Sausage

We moved over as HSBC premier customers, and one of the reasons we banked with them is that they said we could open Foreign accounts including Australian, so if we wanted to travel or live elsewhere we could sort the banking out before we left. This was in 2015 so info may be severely out of date! For us, it turned into a ball-ache. Still had to send out lots of proof of address / passport / visa / job paperwork. Had the account opened, but HSBC wouldn't send out any bank cards etc... to our UK address, had to be an Australian address which we didn't have. So I ended up arranging to collect everything from my local branch in Melbourne once we had arrived. I think the whole thing would have been easier just to walk into an Australian branch and open an account. Maybe look into getting a chase bank card or similar for temporary use when you arrive. these let you pay in local currency, so you wont get battered with exchange fees and bad exchange rates.

I found PTE completely fine. Even as someone who speaks English as their fist language I found the idea of sitting an exam terrifying so I did a decent amount of preparation - about 10 hours worth of research and practice. The really good thing about PTE is that the test is extremely formulaic so preparing for it is straightforward. You can do scored practice tests from home (which cost a little - but are worth it). I did 2 practice tests, 1 after a couple of days of practice to inform me about where I needed to work, and 1 shortly before taking the real exam - more as a confirmation I was ready. I used YouTube tutorials to learn how to properly structure answers. The test was zero fuss, no nonsense. Just sit in front of a computer, type into answer boxes, speak into the headset when you need to. I didn't score under 90 at any point (on either practice paper or the real test) which is how it should be for a native speaker in my opinion. I've heard some horror stories about ILETS where people who are born and bred English, educated to PHD level fail to get the score they need despite talking like Hugh Grant.

I've moved to Australia, and then back again to the UK, both times using a 40ft container. Both times, I wished I had used the move as an excuse to slim down and take less stuff with me rather than ram it to the max! (I didn't!) Not much use I know! Its a difficult one, because we don't know what you have, were planning to take or leave! What I will say, is that almost everything costs a bit more in OZ (sometimes a little, sometimes a lot!), and setting up a new home is always an expensive activity, so if you already own something, bring it. Even if its crappy old stuff, it will get you by for a while whilst you find your feet. Beware of bringing stuff like gardening equipment, as it will be inspected with a fine tooth comb, can still bring it, but make sure it is really clean. Note - timing your shipping if a fine art. Took about 9 weeks for our container to transit the globe and actually get to our new house in Melbourne (including 10 days in customs) Think how you will survive in that gap - you can choose to have your stuff go ahead of you so it arrives as you do, or fly out as your stuff leaves and spend the first 9 weeks of your new life waiting for your gear.

Seconded what Bluequay says, Getting the PR visa is a long, admin intensive process, and if you really are adamant that you are only staying for 3 years, Id certainly not exclude a temporary option. Working holiday is truly easy and quick to get. Caveats for WHV : when you do leave, you will be able to claim back your Superannuation (pension) and the tax rates applied to your super is 65% for WHV and 40% (I think) for non WHV. This may or may not be significant enough to make a WHV less attractive as it can add up to many thousands. To get second and third year WHV, you need to have had worked in a specified role for a minimum amount of time, I very much doubt social work is part of that list, so you might have to go fruit picking for 3 months of each year! (Its been over 20 years since I held a WHV - so take this with a pinch of salt!) I found it difficult to get anyone to employ me in the skilled work I was qualified for on a WHV. Don't know if there are any other temporary work visas you can get without a sponsor, It's worth asking someone who knows! Perhaps its possible to get a social work agency to sponsor a temporary visa? I know from experience that getting a temp visa with a sponsor is 100x easier and quicker than going through the hoops required for a PR visa.

My wife and I both work in healthcare, with her being a consultant doctor. We have spent lots of time in Australia over the years, and we have long hoped to emigrate, however it hasn't been possible so far due to family commitments. This will sound morbid - but we plan on waiting until my mother in law dies (the main cause of our family commitments!) before we make the move, and due to progression of illnesses she has it looks like that will happen in the next few years. That will take us both beyond the age of 45. I think for our situation (doctors in general) there is presently a path to permanent migration with 2 possible exemptions from the 45 year age limit if I'm reading it correctly . First being we could move to a regional area under a 482 visa for 2 years, then apply for 186 visa with the regional part providing the exemption. Secondly, any job my wife gets will exceed the Fair work high income threshold, looks like any worker who has a job paying over the threshold for 2 years can also apply for a 186 visa (seemingly without the regional aspect applying?) I'm wondering if anyone has experience of using these exemptions, and can give their experience? Obviously its not ideal - we would be moving under a temporary visa with no guarantee of the exemptions still being available at the time of applying, and no guarantee of our health being good at that time etc.... But by the same token If we apply for a permanent visa now, we would possibly not be able to move before it expires. Its a case of making the best of it.