mick_newcastle

Is it harder now than it has ever been to get into Australia ?
Have they Raised or Lowered the bar as to what they are looking for?
Looking at the way the Visa's are assessed (Points system) and the criteria used - has it always been this difficult ?

The reason I ask this is I know of quite a few people who have had permanent Visas in Aus but who have come back to England.
It just confuses me on how they ever got there in the first place, given their respective backgrounds and experience.

Phil-UK

It could be that many people with good skills are being messed about by the system. There are many on here who have gone to Oz, I can think of a certain plumber who has been given loads of grief. Also crap tests to perform only to be told, well you can load containers if you like!

Seems Oz is crying out for skilled people to come and fill the skills shortages yet every obstacle is put in their way when getting a job. Employers say 'you need Ozzy experience' I guess being a plumber or electrician for 20 yrs in the UK or elsewhere don't mean anything, yet it was those same skills that qualified then for the visa.

So it seems the vast skills and experience people have is good enough to get the visa but not the job.

Just my thoughts!

Phil

lacey21

My sister was saying the other day that this guy (a minister) Called Beaty had pleaded with people in Australia to come out of retirement and asked for more people to come and work and live in Australia.

Has anybody told this minister about the DIMIA and how hard it is to get past them!

lol

Hard work but it will be worth it in the end I am sure

hugs Lace x

lacey21

I was just thinking should someone direct them to this site lol

mick_newcastle

I don't think he'd realise the scale and demand of British expats wanting to get over there.
have you seen this - know its out of date though!

http://www.immi.gov.au/statistics/st...vs/totmova.htm

lacey21

I know amazing isn't it. I saw that house thing you suggested. It gave a benchmark for my house at least I know I am heading in the right direction lol.

lace x

zeoldyank

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:37:26 +0000, mick_newcastle
<member46041@british_expats.com> wrote in
<[email protected]> :

    |>
    |>Is it harder now than it has ever been to get into Australia ?
    |>Have they Raised or Lowered the bar as to what they are looking for?

Not necessarily, but depends on several factors. Age, assets,
skills, health, etc.

At the moment, there is an acute need for all certified
tradesmen. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and so on.

For the past several years, many Australians have chosen
university degrees rather than trades skills...so now we have a
shortage of qualified tradesmen.

    |>Looking at the way the Visa's are assessed (Points system) and the
    |>criteria used - has it always been this difficult ?

Well, am not the best one to tell you about this as am an
American who has been here for decades.

At the time, almost anyone from the UK could migrate for ten
pounds.

Other than the trades qualifications, know almost nothing about
present requirements.

I have never even visited the UK, let alone lived there, but can
give you, or intending American migrants quite a bit of practical
info on conditions here.

Obviously I think it better here than in the US, or I would
return there.

Have just started posting on this group, but am willing to try to
answer any questions about life here, as time permits, anyway.

From a personal point of view, Australia is a "Garden of Eden"
compared to most places in the Northern hemisphere.

Regards,


    |>
    |>The reason I ask this is I know of quite a few people who have had
    |>permanent Visas in Aus but who have come back to England.
    |>It just confuses me on how they ever got there in the first place, given
    |>their respective backgrounds and experience.
[email protected]

Pollyana

That depends on what you see as "Paradise".

zeoldyank

On Thu, 18 May 2006 06:47:59 +0000, Pollyana
<member7609@british_expats.com> wrote in
<[email protected]> :

