Calling all English ex-pats

[v-twins]

Hello I am currently going through a quarter life crisis ha ha no laughing matter. .

ANYWAY need a change and really would like to travel maybe even live in another country and one country is Oz...

Can anyone help me out? I mean offer advice? I am 27 and I work in IT and just would like to know the ease of moving, finding jobs and setting up a new life. I will be doing this alone so have no ties, the house are up for sale so preparations are being made.

Any help given will be kindly accepted.

Thanks one and all..

[Della]

G'day,

I moved to WA a couple of years ago and it was a doddle doing it the way I did.
Rather than wait 6 - 8 months for a permanent residency visa, try and get sponsored. It only takes about 3 - 4 weeks to get a 4 year temporary visa (sub class 457) approved. Have a look on the net for agencies that specialise in your line of work and get in touch. They will often do a phone interview with you.
I work in engineering and it took less than 10 weeks between sending a CV off and actually being here. Australia (WA certainly) are crying out for skilled people and many companies will cover your moving expenses as well (mine did).
I've still got the house in the UK just in case it didn't work out and I'm renting here.
Have a look at www.realestate.com.au for an idea of prices for rentals/purchases in the area you are looking at moving to.
Hope that helps.
You'll need to look at www.carsales.com.au as well so you can find a nice Ford or Holden V8 to hoon about in once you get here

[Wanchaiwarrior]

Getting a work sponsored visa (457) is certainly a good way to do it, only downside is being tied to employer and having to reapply if you change jobs, most company's recruiting from abroad should have a package including relocation expenses and flights. Keep the house in UK and rent it out and pay off mortgage. Tax breaks with a 457 as well(LAFHA).

Im a structural drafter and was recruited from Hong Kong (left UK '96). Loads of work in engineering and IT OK as well I think.

Im in Brisbane so cant comment about Perth.

I like it here in comparison to Lewishan and even Cirencester.

[v-twins]

Thanks people... Big help and I am going to look into it.

The house is up for sale to hopefully give me enough money to move with IF I am eligible and all that gubbins.

Anyone fancy sponsoring me? HA

What do you think the chances are of a single 27 YO moving to OZ?

[robstvr]

Tell them you're a hairdresser. No kidding, Oz has a huge shortage, and they're snapping (snipping?) them up.

It makes sense, really. At least, it will once you've seen the place. The mullet is still "the sts" down there. Oh, yeah!

[Della]

I believe the points system has been reduced from 120 down to 70 or something like that, such is the shortage of skilled people (and you get 60 points for speaking English).
Points are not important if you go out on a 457 anyway. Don't worry about being tied to an employer either as it is quite simple for another company to take over a 457 visa if you feel like moving.

I wouldn't move the money from the sale of your house over here at the moment - have you seen the exchange rates at the moment?
Good for sending money back to the UK but not the other way round.

Regarding the earlier comments about the mulletts - unfortunately that's true...........