single mom needs help!!
 

im a single mom who has just started the process of moving out to oz, and its scary! im doin the work myself as cant afford an agent, ive got 2 good friends who are helping me with this, who are not far from going themselves but would be very grateful of any other advice from anyone who is or has been in my position x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Just to say stick with the forum and ask as many questions as you want (use the immigration forum for visa queries) and you'll get loads of support. There are other single moms who have done/are doing this and I'm sure they'll come along at some point.

What visa are you applying for and where are you going?

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Have you tried the Immigration Forum? Maybe able to get suggestions from George Lombard, Alan Collett (both very reputable) if you could :) give them some idea of your situation?

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

adelaide hopefully, thats wher my friends are moving to so at least i know someone, goin for a permanent visa saves all the hassle of applyin again tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

thanks ill try ther tomoro tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Tracie

We're going to Adelaide too!!! Have you come across this site yet http://s2.invisionfree.com/Adelaideb...ex.php?act=idx - a great forum for all things about Adelaide. I meant which visa subclass (eg 136, 139 etc) are you applying for? Where in the application process are you? How many kids do you have and what age. We've got 2 girls 8 and 6 tomorrow!!!

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

im at the very beginning, im a nurse so im just sorting out my skills assessment out and registerin with the anmc. sorry to sound thick but what do you mean by visa subclass??? ive a little lad who's 3 in october so its abit scary!!! when do you go? tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

We're hoping to get our visa in November and will go straight away if we've sold the house. Ours is a family sponsored visa.

Most of the visas have a number or title (subclass) so you might be a 136 (skilled independent) or an STNI (state nominated). If you are not sure which is best you do need to post in the immigration forum so that one of the agents can help.

Try the link I posted too for specific Adelaide support and you're welcome to PM me any time just for a chat. This whole thing is stressfull so must be even more so when you're on your own.

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Welcome to the forum Tracie, it's fab on here you'll get all the answers you need :)

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Oh BTW your lad will have a great life over there. One of the reasons we're going is for the kids.
Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

i think that it is skilled independent, im going to try the immigration forum tomoro and get afew more answers to many questions ha ha!! thanks for your help, will def kept in touch, ill also have a look at that link you gave me tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

thank you!

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

i know! and he's at the age wher he doesnt really know, the one thing im more worried about is support when im out ther, like here ive got friends an family but ill be near enough on my own ther! oh what joy! tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Have your fist bit of karma Tracie

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Tracie

You really need the link I posted. I love both forums but Adbrits is great for before you go and when you are there. WE've already made friends with other people going to Adelaide through that forum and we'll keep in touch when we're there. You've already got me for a start (who cares if you're a single mum and I'm not). Where are you in the UK?

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

oh bless ya! im going to have a look at it now. i live in telford, shropshire work at the local a&e dept!!!! what about you? how long has the process been for you? are the girls looking forward to it? tracie xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

We started the process in January and can't wait to go. The girls are dead excited about it - such a great age to go. We're in Nottingham but you should look out for any adbrits meetups near to you. In fact I think there is one coming up in Dudley (fairly near you I think) soon - all at kid friendly places. BTW my user name on adbrits is weasy.

Lou
xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi Trace,

Going well then i see!!!! :)

Told you it would be a good place here at BE!!!!

xRachx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

just had a quick look on that site, it looks beautiful ther! hav you been to adelaide before? my email adress is address removed if you need us. hope you dont mind but im going to hav to go, hope to speak yo you soon tracie xx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

hello you! havin a good chat, hav you been on that website adelaidebrits, very good! x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Ooh just thought I'd better forewarn you - if you post your email address on here there's pretty good chance you'll get hammered with spam - best to send it in a private message.

Unless you like spam :D

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Bit yellow for my liking - -but loads of good info.

Enjoy lady

xRachx

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi Tracie

Youre not alone, Im a single mum (and a nurse) going it alone to Melbourne but if you need any advice dont be afraid to ask! There are a few brave singleton mums on here so look out for the threads!

Diane

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi Tracy

Been there done it and got the sunshine!

