Beginning the process.
 

Hi all, me the wife and our daughter are hoping to move over to Adelaide after my wife has been to Uni doing her teacher training. I am a Maintenance Engineer on traffic signals in the UK but no idea what companies in Adelaide do a similar job or what qualifications I would need so any info or good sites to do research would be a real help.

We have been thinking about the move for a good few years but now we have decided that we defo want a better life for our little girl and the UK just ain't going to be a nice place to grow up in and both me and the wife strive for better family/work life balance.

Hoping the move will be 5-6 years off but I like to be organised so hence the early start on the research, so if anyone can give me any info or point me in the correct direction as to where to start I would be forever grateful as I haven't got the foggiest where to start or what I'm actually looking for. Haha

Thanks in advance

Geoff & Sophie Unsworth
(Usually wet & windy) Wigan UK.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

On the visa, is your wife doing secondary teacher training? I hope so because visa options are pretty limited for primary teachers. At the moment secondary teachers can get visas more easily, although there is a chance that could change in the next five years due to the huge over supply of teachers in Australia. What subject would she teach? Science and maths teachers are most in demand as I understand it.

As for yourself are you a degree qualified engineer? I think Australia uses the word differently to in the UK, engineers usually have degrees. It may be hard for you to secure the visa unles you are an engineer in the Australian sense of the word.

As to the rest of your post, well there is nothing wrong with fancying Australia of course, we all did on here at one time. And some people end up preferring it and some will not, some will like both countries equally (I am in that camp btw). But most people will say it is something different rather than something better. One first world country will not provide a better life for children versus another first world country.

As for better work life balance, well many people would find the complete opposite, limited annual leave, limited parental leave, limited sick leave even. The work regulations in Australia are far less conducive to achieving work / life balance than the European /UK regulations. You might use the move to trigger you making changes, but you could make changes where you are, it is up to you not the country.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

You are likely to be the main applicant if looking to apply in the near future.

The first thing to check is if your occupation is on one of the occupation lists eligible for visas. These are called SOL and CSOL.

If your occupation is on one, the next thing you need to look at is what is needed to pass the skills assessment for that occupation. This will detail what qualifications and experience are required.

If the occupation is only on the CSOL, then you would need either state or business sponsorship. So, check each states lists to see if any are sponsoring.

Then you need to calculate your points. You need a minimum of 60.

As for better life.

We have all of the same issues as the UK. Problems today are global and long gone is the time of Australia's innocence. It is no better life for kids, just different.

As for work life balance, Australians work the longest hours in the developed world. We get a lot less annual leave than the UK - the normal is 20 days per year. Many companies will only give 5 days sick leave per year. After that, you don't get paid.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I understand about the hours or work/holidays what I mean by work life balance was the opportunity to spend quality time together as a family after work, in the UK with the unpredictable weather plans are hard to make for after work as it's either cold, wet or dark. As for UK problems being global ones, I know probably nowhere is perfect anymore but believe me the UK is a very unappealing place to live. Thanks for the reality check though it's appreciated.

As for a points score, in the UK being a maintenance engineer iv got some pretty specialised qualifications which are all electrical based, not NVQ qualified electrician but I am thinking of going through that course before coming unless it's not needed? Iv had a quick look and done a pre application points checker which states that I would get the required points, also I have emailed a emigration firm who also believe that I would get enough points but maybe they will tell me what I want to hear? This site from reading responses won't sugar coat stuff!! Failing me getting enough points we would be putting my wife down as main applicant with teaching being on the list of wanted skills and my job being a bit ambiguous.

Getting back to my work, I understand that to work on electrical systems I would need to get a license? How and where do I start with that? Costs? Study period? Application before/after I am in Australia?

Thanks for your no shit response and not tarting anything up I understand all you said and appreciate it, but the UK has zero appeal to bring up my kids and unless you live here you couldn't possibly understand. We will continue to do what is needed to gain access to Australia as this is our dream noone will put us off.

Thanks again in advance.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Just interjecting here - you certainly won't get tarted up responses here, and it's refreshing to see that you're up for that, instead of crying that people are being mean to you (we see that a lot!!)

I'm having a giggle about but the UK has zero appeal to bring up my kids and unless you live here you couldn't possibly understand - the people who've already replied to you are British Expats so they most certainly have lived in the UK :lol:

Me, I'm an Aussie who's just emigrated to the UK, partly because I hate the burning heat of summer, and am loving the UK winter :lol:

I know, I know - nowt as queer as folk! Good luck with all your plans :starsmile:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Part of the reason I signed up to this is the no nonsense approach to the help they give.

Good luck with your new life in the UK.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Do be very careful with the online points checkers. For example, many will automatically award 20 points for English language. Even though to get any points for English requires sitting English exams and to get 20 is hard. I have seen people who have degrees in English struggle to get 20.

With regard agents, also be careful, there are a lot of scammers out there. Make sure they are registered migration agents. There are several on here who post and are highly recommended such as Go Matilda.

If you find your occupation requires state sponsorship, be very aware of any special requirements the state imposes. For example, some states will require a job offer before giving sponsorship.

