We want to Emigrate to Oz. We went on holiday to Melbourne for a month and got back last week, we also visited the Gold Coast. Me my partner and children loved it over there however don't know whether Melbourne is the best place to start, we are wondering what Adelaide and Perth are like. We will be coming over on my partners skills (Refrigheration Engineer) so have to make sure there is work for him.

Hi and congratulations on your decision to emigrate - I can'tr eally help with your question as we haven't been on our reccie yet (just thought I'd say hi) - we go in March and are visiting Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast. What was the Gold Coast like?

hi and welcome,

I have a friend who has applied as a fridge engineer, he need's to make sure he can carry out fault finding and repairs as well as install as split bashers struggle/ fail the assessment process more often than service engineers (again anecdotal), Vetassess is the assessing body and he'll need to submit a paper based assessment and if he get's through than he will be invited to attend a practical assessment. My freind tell's me that this was nerve racking but not actually too bad and he was surprised at the lack of skill of some of the other applicants being tested, if he knows what he is doing he will be fine but the assessors are fridge engineers themselves so it is a decent assessment of skill, once this sis doen you can apply for a visa - sorry if you know all this already.

Despite the fact that fridge engineers (refrigeration mechanics) are no longer on the Critical Skill List and also not on some of the State Sponsorship trade lists I am assured they are in huge demand with long lead times for repairs to A/C systems, lot's of domestic dwelling have A/C in OZ (not surprisingly) as well as the usual commercial and industrial gear so it stands to reason he should be able to get work of some description pretty much anywhere.

It is a long pathway to a visa particularly with the neverending changes of the policy makers but hopefully it will be worth it, he will probably not get an employer to sponsor him as his is a licenced trade and as such he will be of limited use to an employer until he has gained a licence - I am screwed by this too and have to wait in line for a visa by a slower application method.

Goodluck!

guys go to any major city, I would avoid Sydney like the plague as its inlive- abley expensive. (i'm there atm and finding the living prices unbearable)

Regards
B

oh yeah check out my bloggo *************

Many people would disagree. Could you put your blog addy in your signature then if people want to read it they can without you 'flogging' it in posts.

yeah, tried but i could not finsd the sig part.. :/

Click on My Profile - Then in the left menu bar there's an Edit Signature link.

Adelaide is lovely, it's a lot smaller than the other cities but it has a lot to offer. I am from there and can't wait to get back. I have never been to Perth but I have heard it is very nice. I also love Melbourne although the weather there isn't as warm as Adelaide and they also don't have the beachside lifestyle that Adelaide has to offer. I think you would also find the cost of living quite a bit cheaper in Adelaide as well as house prices.

I hope he can read a map. We had someone bashing down the door to instal A/C at sparrows this morning... the job was at 13B, we are No 13.

errr?????

A vast number of Melbourne suburbs are right on the beach, including the one I live in. The beaches are stunning.

Buzzy

Adelaide's beaches are more extensive, cheaper to buy near and also a lot prettier and more empty.

The best beaches and the emptiest beaches are not in Melbourne, adelaide or any city but in country OZ. Alot of people who live in cities even though they have beaches nearby go on holdiays to the country areas becasue they are much nicer and less crowded beaches,

You may well be right, I have never been to Adelaide yet, however to make the intimation that Melbourne doesn't have a beachside lifestyle is misleading. Thousands of Melburnians live within walking distance of beautiful beaches.

Buzzy

You also need to do some research into the licensing requirements as this is an area where many come to grief!

I would also say to take your time before going ahead with what is a very expensive process. You had a great holiday but the reality of living here can be very different. Do plenty of research including much thought about how you might feel leaving family & friends.

Research, research, research!
Good luck

Oh & visit the immigration website to check if you qualify for a visa in the first instance!
www.immi.gov.au

Sorry can't help work/visa wise but I have lived in South Australia for a long long time(I live in the UK now).I grew up in Adelaide(suburbs)and later moved to a country area when I got married.Adelaide is a good place to live,not exciting as such but if you like the laid back big country type town feel then thats the place to be!Its easy to get around,and like any other city has good and bad area's.The city itself is small,so easy on foot to get from A to B.The beaches are nice,and if you go further afield to places like Port Lincoln(and surrounding area's)the beaches are even better.