Hi,

first post so please be kind! My husband and I are looking to emmigrate to Australia, and as a social worker I was wondering if there tend to be overseas recruitment offering relocation packages? I know just relocating in the UK can get packages worth around £6000, so will anywhere pay me to move to Australia? Also, does anyone have any knowledge around how different social work is in Australia to the UK?.

Thanks.

Do you know if you can get a visa on your skills? Even with sponsorship you need to have the relevant skills and experience. Whether your social work qualifications would be wanted by the Australian system is a moot point, most of the Australian professions and employers like Australian skills and qualifications. Should you get a visa you are likely to still need new qualifications when you get here.

I suggest you start off doing the visa wizard on the DIAC site to see if you are able to fulfil the criteria before anything thing else. Also you may want to check out and ask Immigration questions on the Immi Forum here, so your technical questions don't get lost in the general life stuff.

Good luck.

I've done a points assessment and I should have enough points to go out there under the skilled migration - independent category. I've had a look on the AASW website and a couple of other websites and it looks as though my Degree in Social work and my experience should be enough to register with them. I wasn't sure about posting this in the immigration forum as it's more jod related than immigration related. Maybe a Job sub-forum would be helpful?

Thanks for your reply.

There are lots of job sub forums. The Nursing one would probably be the nearest to suit you. Impossible to have a sub forum for every job.

This is for ACT, I cant aply as I'm now expecting. These are child protection vacancies though, no adult or less stressful posts. They pay relocation if you get a post, but you have to pay it out and claim it back and depending the size of your family and if you are shipping etc it may not cover all your costs. www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs/Recruitment/vacancies

FAQ including relocation

Noting your user name , research ACT if you're thinking of applying it aint all sunshine they can get frost in winter and some say boring, heard it likened to the truman show lol but then others think it's ok but would need some research or a visit on your part.

Good Lord, is the ACT doing international C & P recruitment again? They brought in a boatload of SWs last year - I am surprised they are doing it again unless the senior executives just fancy a junket (or the ones they recruited have already flown the coop, like the last lot did). Or that ad is out of date (as it mentioned 2008 as the cut off, that is most likely) Current DHCS vacancies here http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/recruitment

They kept the old one up all year, but they were recruiting again. I didnt check it today but just a few weeks ago the ad was new and were asking for aplicants and are over in the UK in March, April & May to interview.
Who knows maybe everyone they sponsered have moved on already.

Wouldnt be surprised - I must ask around!

Thanks for the ACT link, it was really detailed and informative. They'd even refund quarantine for my cat! Probably not considering that part of the country, but until things are set in stone you never know! and it's good to get an idea of what is on offer.

Can anyone offer advice on how Australian social work (childrens) differs from UK social work? Some things I've read seem pretty similar, but is there the same level of paperwork and bureacracy there is over here?

I know that they have been recruiting in Victoria and several have or are coming over to work in the Gippsland region.

If you are interested in Victoria this site may assist you.

http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au.../social-worker

Thanks Petals, does anyone have any information for Queensland? I've had a look on their website which says they're always recruiting for 'child safety officers', but haven't found anything about recruiting overseas workers.

Also, info on WA would be useful. I see Social Worker is on their 'regional' skills in demand list, does anyone know what regions are likely to be short of social workers? I'm attending the Down Under Live exhibition on Saturday where there will hopefully be some reps from WA.

Hi

I am a Social Worker in Queensland. I currently work for Disability Services but have a friend in Child Safety who could give you info. I would suggest that you look on the Queensland Health website "workforus" section. They are always doing a massive UK recruitment campaign and will offer $10000 relocation plus contribution towards accommodation when you get here plus a few other things. You would put in an "expression of interest" which could be in child and youth mental health. The department of communities run child safety services and I don't know if they are doing an oversees recruitment campaign. PM me for more info as I came over a year ago from Glasgow, recruited by Queensland health first of all then Disability Services (it's a long story)!

Location wise, Queensland is great although can be hot, as is now! We are living on the Sunshine Coast which is really great for families (well everyone really).