Carole & Keith

Hi, everyone, NEW to site
Quick Introduction, I'm Carole, my OH is called Keith, I have 4 children (2x 17.5 years, 15yr,12yr). FINALLY in the race, for moving to Brisbane/Gold Coast, as Nurse Assessment successfull from ANMC (8/01/07) YIPPI! Sending Visa apps of end of Jan. Hoping to move OCT/NOV 07
Can't wait to chat to everyone

The OH

Hi Guys and a WARM welcome to BE Land
[been in the 30's today]

We left Lichfield and came over in September on a 457 Visa and have now applied for PR.

Mrs OH is also a Nurse and works in Brisbane. We have 2 of our 3 daughters here aged 17 and 18, soon to start TAFE.

The time will fly, and before you realise it you'll be waving goodbye to your folks and heading to a new life down under

Keep posting and use the search tool as you will gain lots of information.

Good Luck and keep looking forward

Tess n Des

HiCarole and Keith

We are teetering on the edge of making the move - OH would go today!! I am also a nurse and wondered which bit you did 1st? Have you enlisted an agency - did you do the NMC 1st and then australian nursing council - my school of nursing no longer has my records so cant do my transcript apparently been qualifed too long!! (1990)

Any advice of what agency you used would be good = are you going over on your qualification and going for the residency visa?

We have just joined the site too!! My OH is a mobils phone engineer so hoping that he will be able to get work - we are looking to go to Gold Coast possibly Helensvale area

Carole & Keith

Hi, Mr OH,
Sorry I have not been able to reply sooner, but my Internet has been playing up for last couple of days.
Thanks for the warm welcome, it makes it that much easier to make new friends and start chatting, knowing everyone else has been or is in the same position as we are.
You mentioned Mrs OH is a nurse, curious which hospital she is at, and does she like it, as sussing out the hospitals around brisbane/Gold Coast.
I myself am looking at the Royal Brisbane Women's & Childrens Hospital, and the Women's Mater Private hospital.
I am only at the first stage and researching & downloading loads of stuff, my OH is very laid back or lazy, as keeps saying loads of time yet to do that, that's why I put his name on with me on our username, to encourage him to start looking, collating and chat to people obout the biggest thing we are ever going to do in our lives.
speak to you again soon
CAROLE

Carole & Keith

Hi, Tess & Des,
Nice to hear from you,

I myself had been thinking of the idea since last January properly, but did not want to start anything, or even discuss with my kids, until I was pretty sure I would be eligible for a PR visa. Once I had been to a local Emmigration Agency, and discussed my chances, and rang a few other up, I decided to tell the Kids, (did not want to get them all excited, then let them down)
I felt that it was to complex to try it on my own, so decided to give last years holiday a miss, and use the money for an agent, after 3-4 quotes decided to go with a company called OverSeas Emmigration (middle of the road quote)
However since I have been on this site (approx 3 months) felt I could have done it on my own, as you pick up loads of information, and what you don't know, you can always rely on an answer from someone.
But with nursing hours and looking after 4 kids and surfing the net for information on Australia, it has took the hassle out of it, as they just list all the things I need, and give me examples of anything I am unsure of eg. (cv's, references) they have been really good, based in Edinburgh.
GO MATILDA, has a very good reputation, from what I have read and heard people say on this site, and GEORGE LOMBART (I think that's his name)
I started with a full Assessment with the ANMC first, didn't know at the time there was a other way, Agency just started ball rolling with the ANMC.
Now I know there is a cheaper way, by doing the state registration first, then do a not so indepth assessment from the ANMC.
Yes, I am going on my Qualifications. Unfortunatly my OH is too OLD as he is 46,
I am apply for a PR Visa, as you get to dictate which state you want to live in and work in, you can get free education for your kids, and you are entitled to their subsidised health care, basically you get the rights of a citizen.
I myself am looking at Brisbane at the moment, mainly due to the fact that they have quite a lot of hospitals, Particuley Brisbane Royal W & C hospital, as it has a huge Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which I am specialising in at present. The Women's Mater Private hospital has a smaller one I'm told.
My two eldest children want to go to Queensland University (St Lucia Campus) so unsure obout suburbs/areas to live as of yet.
But unfortanly Brisbane itself does not have any beaches, so have not closed my mind to the Gold Coast, depends on where I end up working.
well will leave you for now, sorry for very long paragraphs, but very old computer, and kids have wiped microsoft programme of computer.
CAROLE

Mrs JFW

Hi Carole,

Welcome to BE and congratulations on your skills assessment! what a great feeling!

