bit down in down under
 

hi folks,i havnt posted since feb this year just before we flew out,and im afraid i hate to do this but weve hit the 6 month wall,lads results in school getting worse rather than better after a great start and weve all had the big arguement "i hate it here its crap i wanna go home"im gutted ive actually snook a look at flights tonight,were all working soo hard to settle i think weve took our eye off what really matters,i was promised good dollars for being a carpenter/joiner but you need a liscence and you cant get it that easy so im stuck in a workshop getting $20 an hour!!!!!!!!!!! until i can sort a better job,i really dont want to moan and ive made a point of not doing so to anyone here but im a long way from home and needed an outlet,is it gonna get easier ????

Re: bit down in down under
 

oh dear!sorry i cant help just waiting to go..im sure others on this forum will let you know that ,that can be expected 6 months realy is no time at all.im sure it cant be easy especially with kids but if it helps a friend of mine came home after 6 months(kids hated oz) and now she says its the biggest mistake she made!!and the kids now wish they had stayed..
im sure things will get better with time:)
sending lotsa hugs,chin up it will all work out just give it some more time x:thumbup:

Re: bit down in down under
 

thanks for that ,going back downstairs now for a big family hug and talk tactics !! dont want to go back

Re: bit down in down under
 

mate its early days yet...try and all take a step back and chill...dont try so hard things will work out. It took us almost a year to really get settled and we struggled financially too in the beginning. But 3 years on we look back now and realise what we now have and its fab.....give it a bit longer....she'll be right mate

Take care

Re: bit down in down under
 

Try and work out what issues are specifically problems related to being in OZ and which you could well have had back in the UK.

If it's low pay, well, you could have had to take a low paid job in the UK

If it's the kids results, that may have happened here too

A lot of it is to do with attitude, if you can convince yourself that you're not "a long way from home" and get those around you to stop saying "i wanna go home" and decide that Australia *is* your home you will be able to move forward more easily.

Best wishes anyway - you've come so far!

Re: bit down in down under
 

Sorry you're having a wobble but hang in there, things will improve. Most people have that OMG, what have we done thing...and most come out the other side in one piece and smiling.
Empathise with your predicament as a tradie, as my OH is a gas fitter and has encountered similar licensing problems but try to look further than the here and now.
It's such a massive move for everyone, there has to be a period of adjustment and balance to survive before the good times really begin to roll....and they will.
And just remember how cold and grey the UK will be in a couple of weeks, while we have months of blue skies and sunshine to enjoy.:)

Re: bit down in down under
 

Is there any way you can pull out all the stops and get your licence? Whereabouts are you? Maybe once you're licenced and can pull a bit more money in things will ease up a bit :)

I hope so :)

Re: bit down in down under
 

I get the same from my kids daily. But they say it for different reasons now. It is a major concern, one that i hope goes away.
Still early days for you, but god knows how long you have to feel this way before you make a final decision.
As for the licence thing. I hear you mate. Takes ages. Nothing you can do about it except persist and insist. Good luck.

Re: bit down in down under
 

thanks for all your support ,i remember why we used expats sooo much before we came out here,we do love it here weather people places i think part of the problem is were still in the england rat race mentality,we always said it would be at least a year before we give a little sigh and go wow were here,thankyou all you are stears:thumbsup:

Re: bit down in down under
 

Don't throw in the towel mate.............. at least you have a job?

When we arrived with youngsters aged 1, 3, and 4 it was a real struggle for us because I couldn't get a job anywhere:eek: Two years straight on the Dole, no work at all apart from the odd shutdown or two when I picked up a short term pipe-fitting gig.

I was a plumber at the time......... certificates not recognised here....... need a license to do this....... a license to do that blah blah blah. It was depressing and we were almost on that plane back to nothingness in the UK on more than one occasion.

Luckily we put up with all the s**t for a while and never threw in the towel and returned to the UK. So glad we stuck it out. A recent rip back to the UK was enough to make me realise big time how lucky we are to be here?

