ADF transfers

[Anderson]

Cant help to much with the ADF stuff as its the OH in the Army (Signal) based at Enoggera. been he since end July 07. if we can help in any way please pm me.

 

Thank Tracey

 

 

 

Hi,

 

I was interviewed back in aug this year and got accepted on the day. the job offer came through in ocotber telling me i was going to enoggera, Brisbane (happy days). but due to a couple of problems, my visa app' was delayed in being sent. it has gone off to canberra now, and the medical stuff has gone off to sydney. i'm on gardening leave at the moment so as soon as the visa stuff comes through i should be able to get the movers in and start booking flights, etc.

 

if anyone has got any hints / tips / things you wish you could have sorted prior to arrival / know anyone in the RAE already, it would be great to hear from you.

 

Cheers

 

Adam

[Guest TAGO]

Hi all,

 

I've only just joined the site but wish I had done a long time a go as the info on here is invaluable.

 

We are going across on the Lateral Transfer route and are working towards a date around early May 08 for my swearing in/our flight out etc (it's about 2 weeks after my discharge from the British Army).

 

Our story so far (as it may answer some of the questions above) is

 

Apr 07 - Initial Application

Aug - Interviews and acceptance

Sep - Formal Job Offer made (and accepted)

Oct - Visa Sponsorship Approval received

 

We were asked if we had any posting preferences during the interviews but we just mentioned that we were happy to start anywhere (we hope to see the whole country anyway)

:smile:

 

The formal job offer was quite detailed and included information about my posting and included a provisional start date - it even listed some long term career plans/advice for me which I thought was superb.

 

Like a lot of others, we went for the interviews under the impression that the job offer was pretty much a given at that stage and the day was a formality but how wrong we were....there were 2 or 3 people turned down on the day for various reasons so please be careful not to cut any ties or plan too far ahead until the job offer.

 

We sent off the visa application yesterday and the only thing that held the process up was the police checks (UK). Police checks from Germany came back in about 3 weeks but the British Police took that long to even acknowledge our applications and forward them to London...with them finally coming back after a total of about 5 - 6 weeks. I would advise anyone applying to get the police checks done the second the formal job offer is made.

 

Happy to keep you all posted of progress and happy to answer any questions if I can (and if anyone is slightly ahead of us in the process then any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated).

 

Tony

[Guest Jacey]

What are the interviews in London like? I presume as the wife i am expected to attend also what about children? Any wives out there that can give me any tips? Whats the dress code for the interview?

 

We are only a very little way into the process, but i am so impatient

 

Any advice gratefully received.

 

Jacey

 

Oops sorry, I seem to have revived a dead post

[Guest Al&Jo]

Jacey,

 

We went for our interviews in Oct 06 (may have changed since then).

 

They are very informal. Its a round robin set up, with various people to chat to. The doc, postings guy, and someone from REDLO (education). I am sure there was one other but cant remember! After that you go in to be interviewed by the psychiatrist, Colonel and a couple more. Most of the questions are aimed at the person transferring but may ask your wife a few. I was asked how I would feel if we didn't get accepted!

 

My advice would be, not to worry, they are all really nice. Ask loads of questions. Chat to others on the day, you will be suprised how much info you can get from them.

 

As for kids, no they are not invited, they would only be bored and stress you out more! Dress code. My OH wore a suit, equivalent for you wife I would say.

 

I am really sorry I have been so vague but I figured this reply was better than nothing. When is your interview? If you have any more question dont hesitate. I'll get my paperwork work out to see if I can get any more answers for you.

 

Chat again

 

Jo

[Guest weegwa]

Hi Jacey,

 

As Jo said, try to relax!

 

I had my interview in August, everything has just been finalised and we fly out to our new life in June.

 

I wore my finest M&S skirt and jacket, but its me joining the Oz army and not my husband! As the spouse, he also wore his finest M&S suit.

 

We don't have kids, but there were children at the interview. I believe all family members are asked to come along to speak to the REDLO etc. This is probably a new thing since Jo's interview. However it is a long day for them.

 

There were a lot of questions for Hubby, asking how he will cope if I go on deployment and he being so far from home. His reply was: "Bondi beach"!