With regards work and licensing, if your occupation is a licensed occupation such as electrical, then there are some threads on here about it. In essence p, each state has their own licensing requirements, so it will depend on where you move to. On average, you will need to work for a period of time as a trade assistant - like an apprentice - usually for about a year. You will need to attend college here called TAFE. You will pay a fair few thousand. It can as a result, be a challenge to find work initially as you are not, in effect qualified.

For lifestyle, we are all expats, we all have family and a fair number have already left Australia and returned to the UK. So, we are very aware of what the UK is like. I have spent almost as much time out of oz in the last 8 years as I have in oz.

Oz has plenty of major issues. For example, the meth / ICE drug problem here is truly shocking - and this is from someone that has spent a lot of time in South America. I was recently working in a town in WA for 6 months, where the police estimate half of all adults are addicted.

Unemployment for young people is attriocious. Where I live, it is closer to Greece proportions than it is the UK!

Crime is a severe issue. WA for example, has just recorded an increase year on year of 17%.

Terrorism and global issues of that ilk are also severe issues that are in the news a lot.

Issues with bad weather / environment are also big. In the last week, huge parts of NSW have flooded and here in WA we have horrendous bush fires at the moment. I laid in bed the other night watching the red glow in the sky as a nearby town was totally destroyed.

Health is a very mixed bag.

The economy is a big worry for many at the moment with climbing unemploymet. Something that is a big issue in Adelaide.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Picking up on the Electrical license issue, to start the process you would need to get your skills assessed.

Have a look at the Vetassess site for requirements of the skills assessment. They are not the only company doing trades assessment but have been around the longest and have quite a lot of info on their website. There is also a fair bit of info in our Electricians part of the forum - Electricians - British Expats

If you can pass the skills assessment, they will issue you an Overseas Technical Skills Record (OTSR) that allows you to progress to a supervised workers license and access to gap training.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I am not familiar with your occupation, so will have to leave those questions to other people.

But on the lifestyle things, well I have lived in the UK for 38 years and currently am there (for the last year). Children seem to be living here just as happily as I saw children living in Australia.

After work plans well firstly Australian weather is every bit as unpredictable as UK weather. I think you need Southern Europe if you want predictable weather, not Australia. Adelaide which you mentioned is a bit dryer than some other states at least, but it does get heat waves, which will keep you in not out. I found forward planning far riskier in Australia than in the UK, because inclement weather here really will keep you inside, in the UK, it maybe means taking an umbrella.

And as for daylight, well thee were not a lot of things that I really missed about the UK when I was in Australia, but top of the list was the daylight, the long days for a significant part of the year. I am afraid you do not get that in Australia.

In winter it will not go dark as early as it does in the UK, but it will certainly be dark by the time most people finish work and get home. And sadly even in the summer there is only another hour or so of daylight left after work, compared with three or four hours in the UK. No daylight and after work options is definitely not all that in Australia. Not unless, as I say, you change your whole life, start working part time or something.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I lived in the UK until six months ago. Am I glad we moved - so far, yes. Do I think children have a better life here, no. Where I lived in the UK (in the south east), most kids and most adults had a good life, as they do here. But in the UK, kids have a much better chance of a career close to home than they do here in Adelaide. If you want a better life for your children and that's your only motivation, maybe have a think about moving within the UK as an alternative to moving 10,000 miles. It could be Wigan that's the problem rather than the UK.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I'm going off how my friends and family live and work in Adelaide which is the driving factor in the move, I know some people will prefer the UK as they didn't settle in Australia and vica versa, the cost of housing moving from Wigan to the South isn't matched by the rise in wages.

The jobs matching my skill set in Adelaide are doubling my wage which stands me in good stead to provide a better life for my family, and as it is 5 years or so before the move I am thinking of doing some extra qualifications at Uni to further increase my potential.

Thanks for the advice

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I don't prefer the UK, I have tried to make it clear that I like both countries and sorry if that has not come across. I loved living in Australia and I will live there again one day.

But it does not change the fact that it gets dark early and you will not get long summer evenings like you do in the UK. You said something about it being dark in the UK after work and I wanted to ensure you understood that in Australia it will be dark after work much more! This is not a subjective point, you can look up sun rise and sun set times easily enough. ;)

Job wise that sounds good if you can increase your earning potential, some people can, some can't for most probably much of a muchness. Wigan to Adelaide is certainly much more achievable than Wigan to Sydney.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

The "dark after work" thing sounds so insignificant, yet k hear it from so many people on and off the forum. I met some Brits today who have been here 12 years and one of the things they mentioned was the early darkness -they are living in Cairns so get it even worse than me in Brisbane. We met in Tasmania, where we are all currently just loving the daylight lasting till 10pm :thumbsup:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Definitely for me was something that I missed terribly. Did in Bermuda too, which was a bit like Australia in terms of daylight patterns. But OP is not alone in assuming there are long days in Australia. Have see that many times before.

