Rachwales

It was on 9 news - the clip is on this forum but I can’t copy it onto this post. Just have to wait and see re service length.. just frustrating as if they are going to chose the lower service applicants, just do so from the start.

Keith1234

Well folks, I've completed the application in full and received an email stating I've been progressed to the next stage and they will be in touch.

From what I've read there's a 13 week transitional course and then straight to stations. I'll be looking to go regional but I'll be bringing a wife and two young kids so a 1 horse outback town wouldn't suit them. Anyone working there know what the chances of getting the likes of geraldton or karratha is?

From talking to coppers over there the cost of living seems to be extremely high at the moment and there's the rental crisis in perth there's horror stories all over Facebook about families arriving and becoming homeless straight away.

adding it up roughly between visas, flights, three months rent in perth and then a back up float the transition is going to cost around 20000 surely there must be some sort of relocation package. I didn't know as someone mentioned we can claim back relocation costs through the tax system.

the move is promising but there's alot more planning involved than just jumping on the flight especially with a family. Also the FAQs page on the let's join forces website says the first intake will be November 2023 with subsequent intakes for the next 5 years.

Keith1234

Annual salary 84003 minus 17767 income tax and 1680 medicare take home 64553 give or take. That's just a rough estimate using a income tax calculator on Google. Apparently its a reasonable wage but it may aswell be monopoly money to me at the moment. Works out 36766 GBP.

Obviously shift allowance etc aren't accounted for.

mossy1986

Shift allowance is usually around $250 - $300 per fortnight. $6500 - $7800 per year

christmasoompa

£20k seems low to move a family of 4 tbh - see my post earlier in the thread with links to one in the Oz forum with relocation costs discussed. And if you hunt around the forums you'll find threads from the last intake, if you search those threads you may find info on any relocation package offered.

HTH.

Pollyana

Have to agree. Visa costs are going to be at least £5k plus medicals etc etc - and only a few places do medicals so you may need to factor in travel for those.
Flights aren't cheap, and nor is shipping. If you don't ship you have replacement costs, so expensive either way.
Have a look on realestate.com.au for rentals - the market is expensive and rentals are like gold dust.
Most families need two cars as getting kids to places is rarely feasible with public transport.
Hotel/Airbnb while you find a rental, school uniforms and fees, I don't want to put you off, but emigration is a real black hole money-wise.

mossy1986

Medicals for me and my family (partner and 2 children) coming out at just on £700 but nearer to £1000 with travel and probably a night in a hotel because of the distance to travel.

Visas looking at 3500GBP. Shipping for us around 2500GBP (we’re taking sentimentals only). Flights one way will be around 4500GBP. Also want to take 2 months UK salary which will be 4000GBP. So we’re at 15000GBP before we even land. We’d be staying with friends for 3 months initially. Not even sure it’s financially doable yet but we’re trying

A positive is I’ll be earning over there pretty much straight away do have the time I’m starting with friends to save all I can too.

christmasoompa

Yup. My spreadsheet for our move next year is already at about £35k and that's only to the east coast of the US so flights etc are a heck of a lot cheaper! We're lucky that ours is being paid for by the employer, it's a terrifying amount of money and it's all the little things that people often don't factor in i.e. having to pay a deposit for utilities as you have no credit rating going to a new country. I don't know if the police will help with family move expenses, but maybe they will at least cover visa fees and any associated costs (police certs, degree transcripts, medicals, IELTS exam etc)?

Prices have gone through the roof since we last moved, and even since we last got quotes for this move (it was supposed to happen in 2021 but didn't thanks to Covid). Prices for things like shipping, transporting our pets and flights have all pretty much doubled in the past 2 years. And it's not helping that the pound has tanked since then either! It's really only feasible for most people if they have a house with equity in they can sell, but then of course that goes against the general advice to rent it at least initially, in case you change your mind and want to come back.

Pollyana

I can't say for sure of course, but it would be very unusual if WAPOL covered visa/medical/IELTS/etc. Generally with Aus visas like this the applicant would pay the lot. There was a time when some relocation expenses were offered, but that was a few years ago, unlikely to happen here now, especially when there are likely to be a lot of candidates chasing the roles.
As you say, everything has gone through the roof.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossy1986

Medicals for me and my family (partner and 2 children) coming out at just on £700 but nearer to £1000 with travel and probably a night in a hotel because of the distance to travel.

Sounds like a more realistic figure, and staying with friends will certainly ease the burden. As you say, earning at once is a big advantage, better than the time it can take to get that first job.

Hopefulcumbrian

Has anyone had any contact yet over the next stage or gone through it?

I've had my email to say im through to the next stage. I was curious to know timescales and experiences.

Eyes Wide Open

Hi all

Came over in the last phase (2007-10) and just wanted to share some of my experiences……..

When I applied, I had 10+ years service and was nearing 40. I thought I would be too old/too long in service, but on reflection I was middle of the pack on both counts, so don’t let either factor into an application. The whole process took around 12 months.

I had worked in several specialist roles and was fortunate to have some good UK training courses on my CV. The representatives from WA Police seemed very positive that these skills would be highly desirable to various departments within WAPol.

Unfortunately (naively)?, this was not the case. My first two years being back on the beat literally felt like the first episode of Life on Mars when the lead role wakes up in the seventies. It’s not worth elaborating on, but I still look back with amazement at the antiquated decision making and procedures placed upon frontline officers from above.

Bottom line - If you have any previous experience as a detective, specialist, or have been promoted, this will be career suicide. WA Police are not interested in previous experience and you will be just another number in the system to put out on the front line.

The flip side…

Migrating halfway around the world is challenging. There will be unique issues (partners/children/families/friends) that will make the journey turbulent.

But if you can overcome these…..LIFE HERE IS FANTASTIC. In my opinion, you should come here for the lifestyle and remember that is the reason why you came. The job is just the job and life in the sunshine is great. After an initial couple of years, my family and I settled and we have a lifestyle that I could only dream of in the UK.

Please don’t think I’m being negative, I just want people to be fully aware of what they are committing to. After ten years of service, I parted ways with WAPol and now have a job much more aligned to family/lifestyle. I have many friends still in WAPol and others that have also departed. They are (again) having huge retention issues as people get fed up with the way they are treated. Where did all those DEATs go………..?

I understand that some may disagree, or may not like what I have to say (I have been deliberately vague), but I feel a sense of responsibility to share. In my current role, I regularly reach into WAPol at varying levels across many departments, and sadly I hear the same rhetoric across the board, regardless of rank.

So please………come for the lifestyle. If you are fortunate enough to be successful, embrace all that is good about life down under……….its just a job!

Good luck

EWO

Hopefulcumbrian

Thank you for such an honest post. I am in a similar position career wise that it sounds you were in terms of length of service and working in a range of departments. In the uk i am hoping to be promoted to the rank of Inspector soon, so i have some reservations with losing this career progress and also taking a financial hot on wages.

I would be looking to move over with my young family. My wife is a teacher so should fine a job ok from what i have read.

I really want a better lifestyle for my family, but have concerns with the financial hit, career prospects and getting over.

Suppose i will continue through the process until there is a decision to make.

Rachwales

Again thank you for your honesty, my husband and I are in a very similar situation, he is thinking he maybe too old and the financial hit will be too much . But, I’m hoping that this is not the case as the work life balance/lifestyle seems so much better. I’m keeping fingers/toes crossed it all comes off …

Rachwales

Has anyone heard anything more other than the email of the initial “meet the criteria” email?

mossy1986

Ive literally just had my email an hour ago. Psychological Evaluation to be completed within 7 days and and the physical to be completed within 2 weeks. We have to source a PT to do the physical with us and fill in the forms to sign. Let’s go!