 

The other person interviewing was from the families liason people.

 

Again, like Jo, if you need any more info just ask.

 

Good luck,

 

Shona:jiggy:

[seaangel]

We went for our interviews in May 06. Defintely pretty informal and a good opportunity to ask any questions. Everyone was really friendly and very helpful. We took our kids with us and it was not a problem at all.

[Guest Jacey]

Thanks for all the advice we dont have a date yet but i they said we would be asked to attend sometime in May

 

I think i will get my Mil to look after the children and have a day or two off

 

Thanks

Jacey

[Guest Jan and Russ]

Hi everyone this is my first post on this website, my OH and I have read this forum with much interest.

 

My OH has been wanting to transfer to the ADF for a couple of years now, and we have decided to just apply with 12 years left in the UK Army! Application forms ready to send but would just like to ask some questions if anyone is out there willing to give me some advice?

 

We are hopefully going across on the Lateral Transfer route, we were just hoping someone could give us a ball park total figure of the cost of transfering ie, meds, police checks, visas etc is it thousands!

 

Thanks in advance to anyone out there! Janine:huh:

[Guest breezy]

Jan & Russ - the ADF will pay back all visa/medical/police checks so you needn't worry.

 

If you still want us to tell what you will have to pay up front, you should give us a clue as to how many are in your family. For our family of 4, the meds cost £700, the visas $1400 and the police check £20. All paid back within 3 weeks of arrival in Oz.

 

Regards

 

Breezy

[Guest weegwa]

Like was said early, all costs are paid back once you are there, but remember to keep receipts/invoices for everything, we've even been told they pay for postal/courier charges as well. Wait and see, only 10 weeks until we fly out, but who's counting.

 

Intial email enquiry: Jun 07

London Interview: Aug 07 (job offer)

Contract: Oct 07

Police checks applied: Oct 07

Labour agreement: Nov 07

Medicals: Dec 07

Police checks returned: Dec 07

Visa sent: Dec 07

Visa payment taken: Dec 07

Visa approved: Feb 08

Flights booked: Jun 08

 

Shona

[Guest breezy]

Yes, postal and courier charges are re-payable.

 

Breezy

[Guest hookers]

Hi everyone,

 

Not posted on here before but have been following this thread for the last year. DH applied a year ago and we are still waiting out to see if the Labor Agreement will be ammended to include his trade. We were supposd to hear in November last year but were told there was a three month delay. Still nothing, so I have emailed our contact to see if there is any news.

 

If it is good news, then the ball will be rolling. Please, please, please...let the answer be YES!

 

Suzi

[Guest Dave_Asher]

Hi All,

 

Well it seems an age ago since my last post but we finally made it to OZ as a lateral transfer, we have been here for nearly 12 months and have settled in really quickly.

We are staying in a DHA (married quarter) in a place called Caringbah, 45 min drive from Sydney town centre but more importantly 5 mins drive from a fantastic beach at Cronulla.

 

If anyone is thinking about making taking the jump then all I can say is go for it, the kids love it at school and love it here which was the main reason for us coming. Yes we do miss things from home but that can be said about wherever you go, the people are so friendly and everybody gives you the time of the day. It still feels like we are on holiday and in that tourist mode, wanting to explore everywhere.

 

The job is similar to the UK apart from the wages, you get paid every 2 weeks and it’s about half that of what I was on in the UK. Sydney is expensive with its cost of living but when all things are taken into consideration it’s not much different, then again I do have my UK pension which is a great help.

 

The main thing we are having problems getting use to is the size of the place, it’s huge and takes twice as long to go the same distance as you would in the UK. This is mainly due to their road systems, or lack of them, if they only had 3 lane motorways from main cities to cities it would be so much easier to get about. But hey, look at the whole package and life’s a beach, we are very happy and content and at the moment would not change a thing.

 

The Oz’s not only love their country but are allowed to love their and any excuse to get drunk – enough said – no loony lefties stopping you from flying the national flag. Having passed my citizenship, dare I say it (if I am permitted) this IS my home and country and I for one am very proud to be a part of it.

 

If anyone wants more info then please feel free to ask away, I will try and give an honest, warts and all reply.

