wouldn't mind a similar self charging hybrid or maybe just the regular Yaris. I'll be living in Charters Towers and work commute will only be max 5-10mins plus trips to Townsville and the local area. The roads are all sealed I think so assuming I don't need a 4/AWD.

It's been about 6 years since I've rented so I'll probably just be lucky to get any rental at all. It's a small town but has a couple furniture shops and looks like it has a few op shops as well. At least I'll have the three months to decide if I like it enough to stay at least a year then I'll know it's worth getting better quality stuff to last longer.

I'm going to try and just bring two big suitcases with me, I get 2 x 32kg on the flights I'm looking at. I'm going to try and put everything else in the garage of my house while I rent it out. I've been trying to get rid of stuff and giving things away to charity but it's really hard. I did try ebay and vinted as well but it's such a hassle I'd rather just give things away for free. If you don't need the extra cash and have some to spare to buy furniture there then it might be better just to give it to the BHF etc, they'll come and pick larger stuff up for you. I'm torn because I've just been offered a job in a rural place in northern Queensland and rentals are few and far between and what little there is are unfurnished and I had been hoping to get a furnished place. I'll get free local accommodation for the first 3 months then I'm on my own. It's not like my sofas etc now are high value/special though so I'm pretty sure if I just buy them in Aus it will be less than the cost of shipping my stuff. I'm assuming you've booked your flights so your date is definite. I was right behind you so I've got until the 20th September. I've rechecked a few times just to make sure the visa is still active with the same "must arrive before" date. I don't actually have a passport atm since I've had to send mine off to get a new one. I'm really hoping nothing goes wrong and I can just attach the visa to the new one, it looks like it should just take a couple days and be automated. It seems like I'm running out of time now but I still feel like I have loads to do. Now that I've agreed to a job it feels more real and I'm getting a bit jittery

Are you a mental health nurse already in WA health? The incentives offered aren't specific to niche roles or that particular job ad. I haven't seen any jobs in any state for gov health depts that aren't open to UK nurses with an appropriate visa or who aren't willing to sponsor suitable candidates if you don't have one, at least for a 482. Most states are offering various relocation packages. QLD the best then WA then SA. NSW offer decent relocation package if you are taking up a rural position. Victoria discontinued their scheme but they might have reviewed and reinstated it recently I haven't checked. If anyone's looking for a job then just look up jobs generally for the state you want to go to or look into private hospitals/healthcare facilities. You'll find loads of opportunities as well as generic/pool adverts for registered and/or clinical nurses speficially aimed at international nurses.

I'm a UK mental health nurse with just under 8 years experience, currently working community crisis team as band 6. I did apply for a position with WA but heard absolutely nothing back. I've just accepted a post in Queensland who seem to be the opposite and really good with communicating. Maybe this is something WA is falling back on if you're not getting or keeping candidates. Also the current belong program only seems to go up to end of June this year with nothing saying it's going to continue in the next FY. This also put me off applying for more jobs with WA so maybe be specific with what you're actually offering and that people will defintiely be eligible for it. Hopefully you'll get some good candidates and fill your posts.

For anyone who works for QLD health I'm a little confused. I've been applying for jobs generally in recruitment pools in different areas in QLD for registered nurses. I've heard nothing for ages then suddenly offered an interview on one day in four weeks time and asked to confirm I'm availabe on that day to get a time back. I confirmed my acceptance a week ago then haven't heard back with the time, I know there has been bank holidays since then. That was for Wide Bay health service, I've now been offered another job intervew this morning for Townsville for the day after tomorrow (at 3:45am on Friday for me). That was for a registered mental health nurse with five possible wards all different areas of MH nursing, rehab, acute, childrens etc. In the interview offer they didn't tell me which ward it was for so I basically have no time to prepare and don't actually know what job I'm interviewing for. Is it normal for them to have such different practices at offering interviews and for an interview to be offered at such short notice? For the Wide bay they also haven't specified which kind of ward I'm being interviewed for but at least I have time to ask. Are the different health service areas in QLD completely separate with different recrtuitment policies? Also how soon am I likely to hear back if I'm successful or unsuccessful at interview. Someone said you won't hear for 3 weeks while they wait in case someone claims discrimination during the process?

Are you thinking more Brisbane/GC then? I think you'd still find the dodgy wannabe hardman teenagers in most places and they all seem to love their utes over there. As for the ghost town sounds right up my alley, I'm 35 going on 85 and have no interest in any kind of night life so sounds perfect.

