Originally Posted by Manc68 (Post 10338086)

Hello everyone.
My story is bitter sweet and I am just looking for some comment, and maybe advice, about my current situation. I have more or less accepted that Oz was not meant to be for me. I'll keep it short if I can:
I gained a resident visa in 2003 based on skills and qualifications. I visited Oz for two months to validate my visa and travelled up the east coast to look around. I then returned to the UK where I had just been promoted in my job and made the decision to gain a couple of years experience as a production Inspector and Quality Engineer in the aircraft manufacturing industry.
Unfortunately my mum was diagnosed with Lymph cancer in 2005. She was treated and went into remission. In early 2006 I asked my employer for a one year sabbatical to start at the end of 2006 and end in late 2007 when I would return to work. A great way to emigrate but still have a job open in the UK. Again, my mum was diagnosed with cancer, however, she insisted I go to Oz and persue my dream. I left her as we were both very confident she would recover. And she did.
So I spent about a year driving around Oz looking for work and decided I wanted to stay, although I was finding it very difficult to get work. It seemed that I was the only guy in Oz, despite my qualifications, who couldn't get work. Towards the end of my trip my mum took a turn for the worst, the cancer was back, so I went home to be with her. She went into remission again and things were looking up for her, however, it was now 2008 and my resident visa had expired.
I was gutted so I wrote to the Oz immigration to tell them the story and, unbelievably, sent me an RRV for another five years. Coming home was the best thing I ever did because I was able to hold my mums hand when, sadly, she died in December 2010. I was devastated for ages but returned to Oz in 2011 where, again, I had a few interviews. In some instances I had three interviews and didn't get the job at the last hurdle. Again, I returned to the UK and continued working here.
My visa expires in April 2013 and I have almost given up on trying again. I am convinced that ageism played a part in not getting a job whilst in Oz: I think it is rife. Also, I noticed that some employers couldn't grasp the concept of transferring skills from one industry to another. For example, one said to me: 'how can you be a quality control engineer in the mining industry? We don't make aeroplanes'. The Ozzies seemed somehow, dare I say, a bit backward with regards to how flexible an intelligent, well qualified and experienced person can be. These attributes are actively sought in the UK.
So, to my dilemma. Because of the trauma and sadness of my mums illness, and eventual passing away, many of the years have gone by and I am now 51 years of age. Despite being a more experienced, fit, healthy, young looking and young minded fella, I feel that leaving the UK for Oz now is a lost cause. I couldn't get a job before, so why would I now? I am on the verge of giving up on the idea.
However, before I do I would like some comment, and maybe advice, or to hear similar experiences off people who are in Oz now, or who left the UK in their late 40's early 50's. I don't mind straight talk either so don't hold back.
Is it too late???
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you.

Originally Posted by quoll (Post 10338633)

So sorry to hear of your experiences over the past few years - it sounds like you have definitely been through the mill.

But, pragmatically, I would say draw a line under an Australian future and concentrate on what you have got. Australia is ageist, no doubt about that and once you are over 50 it gets exponentially harder to find employment. Not only that, unless you are very well off (in which case you can do what the heck you like) you are going to struggle to set yourself up with a decent retirement in Australia (they reckon 20 years at the very least). If you have a decent job now you are still going to have the freedom to travel the world and have adventures all over either on holiday or in retirement. Australia is just another first world country so you aren't missing out on anything in particular.

Originally Posted by Margaret3 (Post 10340006)

Best of luck, i do feel ageism is rife here, I feel i am treated poorly at work at times due to my age (am 48) and a nurse, especially by the younger nurse, and i can honestly say i never, ever felt this in scotland, i felt i was valued by the younger nures. The only good think i can say about this that it has made me want to look younger, so taking a bit better care of myself than i used to. I also think at times that alot of the emphasis is on how you look dictates the way you are treated at work, (not in a good way!).

It has crossed my mind at times to lie about my age if i apply for other jobs. (but i know i would spill the beans at some point, being old i will never be able to remember the lie, lol)

Originally Posted by Margaret3 (Post 10340200)

:lol: don't think I'll go that far., but i can understand why people do it.

