hollykimalan

Hi

We are planning going to the 'expo' thingy in Edinburgh tomorrow...anyone else going?
Was it any good last year?
HKA
x

sniffydog

Yes we're going. Been to the other one they organise in Sandown a few times. That one's been quite useful to general options... Now we;re definitel planning on moving hope to get a few more bits of definite info re shipping costs etc

CaptainMerton

Didn't realise there was one on in Edinburgh tomorrow. Any chance you can send me some details of location, times etc? Cheers.

sniffydog

on www.emigrate2.co.uk

CaptainMerton

Thanks. I'll head along.

sniffydog

print your voucher for a quid off...!

CaptainMerton

I don't have a printer. Rather annoying.

Shoan and Rich

Just been.
Found it really usefull, even opened a Aussie bank account and arranged folk to come round and give us a price on shipping. All good really, plus there is a wee guy there in a rainbow suit making balloon 'sculptures' free for the kids !

Had a good morning and found out quite a bit, plus I love a freebie. "Anyone wanna buy a pen ? "

Have fun all who are going.
Shona x

Devonfamily

Hi there!

We are going to the same Aussie Expo at London Olympia in April!

My Fiance' wants to know what the Exhibition was like for job opportunities and education, housing etc? Were there many stands under those Catergories? We are hopefully heading for Adelaide.

How long do you reckon a family need to spend at the Expo?

Any info you can give is greatly appreciated!

tx in advance
Maz & Dave

Shoan and Rich

Hi

There were stalls on employment, finance/pensions, Some Government departments, medical health checks, agents, loads of removals, and a great chocolate fountain ! Can't remember seeing anything on education (may have missed that)

We spent around 3 hrs, had some lunch not to mention the que for the balloon guy ! I would advise going quite early because we didn't have to wait to speak to the people we needed to. But by 12 it was getting pretty busy.

Its not all Oz stalls though. Quite a few Canada and America ones. They do hourly presentations on relocation, stuff for kids emigrating etc, we chose not to go to those simply because they charged you extra on top of your £8 entry, (£7 with voucher) .

It was a good day and we felt it was worth going. Plus it gets you all excited and re focused

Shona

Devonfamily

Hi Shona,

Tx for your reply - much appreciated!

Yep we will be going early as I can imagine it will be very busy and Dave's Career is rather Specialised in the Aerospace Industry - which doesnt match the points system. But his qualifications, skills, experience is in demand in Aussie & especially Adelaide! So we have loads of questions to ask. We are hoping to have a chat with "Honeywell" (who apparently are going to have a stand there) and British Aerospace if they are there.

tx again for your information.

good luck with your immigration process

Dazster

Hello everyone. This is my first ever post.

I was at the Edinburgh EXPO with my family today. I was full of hopes of finding out information on; mortgages (i.e. how much will I be able to borrow), arranging temporary accommodation, real estate and recruitment agents. To be honest, I was a little disappointed that there were little or no stalls covering any of these. There was one recruitment agency stall which I was able to pass my CV on to - but given I had gone along with 20 copies of my CV you can see why I felt disappointed. My wife took my 7 yr old daughter into one of the presentations called "Recruitment is fun" aimed at the under 13s to alleviate any fears they have of emigrating. I imagined they would show videos and slides but it was actually just some expats talking about what they have been doing since emigrating in the past few years (to NZ and Canada only I might add - no representation from Australia). My daughter said it was boring (the brutal honesty of youth!).

There was a lot of representation from; VISA agents, banks, money exchange, removals companies, medicals, pensions, and the balloon guy - who was by far the most popular attraction! But for me personally, these stalls weren't giving out any information I hadn't already researched on the web beforehand - plus I've already applied for my VISA, got medicals, police checks, etc (without the use of an agent I might add).

Don't get me wrong though, as one previous poster says - it does make you think how close you are to moving to the other side of the world and it gets you feeling that bit more excited about the whole thing. I wouldn't say the day was a waste of time - but 3 hours was enough for us to get around everything we needed to see.

I hope some of this helps people who are thinking of going to one of the future EXPOS. And I hope I haven't come across as a whinging POM - I'm not even English

Cheers,
Daz

Devonfamily

Hi Daz,

I'm getting concerned here! I know there are 2 different Aussie Immigration Expo's that are currently moving around the Country . Here's the link to the one that we are going to in April.

www.expo-australia.com

Judging by their website it sounds alot more organsied and informative to what you folk have been to in Edinburgh. After reading your post - I'm really hoping that it is not organised by the same people that is hosting the Aussie Expo in London Olympia.

We are going up to London from Plymouth for the weekend (over 200miles) - just to go to this Aussie Expo - I will be really disappointed if it turns out like the Edinburgh Expo!

Sounds like you are almost there though. We have not applied for anything yet as Dave (My Fiance') has just started a new job in Jan - so we are waiting a few months and will then start the process. I also need to find out about Education for my son as he has "Aspergers" aka High functioning Autism. He is a very bright lad and is mostly affected by his Speech Delay - but there doesnt seem to be much educational support for kids with Special Needs in Aussie - which is a huge priority for us (Wendy has recommended a Montessori school which I'v contacted in Aus).

Anyway Im rattling on and going off subject here - Sorry!

But if you can check the link to the London Olympia Expo and maybe tell me if this is the same one you went to in Edinburgh - that would be great!

tx a mil
Maz & Dave

Dazster

I've looked at the link you sent and it's most definitely NOT the same show - nor would it appear to be organised by the same folk. I read about this one a few weeks back and wished I could go. If I was you I would go. I know it's still a couple if hundred miles but it looks to be well worth it. Unfortunately it's just simply too far for me to go - which is a shame as I really wanted to hand out my CV out on a larger scale than today.

Good luck with the overall process though - I would recommend you start asap as it's roughly a year until you get the visa - and if you're like me you'll be wanting to leave these (un)fair isles with every day that passes and every lie that the uk govt spins. :curse:

But I digress!

I'm surprised that there isn't more special needs support in Oz schools. Have you checked out private AND govt schools in Oz? I know private=expensive but it might be worth it. I have 2 kids myself - the other is 8 months and, although he doesn't realise it yet, he'll be a centre-forward for either Scotland or the Socceroos - I'll let him pick