I was wondering what you thought of your first trip out there, I couldn't remember if you were going in February or March. I've just got back from California and probably could have spent the money going to Aus. Then again I booked that trip before I got the visa grant. Are you still planning on going out without a job lined up? That's my dilema atm since QLD health seems to be taking a long time and I haven't even had an interveiw yet. Others have confirmed that's pretty normal for them. I really don't know if it's worth just biting the bullet and going with the assumption that I will get a job before my savings run out since I have a fairly decent amount to last a few months. I'll be interested to see what you thought of the amenties of the Sunshine coast and if it is too slow/regional for you compared to Brisbane/GC. QLD health have vaguely provisonally allocated me to the wide bay area so I might end up moving to further up the coast or even Townsville. I was last in Aus in October 2022 in Noosa and definitely noticed the food was more expensive in the supermarkets with less choice. I wasn't sure if it was due to Noosa being a more affluent area and if it might be cheaper elsewhere. Toiletries are ridiculous in main shops but like someone said above I also discovered the reject shop on my last visit and it was really cheap in there and decent enough stuff.

I really wouldn't worry about it, they mostly only care if it was something significant or relevent to you being in a foreign country. Normally it's if you got convicted and sentenced to jail time (including suspended) for 12 months or more total. If they said it would be stepped down after 5 years then it looks like that is what happened and why there is no "live" trace rather than listing it as a caution. Even if it was live and was listed on your certificate, a caution as a minor from 15 years ago is unlikely have any effect whatsoever on your application.

Sounds complicated to me. I have no idea how long I'll keep the properties. I don't know yet if I want to properly settle in Aus long term or if I did then what location/state and probably won't for a few years. I live in one of the most affordable places to buy property in the UK and bought at a high so I'll probably make a loss on selling for both the house and flat. The money I would get back wouldn't go that far towards buying a new place in Australia especially not a comparable property somewhere I'd want to live. Then again I'm only just breaking even financially on renting them out plus the difficulties in managing a property even with an agent with the taxes etc between the two countries.

One is a house from the 1930s/40s, I haven't done any improvements other than a bit on the electrics. The previous owners did the kicthen and bathroom shortly before they sold, I'll have only lived there a two years before moving to Australia. The other is a flat from the early 90s. That was modern enough and I didn't do anything to it, owned that since 2018. I'll see what they say for the quote. I'm sure there will be plenty of tax agents who can do both, I'll probably be able to do my UK tax return myself maybe. My property agent can always help with getting a depreciation report once I've left if it would be worth it later.

Thank you I had no idea about that, I've requested a quote but imagine it will be quite expensive and may not be worth it for the possible meager reduction in tax. Given that it looks like you can deduct mortgage interest payments which you can't anymore in UK and the UK tax then I probably won't have to pay any addtional tax or very little. Do you know what the going rate for accountants is in Aus just roughly? I think I remember it being around $500 for a backpacker tax return when I was there before, the second one I did myself but defintiely won't be doing any of this myself.

Regardless of if it’s consent to let or not (which I have now on the flat and will have on the house when I leave) I’d still need landlord insurance since I’m still a landlord. So it wouldn’t make a difference really, at least I only need contents on the flat and not buildings as well. I don’t go until July/August next year so plenty of time to sort something out.

Thanks, I'll see if I can get some quotes. Annoying that it looks like I'll be paying as much insurance for a flat and a house as a non resident as it costs for the whole block of 6 flats.

For anyone who rents out UK properties and has UK based landlord insurance, any suggestions of companies to go with? I'm just looking around now and thought it wouldn't be that complicated as it's not uncommon but finding there aren't a huge amount of options and the premiums are more than 4 x what I'm paying now.

For people that are due to emmigrate rather than already settled in Oz. Just fyi but Nationwide building society are happy for you to keep your account open and make transactions while you live in Australia even as a non UK tax resident. They just request that you update them of your correct address so that they can send any mail and new cards etc out to the right place even to an Australian address. They said there is no guarantees long term but at this time there are no plans to change this policy. On the other hand starling bank said I'd have to close my account as soon as I'm no longer a UK tax resident, I haven't asked Natwest yet.

I wouldn't have thought so since that's information that only the Australian government would hold. Add up the times you've been out of the country and just take it off the total time you've been in Australia. There is the calculator on the immi website for working out residency for citizenship that you can use that might help. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/tools/residence-calculator It does look like at the bottom you can "request international movement record" so would be good if you can't remember some absences if you leave a lot.

