slapphead_otool

Sounds like the system is somewhat flawed. How long do you have to be in Cairns? (Is it specifically Cairns or just regional QLD?) Anyway it isn’t for ever.

I know you probably are well aware, but I will say it anyway; the capital cities like Sydney don’t need any more migrants – in fact they are too big as it is. That is why they are “encouraging” new migrants to move to rural areas.

Think of it like the great push west in the history of the USA. The government doesn’t care if you get skewered with arrows or the wheel falls off your wagon. That’s your problem, they just gave you an opportunity.

The logic has been a part of Australian culture for hundreds of years. People were given grants of land in the middle of nowhere. The government didn’t really worry if they succeeded or not, if they failed they just gave the land to someone else. They expect it to be hard, that’s why they gave away the opportunity.

I know this isn’t helping right now, but it might give you a different perspective.

paulry

Will try that. It worked for me once - in fact it's how I got my first IT job.

HUP

I once got made redundant. As I walked out of the door I rang someone who I had done some work for at the company I was with and told him I was on the market and if he heard anything then to give me a call. A month later I was working for him at a new company that he set up.

Another key lesson I learned was, never burn any bridges. A year later that company went into liquidation. I spoke to someone that I used to work with and he said that they still hadn't finished the projects that were on the go when I left and did I want to come back on a contract.

Turban Explorer

I think this is meant for me? We have to be in regional Queensland for another year. We intend to leave Cairns in August when our marina fees end (we have a sailing yacht we live on) and try other places. However, we are literally just rocking up, having to fly back to collect the car etc, in the hope there are jobs! I realise there is unlikely to be anything available fitting my CV but I am applying for everything possible - with a heavily dumbed down resume. In Cairns my partner has had some success getting marketing/sales positions but they don't work out - targets can't be met as the town is so depressed and the position becomes untenable. I had a decent job for a month but it was in the most dysfunctional organisation I've ever seen with a bullying boss. I think poor organisations, bullying and so on must be symptomatic of high unemployment towns.

At the moment I'm in the dilemma of just cutting our losses and sailing to Fiji or gritting our teeth, sail down the coast and try for jobs in Townsville, Bowen, Mackay etc etc until we can get this 12 months work done for Immi.

To be honest at the moment I feel like it was such as mistake going for a 475 regionally sponsored visa. Queensland has snapped up 50,000 quid of my money and I've had nothing back but disappointment (although some nice sailing, snorkeling and diving). My self esteem is getting damaged due through the endless job rejections and even worse, sending out CVs in to the ether and never hearing anything. In London I earned 150,000 quid a year and over here I am reduced to scratching around for reduced vegetables in Woolworths so I don't spend my life savings on day to day living.....

Amazulu

Then why did you? Why did you not apply for normal PR like the rest of us? You sound like you are skilled enough.

Turban Explorer

I was on a 457 visa working in Sydney. After a month they decided to close down the Australian trading desk and move to Singapore. I didn't want to go so applied for a 475 visa - the migration agent came up with the state sponsorship to get the points up.

Amazulu

Fair enough, we all make mistakes.

slapphead_otool

I feel for you Turban, and I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that in my past I have felt the despair you are feeling right now.

I hate regional Australia with a vengeance, even though it can be beautiful. For the first 8 years of my time in Australia I spent most of my time living in cheap motels in places like Gladstone and Townsville, Mount Isa, Kalgoorlie and Roxby Downs.

The joys of working on mining contracts. The loneliness of a one horse town full of miners.

But you know, it the half full half empty glass, and the glass is only half empty for a while. I look back on those times now with good memories, even though they were not so good at the time.

Like you I went off and completed an MBA. That didn’t seem like much fun at the time either, but I look back on it fondly. I am studying again, and I hate every second of it. No doubt when it is over I will smile inwardly.

I would love to live on a boat, and sail to Fiji, and the snorkelling and diving is great where you are. Enjoy the moments, drink the memories, feel the experience. Soon it will be gone.

Turban Explorer

What are you studying now? I know what you mean about being confined to regional Australia and I've seen plenty of blokes looking gloomy in grotty motels (not professionally, I hasten to add!) - I visited a friend in Sydney a couple of months ago and felt soooo jealous! Oh hindsight....!

paulry

I read somewhere that even in those days around 50% returned to their countries of origin.

slapphead_otool

Turban,

Reading back through your posts:
• You live on a yacht, you sail and snorkel.
• You have an MBA, you earned 150,000 quid a year in London,
• You came to Sydney and worked on a dealing desk, then got the chance to go to Singapore.
• You were a university lecturer
• You retired from the UK and get i get 45k per year pension.
• You are a teacher, and have a long career broking and financial journalism.
• You lived on Magnetic Island for a year.

Want to swap?

Turban Explorer

If you have any AUD coming in then yes.... The problem is I am 37 so I need to conserve the cash I have for quite a lot longer (if the booze doesn't catch up with me sooner!). My retirement model worked until Immi sent me back to join the horny hands of toil and the pound went to shit.... If you are ever up in FNQ you are welcome to come out for a quick spin in the yacht.

slapphead_otool

I discovered that you could actually study at Oxford Uni via distance education, so I’m doing an Advanced Diploma in Data and System Analysis. Strange to think that I don’t ever have to walk through the place.

Dont worry about meeting gloomy blokes in grotty hotel rooms. yuor secret is safe on BE

Next time you are in Sydney give me a shout and lets grab a coffee.

slapphead_otool

Now you are just rubbing it in.

Turban Explorer

It's a difficult age. Stuck between 'carpe dieum-ing' it now and oooh shit... will I be able to afford those incontinence pants when I'm 75.