Originally Posted by Manc68 (Post 10338086)

Hello everyone.
My story is bitter sweet and I am just looking for some comment, and maybe advice, about my current situation. I have more or less accepted that Oz was not meant to be for me. I'll keep it short if I can:
I gained a resident visa in 2003 based on skills and qualifications. I visited Oz for two months to validate my visa and travelled up the east coast to look around. I then returned to the UK where I had just been promoted in my job and made the decision to gain a couple of years experience as a production Inspector and Quality Engineer in the aircraft manufacturing industry.
Unfortunately my mum was diagnosed with Lymph cancer in 2005. She was treated and went into remission. In early 2006 I asked my employer for a one year sabbatical to start at the end of 2006 and end in late 2007 when I would return to work. A great way to emigrate but still have a job open in the UK. Again, my mum was diagnosed with cancer, however, she insisted I go to Oz and persue my dream. I left her as we were both very confident she would recover. And she did.
So I spent about a year driving around Oz looking for work and decided I wanted to stay, although I was finding it very difficult to get work. It seemed that I was the only guy in Oz, despite my qualifications, who couldn't get work. Towards the end of my trip my mum took a turn for the worst, the cancer was back, so I went home to be with her. She went into remission again and things were looking up for her, however, it was now 2008 and my resident visa had expired.
I was gutted so I wrote to the Oz immigration to tell them the story and, unbelievably, sent me an RRV for another five years. Coming home was the best thing I ever did because I was able to hold my mums hand when, sadly, she died in December 2010. I was devastated for ages but returned to Oz in 2011 where, again, I had a few interviews. In some instances I had three interviews and didn't get the job at the last hurdle. Again, I returned to the UK and continued working here.
My visa expires in April 2013 and I have almost given up on trying again. I am convinced that ageism played a part in not getting a job whilst in Oz: I think it is rife. Also, I noticed that some employers couldn't grasp the concept of transferring skills from one industry to another. For example, one said to me: 'how can you be a quality control engineer in the mining industry? We don't make aeroplanes'. The Ozzies seemed somehow, dare I say, a bit backward with regards to how flexible an intelligent, well qualified and experienced person can be. These attributes are actively sought in the UK.
So, to my dilemma. Because of the trauma and sadness of my mums illness, and eventual passing away, many of the years have gone by and I am now 51 years of age. Despite being a more experienced, fit, healthy, young looking and young minded fella, I feel that leaving the UK for Oz now is a lost cause. I couldn't get a job before, so why would I now? I am on the verge of giving up on the idea.
However, before I do I would like some comment, and maybe advice, or to hear similar experiences off people who are in Oz now, or who left the UK in their late 40's early 50's. I don't mind straight talk either so don't hold back.
Is it too late???
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you.

Originally Posted by Margaret3 (Post 10340010)

It has amazed me how many people around 50-55 are retired here (lucky barstewards!)

Originally Posted by bitzenpces (Post 10340170)

This was being discussed on the radio yesterday, and one women said that she was considering spending thousands on various cosmetic treatments to look younger, to improve her chances of promotion. She said that she was seeing lots of younger women, wearing short skirts and low-cut tops, get promotion over her, even when she had the experience and qualifications.

The fed government is telling us we have to work longer before we can retire, but this is not flowing through to the workplace.

Originally Posted by quoll (Post 10340912)

Retired because they can get jobs any more LOL!

Originally Posted by heidilonglegs (Post 10341288)

Not necessarily! Many people have worked hard , invested well and reaped the rewards!

Originally Posted by quoll (Post 10341494)

You didn't notice the LOL

As a retired ex hard worker at 57 I do know that! However many have still found that they can't get jobs even if they wanted them and many poor sods have been pushed to the line as their super - which should have been ample for retirement- has been slashed and burned over the past few years. Ageism is alive and thriving in Australia!

Originally Posted by joeyb (Post 10338850)

To OP

So sorry to hear about your Mum. It must have been very difficult for you.

My situation was a little similar before we came to Oz in January this year.

We got our PR visas in 2007 and was planning to move over in 2008. I was just about to book our flights when we found out the devastating news that my Mum had Ovarian Cancer. She died 5 weeks after diagnosis.
We then decided that we could not up and leave my Dad (they had been married 50 years) as it would have felt like a further bereavement for him.
So we stayed in the UK, with time slowly ticking away towards our visa expiring.
But as we knew that was getting closer, we adopted a now or never attitude and arrived in Oz two weeks before our visa expired! Thank god we didn't have any flight delays!

I am 42 and my husband is 45. We have two children aged 13 and 11. We don't have pots of money or outstanding careers but we are very happy here (although my daughter does have wobbles!). It was hard to start with but We both found jobs within 6 months or so and we are so glad we made the leap.

With regards to the job front, as many will tell you, its more who you know than what you know!
Go for it, or you will always be wondering.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Cheers

Jo