    |>
    |>> On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:37:26 +0000, mick_newcastle
    |>> <member46041@british_expats.com> wrote in
    |>> <[email protected]> :
    |>>
    |>> |>
    |>> |>Is it harder now than it has ever been to get into Australia ?
    |>> |>Have they Raised or Lowered the bar as to what they are looking for?
    |>>
    |>> Not necessarily, but depends on several factors. Age, assets,
    |>> skills, health, etc.
    |>>
    |>> At the moment, there is an acute need for all certified
    |>> tradesmen. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and so on.
    |>>
    |>> For the past several years, many Australians have chosen
    |>> university degrees rather than trades skills...so now we have a
    |>> shortage of qualified tradesmen.
    |>>
    |>> |>Looking at the way the Visa's are assessed (Points system) and the
    |>> |>criteria used - has it always been this difficult ?
    |>>
    |>> Well, am not the best one to tell you about this as am an
    |>> American who has been here for decades.
    |>>
    |>> At the time, almost anyone from the UK could migrate for ten
    |>> pounds.
    |>>
    |>> Other than the trades qualifications, know almost nothing about
    |>> present requirements.
    |>>
    |>> I have never even visited the UK, let alone lived there, but can
    |>> give you, or intending American migrants quite a bit of practical
    |>> info on conditions here.
    |>>
    |>> Obviously I think it better here than in the US, or I would
    |>> return there.
    |>>
    |>> Have just started posting on this group, but am willing to try to
    |>> answer any questions about life here, as time permits, anyway.
    |>>
    |>> From a personal point of view, Australia is a "Garden of Eden"
    |>> compared to most places in the Northern hemisphere.
    |>>
    |>> Regards,
    |>>
    |>>
    |>> |>
    |>> |>The reason I ask this is I know of quite a few people who have had
    |>> |>permanent Visas in Aus but who have come back to England.
    |>> |>It just confuses me on how they ever got there in the first place,
    |>> |>given
    |>> |>their respective backgrounds and experience.
    |>> [email protected]
    |>
    |>That depends on what you see as "Paradise".

Well, that is true of course!

A highly individual interpretation. I can only tell you what I
like about it, why I came here in the sixties, and am still here
rather than returning to the USA which could easily do.

1. At the time, one of the main considerations was a chance of
surviving WW3 between US & USSR. Very few nuclear targets in
Southern Hemisphere, if any. Little air or ocean current
interchange across the equator. Lots of Americans came here in
the sixties for precisely this reasons.

Amused some of us that media speculated that trying to avoid the
"racial" problems in the US. As we could have told them, mostly
the nuclear war possibilities.

2. On arrival was impressed with the extremely low unemployment
rate and extremely low crime rate compared with the USA.

3. Climate was far better than had left in the US. Haven't seen
snow since came here. Don't care if ever see it again. OK if
sitting in front of a roaring fireplace and watching it through a
thermopane window. Not so great to work or drive in.

4. For those who like snow sports, are available in small section
of the great dividing range.

5. Cheap living, cheap food, very friendly people who evaluated
you on the type of person you were. Unlike the class system in
the UK, or the emphasis of money as personal worth as a person.

7. Much more privacy than USA. Much lower population.

Population density in UK is 640 per square mile in UK 89% urban.
US is 79 % urban, but this includes Alaska and Hawaii. Population
density 79 per square mile.

Australia almost the size of the continental US, population just
reached around 20 million. Urban population about 85%, mostly in
5 major capital cities. Population density about 7 per square
mile.

However, this is pretty misleading as around 70 of total
population within 50 miles or so of the coast. Once go beyond
this, probably around 1 per square mile, and this includes the
small cities and towns, and damn few of those.

Sydney is bounded by two large national parks south and north, so
basically can only expand westward.

Strongly suggest prospective migrants buy street directory for
Sydney as, technically, Sydney is only the downtown area. All
suburbs retain original names.

So there are probably 45 different George streets in Sydney,
depending which suburb you are in. Numbering starts anew in each
suburb, and it is very easy to get lost, even if have lived there
for years, which I have. A Sydney railway map is also highly
useful.

If have a large local library, you might try to see if they can
get you the loan of Readers Digest Atlas of Australia. Or a
large map of Australia. Will give you an idea of how sparsely
populated the country is.

Greater Sydney is about the size of Los Angeles.

