To be honest quoll I just went on the Sol & CSOL and they were on the list...lol

That's why I was hinting about people looking at the lists....I've seen some very unlikely positions on there over the years!

Hiya Pollyana. Just a quick message to say thank you for you support...

Heavens above, the numpties really are in charge of the asylum! I wasnt intending to diss you and your skills, I hope you realize that, I am just surprised and, as I said, fearful that the jobs wont materialize even though the visa may be granted. Antique dealer! Sheesh, there are enough of them in Canberra I assure you! I wonder why telephone sanitizers arent on that list LOL

quoll no offence taken mate, I understand were you are coming from, thats why I was a little bit peed when someone did diss my job when there was less jobs on the lists. Anyway I have got my rant off my chest and hope we can move on.

I just need to find out how to go about getting my skills assessed by Vetassess and get my visa, before Kev writes to the ministers and gets prison officer wiped off the list...

No corrective service officer jobs this week either http://www.jobs.act.gov.au/jobs_by_a...mmunity_safety keep an eye out but once you have your visa dont burn any bridges until you get a job IMHO

I had an email from the correctional services the other day. They are recruting in April.

I have been researching house prices in and around Canberra and I don't think we could afford a 3 bed house. We will be taking around £80 to £90k with us for a deposit, however we don't know what motgage we would be offered on my wage of around $45k ish to start with. My wife works in local government housing benefits/poll tax etc so we will be unsure what we could afford if she found a job part time.

We have tried looking for houses at around $250k to $350k and could not find any houses around that price with 3 beds.

With a 90k GBP deposit you well get a decent place and a good mortgage deal.

What about getting your own house built in that new Molonglo Valley area http://www.molonglovalley.com.au/

Not so sure that a mortgage with that deposit and only $45kpa -if that is really what they are quoting - then it honestly will be struggle city as the ACT ave income is around $80k and then most families are two income. You will also probably find that setting up is going to take a good £10k out of that (unless you have a separate establishment pot). Money wise you get more bang for your buck in Queanbeyan but some of the suburbs in that direction are probably not where you'd want to be living (thinking Oaks Estate - cheap for a reason!). You'll need to rent for a while so budget around $2kpm for that then maybe your salary might have increased. I can see though why they wouldn't get too many Aus applicants - most Canberrans wouldn't get out of bed for that TBH.

Agree with Quoll here (sorry didnt notice the 45k part) is that what they really offer? Maybe that is jus for people starting, maybe with your experience they might offer more. If your wife can get a decent job too then you should be ok, you're in a good position with the amount of deposit you have. As with quoll I would avoid going over the boarder to Queanbeyan aka Struggletown. Your wife could look for government jobs here (local government thought, not federal as federal you need to be a citizen)

I live in the bush and wouldn't get out of bed for 45k, to try and live on that in the ACT is going to be impossible, and I lived in Canberra for 10 years. The 45k figure must be wrong surely ?, after tax it would be around 650 a week take home, that's not even going to cover rent and food anywhere in the ACT, seriously if I was the OP I'd be checking those figures again. A 3 bedroom house is going to be anywhere from 450k upwards - 600k for anything nice.

Wooops, sorry the salary is between $51,611 rising to 61,934 in Canberra, would that make a difference?

Yes I was somewhat out on the salary, It is between $51,611 rising to 61,934, if that makes a difference on the mortgage front.

It's still small, there are entry level jobs here at 60k. Is super on top of that figure? If your wife is working you will be ok. As above, look at about 450 a week for rent. I currently pay 520 per week for a 1 bed apartment but it's right in the city centre, so you should be able to get a 3/4 bed house in the suburbs for 450-500 a week.

Check of the pay includes super or has it added on and what the benefits are like.

Looks like reading your reply Kev we will not be able to afford OZ after all..