I don't get depressed these days........... but......... if ever i do feel a little down...... I jump in the Jag and go for a drive ............ or I take a stroll around the firebreak ............ cheers me up no end:thumbup:

We've cracked it now after many years of hard yakka. Our bank managers just about love us.......... doubt if that could ever be the case in the UK?

Stick at it mate.............. if we can make it ........... so can you!!!:thumbsup:

Hope everything turns out right for you?


good luck

Re: bit down in down under
 

where abouts are you,my OH is a carpenter and was under the impression that there is work ready available and the liciences dont take too long to sort out ! we are heading to the goldcoast
sarah

Re: bit down in down under
 

Are you entitled to the dole if you can't find work on a PR visa????

Re: bit down in down under
 

Absolutely............ the government had taken enough off me in taxes when i was single prior to us returning to Perth as a family.

Mind you; wasn't on the Dole by choice............. would have much rather worked than draw Dole money.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Things are really hard at first. We've been here 15 months, just moved into our new house and things are starting to look rosier.

OH was on just under $20 when we arrived, had a pay rise since - not bad. Are you on PR and claiming centre link. This helped us out at the beginning.

Summers coming and things will look brighter. The winter months make everyone feel s..t.

Got to admit didnt think we'd last when we first arrived, money seemed to disappear and it was like OMG how are we suppose to survive on this wage when we go to get weekly shop and its $200, plus we had medical expenses for our kids (didn't expect to being seeing consultants as much as we have) but we now on our feet and the money issue is settling a bit, not so worried now.

EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT ALRIGHT IN THE END. :)

Which part of Oz are you in?

Re: bit down in down under
 

Hey bobcat plumber here in your wonderful suburb i bet you are not far from me, we are moving into greenhaven glades off rustic drive
dave

Re: bit down in down under
 

hang in there mate...wheres the british bulldog?? dont forget if your positive..positive things happen to you...if your negative......the same..change your state of mind! Its just an experience. your not going to die...just enjoy it.

hope you stay...This is Australia ...and your living here. You have achieved so much just doing that....think positive and let the good times roll !!

mines a lager :eek:

Re: bit down in down under
 

Dont want to burst your bubble but $20ph without a licence is not so bad.

With a licence and working on minesite (probably on a 4:1) you could double that at least so hang in there

Re: bit down in down under
 

Panorama Place runs off Greenhaven Glades and our joint backs onto Panorama Place. You wouldn't even be 5 minutes away from us so you'll have to pop round to say G'uday.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Aah! you were there before then. Don't you have to be there 2 years for them to consider giving you social welfare payments. Or am I wrong?

Re: bit down in down under
 

Whats centre link?

Re: bit down in down under
 

Can't fathom why you don't feel you can complain about being homesick? You are allowed to moan about Australia on here if you so wish, it's not all rose tinted stuff.

But this said hope you work out whatever is best for you & yours :)

Re: bit down in down under
 

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/

Centrelink is an Australian Government Statutory Agency, assisting people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in need.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Correct, under your 136 PR visa, you need to be self sufficient for 2 years before you will be entitled to social welfare payments if you cant find work.

This is why the Skilled Emigrant PR visa process is so stringent. If you get allocated one, there should be no excuse for you not to find work once you get here ;-)

You do get Medicare though.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Dont give up!!!! We spent about 8 years in Perth then returned to UK for 2. Then went back again and gave up after 5 months!!!!! 3 years on we are heading back!! Don't make the same mistakes we did. I am a plumber and although I got my licence last time round never actually got work. I was labouring for the same ($20) hr on building sites and thoroughly depressed. Looking back I didn't make any effort to find work - I think you really have to get out there and show your face. Definately be prepared to work for less than UK - trades are renowned for rubbish pay, but I'm sure you could get a job as a mate or something on sites. Might be earning the same pay but at least you'll be heading in the right direction for later on. Don't know about carpenters licences but mine was straight forward one day assessment - surely it can't be that different for your trade? Remember the reasons why you went in the first place - even after 8 years you have days of being homesick! Take it easy and keep your chin up!
Dan

Re: bit down in down under
 

Just because you have a Skilled Visa it doesn't mean you'll get skilled wages... just something to bear in mind!

