hi all,

my wife and i are coming to perth on a Employer Sponsored (e457) visa,
my wife as secured a job (nurse) and we are processing the visa's now,
can i drive on a british licence for only 3 month's, do i have to take a driving test??? with this visa?
is a long term holiday apartments cheaper to rent that the private rental market?? which look's very pricey!!! (anyone out there with a rental property?? in the subiaco area?) or close by??
i am a shopfitting electrician, there looks to be loads of jobs on
http://www.seek.com.au/ , how is the trade work going out there??
i'm a bit of a fitness freak, is there any running/Triathlon club's in the perth city area???
love to ear from anyone,
warren thomas
halifax, west yorkshire, england.

Search is your friend. Click on the peach coloured bar at the top of the page and search for "Perth". You will find literally thousands of threads filled with information on here from those of us who live here and those who used to.

Think you can drive on your UK lisence for so long - but very easy to get WA one in perth - You need proof of address and your visa & your UK lisence. You can pay for either a 1 or 5 year one and you need to do an eyesight test, get your photo taken and thats it - no driving test. Its well worth getting one as they're great for ID, can use them for the bank, posting parcels etc and saves you taking other docs with you. Plenty of sporty stuff in perth - one of the mums at school is in a triathalon club don't know where at but schools in ocean reef so would be up north somewhere I would guess - Will find out for you

What area is it and can you tell me a wee bit about it? Won't be there until late july but we will need a rental. How much per week do you want/bond etc?

bugger. just saw your link! off to have a look!

alas we need SOR.

Secret Harbour Fitness- SOR- just google it

Triathlon and cycling are big here and there are plenty of clubs.I am in the Northern Suburbs running group who are very friendly and an arm of the West Australain Marathon Club, don't be put off as most members are hobby runners and don't run marathons.

Running and races are not as big here even if you allow for the population ratio as it gets bloody hot obviously, expect your times to suffer

As someone else has said, you convert your UK licence to a WA one. One quick eye test, pay over some money and you will have your licence.

A holiday apartment will ALWAYS be more expensive to rent per week than a long term private rental I would have thought. Subaico is expensive for rentals also as it's an upmarket area.

As for your trade, are you licensed to work in Australia ? No offence but have you researched this ? If not your chances of working in the electrical sphere are pretty well zero until you have all the appropriate licenses.

You do not need to transfer your licence to an Australian one, AT ALL, while on a e457!
You will be cheaper renting a house, rather than a holiday apartment.
There are many jobs for electricians, BUT, you need to have your skills assessed and given a 'permit' type thing if you actually want to get any work. My friend's husband is having a hellish time trying to get the 'permit' and get a job - to be perfectly honest, many companies see the 457 visa and are no longer interested.

Licence, is the word, not permit!! Sorry!

cheers everyone,

think i've got it all sorted now, been using search..

i'm well on my way with ARTC & licencing thro peer route, but as you say.. many companies see the 457 visa and are no longer interested.

Subaico is expensive yes, so i'm looking into surrounding suburbs on a train route.

Funky Monkey- i'll kiss goodbye sub 40 10k out there then. i love cycling too!

thank again
warren.