Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Australia
Reload this Page >

Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Old Apr 12th 2005, 6:59 am
  #1  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
ali south's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mona Vale, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,076
ali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant future
Default Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Hi
we have just come back from the Sunshine Coast and have fallen in love with it. We loved Coolum, Noosa and Malooloolaba. Sunshine beach looked a good place for families to settle.

We have a 16 year old girl and 14 year old boy.

I am a teacher, my husband is a fire fighter.

If we were to settle here what is it like to get a job? Our initial findings are that it does not look easy. We are both fit, healthy and flixible with what we will do.

Also can you please share your experiences of living here.

Thanks Tara

Last edited by ali south; Apr 12th 2005 at 7:11 am.
ali south is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 7:03 am
  #2  
Karma Comedian
 
jayr's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Brisvegas
Posts: 3,506
jayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond reputejayr has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by ali south
Hi
we have just come back from the Sunshine Coast and have fallen in love with it. We loved Coolum, Noosa and Malooloolibar. Sunshine beach lookes a good place for families to settle.

We have a 16 year old girl and 14 year old boy.

I am a teacher, my husband is a fire fighter.

If we were to settle here what is it like to get a job? Our initial findings are that it does not look easy. We are both fit, healthy and flixible with what we will do.

Also can you please share your experiences of living here.

Thanks Tara

Sorry, this won't be very helpful. I also love Mooloolaba, Coolum, Noosa and Sunshine Beach. I fear, however, that Noosa and Mooloolaba (and prob Sunshine) will be expensive, Coolum is small and likely few jobs.

However, all are very easy to visit from Brisbane, certainly Mooloolaba is a day trip and even Noosa can be. Brissy will give you more options for work and housing, larger communitites so your kids get less bored etc.
jayr is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 7:10 am
  #3  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
ali south's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mona Vale, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,076
ali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant future
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by jayr
Sorry, this won't be very helpful. I also love Mooloolaba, Coolum, Noosa and Sunshine Beach. I fear, however, that Noosa and Mooloolaba (and prob Sunshine) will be expensive, Coolum is small and likely few jobs.

However, all are very easy to visit from Brisbane, certainly Mooloolaba is a day trip and even Noosa can be. Brissy will give you more options for work and housing, larger communitites so your kids get less bored etc.
Thanks
I want to hear the truth
Tara
ali south is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 7:42 am
  #4  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
jad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by ali south
Thanks
I want to hear the truth
Tara
Stick around a lot have arrived here lately and most seem to be loving it and have found work.

Us, quickly found work in construction and medical reception, now employed by ourselves, far more hours and effort than we ever anticipated at first but well worth it.

Kids skate, surf, bike ride, disco, party, sleepeover, cricket, and thats the under 11's, older one has moments of wanting to return to UK but hasnt actually done it yet, too busy with part time uni, work, women, footy, parties. I do not think from a childs angle it could ever be boring.

Educations been up and down with one child, mainly tho due to one childs dyslexia. Eldest and youngest no problems also found work no probs.

Climate is brill apart from jan feb which can be steamy, having said that we cant imagine life with kids now without a pool, its the ultimate in kiddy entertainment.

There are isssues I dont like in australia but they are australia wide and we have seen a lot of this country to make that comment, stuff like drugs/crime here is very very small compared to some places here.

Houses seem to be similar to brisbane or melbourne ie decent stuff from $400,000, outer areas probably from $300.000.

With regard to teaching you have to start out supply, the perm jobs are trickier due to the popularity of the area, that would be the same in any area people hanker after tho. Theres teachers up here best the answer that more fully but they are working I know that.
jad n rich is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 7:46 am
  #5  
Just Joined
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13
GARY C is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Hi

We also loved the sunshine coast but as others have said work options are limited.
We have decided to base ourselfs in Brisbane so can travel to the sunshine coast or the gold coast within one hour.If you rent in Brisbane you should be able to find decent work and look for a position around the sunshine coast at your leisure!!

regards

Gary C
GARY C is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 7:55 am
  #6  
BE Enthusiast
 
RReed's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2004
Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 535
RReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud ofRReed has much to be proud of
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by ali south
Hi
we have just come back from the Sunshine Coast and have fallen in love with it. We loved Coolum, Noosa and Malooloolaba. Sunshine beach looked a good place for families to settle.