I am just up the road from you in Denton, I worked at the Alexandra Hospital many years ago!

Jackie x

Carole & Keith

Hi, Jackie
Small world this forum isn't it, I was chatting to someone the other day on this forum, who has moved to Perth, but previously lived in Cheadle Hulme.
I have read quite alot of your posts/blogs recently and find them very interesting and informative.
I myself worked at The Alexandra Hospital 6 years ago, as a Nursing Aide, prior to training as a Nurse, nice Hospital. Now I am at Hope Hospital, in Salford, but Just recently found out that the Unit I am on, which is a Regional Unit, will be closing down in the next 5 years, and a New Unit to be built on top of Bolton's Unit, all because there is two regional Units in the same area, (salford & St Mary's) Irrespective if Salford has the Highest premature births in the North West, and they will all have to be transferred out.
Sorry for whingeing but it makes my blood boil, anyway if everything goes well, I will not be here by then anyway.
Speak to again,
CAROLE

doub

Hey, where abouts in Lichfield were you from? We left Lichfield three years ago and are now living in Brisbane (Bayside) ...... small world!!

Mark

The OH

mark

I've sent a pm

The OH

Hi Carole, we have sent you a PM

fishnorfowl

Hi Carole,
Glad to hear you're taking the plunge to Brisbane.
We're looking to move over there from Bristol in April.
My wife is a teacher we have 2 kids,10 and 13.
I was born here but grew up there and want to go back.
Still haven't secured jobs as yet.Working on it.
Good luck to you,that's a big family to relocate.

Carole & Keith

Hi, Fishnorfowl,

Thanks for the warm welcome,

I have read you yourself are thinking of the Gold Coast, to settle down. I am really considering this part, have seen area's of it and looks georgous, great beaches, and with me have 4 elder children, would be great for them, but unsure if it is within easy commutable traveling distance (1hr approx) by public transport to enable my daughter to go to Queensland Uni (St Lucia Campus) and for me to commute to the CBD, will have to look into it.

Saw 'Wanted down Under' on BBC 1 Yesterday, they were showing Gold Coast, looked really nice and most importantly affordable.

Emmigrating with 4 elder children, must be mad, (so's everybody keeps telling me) Fortunatly they are all excited about it, especially my 17/18 year olds, thought they would put up a bit of a fight, as got good circle of friends, but all friends are dispersing anyway to go to uni, so great time to leave.

Good-Luck in the Job Hunting,

Carole

fishnorfowl

Have you thought about Bond Uni on the Gold Coast ?
I lived on the GC and had to move to Bris when I went to college.
I know GC people who commute everyday,it is probably an hour
but I travel that far here in the UK anyway.

Yes the kids settling is worrying,though my son 14 next month isn't happy with his past or current social situation and is keen to start afresh.
My daughter 11 in March was dead against it last year but has since drifted from her friends and is now keen to go.Of course they don't understand all the implications of such a big move.Then again never stay or move anywhere for friends cos the next things you know they'll move on and leave you behind.

We saw some prog on BBC,very relevant !
Pete

framac

Carol/Keith, Tess/Des and fishnorfowl, welcome to Be. For some reason I never come in here. Dony know why tonight but welcome again and fire away

Tess n Des

Hi

Thanks for the welcome - where abouts are you in Queensland? When did you get there?

You may regret saying 'fire away' as I have zillions of questions!

Tess