Hi all

we are looking to go to Oz in the next 2 years. My wife is a Student nurse and qualifies at the end of the year. I am a Firefighter.

I am really concerned about the move.My nature is that I risk assess things! I dont want to end up on a till at Coles or Woolworths and want a worthwhile career. (no offence to anyone who works in|Coles or Woolies!) I quite fancy getting into the Fire service over there or the police or even the Correction service as I used to due this before I joined the Fire service.My plan B is that I am currently studying at college, AAT accounting.

A few questions:

Anyone gone over there and done something completely different with less money but it is worth it?

Any got into the police, fire or correction service in Oz and got any tips? How long did it take?

Have some states got more employment prospects than other

Anyone went to college as a "mature" student and retrained into a another career?

Anyone gone over there with AAT qualifications and how easy was it to get a job? Did you have to do anything to get the qualifications recognised?

Many thanks for your help in advance!

JOHN

Don't know about the others but getting into the paid fire brigade is hard. My hubby was a firefighter for 20 years in the UK and vaguely considered transferring and it just wasn't going to happen. In QLD they don't appear to like experience from other countries or other states. They prefer new 18+ recruits over older experienced guys simply because they think they'll have to retrain them and the guys won't be open to new ways.

This situation could have changed over the past few years but it's definitely what we found when we looked into it.

A guy who's wife occasionally posts on here went from being in photographic editing is now a police officer here in QLD and is loving it. Sounds like it's easier to get into. If you wanted to keep your hand in though, you could join the Rural guys - volunteer brigade, they are always after people but it depends on where you settle.

I've seen a couple of threads over the years regarding correctional work. Have a search, I know they're out there.

Qld hasn't changed, they still go for youth over experience.....

Do you speak from experience there Polly

Em.............thats what I thought might happen. I have done 13 years and am 40. What is you hubby doing now?

He's an air con engineer now. When we first moved out he was a car mechanic (sorry, Technician ). After nearly two years he fancied a change so he did

Hi, I'm also a fireman in the UK (been in the job for 12 years). I'm going over to Oz on a Student Visa in 2 weeks, as transferring to the fire brigade over there was just a none starter.

What did he have do training wise to do that?

Where abouts Gaz? What are you going to do over there? 20 questions I know but how old are you? I am seriously worried about it. A bloke from another station got his 20 year medal last week and has just resigned! Gone to work with his brother in Suspended ceilings.I have a 15 year pension at the mo (2 yrs from prison service to count as well) and I will not see any of that till I am 60 when we go. Mindo yuo the way the pensions are going I think anyone is going to be lucky to get anything!

I'm from Manchester. I'm going over on a Student Visa doing Marine Craft Constriction. OH is a Licensed Conveyancer, but none of the jobs are 60 points or MODL.

I'm 34, decided to leave the job 2 years ago anyway, as you probably know, it's a pile of shite now. I left in Jan on 2 years sabattical. Like you said, I've frozen my pension until I'm 60. Totally agree with you about the pensions changing soon. I think anyone staying in the job for that reason is naive to think it wont.

I know they recruit about 4 times or so a year for corrections, think its less for fire brigade.

Wishing you good luck, Its quite difficult to get into the fire brigade in OZ! corrections is a 3 hr test which includes 2 hrs psycological tests (multipal choice, and numeracy & literacy) once you`ve passed that- its 2 hr medical, then interview! cant give advice on fire brigade, just no an ex officer of the UK who didnt pass for fire Brigade in OZ!

bluekipper

How did you push for a 2 year sabbatical? My brigade is only offering me 1 year?

I was personally informed not to employ a 39 year old female, (1) because she was too old and (2) because her kids were still reliant on their mum so she would be unreliable

When I asked why their father wouldn't be in the same boat, was informed "he's a bloke, it's mums job to look after the kids"

She was the best qualified and didn't get the job. Too old and too female apparently

With my brigade, I could take anything between 1 and 5 years.

To be honest with you though, it they'd said no, I would have told them to shove it anyway.

The plan is to try and get PR after the 2 years, so the job back here is just a safety net.

He'd done a City and Guilds in Electrical Engineering when he left school and luckily the college accepted that as his proof of having a trade. He did a six week evening intensive course with exam and got his Split System licence. If you don't have an acceptable trade you have to do an apprenticeship over a couple of years at least I think.