VickyA

We're at the early stages of investigating all our options of getting out to Oz. It looks like we'd be best off with a SIR out to South Australia, since we don't quite meet the points for full skilled visa (136). I've got about a million questions, but the first one which is niggling at me is about work experience.

Basically I have 7 years' experience of training & development, but the last 2 years have been self-employed, running a franchise of a training business. Does this mean I can't say I've been "employed" in this sector for the last 2 years?

Any helpful comments would be very gratefully received - cheers all!

VickyA

Anyone..?

hottroc

I may be wrong, just my opinion but...

You HAVE been employed...by yourself.
I think though instead of references from your employer they ask for references from your customers.

WS

Speak to a good agent who can discuss with you visa options, most do a free initial chat. Good luck.

kjc79

as far as ive been advised,as have been self employed for the past year,you need to prove that you are a registered business and prove all tax and NI etc have been paid to confirm this.eg business cards, marketing info, client statements.
hope this helps a bit
kath

TheColebecks

Hubby has been self-employed for the past 13 years - we provided Statutory Declarations for her periods of self-employment and got references for other periods of employment.

Good luck

Karen

VickyA

Thanks all - I think we'll be OK with this bit now. Just need to address the other million questions I've got whizzing around in my brain!

VickyA

Right - next question.

My self-employment has been slow to take off, as I've been establishing a franchise business as well as working part time (3 days/week plus some evenings, so over 20hrs a week.) I'm applying under the category of "Training Officer", which description is spot on what I would be doing had this business got going sooner.

The problems are - how do I evidence my time, and does it have to have been completely training-related? I've basically been phoning people, sending out mailshots, networking and preparing course materials from my home office, taking calls forwarded from my virtual office. The actual number of training/development hours I've delivered in front of Joe Public are limited, but not from want of trying... My previous employment (just over 2 yrs ago...), as a training officer, involved similar amounts of "chewing the fat" and consultancy work, when eventually ended up in training days, but again certainly not 20 hrs a week of training... I can provide a few references, but my accounts will show that my days haven't been exactly packed...

This is probably too specific a question to ask on this forum, but I don't know what else to do. If I email this specific question to an agent would they help me out with their 15 mins free advice? I'm pretty clear on the rest (I think) - VETASSESS application went off yesterday, seeking sponsorship from SA and really want to settle in Adelaide due to husband's previous visits there while travelling, and have enough points (including $100,000 bond - ouch...) so I don't want to take up their time dealing with all that...

Help - someone..? I can feel our dreams slipping away, even though we've just started seriously planning things....

JAJ

You might need to accept that your case is not simple and you need paid professional assistance. Make sure you choose the agent well.

DIAC will look very closely to see if your work experience is on the Skilled Occupations List. And was your work experience paid? - If not, that could be another complication.