Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 9341693)

Not necessarily if it's anything like the LA suburbs.

Originally Posted by scottishcelts (Post 9341704)

Exactly. Had my husband caved in to my constant pining for home in my first hellish year, we would certainly have been straight on that plane to square 1. I'm actually glad he didn't because we basically had nothing left to go home to. I just wish we had researched Canada a bit more, because we did consider it, but ended up here. :blink::D

I still maintain that the kids are better off here for now, finishing their school years. :)

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts (Post 9341394)

You make it sound like you are in the middle of the desert, it is in a well populated area, there must beother human beings around. :)

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus (Post 9341378)

Fancy a challenge? Take a TAFE course in aged or disability care. You will almost certainly be able to find part time work that will fit in around your kids schooling.
Tough work for generally rubbish pay but can be hugely rewarding in other ways. My wife did exactly that.

Originally Posted by the troubadour (Post 9340888)

Quite a lot of folk appear to experience a similar experience sadly. Takes me back some years when a young fellow in Australia and recalling my mother's depiration at times to what i later learned was accute lonliness.
It was what took us to England.
Still today many feel the isolation and i know it can be difficult to connect,something i feel more here than other places i've lived or is it just a greater awareness of the potential of it being so with the experience of those early years?
Really do hope it improves for you and where you are now is surely needs not for the long haul?

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer (Post 9341725)

I've got another year to stick it out in Oz to get PR so we come away with something tangible. I've had a great time sailing around the country and long driving outback holidays but it's not for me - at least not now. I'm in Sri Lanka now (trying to sell my visa!) and add that to the trip to Borneo last week I now realise that I need somewhere with more life, vibrancy and (dare I say it? depth?)

Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 9341876)

I've seen you mention before that you want to hang on for your PR - does that mean you want to come back before the visa expires? Would it not work out better for you to wait the extra couple of years and get citizenship instead, so at least you can come back at your leisure?

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer (Post 9341884)

Once I have PR how much time in every five year period would I need to spend in Oz to keep the PR incidentally?

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts (Post 9341891)

Two years. Unless you can otherwise prove some substantial ties, house, car, job etc.

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts (Post 9341891)

Two years. Unless you can otherwise prove some substantial ties, house, car, job etc.

Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 9341898)

Which is why I wondered if it would not make more sense for TE to do the extra 2 years straight away and get citizenship. Then there's no worries :laffs:

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer (Post 9341904)

An extra two years would seem like a torturous life time to me!

Originally Posted by Dreamy (Post 9341908)

You wouldn't have to stay where you are now though - you could move elsewhere.

Weren't you here already before you got your current visa? It might not even take you that long to get citizenship :)

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer (Post 9341912)

Yes. On a 457 then a year tourist visa and then a student visa before moving to a 475 SS.

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer (Post 9341901)

Thanks. Do the two years need to be in one block? Or can they be accumulated - six months here and there?