have had phone interviews and video interviews whilst still in the uk - now find out that they've given teh job to someone else as it was too junior for me and the role that they want me to consider is maternity cover that doesnt start for another 4 months!!!! not happy! we move in less than 3 weeks now and really worried i'm going to be without a job and stability for the family!

Welcome to the world of emigration. Those who come with a job already in place are the exception, not the rule. My OH was main applicant as an Electronics Engineer. He went 9 months without a job. It's all part of being new in the country where you have no references or Australian experience.

true but i work ina global industry - financial services! with asian experience - just found the whole HR process v slow and quite poor!

But you have no Australian experience and at the end of the day that's all employers here really care about.

I also work in financial services and have to retrain!! its (as already stated) the norm.

Add to which, even Australians sometimes have to retrain for certain jobs.