I moved to Australia in December with my daughter under RSMS visa to Adelaide. We love it here and find that people have been unbelievably helpful and supportive. We were given furniture and lots of advice on where to get things cheap, not least finding that charity shops here are a godsend and referred to as Op-shops. Got our settees, desks, and single bed from Op-shops. Also found two websites called "freecycle adelaide" and "free and cheap adelaide". You may need to do a google search for the first one, but the second one is below. If you register you get sent all the things that are being given away or sold cheap. Got a solid double bed for 39 dollars and a lovely dining table for 20.

Be sure to visit the adelaide brits website.

Some links

FreeThings_and_CheapThings_in_Adelai...roups .com.au

http://s2.invisionfree.com/Adelaidebrits


I did not have an agent either, but I knew the boss I was coming to work for in Australia.

Beware of the costs involved if you do not have permanent residency, you have to pay for School and have private health insurance.

I found some of the professionals on this site wonderful and very honest.

I don't know your details as yet, but if there's one bit of advice I would give is that we are so happy here and have made more friends than we did when we moved in the UK.

All the best

Claire.

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi

I too am a SP. I am sure we all have the same concerns/worries, whatever our circumstances and occupations. I am an oz citize as is my son, however I have to get a court order to leave. Saw the solicitor today and the cost is out of this world, but she is apparently the best one in my city for child law related issues. I came out of my appointment nearly in tears at the thought of all the work and court action involved and the cost...

Just put your questions on here and you will find the SP'S will come out of the woodwork, and offer their thoughts.

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

mmm can i have it with chips please :rolleyes:

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

hiya! the only thing that im concerned about is child care as my sons 3, he wont be at school yet and if im workin shifts who will have him! any advice or ideas would be grateful! tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Most, if not all hospitals, have excellent creche facilities on site AND some hospitals havent forgotten the 9 to 5 shift pattern so you could find a child minder. Some of the hospital websites explain this family friendly policy in their recruitment information.

Good luck

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Killamarsh,

Had problems myself getting my daughter out because I couldn't find the father. Depending when your child was born and whether you married the father has implications on the legal situation in the UK, but DIMIA can still insist on getting their permission or a court order. In the end I tracked him down through www.192.com and the solicitor contacted him. Don't know the details of your case, but it doesn't cost a huge amount to get a court hearing. Could you put together a good case yourself? As a single Mum I have found life much more manageable in Oz, although costs can depend on where in Oz you end up.

pm me if there is anything you feel that may be useful from the above.

Claire

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi Claire,
Are you already in Oz. If so whereabouts and how have you found life much more manageable in Oz - expand please? We are all dying for some re-assurance???

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

I'm in Adelaide, where property prices are alot cheaper than many other places in Oz. Compared to paying 575 pounds a month in rent for a 3 bedroom semi in Ipswich, 100 pounds a month in council tax and 40 pounds a month in water rates, here it costs me $250 a week for a three bedroomed bungalow in its own grounds with a garage and no council tax or water rates. My wages are only slightly less than what I was earning in the UK.

Couple that to just how wonderful people are at offering support and help and you have a society that makes you happy and settled.

Will leave more details later as off for an appointment.

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

hiya claire, im just in the process of moving to adelaide but am finding it very scary about moving on my own with my son. any advice or any thing that i should know?? what made you decide to go, think i just need reassurance that im doin the right thing for us. tracie x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

hi

i am a relative newbie in adelaide (november last year) and have a nearly 5 month old little chap. i have a partner but i feel like a single parent most of the time cos of his job and his shifts and as we have no family here. if you need help let me know and i will see what i can do! im on adelaide brits too, same name as here. whereabouts in adelaide are the other mums reading here??

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Tracie

Have sent you a pm, as the reply was rather longer than expected!!

Claire.

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Okay, can't send a personal message as you can on Adelaide Brits, sorry..

Heres the long reply (sorry all)

Hi Tracie

I love Adelaide and for us it has been wonderful. It gets hard at times, but I am told I'm a very strong and independant person, so maybe I find it easier than many people would do to make this type of move. To me the hardest thing is leaving two grown up children and grandson in England, but I was sinking financially and morally in England and felt that things could only get better.. and they did... beyond my dreams.