 

Regards

 

Dave

[Guest Jacey]

Im so sad we had an email today saying that we hadn't been succsefull in our application

 

Despite being perfectley qualified unfortunatly there are no places available. After sending an email back to ask if we could go on a waiting list we were told that there is unlikely to be anymore lateral transfers offered due to the new goverment wanting to cut down the numbers.

 

I am truly heart broken. I cant see anyway to Australia at the moment, but i wont give up hope

 

Thansk for all the advice and Good Luck to everyone else on this journey

 

Jennie

x

[Guest breezy]

Jacey, I simply do not believe what you have been told. There is a huge recruitment and retention problem in Oz and they really do need all the good folk they can get. What trade is your hubby?

 

Keep pushing

 

Breezy

[Guest Jacey]

Oops sorry, Im sure i posted but now cant find it

 

My hubby is in the communications side of things, i think its CisCOM's? I dont know for sure, just that his trade recently merged with another (it was TG11 now its 3 or 4)

 

Do you think it was just a polite way of saying "No Thanks and dont try again?" As far as i can tell on the website they are still recruting.

 

I shall ask hubby to send me the e-mail when he gets home so i can postfor certain what they said.

Thanks

Jennie

x

[Guest skirk]

Oh was offered a job last may when we went to london, was told we would be going over this june, where we were going, what job - the lot subject to further clarification of medicals. So stared the long process of dealing with the NHS and got some preliminary results in Dec which we sent off and ADF came back with " sorry cant take you know as you may ( only may) get sick on operational tours"

 

Not bad considering our own british army considered him A1 fit to fight and has done 2 tours to iraq in the last 2 years.

Luckily we had a back up plan which is now in place although they have now requested we send further results as they come in but to be honest we have already moved on.

 

Just wanted to wish all the fortunate ones all the best with your applications but do have a back up plan:wubclub:

[Guest Jan and Russ]

Thanks Breezy and Weegwa, great help, we are also a family of 4! Those cost are a great help! We can plan and budget better. We are trying to get our cards etc paid off with the idea of having no or little debt before we go (presuming we get accepted) Can you take debt from credit card over or doed that hinder your visa application?

 

Read with interest the reply from David Ashers post having read his posts from couple of years ago, however a little worried to the wages side of it because we havent go the pension to fall back on!

 

Gutted for Jacey also, I have read that the ADF are still looking for people! Hopefully the trade my husband is, will be needed I dont know if I could bare the thought of him getting refused he would be gutted!

 

Thanks everyone Janine

[beastmaster2452]

Al & Jo,

 

I had my VISA approved yesterday and I'm off to Wagga Wagga NSW in November to train recruits for two years. I would assume you have had a formal offer, soon you should get your contract offer, once you get that get your police checks done straight away (take 40 working days), medicals, foriegn police checks ( if you have served in a foriegn country i.e germany etc), you can get the application form from the German Embassy in London (take two weeks to arrive, also its worth paying for them to get the witness signature, it will take longer other wise, £11.00 per person for the application and £5.00 per person for the witness signature in dover, £15.00 in London, depend where you live). Photos copys of your passports, marriage cert (originals), birth cert (originals) sent straight away this will makle the process a lot quicker. They will also require all you qualifications for trade assessemnt, write a covering letter and explain that the ADF are in possesion of them.

 

Hope this helps a little bit, if you require any further information dont hestiate to email: beastmaster2452@hotmail.com , I know how stress full this can be. I'm currnetly in Afghanistan at this present moment in time, not the place to be when you VISA has been excepted, hopefully back next month, the wife is well worried, don't blame her, I will be no good as a PTI with no limbs.

 

All the best

 

Matt & Family

[Guest hookers]

Had an email today to say that they are still waiting. Due to the new Government, the Minister wants to see how the process works etc. So no time scale for letting us know. Just love being in limbo land :arghh:.

 

Dave - know Caringbah well, my sister lives in Yowie Bay.

[Guest weegwa]

Janine

 

Don't worry you are not alone on the no mil. pension to top up your Oz earnings, we are in the same boat - not enough time in green stuff!

We depart the UK in June - 10 weeks and counting!