We have a 16 year old girl and 14 year old boy.

I am a teacher, my husband is a fire fighter.

If we were to settle here what is it like to get a job? Our initial findings are that it does not look easy. We are both fit, healthy and flixible with what we will do.

Also can you please share your experiences of living here.

Thanks Tara
Hi Tara
We are renting in Mooloolaba at the moment (been here 2.5 months. The sunshine coast is a lovely place to live (although wouldn't buy in mooloolaba as too close to the tourists). Not sure about the job situation for your professions, but there are fewer jobs here than Brisbane for sure. The jobs that are available are often casual and/or low paid. I have two casual contracts as a midwife which were easy to get as they are short. My husband is a graphic designer and has been looking/applying for a month now. A few jobs a week crop up but they are usually looking for 'junior' designers and/or part-time. He has a few meetings with design companies this week and one interview so fingers crossed. But job-wise he has been told he should have moved to Brisbane! He was also a dj in the uk and is planning to record a mix to drop into bars and clubs - something he thought he had retired from. He is going to do his teacher training (primary) next feb which will take a year and a half - something he has wanted to do for ages. But, in the meantime it would be nice if he could get some work!
On a more positive note, my kids 14 and 10 are loving it here and we have no regrets about choosing to settle here. Good luck.
Rachel
RReed is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 9:42 am
  #7  
BE Forum Addict
 
tinaj's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Gold Coast- the best place in the world
Posts: 3,196
tinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud oftinaj has much to be proud of
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Hi,

The Sushine Coast is a great place to live but it is not that easy to get a job if you are a professional. My hubby has been searching for a management job for quite a while and still has no luck. If you commute to Brisbane it will take 3 - 4 hrs a day travelling time!!

For teaching the Sunshine Coast was recently announced as the most popular location to work in QLD so has up to a 15 year waiting list for a permanent job :scared:

To get a permanent job you will first have to do supply, then contracts, then be assessed and get the top rating 1 which is pretty hard to get, before you have any chance at all. I don't want to put you off but it can be hard. You can get supply work and there are some contracts available but you will have to promote yourself hard.

Also once you have trained to teach you will be expected to go 'outback' for 4 years in order to get a perm job here. Places like Mount Isa etc are common to be transferred to. You need to accrue a certain number of points to get a perm job here and not be transferred from it to a remote area again. You are basically 'owned' by the education dept here and they can move you where they like!

You can apply seperately for private schools but these jobs are also pretty sought after. Good luck!

I am teaching here and am going through this long-winded process at present.
tinaj is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 4:58 pm
  #8  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
ali south's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mona Vale, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,076
ali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant future
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by tinaj
Hi,


To get a permanent job you will first have to do supply, then contracts, then be assessed and get the top rating 1 which is pretty hard to get, before you have any chance at all. I don't want to put you off but it can be hard. You can get supply work and there are some contracts available but you will have to promote yourself hard.

Also once you have trained to teach you will be expected to go 'outback' for 4 years in order to get a perm job here. Places like Mount Isa etc are common to be transferred to. You need to accrue a certain number of points to get a perm job here and not be transferred from it to a remote area again. You are basically 'owned' by the education dept here and they can move you where they like!

You can apply seperately for private schools but these jobs are also pretty sought after. Good luck!