Now, odd as it may seem, one of the best ways to get an idea of
the distribution of towns in the various states is to consult the
national public toilet map of Australia. You can find this at
http://www.toiletmap.gov.au/

When you get here, you will find how many public toilets there in
each state. In the Northern Territory there a total of 202.

Now click on
"Browse using map"

which will give you a map of Australia showing main highways and
a distance scale in kilometers.

Now sure, you can get more detailed maps of Australia. Join the
NRMA [National roads and Motorists Association and can get a big
map of Australia with an area map on the other side. It will
show towns that haven't existed for 40 years, mostly railway
sidings.

Take it from me, though, the National toilet map will actually
give you a better idea, for the simple reason that if a town
doesn't have one or more public toilets, then it probably is just
a village and won't have any stores, shops, petrol stations, etc,
either.

It is also a good idea in the "outback" to carry extra food, fuel
and water, as traffic is sparse.

OK, lets take at look at the NT map, with the 202 public toilets
in the state. Note distances.

These are divided as follows:
Show council areas in:

* Alice Springs and the Centre (43)
* Arnhem (7)
* Barkly (8)
* Darwin - Daly (133)
* Roper - McArthur (3)
* Victoria River (8)

Nor does the story end there. Some towns in some areas have
perhaps 4 or 5 service stations...but that doesn't mean that any
will be open at night. Perhaps between 8 am and 7 pm.

Not many people travel long distances at night, except large
trucks. Why? Well, for one thing you wont see many kangaroos
during the day, but a lot at dusk, night, or dawn.

You don't want to collide with one in a small vehicle, as it will
probably come in over the bonnet [hood] and through the
windscreen. It will naturally panic. It has large, very
powerful hind legs and large blunt claws. It can do you and the
vehicle a lot of damage it tries to escape. In some areas there
are mobs of wandering cattle and sheep as well.

Truckies don't mind. They are large, and general have large
"bull bars" on the front. Very little danger of getting a 'roo
in the cab with them. However, you will see a few dead ones
along the highways.

However, this doesn't matter much. Not many freeways in
Australia once get away from large cities. Most roads, even
major highways are two lane with some passing lanes. However,
many don't have much traffic, and by the time you have driven all
day you will be ready for a good nights rest.

In more isolated areas, don't expect "paved highways". The final
part of highway one which roughly follows the coast was finally
fully paved in 1988.

8, On the other hand, Australia is a very interesting country
from a biological point of view. All of the native animals are
marsupials. Lots of non marsupials such as cattle, sheep, water
buffalo, & camels aren't. Some are pest species [such as dingos
[small wild dogs, brought in by the Aboriginals, foxes, rabbits,
cats, rats & mice are not.]

Interesting flowering plants, most of which are only found in
Australia, PNG, etc.

Flocks of wild parrots, parakeets, etc. Some almost as common as
pigeons.

Many varieties of tropical fruit, not always available elsewhere.

Food is cheap.

9/ No live volcanoes, very few earthquakes, no large tornadoes,
etc.

10/ Good public transport in large cities. [In Sydney, buses,
trains, ferries, cabs]

Enough for a start as to why my wife & I like it here? :-)

Regards,











[email protected]

zeoldyank

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:37:26 +0000, mick_newcastle
<member46041@british_expats.com> wrote in
<[email protected]> :

    |>
    |>Is it harder now than it has ever been to get into Australia ?
    |>Have they Raised or Lowered the bar as to what they are looking for?
    |>Looking at the way the Visa's are assessed (Points system) and the
    |>criteria used - has it always been this difficult ?
    |>
    |>The reason I ask this is I know of quite a few people who have had
    |>permanent Visas in Aus but who have come back to England.
    |>It just confuses me on how they ever got there in the first place, given
    |>their respective backgrounds and experience.

How far do you want to go back? In the 60's almost any
Englishman could migrate by ship for a total cost of ten pounds.

However, Australia was a bit different in those days! A much
higher demand for labor, and unemployment was under 1%, about
0.6% from memory. Anyone who wanted to work could work. Could
quit a job in the morning and have another that afternoon.