Certainly QLD was worst state for going dark early, especially with the ridiculous daylight saving that they maintain there. In Sydney it is getting dark by 7.30pm in summer, probably a touch better in Adelaide although the half hour time difference might offset that.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

No to much of an issue regarding dark nights I can cope with that as the weather is warmer than UK but then again most place are 😂.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Here in the Philippines it gets dark around 5.30 - 6.00pm, EVERY day. I do miss the long evenings of daylight back in UK. Yes, it's warm but by 9.00pm you think it's the middle of the night! Good luck with your future hopes and plans.
Once you know either you or your good lady qualify for a visa then the excitement begins.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I am in New Zealand and I do miss those long twilights.

Does the so called 'weather' make up for that. Noes. Not really.

Swings. Roundabouts.

You do not get better weather for it being warmer.... if it is and not more extreme. What you get is different weather.

We get dark mornings and dark evenings for much of the year. it is a myth that UK weather and daylight hours are so much worse. It is not so. It is simply metered out in a different way.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I don't miss UK winter days. Working shifts I would go to work in the dark, and come home in the dark - and being in a factory meant you didn't see daylight for days :( It's just after 9pm here now and nearly dark, but that's late enough for me anyway - sunrise today was just after 6am and sunset just after 8.30pm.

I'm Adelaide area, and I do like the sunshine. It does get a bit hot sometimes but doesn't last too many days at a time usually (although only been here for just under 3 years so may not be the best to comment).

Salary wise, I was earning more in the UK but the salary I earn here more than pays for everything (or has so far). I don't find things too expensive either - although the fact I get free wine and spirits with my job may help with that :lol:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Night shifts aren't so bad, but if I'm on days i leave for work at 5am when i don't want daylight cos i am still asleep and my eyes are shut & i just walk from the door to the taxi, and get home at 1930. Pitch dark. I did a week of days over Christmas and didn't see daylight for 6 days. In the middle of summer.
I accept it now, it hapoens. But I'll never like or enjoy it.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Iv heard good things about adelaide and my friends live in hallett cove, we are going stopping with them next year and going to have a look at properties and enquire about job salaries and availability for research purposes. But early research done seems to all be pointing to our futures lying in Oz.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

No arguing with that. Australia is definitely warmer than the UK at any time of year.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

That's a nice area I think - I'm on the northern side on the edge of the Barossa :)

Re: Beginning the process.
 

We were 5 mins up the coast from Hallett Cove until last month. It's full of Brits (as is everywhere round here)! Nice area, easy to get to Adelaide or the countryside and good value, mostly newish houses.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

My friends love it there and can't speak highly enough of it, we seen the houses and early research says between 700-900k what we could afford but seen plenty stunning house around the 5-600k mark easily within our budget.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

In Melbourne we all universally love Daylight Savings where it is dark at almost 9pm so light for many hrs after work, sure not 10pm which could be overkill, but you get it back in winter where you need it more.

No one gives it any thought. Pick location wisely!

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Yep- got to love Melbourne summer evenings. We'll be at the beach tonight - well over 30 degrees, lie in the sea and watch the sun set into the sea.

BB

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Currently in Tassie and enjoyimg every second of the summer evenings, nice bottle of wine on the beach planned fir this evening :thumbsup:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

How many people on this forum can say all this is possible in the UK is beyond me. Summer evenings on the beach? Maybe 1 or 2 sure, if you like beaches scattered in rubbish and swimming/sitting in dirty polluted water.

Also living by the sea in the only places the beach is nice enough to sit on in the UK and your looking at a lot more money than I can afford.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Have you ever actually been to Adelaide or anywhere in Australia?

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Yes I have. Why? Never been when thinking of moving there that's why I'm going next year to view it as a home rather than a holiday destination.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

Oh come on Grayling. Whilst I don't agree with the OPs view of the UK, it's easy to spend summer evenings on the beach in many many places in Australia and particularly in Adelaide, where there are miles of clean, sparsely populated beaches, including at/near Hallett Cove, which is where he is looking at.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I think we went to the beach about half a dozen times in seven years.....and we lived where it was warm all year round.

Highly overrated

Re: Beginning the process.
 

So what's you actual point Grayling? I can handle constructive feedback when I have got things wrong about the process or whatever but you've just come on here to be a complete tool. You've made no attempt at helping all you've done is try and be a smart arse and said you don't like the beach. Big wow I do, why would you move to a coastal area in the first place if you don't like the beach?

Idiots need not reply if you have no useful advice.

Thanks

Re: Beginning the process.
 

It's Ok if you are easily pleased.....I prefer a decent English pub with proper beer.....which is what I do now:thumbsup:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I simply asked if you have ever been to Australia and you went off on one:rolleyes:

I obviously touched a raw nerve.

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I really don't understand British people who go to a foreign country and first thing they do is look for British things. Why didn't you spare yourself the expense and stay in England?

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I am in England....couldn't stand Australia

Re: Beginning the process.
 

I simply asked you if you had ever been to Australia


Why the hostile response?:confused:

Re: Beginning the process.
 

From Brisbane that's quite a lengthy trip right? :)

Re: Beginning the process.
 

:confused: i didn't live in Brisbane

I lived overlooking the sea as close to the Gold Coast as Brisbane