Jonandonna

Hi we are in the middle of applying for visas for oz . Im a 40 year old bricklayer and wondering if any other brickies have made the move recently. I have been told to head for perth or adelaide is this about right. Did anyone have problems finding work in the building trade . Any suggestions would be great
Thanks jon

pomikev

I am also a tradesman who has spent the last 25 years in the commercial building industry in Australia.

Canberra is always a good bet for that kind of work, all the government departments and head offices are there and the public service spends money on itself like water even when they are introducing cutbacks to the rest of the country. - we once layed a 100,000 dollar custom made heavy wool carpet into the lodge (the PM's residence) only to have to go back and replace it 2 weeks later because john howard didn't like the colour, taxpayers money well spent lol.

Scot_expat

If you're looking for a place filled with poms and offers an abundance of work (with no shortage for the foreseeable future - it's booming) and a lifestyle to match, check out HERE.

I met a young family from the UK yesterday, sold them a car recently, they moved the family over including the husbands brother who started a business that is going really really well apparently.

Jonandonna

Think I definitely got my work cut researching different cities. Going to downunderlive in london on Saturday so might help me make a decision on where to head . Great info about townsville though thanks . If anyone else has any more stories would love to hear them. Thanks

renth

I think the good times for brickies in Perth ended a couple of years ago but who knows, those times could come back again... My pal returned to the UK last year because he couldn't make enough money laying bricks in Perth.

RedDragon2008

Ahh the good ol days of 2006/2007 the posts of $2k per week in the hand.

RedDragon2008

Yes Townsville is booming mate and there is alot more to the area/country inland than just on the coastline. So it gets better and better.

Jonandonna

My son is 19 and just qualified as a plumber although he doesn't mind what job he does would he fit in well socially are there places for him to meet up with his age my two daughters are 10 and 8 and will hopefully find it much easier to find friends through school. I think townsville area is looking good

Grayling

Your son would need to get his own visa as he is too old to be included on yours.....that may be very difficult until he has enough experience

brits1

I know work is one of the main concerns but also your children, especially your older boy and no offence here but I would not take our boys to live in Townsville....nice for holidays but sooooooo far away from what youngsters are looking for in enjoyment...ie concerts, festivals, just choice really...I would like at W.A (growing all the time) and also Canberra even S.A (is now also growing because of new migrants) as another person pointed out your son will have to apply for his own visa as he is 18. Good luck

Jonandonna

My visa agent has led me to believe that my son could go on our visa as a dependant as the company he did his apprenticeship with went bankrupt and is now not working and he would have nowhere to live or financial support without us. Is this completely wrong ??

Dorothy

In a nutshell, if your son is not in full time education and not completely dependent on you then yes, your agent is incorrect. If he is capable of working and supporting himself then he is not a dependant.

There are of course exceptions, but from what you describe above it's unlikely.

Jonandonna

If he went on a working holiday visa could he apply for a residential visa if he was offered a long term job and we were already living there when the other visa runs out?

Dorothy

If he fulfils the criteria for a visa then yes, he can apply. Bear in mind for trades it's pretty unlikely he would be sponsored for a visa, especially PR. The most he would likely be sponsored for would be a temporary 457.

You should really speak to a MARA registered agent about his options. Not the person at the agency, but the actual person with the MARA registration. If you're still overseas the person in the office may or may not be the actual agent.

Scot_expat

What a crock of s**t

There is more to do in Townsville then ANY other regional city under 300k in Australia (of which some of the capital cities you mentioned don't have....). It has lots of music festivals that have a catchment area as far away as Darwin and Gladstone...

Groovin the Moo, which is the largest music festival outside a capital city.
The only Full Moon festival in Australia that runs monthly that attract people and headline artists from worldwide - pretty special considering the other cities that do it, kohphangan etc - they even had Bam Margera here last weekend....
Full Noise Music Festival.
The North Queensland Cowboys (NRL)
The Townsville Crocodiles (NBL)
North Queensland Fury (A-legaue soccer)
The V8 Supercars
Select games from the AFL yearly.
Jupiters Casino
The reef
The Island's off the mainland... PLENTY TO DO.

They're also looking at bringing the Big Day Out to Townsville which would be HUGE the largest music festival in Australia.

Then you have the abundance of employment opportunities. So don't tell me there is nothing to do here...