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

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

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.

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?

Whats centre link?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Sonic

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 ;-)

You are brave putting your address on here

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

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

Where are ya from in Ireland?