Sounds similar to my situation but I really liked it. No stress, no rat race just peacefulness, different strokes for different folks. Sunshine coast did seen like a happy medium with the coast on one side and hinterland on the other and a couple of hours to Brisbane for international trips, enough amenities but no city vibe. Maybe you'll find it a bit too slow though.

It's certainly useful for more practical things like budgeting for everyday costs and availability of services/amenities and public transport etc. I was surprised last trip on going to the supermarket for a weekly food shop that it was more expensive than I had been estimating compared to the expected increase from the last time I was there and compared to the UK for the same items. It's also helpful to see the places in person you'd be looking for rentals in. Even when looking for places to live here in my own city some places I ruled out before even stepping inside just based on the vibe I was getting from the area, even though the house looked lovely itself. Still there's no way to know before living there if the every day life is going to suit. As has been said on previous threads it's no utopia but the UK will always be there to go back to. I feel like I'm giving the wrong impression. It's more that I'm a bit irritated at having to work a few extra shifts now to bump up my savings to cover these extra costs rather than in some kind of panic mode which I don't really get. I'm considering roadhouses not as an extreme worst case scenario if nursing doesn't work out but as an alternative since I actually genuinely enjoyed it previously. The nursing agencies mean I wouldn't be entitled to any relocation benefits that the state health depts are offering so I'd rather not go down that route. Also you wouldn't get as much support and would have to move around to different places whereas I'd rather settle and get used to working under a different system in one place.

Generally I am a calm even headed what will be will be, make the best of things type of person. It's just the little things that are coming out of the woodwork unexpectedly that are adding up. I was more of a forced landlord since I couldn't sell, I definitely wasn't in it for the money seeing as I'm not getting a profit. It's all just money and considering I'm single with one income which is not super high it's more of a problem. I just want to be sure to move out there with as big a safety net as I can to cover all manner of things. I might be pushed towards Queensland after all, that $20,000 will certainly help cover my home costs for the year. I'd only have to stick it out for a year to get it before potentially just moving to a cooler climate state. I'm wary of agencies and would rather secure a job with the gov/state health dept, QLD/WA/SA health etc. Or I could get registered but then not bother working as a nurse and go back to working in isolated roadhouses like I did before in Oz. It is nice to have options I guess.

You're so lucky to be getting work sorted well enough and not have to worry. I find interviews so horribly anxiety provoking and make a right mess of them that I might actually struggle to get a job. I'm currently going through the arduous task of registering with the nursing council so I can at least try to work in my profession even though I'm currently getting a bit burnt out on it over here. Honestly it feels even more complicated and time consuming than getting the visa. I've got my cgfns verification fairly quickly after only a few weeks so I can hopefully register with the nursing council of New Zealand in the next day or so when they invite me. Then that will take a few months for them to process, currently they are saying minimum 3 months wait. After that then I can register with the Australian nursing board under the trans tasman agreement and so avoid their whole "present in person" policy which would have been very inconvenient and expensive for me. Honestly it feels never ending still. Plus I've just been notified that the building I let a property out in needs a new roof so that will be a chunk out of my savings. Also got a dent in an NHS car I drive at work so waiting to find out if I have to pay the £500 excess for that, it was £100 under the old policy that ended a day before my accident. Honestly I still don't feel like I can settle and get the warm fuzzies of just having to choose where to live/work yet in Oz when I've got so much going on here.

Please don't get me wrong that wasn't any kind of negative judgement at all I'm always just surprised when people say they are taking the leap without ever having taken a holiday to the place. Flight/holiday prices to Oz are expensive for a family though. You're absolutely right and the UK isn't getting better only worse so more reason to stay when you get there. When I went for the first time over a decade ago I saw it as an extended holiday since I was planning on coming back but my mum thought there was a chance then I might not come back and I guess it could have been true. Personally I was sold on the lifestyle of being a "grey nomad" retiree which you can't really do in the UK. To do that though I'd need years in to get citizenship and a decent pension so that's what I'll be aiming for.

Wow that's a big risk. I would never have considered moving anywhere especially with all the time/money/effort/emotional stress that I had never even visited, hopefully you like it. Some flight prices between the main cities aren't horrendous but certainly more than between European cities. It's the flights between regional areas to the main cities that aren't as subsidised as they used to be. I'm not a fan of jetstar but then their internal flights aren't as bad as their international ones, I prefer virgin Australia generally. Maybe you want the lower end of the sunshine coast then since it's not really a city vibe more a medium town. From the main area Mooloolaba it was around a 1.5/2h drive to Brisbane.