I am teaching here and am going through this long-winded process at present.
ok now I am worried, were you already trained?
if you were already qualified what processes have you had to go through, did you have to retrain??
Thanks everyone for your replies
Tara
ali south is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 9:24 pm
  #9  
Forum Regular
 
sam mick kurt's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: newcastle uk
Posts: 288
sam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nicesam mick kurt is just really nice
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Q what about Building industry???

why would they want to look at sponsoring you and there not be any work in that state or region bit irish isn't it???

we are looking at maroochydore and maroochy shire council to sponsor us as mick is a wall and floor tiler any views or help on that front ??? any or may jobs available???
sam mick kurt is offline  
Old Apr 12th 2005, 9:31 pm
  #10  
Forum Regular
 
Bubbles's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 218
Bubbles has a spectacular aura aboutBubbles has a spectacular aura aboutBubbles has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
Stick around a lot have arrived here lately and most seem to be loving it and have found work.

Us, quickly found work in construction and medical reception, now employed by ourselves, far more hours and effort than we ever anticipated at first but well worth it.

Kids skate, surf, bike ride, disco, party, sleepeover, cricket, and thats the under 11's, older one has moments of wanting to return to UK but hasnt actually done it yet, too busy with part time uni, work, women, footy, parties. I do not think from a childs angle it could ever be boring.

Educations been up and down with one child, mainly tho due to one childs dyslexia. Eldest and youngest no problems also found work no probs.

Climate is brill apart from jan feb which can be steamy, having said that we cant imagine life with kids now without a pool, its the ultimate in kiddy entertainment.

There are isssues I dont like in australia but they are australia wide and we have seen a lot of this country to make that comment, stuff like drugs/crime here is very very small compared to some places here.

Houses seem to be similar to brisbane or melbourne ie decent stuff from $400,000, outer areas probably from $300.000.

With regard to teaching you have to start out supply, the perm jobs are trickier due to the popularity of the area, that would be the same in any area people hanker after tho. Theres teachers up here best the answer that more fully but they are working I know that.
i am a dyslexia specilaist teacher and wonmdered what help if any your child had been offered or even acknowledgement of the dyslexia?
Bubbles is offline  
Old Apr 13th 2005, 7:19 am
  #11  
BE Forum Addict
 
kevinbloomfield's Avatar
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Mountain Creek, Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,643
kevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond reputekevinbloomfield has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by Bubbles
i am a dyslexia specilaist teacher and wonmdered what help if any your child had been offered or even acknowledgement of the dyslexia?
Hey bubbles, do you teach them to spell as well?

"wonmdered"
kevinbloomfield is offline  
Old Apr 13th 2005, 7:44 am
  #12  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
jad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond reputejad n rich has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by Bubbles
i am a dyslexia specilaist teacher and wonmdered what help if any your child had been offered or even acknowledgement of the dyslexia?

Kevin had me worried there, but looked up old posts genuine poster it seems.

For two years the schools denied anything was wrong and would catch up with age, (obviously not the case, we had two other kids to guage this opinion on) we fought and eventually after a written complaint were offered a 2 hour testing with a specialist. The results came back as above average intelligence and standards of work in all areas, indicators for spelling plumeted toward the bottom of the scale. He then had help from a parent volunteer half an hour a week with reading, after more complaints we were upgraded to half an hour with a teachers aide, after contacting the education department we have now had 3 terms for one hour a week, where hes seen a qualified education specialist in this area, which is here called learning difficulties, you must not use the word dyslexia, thats labelling people

Now we have been told resources and finance are limited and other children are far more needy in literacy than him. I would readily admit he can now read better than many regular children his age thanks entirely to our own years of input, however his spelling still very bad. We have a possibility he will be offered help again in term 3.

If you think thats bad, a child paedatrician charged us $300.00 asked him to build a tower of blocks, write how now brown cow, and his only suggestion was ritalin for a child who has never had a behavioural problem in his life and does so well at school otherwise was voted school councillor with 27 out of the 30 votes including his teacher.

If you can throw more light on any of this than anyone else ever has feel free to PM me.
jad n rich is offline  
Old Apr 13th 2005, 8:39 am
  #13  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
ali south's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mona Vale, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,076
ali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant future
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
Kevin had me worried there, but looked up old posts genuine poster it seems.

For two years the schools denied anything was wrong and would catch up with age, (obviously not the case, we had two other kids to guage this opinion on) we fought and eventually after a written complaint were offered a 2 hour testing with a specialist. The results came back as above average intelligence and standards of work in all areas, indicators for spelling plumeted toward the bottom of the scale. He then had help from a parent volunteer half an hour a week with reading, after more complaints we were upgraded to half an hour with a teachers aide, after contacting the education department we have now had 3 terms for one hour a week, where hes seen a qualified education specialist in this area, which is here called learning difficulties, you must not use the word dyslexia, thats labelling people

Now we have been told resources and finance are limited and other children are far more needy in literacy than him. I would readily admit he can now read better than many regular children his age thanks entirely to our own years of input, however his spelling still very bad. We have a possibility he will be offered help again in term 3.

If you think thats bad, a child paedatrician charged us $300.00 asked him to build a tower of blocks, write how now brown cow, and his only suggestion was ritalin for a child who has never had a behavioural problem in his life and does so well at school otherwise was voted school councillor with 27 out of the 30 votes including his teacher.

If you can throw more light on any of this than anyone else ever has feel free to PM me.
I am a special needs teacher (advisory teacher) and was hopeful that leaving London behind I would hear less of these horror stories, I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. Is there not a parent partnership support officer that can fight your corner. This makes me so angry you should not have to fight for your sons education. Where do you live, I'll do a bit of research. Also does he go to public or private?
Tara
ali south is offline  
Old Apr 13th 2005, 8:46 am
  #14  
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
 
ali south's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mona Vale, Northern Beaches, Sydney
Posts: 1,076
ali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant futureali south has a brilliant future
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by jad n rich
Kevin had me worried there, but looked up old posts genuine poster it seems.

For two years the schools denied anything was wrong and would catch up with age, (obviously not the case, we had two other kids to guage this opinion on) we fought and eventually after a written complaint were offered a 2 hour testing with a specialist. The results came back as above average intelligence and standards of work in all areas, indicators for spelling plumeted toward the bottom of the scale. He then had help from a parent volunteer half an hour a week with reading, after more complaints we were upgraded to half an hour with a teachers aide, after contacting the education department we have now had 3 terms for one hour a week, where hes seen a qualified education specialist in this area, which is here called learning difficulties, you must not use the word dyslexia, thats labelling people

Now we have been told resources and finance are limited and other children are far more needy in literacy than him. I would readily admit he can now read better than many regular children his age thanks entirely to our own years of input, however his spelling still very bad. We have a possibility he will be offered help again in term 3.

If you think thats bad, a child paedatrician charged us $300.00 asked him to build a tower of blocks, write how now brown cow, and his only suggestion was ritalin for a child who has never had a behavioural problem in his life and does so well at school otherwise was voted school councillor with 27 out of the 30 votes including his teacher.

If you can throw more light on any of this than anyone else ever has feel free to PM me.
A statistic for you!
300,000 people with dyslexia live in Queensland, yet Queensland receives the least amount of government and private funding of any of the seven Australian states.
ali south is offline  
Old Apr 13th 2005, 4:21 pm
  #15  
Forum Regular
 
dobbo's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: sunny wales
Posts: 96
dobbo is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Sunshine Coast - how easy is it to get work? Do you like it?

Originally Posted by ali south
A statistic for you!
300,000 people with dyslexia live in Queensland, yet Queensland receives the least amount of government and private funding of any of the seven Australian states.
Just had to reply to this thread we lived in Brisbane for 9 months and have been back in the uk for7 months . The main reason being that 2 out of my 4 children are dyslexic and was apalled at the lack of understanding with regards to dyslexia. My second son was in yr 7 his teacher had no understanding of it and just didnt know what to do we werent offered any testing he did get a little help towards the end of the school yeat but it was too little to late. I cant say it is all rosy hear but finally he is getting the help he needs and deserves we also give him as much support as we can offer ourselves.

juliet
dobbo is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.