Re: Decided to become a student!
 

I think a hospital, old people's care homes etc would be good places to look for part-time work. They'll be looking for porters, low-level care workers (don't know what the correct term is, but those that do the cleaning, take tea round etc).

If you can't find anything there, think about working as a part-time security guard in a shopping centre, or as a cashier at a Coles/Wollies/etc petrol station.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Shipped dog a few weeks before we left. 20 ft container a week before we left, and left with max baggage allowance which is basically normal, 4 or 5 suitcases. If you come with PR I think you get an extra allowance but unfortunately not for us lot as after all we are NOT migrating, just hoping to one day ... :)

Leave with a return flight? ... nope.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Hey Paul,

Did you take a dog out with you? Did you managed to do this on a student visa? I have my late dads dog who I would love to take out with me, and my uncle has offered to look after him. Is this possible? How much was it to send the dog?

Thanks

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

No probs regarding student visa and dog ... :)

We paid Jets4pets about £3,000 to ship our Staffie from Watford - Sydney, and after the month in quarantine they bought him up to the Goldie.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

We also bought our dog. :D

We came with the clothes on our back, and 20kg of luggage and hand luggage each!
We are used to living far cheaper than Paul obviously, as we managed to spend $10k on two cars ha ha. Adelaide it IS possible to get part time work, but the hardest thing for me was finding it in my field. This WAS a requirement for my skills assessment, but that has all changed now.

It can be VERY stressful, but I tend to forget the hurt very quickly. I have had some extreamly low times here though, mostly when they changed the rules on the skills assessments, meaning I would have to work a year in my field before being able to apply for PR. I was 20 hours off, and would have had them in had they accepted applocations until the last day they advertised! So another year of possible changes which could mean I can't stay. Not to mention the HUGE hike in costs.

Anyway, I am still glad we came, and in no way want to go back.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

I've done 2 degrees here in Australia, the degrees that I never got to do when living in the UK. I've studied and had 2 kids at the same time, but only managed a bit of part-time work over the 11 year period that I've been studying. It's tough but do-able. A friend is doing her degree in nursing here in Perth and has been working part-time in aged care homes. Can be a bit tricky juggling shifts, lectures, assignments and having a life, but worth it in the end.

As I am a citizen, the fees are a lot less. I certainly wouldn't have done it if I'd had to pay international fees.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Along with many others, but to many it's the ONLY choice.

Ok, retrain in the UK and hang around for your 4 years work exp, but again like many they'd rather get their skills and work exp HERE!

Each to their own tho I spose.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

It depends on your study area which country is best to study in. For example, if archaeology is your thing, studying in the UK would be better, but marine science would be better here, unless you really like cold water conditions. There's probably information somewhere about comparing the standard of degrees in UK and Australia, another factor to consider, as well as the portability of qualifications if you decide to ping-pong.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

All true, but for many PR is their overall goal. Ok, yeah a trade too, but it's all about getting over to Australia!

For me it was 17 months of study, qualify and job done. To do the same in the UK I'd need 4 or whatever it is years work experience to gain a positive trade assessment on top of the course length.

No choice!

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

I'd already been working here and was a citizen before I started studying, so didn't have that problem. Getting into uni here seems very easy, with portfolio entry available at some unis, if you don't have school exam certificates. There's also the mature age entry test.

Even isolated Perth has 5 unis, so plenty of options for full- or part-time study, as well as distance education.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Hi Paul&Nic, was only thinking of you guys today...hoping all is good with you...

looking into a student visa for my mum at the mo (hence thinking of you)
keep her grey matter working whilst shes here waiting to get her cpv.

Good luck Bushcat. I know a cple of people studying nursing here in Adelaide, its hard work but so going to be worth it in the long run.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Hi Bushcat. As a rule of thumb, you should budget the same amount for your expenses as to what you're paying in fees. So, if you're paying 24k a year in tuition, you should budget 24k for rent and expenses.

Have you considered physiotherapy and radiography? Both are good lines to go into if you're interested in the health sciences. Not easy courses to get into but might be easier as a mature-age/international student.

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

Hi, I came over to study (PhD) in 2003 and gtaduated in early 2007. My fees were paid for me (bursary/scholarship) but I had to pay my own expenses. I managed over the three years on about $15,000 per year (maybe less actually). However, I lived in a share house, had no car, walked to campus and didn't go out or travelling much. I was pretty much studying and working (tutoring and some other related work) the whole time! That being said I really enjoyed it, got my PR and have been a citizen since March 2009 and have a brilliant job!

Good luck!

Re: Decided to become a student!
 

2 of us can live in nice part of Bris for $400 (not inc Tafe fees) a week total living cost, shared house, always walk into city, school ect, 1 car that we rarely use (our only luxury:-)), don't eat out at expencive places and stick to our budget. I admit living in a shared house is not for everyone but it does keep costs down. Finding work can be very difficult but nursing maybe different.