ToothPixie 10 Posted August 8, 2011 Phew. Glad it is not just me and my husband who are planning to move to Oz, having never been. Are we mad??????:wub:. We have just started the process so early days, hoping to visit early next year...... Brisbane... we think. My hubby also has to score 8 on his IELTS test, not sat it yet!!!!!!!! Keep in touch everyone. We can be excited and nervous together. X Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyW 52 Posted August 8, 2011 As soon as my house is sold (hopefully very soon) I will be flying out to oz having never visited it before. My wife and daughter had been every year for the last 5 years for holidays and moved for good about 7 weeks ago. It does make things rather interesting and exciting. :rolleyes: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oz 4 sure 20 Posted August 8, 2011 We can't imagine moving to Oz without visiting it first. We are going to Melbourne in September for 5 weeks. We believe we should do so to get familiar with the city. The experience will help us with our decisions when we start arranging for the move. Then I and my OH will arrange for the move; maybe couple of months after we get back. We know it will cost us tickets and short term accommodation for two times within few months, but we just can't jump without knowing where are we going to stand. So excited though E-175:4MAR2011/261311 Analyst Programmer/VIC ss:17NOV2010/VIC ss grant:8APR2011/Paper176:14APR2011/VIC1100:12MAY2011/CO:24MAY2011/MEDs finalised:15JUL2011/PCC:21JUL2011/VISA grant:25JUL2011 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chisel1 10 Posted August 8, 2011 Hi flyngo, I am moving out to Sydney on the 22nd of september, i havnt been before, i am leaving a good job aswell as my comfort zone! Adventure is good for the soul, get gone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest izoomzoom Posted August 8, 2011 We moved from darkest Africa to the UK 8.5 years ago. Never set foot on mud island before. Although I am settled here, DH has had itchy feet for a few years, so hopefully Oz is our final destination. (I refuse to go back to Africa, but have agreed that if I move country, it will only be to Oz ..... I dreamt of it from when I was 13 ................). Oh, and I have visited Oz many times, DH just the once - 10 years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Chris14 Posted August 8, 2011 Its near to impossible for me too come over first, if i continue my plan of coming out next summer. It's different for me i guess as im only 24 and dont have a family to bring over. Less risk for me! Scary though as i dont know anyone! But thats part of the adventure! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrishP 10 Posted August 8, 2011 I went on my own having never been near the place before - and yes, it's scary, but a great adventure, and challenging yourself, taking yourself out of your comfort zone makes you grow :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest51810 11,261 Posted August 8, 2011 Same here chris, if we visit first then we wont be able to move over for another year. Im 21 and no children either, definitely makes things easier i think, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CXW 12 Posted August 12, 2011 Never been to Australia and hadn't considered it as an option until last year when I started job hunting and my partner, who's a Kiwi, encouraged me to go for a couple of posts in Sydney and Melbourne. Got offered and accepted a lectureship at one of the universities in Melbourne, so will be moving out to Melbourne in January to start work on Feb 1. It's a little daunting, not least as my partner won't be joining me for 7 or 8 months due to her job, but looking forward to the experience of living somewhere new again and I know there'll be plenty to keep me occupied. I've lived outside the UK before, but I'm very aware that this is potentially/hopefully a permanent move, rather than my previous experiences of living in Russia and Central Asia for 6-9 months at a stretch and then reluctantly coming back to the UK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genecridge 10 Posted August 13, 2011 Did a visit in May for 3 weeks. Went to Brisbane for the first week, Tarcutta the 2nd and back to Brisbane. Found a nice house and a job near Wadonga. Waiting for 457 visa approval. Should be there in October (fingers crossed). But absolutely, nothing ventured etc.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jamesw Posted August 15, 2011 Yep - Moved to Darwin middle of January and wet season having never even visited Australia before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
missshelly 11 Posted August 15, 2011 Yep we did 4 years ago and havnt looked back:mad: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nataliepowell Posted August 15, 2011 Arrived 2 months ago on the Sunshine Coast having never been to oz before! Saved some money and heard so many stories of people having several visits over several years and still ending up disliking it and returning home! At least if you have never been you cannot over hype it into somehting it is not :biggrin: Natalie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynn22 10 Posted August 15, 2011 We more than probably will be !!! I guess we could fork out for a holiday next year first but to be honest hubby & me both reluctant to spend the money for 2 weeks when it could be used towards moving over. We had been planning on sri lanka/ mexico etc for a holiday next year but we just having trouble justifying spending huge amounts if we're emigrating. I cant see 2 weeks on holiday will give anyone a feel for how it would be to work there & every time we've been to florida or even barbados we both were in total agreement we could live there so I'm sure WA will be the same for us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MARYROSE02 2,311 Posted August 15, 2011 Its near