jajnlis

Just received a couple of mails from the skills expo people saying that the (expected) floorplan and other info was attached.......but there are no attachments on either email.........anyone got them ???

scrubbedexpat055

Same here, two emails no attachments

Actually there is a 1k attachment

Debs64

I have attachment but it is empty. ???

martinw01908

Thanks ValeSpark, that would be very useful. I am going Sunday afternoon.

I also have an email with an empty attachment!!

martinw01908

I'm an engineer. But day to day at work I usually wear jeans & t-shirt! Maybe a suit is overkill. But I'm going with my friend who is a teacher and she is wearing a suit for hers.

What to do.. I have visions of a room full of smart casuals and me the only suit in there! (apart from my friend)

martinw01908

Still no email with an attachment. I hoped they would have realised by now!

martinw01908

Well has anyone who went today online? How did it go?

Debs64

Hi there

I attended today, getting in was well organised I thought and more interesting than Sandown last week (although that's not difficult). Still quite crowded and a fair bit of queuing to talk to people.

There were several state government representatives, 7 'health' and 13 'engineering, mining and construction' companies, 3 'trades', DIMI reps and the TRA. There was also a DIMI skill matching database booth which had the longest queue. I got the floor plan etc, that I hadn't received by e-mail, when I checked in so that was fine.

I got some useful information and I'm glad I went, but really it has no impact on our visa application. We made a day-out of it and hubby and the kids did the British Museum while I was in the Expo. We drove in today (because the train fare was so expensive) and managed to park right by Australia House, although obviously paid for the privilege (£4 per hour), I think parking is free on Sundays - but do check, they are keen clampers.

hope that's of some use
best wishes
Debs

martinw01908

Thanks Debs. How were the majority dressed?

Debs64

It really varied although generally smart I guess, mostly trousers & shirts, some fully suited and booted, others in jeans.

martinw01908

OK, I think I might wear the suit then. I was wondering about the skills matching database booth. I wonder if this is anything that can't be done online at home?

martinw01908

For me the expo was useful but not much more help than I can find online. Due to the amount of people they have to see, they can't sit down with them and go into much detail.

I was hoping to get some interest from TRA in advising me of my chances of being successfully assessed. On what factors do they assess you? ie is it worth spending $300?

Unfortunately the only advice was to send the forms and the $300 and then they will look at it!! Seeing as my occupation doesn't totally precisely fit into any of their catagories its hard to see which one to ask to be assessed for. This was one issue I was hoping I could resolve by speaking to TRA at the event.

Its just a bit of a gamble to send off $300 with no clue as to your chances. Might as well play the lottery!

TheRutters

The most diappointing thing from my point of view was to get the 'Yes we're interested' and then be directed to their website to leave my details on there.

I could have done that without spending a morning in town