My circumstances were favourable as I had a job to go to so had instant income and people to meet on arrival. Additionally I was given a financial head-start by my father who helped me to pay off all my debts in the UK before I left and a few thousand pounds to start me off. I think without these things it would have been alot harder. I feel I fit in well here as I am very laid back and easy going and like a laugh.

How old is your son? I notice your name is Haydn 2 Tracie, are you a music fan?? If so Adelaide is outstanding for your child. My daughter is on the Special Music Program at Brighton School and gets to do 10 hours a week in curriculum time on music and around 5 hours a week outside hours! They get fantastic opportunities for first rate teaching, travel and performance we dream of in UK schools. The music schools were the other factor behind our move to Adelaide, i had my daughter's place secured at Brighton before we left the UK. And don't be fooled into thinking the other subjects get neglected, manty of the music students go onto med or law school or to teach.

The health service leaves the UK standing somewhere in a Tesco's queue. You can see a GP free of charge at any time from 7 am until 10 pm Monday to Saturday and 11 to 7 on Sunday without an appointment! GPs think a 3-week wait to see a specialist is an embarassment and spent 10 minutes apologising when my daughter had to wait 4 weeks to see a consultant, when I told them the same wait was 8 months in the UK so they were dumbstruck.

I pay $250 a week for my house (nice 3-bedroomed quite basic) phone is $60 a month, no council tax or water rates, electricity and gas over the entire summer three months cost me around $120 in total!! Dreading the winter bill though as we can't set up biduget accounts like we could in the UK. For me it is cheaper here for most things (except bread and bananas!), although food is a similar price overall. I fitted out my completely empty house for $3000 including appliances using secondhand shops and cheap stores. Transport is a must, I paid $2400 for my large wagon and it has been wonderful.

The teaching is less project-based at this age and more looking at a blackboard which I think my daughter has found a hard transition. However, she has made friends more easily here than the UK and would probably kill me if I said we were going back. The wonders of swimming with you child at sunset over pastel skies, seeing the dolphins in the water as you dry off and then sitting in the warm dark evening with a portion of chips is an experience that has been priceless.

Make sure you get in touch with Adelaide Brits as well, as they organise quite a few social functions. I have made a very good friend through Adelaide Brits, although I have also made friends with Aussies.

I obviously realise that not everyone has the same experiences and that for some people who come without jobs or contacts it can be alot harder. I love seeing the kids going to School with their bucket hats, surfing shorts and teeshirts as opposed to ties and shirts, and I really appreciate the opportunities in the better Schools.

Only you can decide what your heart feels is right, and I wish you all the best with the move. By all means pm me if you need any other advice.

Claire

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Hi

I havent been on for a while but was lookin thru and had to reply to your post.I was in exactly your position. I came over 6 months ago, single parent with an 8 yr old daughter and, like you, i was very apprehensive about my decision.

It is such a huge upheaval ESPECIALLY when you are coping by yourself and have a small child to support. This site will be an absolute godsend to you....believe me. I also went skilled independant & did the whole process by myself . i also had to get it done quickly before i turned 35 and did not have enough points!! So i had to do the lot in 4 months. It was stressful i can tell you :scared:

I can only speak from personal experience but i can honestly say that most of my fears were pretty unfounded. I have not really been particularly homesick(although at home i was extremely close to my mum and best friend seeing them at least once a week sometimes up to 3 times!) Strangely enough i am probably less lonely here than i was at home with my friends around me, as they were all very busy with their lives, partners, kids etc and organising nights out seemed to take months
Anyway...best decision i ever made. We have a much better lifestyle out here- not stuck indoors for 6 months of the year and if money is tight there is no better place to be than in the sun on the coast :D

I do not regret it for a moment and it has inspired me in so many ways....just to realise that i am the sort of person that can do all that by myself has made me believe in myself so much more- i feel quite invincible :p and what a great role model for our children. Sorry if im blabbin on but i have the utmost admiration for anyone in that position so bite the bullet and go for it girl. As everyone kept tellin me....you can always come back(although i doubt very much if you will ;) )

If you want any advice at all please feel free to message me...and if not keep me posted on your journey. It will be a f***ing rollercoaster believe me but im pretty sure youll be glad you got on.

Take care and the best of luck to ya :)

Rachel x

Re: single mom needs help!!
 

Try the nursing forum for anything related to nursing questions or queries.