to impossible for me too come over first, if i continue my plan of coming out next summer. It's different for me i guess as im only 24 and dont have a family to bring over. Less risk for me! Scary though as i dont know anyone! But thats part of the adventure! I came out here on my own in 1978 when I was 24 (going on 14 in terms of life experience and cooking ability.) I'd never been out to Australia before and I was coming with a mate but he backed out. I was scared too, or at least half-scared, put off by tales of Pom-hating Aussies. The first ones I met were the three I shared a cabin with on the 'Turkemenia' from Singapore to Freemantle. They took turns to shake my hand, which dispelled any worries about Aussies. I've had a few problems over the years but nothing particular or peculiar to Australia. Stay in a hostel for the first few days/weeks and you shouldn't be lonely. I stayed in the YHA hostel near Central Station in Sydney a couple of years ago at the age of 55 and I had a brilliant time. I did not like the idea of sharing a room with three other blokes but they were all friendly. I would not have minded staying there for a few weeks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Debbie Emblem 39 Posted August 16, 2011 We moved to Melbourne in January 2010 on a 457 sponsored visa. We had never been to Oz before. Hindsight is a great thing, but I wish we had visited Oz previously to coming out. We are disappointed with what Melbourne has to offer, and at the moment do not ourselves here in the longer term. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cdchaplin Posted August 16, 2011 oh that a shame. Where abouts are you living then? we hoping to move to frankston south area. we have heard such great reports about melbourne and victoria, so be interested in why you dissapointed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CXW 12 Posted August 16, 2011 +1 for being interested to know how Melbourne hasn't lived up to expectations, not least as it's rare to find someone who will talk about downsides. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarab 10 Posted August 16, 2011 Not planning to do this myself as am not brave enough but wondered if anyone else had??? That's exactly what I am doing - never visited - visa granted on Friday aiming to go out early next year, sooner if we got jobs!! Sara Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest flex lawson Posted August 16, 2011 Hi all, were landing in melbourne 05 December. Me, OH Joiner/ Carpenter 176 skilled sponsored visa & 2 kids 6 & 3. We've never been but thats the challange. Got our visas in July only took 9 months. No reccie so its sink or swim. Hoping to find work before we land so fingers crossed. "Reach for the stars & might get to the moon" Carla. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest51810 11,261 Posted August 16, 2011 If we manage to get a sponsored visa then we will also be going out next year without ever being their before Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Meizpod Posted August 23, 2011 We are moving out to Melbourne on the 1st September, we have never been before but I have done a lot of research and also have made friends that we are staying with when we arrive so we got some support. Also one of us has a job so we are secured financially so we can find an apartment quickly. It took us 1 year to have our visa granted but we spent 2 years prior to that to do our research and get state sponsorship. Good luck to everyone else that is planning the move down under!! :biggrin: Linda Never been to Melbourne - I made that mistake if you are looking for warm sunny weather you may be surprised. See a warts and all review of Melbourne (and other cities) on http://kickacity.wordpress.com/melbourne/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tappers2oz 3,134 Posted August 23, 2011 We've never been, just jumping right in. DH has family (2nd cousin once removed or something!) over there. Plus a few of his friends/colleagues made the move too. 2 went to WA and one somewhere else. So hopefully we can meet up if we get over there. Trying to get to Aus since 2008. Finally the end is in sight! Hoping to make the move in 2022. After 3 long years I’m finally a Registered Nurse! Sept 2021 PTE academic, Oct 2021. Superior score, 20 visa points Emigration Agent Assigned 20/01/2022 Skills assessment submitted 01/03/2022 (approved end of March ‘22) Ahpra Registration submitted 08/03/2022 AHPRA in principle June 2022 (present by Jan 2023) x2 pet import permits! July 2022 🥰 EOI 491 submitted to Vic Aug 2022 State nomination invite/applied for Aug 2022 Invite to apply Sept 2022 Visa submission Sept 2022 Front loaded medicals and police checks (Sept and Oct 2022) Direct grant Nov 2022 Emigrated to Vic Feb 2023. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Meizpod Posted August 23, 2011 We moved to Melbourne in January 2010 on a 457 sponsored visa. We had never been to Oz before. Hindsight is a great thing, but I wish we had visited Oz previously to coming out. We are disappointed with what Melbourne has to offer, and at the moment do not ourselves here in the longer term. Did the same thing, originally arrived in Melbourne and it took 7 years to convince my wife to move to Queensland, I always had visions of beaches and palm trees - in all the time in Melbourne I swam in the sea 5 times and each time it was cold. Queensland is more of what I wanted natural environment warm weather and all year round beach swimming. Wish I had seen http://kickacity.wordpress.com/melbourne/ to see what it is really like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarab 10 Posted August 23, 2011 Just been on the kickacity website - not very balanced or informative to be honest - made me laugh though!!! No where is perfect - there's no such thing as Utopia (unfortunately) :laugh::laugh: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