Sonic

Re: bit down in down under
 

Very true. Aus is no different from any other country in that respect. You are just a product and need to market yourself accordingly, whatever your trade/profession happens to be.

Sometimes it can be quite a shock for people coming over realising that they have to take pretty drastic pay cuts to what they have been used to and that it can take quite some time (and maybe a couple of jobs) before they get back to the equivalent level of pay they were used to getting before they came here.

I know this certainly was the case for me. It took me a few years to get back to the earning power I had when I left Ireland.

A good experience though. What doesn't kill you only makes ya stronger as they say ;-)

Re: bit down in down under
 

You are brave putting your address on here :)

Re: bit down in down under
 

Hey Peter

Been here 3 months myself and am also a chippie. Stop fretting man! You can be earning more than $20 an hour without a licence as long as you have an ABN. I went for a couple of jobs that were paying $32 per hour plus GST. Now for the licence, in Queensland if you use your TRA documents all you have to do is a management course through TAFE which can be done distance learning or by attending the course. Takes about 6 weeks to get the licence once you have got it you can then basically advertise for your own work.

I was a bit shocked at the wages too but if you look about and maybe diversify as I have, there is really good money out there. If you need any other advice just ask but stick it out. Life is good here man!!!!

Haggis

Re: bit down in down under
 

Hi all i understand what most of these disgruntled people on here feel like etc im at the same point deciding whether to head back to the uk or stay. I like australia, And i believe you get back what you put into life. But the main reason i would like to head back is for my friends and family, and the reason i stay is for my girlfriend and some parts of the australian outdoor lifestyle.
Regarding the job problems, liciences etc - In a perfect world there would be no need for liciences and if you had the skills for the job and you shown this to the employer then a licince should not matter. But the matter of fact is this is'nt a perfect world or australia and a lot of people are just after making a quick buck i.e the route to getting a licience.
To sum up this i wish i had an idea of which path i should take the uk one or the australian one decisions, decisions :confused:

Re: bit down in down under
 

Where are ya from in Ireland?

Re: bit down in down under
 

Not really.......... it's a 5 acre block and as well as it being our home; I also run our Real Estate Agency from an office on the premises.

Clients visit us on-site almost every day........ we are a bit out in the bush so they need to know where we are?

Thanks for your concern anyway.......... much appreciated; but as we say down-under............... no worries! :thumbup:

Re: bit down in down under
 

once again thankyou so much folks especially all the advice About the licence,,you do get to hear tales about having to go to night school to gain more qualifications etc and you do tend to think ohh my god ,but thanks for giving me a slap and some sound advice,im being contacted tomorrow from the hia over how they can help push things on,i have took your advice over the abn also and within a day of advertising in one town i have 3 jobs to qoute for ,i wont be charging $20 an hour either:thumbsup: cant thankyou enough,as for my lad its all smoothed out,just wish he wasnt 16 going on 30 !!:curse: were gonna hang in here we can see light at the end of the tunnel unlike in england,keep smillin eh,ps the man u result really cheered me up:thumbsup:

Re: bit down in down under
 

ps cheers haggis,sound advice,were brisie also we will get there a quick trip to redcliffe after work for a coffee or abeer does the trick for us,ta

Re: bit down in down under
 

:)I'll be checking you out then BC when we arrive :)

Re: bit down in down under
 

By all means.......... no probs.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Have you a link to your buisness ?

Re: bit down in down under
 

It's in my profile. Not allowed to put it here apparently?

Re: bit down in down under
 

Great....will check it out.

Thanks :thumbup:

Re: bit down in down under
 

So very true.

I was earning GBP40,000 in UK and when I came to Australia the only job I got offered was equivalent of GBP22,000. One year on and I got a new job offer which was equivalent to GBP 43,000. Two years later and my salary has gone up to the equivalent of GBP 55,000.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forwards.

Re: bit down in down under
 

Try retiring.....its the future :eek: