australia94 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I am just hoping for some clarification. I think I may have made a major mistake which means that I am unable to apply for migration. I qualified as a secondary PE teacher in 2005, but due to lack of jobs in the area, I worked in another role in education bedfore I took up a position as a Primary PE Teacher at a local school in 2007. I have been there for 5 years nearly and love it. As a family (despite a few wobbles) we have finally decided to begin the process of migrating to Oz. I sent off for and have received a positive skills assessment through AITSL. They have recognised my skills as a secondary school teacher. I passed my IELTS and have collected all the neccessary documents ready for applying for the 175 visa. After a long journey I thought that I was ready to apply and then wait for the visa to be issued. I don't know if I have been blinded by my determination to get to Australia, but now after looking I have had a sudden sick feeling. I have been filling in the online application and it states that I have to have worked in a occupation on the SOL for 12 of 24 months. Despite being a qualified secondary PE teacher I have not worked in a occupation on the SOL for 12 months in the last 24. For some reason (I am sure that I read it on the diac site) I thought it that you had to have worked in a closely related occupation for 12 months. I would look at the possibility of getting sponsorship as a Primary Teacher with a state but SA has low availabilty. I'm also unsure if a secondary qualified PE teacher would gain sponsorship as a Primary Teacher. My wife has also said that due to relations living in WA she would only consider migrating to Perth. Just so annoyed with myself and annoyed that I have been doing a job that is almost identical to a secondary teacher. Is there anyone who could give me some advise, I am going to contact an agent to see if there is anything that I can do. One option may be to get my wife's skills assessed and get her to take the IELTS. But this would mean that realisticaly I would have wasted nearly £800 and we would almost certainly miss the July deadline. Another would be to change jobs and look for a secondary teacher role. But this would mean trying to find a job before Easter if I wanted to start in Sept, then waiting another year. Realistically 2 years before I could apply. Just feeling so crap, I don't know how I am going to tell my wife if this is the case. Its taken me years to convince her that we should give migration a go. Is there anyone who can give confirmation that my worst fears are true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest31881 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 You say you are going to consult an agent, that is the best suggestion I could give, Consult a good reputable agent, and find out what your options are, and what would be the best path to take in the effort to get you a visa and move to the area you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
australia94 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 I have been looking at possible ways around this all day. Number one is there anyone who could recommend an agent. Idon't think that I'll need to use and agent for the whole visa as I am happy that I have everything else in place. I just need one that can will be able to give an answer on this one question. I have contacted the DIAC but would still appreciate anyone with any advice. I have begun to look at the 176 visa with SA State sponsorship. This is not where I wanted to live as I have family living in Perth and would prefer to move there. But if push came to shove its something I would look at. It just seems ridiculous that I am a secondary trained PE teacher. I teach PE everyday but in a Primary school. Same skills being used to teach pupils PE. But looks like I can't apply because I haven't got the specific work experience. I could understand if I was working in another profession like accountancy or building etc. I know Australia have a strict migration policy for a good reason, just so frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest31881 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Two agents that are highly recommended on the forum are "Go Matilda" and " Visa Bureau", but if you look through the posts you will find others. You can arrange chat with either of these, if you have to pay for a one hour talk and get some professional advice then you will at least know what your options are. You do not have to use an agent but as I say a chat with one could save you a lot of grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol2Oz Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Secondary PE teacher and Primary PE Teacher have some responsibilities that overlap, don't they? So maybe there's a chance you can still apply. But I agree that you may need to speak to an agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
australia94 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Apart from teaching Btec, GCSE or A levels, its roughly the same job. In a way I think its harder doing Primary at times as I have to work with the pupils building up their Basic Hand / Foot eye coordination skills and their Fine and gross motor skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I am constantly amazed that DIY applicants tackle applications involving complex, complicated and ever-changing legislation and court rulings and policy to which they do not have access, or even know exists. You either had the required period of work experience in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation, or you did not. Whether an occupation is on a particular schedule (SOL) is a matter of fact to be decided by the minister's delegate and whether particular occupations are closely related is a matter of interpretation; closely related is not defined in the legislation. From what you have posted, I surmise that a competent RMA might be able to advise you about a viable strategy. All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graemsay Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 The visa process has changed since I applied, so I might not be entirely accurate... Low availability on the skills list means that SA is close to filling its quota for the year, but you could still get sponsorship. Why not drop them an email and see if you'd qualify? Also, lodge a query with DIAC, explain your situation, and see what they suggest. They are there to help after all. You might still qualify, and if not you could ask AITSL for a re-assessment as a Primary Teacher. It might cost, but it'll be cheaper, quicker and easier than getting your wife's skills tested. What is your wife's occupation? If there are problems with you then it'll be cheaper to get her assessed than to hire an agent. And your skills assessment will be worth an extra 5 points, which is equivalent to state sponsorship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Also, lodge a query with DIAC, explain your situation, and see what they suggest. They are there to help after all. Fatal error. The DIAC are not there to help, quite the opposite and DIAC officers are not supposed to offer the sort of advice needed in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitingawhile Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I would recommend you speak to Ian Harrops migration services- they offer the first 20 mins consultation- and are very clear about how they may help you and will give you fair clear advice without trying to take your visa application off you for no good reason- i know he is one of the ones often mentioned on this site and there are others that are equally good -wrussell as usual is on the money and totally right- you may be able to identify a strategy- jobs/careers change over time and there are differences between countries, with the Uk requiring more specialist qualifications and skills than those asked for in Australia for some skilled occupations and vice versa- the anzsco descriptions are often out of date and although the diac site suggests relevant work experience taken into account is limited to just those in the same unit group, this is not written in stone given that would not favour the Australian economy or the dynamics of the job market. Basically you need to show you have the qualifications at the right level and that you have carried out the appropriate tasks of the skill you are applying under and Diac will assess it- I think what is possibly throwing people in a similar position is that when you get to the drop down boxes for relevant work experience, people want to revert to their current occupation, that they are claiming is relevant, but it is not listed, and therefore it may be that you are advised to click the skill you are applying under and then write a covering letter- but I suggest this strategy should be confirmed by a migration agent- all the best and look forward to your progress report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
australia94 Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Thanks for all the replies, I have already contacted an agent as recommended by Srp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitingawhile Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Good news I hope, let us know how you get on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
australia94 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 Update.... still waiting for a call from the agents. One has come back with we won't answer the question without signing up with us. Is there anyway that an agent would give me a consultation (I'd be happy to pay) without signing up for the whole package. Still be interested in anyone with any similar experiences. I know that there have been some posters on here (I thin k Positive Pixie) that were qualified as secondary teachers but worked in Primary and were able to secure SA sponsorship. I'm looking at SA sponsorship as a possibility as well. Just not somewhere I'd considered as WA and Perth in particular is where all my relations live. Just seems wierd to me that AITSL have assessed me as a Secondary teacher using my previous experience in Primary. But I can't apply to DIAC due to no 12 months work experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcillc Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 George Lombard is highly recommended on this forum: www.austimmigration.com.au Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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