Thinking about emigrating to Australia, don't know where to start!

[mammyjo]

Hi everyone.

My dh and I are seriously thinking of making the jump and living abroad. He is an electrician and I am a nurse, so in terms of profession I think we should fit the bill.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I would be really grateful of anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction and give me a clue where to start.
I have been on the internet and all I seem to find are lots of relocation specialist type ads, but who do I trust?
I know I need visas to be able to go and work in Australia, but that is the virtual extent of my knowledge so far.

All help very gratefully received, thanks

hey mammyjo

we too are thinking of emigrating to australia next year after we're married, i get really nervous thinking about it as it will be heartbreaking leaving every1 behind but luckily weve got a head start as my partners mum and young family moved overr last year and absolutely love it. The kids are even speaking with an accent, theyve never looked back.

Do u know which part you want to live in?

My partners also an electrician and we're both under (just about!) 35 so cant see there being a problem.

Sorry theres no advice with this thread but just thought id share my plans and let u know ur not alone.

Good luck whatever you decide to do

Hi lollipop. Not really sure where we would live yet. I work within a specialist unit so would hope to continue with that, but that would probably mean I would be limited to city hospitals.

I would plan to go over there for a few weeks to try and decide where we like before committing myself I think.

And good luck to you too!

Hi MJ

i have friends who are emigrating to New Zealand this year. They took two very long holidays out there before making up their minds. I know they are having medicals at the moment and she said there was quite a range of cost for that so it was worth shopping around. I'll see what else I can pick up!

Hi, we are going to Melbourne in Jan. Dh is an electrical engineer and I am a nurse but he has a job and we are going on his visa.

We are having medicals on friday and are starting to organise everything else.

All I can say is just do it !!!

Hello. My dh applied through the points system and then he had to live there for two years before he was granted residency and a passport. We live in England now as I was horrifically homesick after the two years. We are going back soon though as now I have my own children I think it will be a lot easier to settle down. He is still at work now so I can't ask him any practical questions for you although I am sure he would love to as getting people to live in australia is his favourite hobby.

Go to Australia and actually see what you would be able to afford if you lived there before you get too involved in the idea.

You can just look on the internet to see what you can afford house wise though.

I think to put the amount of energy needed into emigration without actually going to visit first is crazy personally.

( I know how different life downunder actually is; I've done it!)

Thanks everyone

I fully intend to take a long trip out there before committing myself to anything. I could get there and hate it otherwise! I would want to look at areas to live because I am sure that there would be places I would not want to go, same as over here.

Have a look on the British Expats website - there is plenty of good advice in the immigration forum. As a nurse it's probably easiest (and cheapest) to get sponsored. Going straight for a Permanent Residence visa take time and costs, if you get here on a sponsored visa it will happen much quicker and most nurses I know have got sponsorship for PR once they have worked for their employer for 3 months. Check out if there are any immigration "Expos" near you soon - they are always looking for nurses there.

As an electrician your DH would have to have his qualifications and experience assessed by the relevant trade body which is quite a lengthly process before you could even put in your application. A lots of tradespeople also end up having to study here before they can get the relevant licenses allowing them to work which takes time and more money so it's probably more straightforward to go on your job.

You also need to think carefully about where in Australia you want to live - it's a big place We're in Sydney which is fab, but expensive (similar to London in terms of cost of housing etc. for nice areas), a lot of nurses to to Queensland. Hope it all works out for you.

Thanks sunnydelight. Sydney was one place I was considering, or maybe Brisbane?

I have a provisional offer of sponsorship already from the Children's Hospital in Syndney, but to be perfectly honest, I have no idea what it means.

I have found an expo in London. It isn't until October, but I figure I can wait that long to make sure I do things properly.

I will check out the expats website in the meantime though, thanks!