However, it was definitely a man's country. Not even that many
single women in the workforce, and in many cases if a woman got
married she was expected to quit her job, go home and raise
children.

If remember correctly, a woman could even be fired if she got
married.

Actually, wasn't the best country for women. Pubs had three
types of bars, usually in separate rooms. The cheapest was the
"public bar". Little seating. Tile floors and walls up to 8
feet or so, allowing the place to be easily hosed out at closing
time of 10 PM [in NSW]
Language was pretty coarse, and even the word "bloody" wasn't
acceptable language to use in front of a female. Hence females
were unwelcome in public bars.

Next step up was sort of an upmarket "business bar". Wasn't
called this, but can't remember the name offhand. "Private Bar",
maybe?

This was had more seating, even sometimes tables and chairs,
carpet on floor. Drinks slightly more expensive. Sometimes
carpet on the floor. Women not welcome here either though.

The top class, where could take a girlfriend or wife was the
"lounge bar". Higher prices yet, tables and chairs, food usually
higher quality. Carpeted floor. Definitely more refined. than
the other two.

This was a few years before was married, had a few girl friends
at various times. One was a blonde European with a sense of
humour similar to mine.

We would drink in the public bar, which greatly inhibited the
language used by the other drinkers. Often we were asked to go
to one of the other bars or actually asked to leave. Sometimes
we told the barman "pigs ass, we like the cheaper beer". Used to
embarrass those around us.

Australia a very conservative country in those days, though. Not
much gambling. Poker machines [slot machines] strictly illegal,
as was most gambling for that matter.

So was prostitutiion, straight or gay. Playboy magazine was a
prohibited import.

About like the US in the 30s or 40s perhaps.

Pubs usually opened 10 AM to 10 PM, except in states like
Victoria where closed at 6PM, so husband would get home with at
least some of his paycheck. This was known there as the "six
o'clock swill" where everyone tried to get as drunk as possible
betting quitting time and the 6 PM closing.

Even in NSW couldn't drink publicly after 10 PM unless belonged
to a "Private Club". Easy to join these, though, or at least get
someone to sign you in as a "guest".

By 10:30 PM downtown Sydney almost deserted. Cinemas had closed.
Could have fired a machine gun down the main street without
hitting any pedestrians or cars. Only non-private bar in Sydney
was the main Sydney airport. About the only place to get a meal,
too.

However, there was an exception. Kings Cross in Sydney, about 8
blocks up from downtown. Probably equivalent to Soho in London
or Greenwitch Village in New York. Lots of activity there. Some
coffee shops stayed open until 3:30 AM. A fair bit of
prositition, though pretty discreet in those days.

Not even sure that two piece bathing suits allowed on beaches.
Has all changed now, though, gambling and prostution legal
everywhere. Homosexuality legal all states for years. Gambling
legal all states. All NSW beaches public up to high tide mark.
All optionally topless, some completely nude.

As to Poms who returned to England, probably the older ones who
found life a bit "fast" here or didn't like the changes.
Personally never met anyone interested in going back to jolly old
England. Maybe they missed the lousy weather? Maybe they didn't
like to be called "bloody Pommies". I didn't mind being called
a "bloody Yank" so stayed. :-) Lived in Kings Cross for a few
years, even after got married. Suburbs were a bit dull. Didn't
take long to be recognized as a local so pros stopped asking if
wanted a quick bit of nookie.

Great place for a Yank, though. In many places in the US legal
age of consent was 21, and no one would rent an unmarried couple
a flat or house. Here it was 16. Crime almost nonexistent.

Would have walked anywhere in the city day or not...although
wouldn't today.

Shopping strictly 9 to 5 weekdays. Eventually some Saturday
shopping until noon. Later on, Thursday night shopping.

As to why any migrant would go back beats the hell out of me,
though!

Cheers,
[email protected]