I've got a couple of UK pensions from previous non mil. employers, so will transfer those over once I'm there - just make sure the Oz pension provider is QROPS (qualified recognised overseas pension scheme) approved, otherwise the UK taxman will hammer you for tax, also if you don't transfer within 6mths of leaving the UK he'll get you again.

What I'm planning to do is take the option of buying extra monthly contributions, if I remember the Military Super is 9% per mth, but you can top this up by an extra 9% from your wages - this comes off before tax so also reduces what you pay in tax.

Hope this helps, of course if anyone else out there or already in Oz has any more info as they are actually there, then we'd appreciate hearing from you.

 

Weegwa

[Guest Dave_Asher]

Thanks Breezy and Weegwa, great help, we are also a family of 4! Those cost are a great help! We can plan and budget better. We are trying to get our cards etc paid off with the idea of having no or little debt before we go (presuming we get accepted) Can you take debt from credit card over or doed that hinder your visa application?

 

Read with interest the reply from David Ashers post having read his posts from couple of years ago, however a little worried to the wages side of it because we havent go the pension to fall back on!

 

Gutted for Jacey also, I have read that the ADF are still looking for people! Hopefully the trade my husband is, will be needed I dont know if I could bare the thought of him getting refused he would be gutted!

 

Thanks everyone Janine

 

J&R,

 

Don't worry too much about the money side of things, I think it is more psychological than anything. Once you have got your head around the way things work over here then things tend to settle down, it’s just when you get your first pay slip (and still in the habit of converting back to UK pounds) you think how the hell am I going to live on this – but you do. Also Sydney/NSW is one of the most expensive places to live which does not help – like living in London but you don’t get the higher pay.

 

Best of luck with your application – I hope it all works out for you as I for one have no regrets making the jump.

 

Regards

 

Dave

[Guest AndyJo&Lewis]

Hi All,

 

I was told that all technical ranks who transfer into the RAAF, transfer in as Leading Aircraftman, no matter what rank you were previously. Has anybody heard or experienced different to this??

 

Thanks

 

Andy

[Guest Dave_Asher]

 

Dave - know Caringbah well, my sister lives in Yowie Bay.

 

Hi Suzi,

 

The process can seem to take ages, I started mine at the beginning of 2006, had the interview in London mid 2007 then had to fight my case as I smashed up my leg back in 1980 but persisted, had to pay for a civvy specialist report and xrays so it took longer than the norm. Waiting for a reply is the worst, you fall into the trap of thinking that they have not received your emails or your paperwork. The problems they have is that SCMA are very under staffed and you get placed in a que, I found the best way was to ring them up and speak to a person on the end of a phone, they are well aware of the problems and were very sympathetic and did all they could to help out.

 

Again I would advise anyone one to hang in there and don’t give up, just make copies of everything you send across, I even scanned it all into the laptop and sent them as an email attachment with the originals in the post. They still managed to misplace things but in the end everything turned up.

 

It will seem like an eternity but well worth it in the end, they are not like the UK armed forces who tend to be a bit jobs worth when dealing with you, remember the pace of life here is very laid back but they still get the job done.

 

Yes Caringbah (in the Shire) is a lovely part of Sydney – well worth the 45 min drive to work. You said your sister lives just down the road, if she lives here and is an OZ citizen you may be able to get a visa by claiming here. Unsure how it works but I am sure I have read about it somewhere.

 

Best of luck

 

Dave

[Guest Jan and Russ]

Thanks Weegwaa ad Dave, great to have support from you lot, as family don't really want us to go ! Burning question though!

 

Can you take debt from credit card over or does that hinder your visa application?

 

My OH won't have any income from his mil pension he has only done 11 yrs in UK Mil! I'm looking to work though I am a Admin Officer at the mo on camp in Chatham and been a civil servant for 12 yearson Barracks is there any possibility of getting something like this in Aussie Army camps?

 

Don't like to be nozy weegwaa but what kind of job have you been offered, OH is Royal Engineer, and my boss (WO1) told me today that getting in to A.Army is really hard to get in now because they don't really need to recruit now and dont get your hopes up! Have anyone heard anything like this!

 

Thanks for yor time Janine:wubclub: