457 October Interviews
 

Has anyone that is expecting an interview in October recieved a date yet?

I am unsure wether I should keep pestering them for a date or to leave it alone. I'm just getting nervous and was expecting news before now.

Lee

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

We're in same boat. Hate waiting for such things but hopefully will be worth the wait....:unsure:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

thanks for that, just good to know that they haven't overlooked me.

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

yep, still waiting too,

learnt to be very patient when dealing with DET, good thing i suppose.

i reckon we wont hear until last minute, are you going to the expo as well? or just your interview. anyone else going to an interview in leeds?

cant wait, so nervous though and very unhappy about current housing market

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Hi all

Dont be nervous you will all be fine. The interview is actually fairly relaxed. They are interested in 3 main things. 1. How you plan 2. How you assess 3. What you want out of the experience and what you can bring to the community.

Was contacted via forum this morning by some one who works near to me. She has been told to have all documents with DET for 30th Sept. The main co-ordinator for applications is out of the office until Wednesday so don't know if that is slowing things up.

DET had quite a big advert in TES a couple of weeks ago so there may be more applicants now than before. They sent all the Jan arrivals a flyer which says the same as advert.

Interviews will take place after expos in each of the six city venues. Coventry 13th 14th Oct Leeds 20th 21st Oct London 25th 26th Oct Dublin 1st 2nd 3rd Nov Edinburgh 7th 8th 9th Nov Glasgow 11th 12th Nov. Interviews last about an hour.

What happened in London in May was that they had a week of interviews then notified of decision 4 weeks later. Could be same again so more patience may be needed

Jan arrivals are now at stage of getting medicals (already done and arrived in Sydney)and police checks done (sent off yesterday).

Hope you hear something soon.

Nx

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

I was interviewed via conference call rather than at the Expo, but the questions followed the same pattern as lekkilizard has mentioned: Assessment, planning, why Oz/the WA scheme, how you would integrate/cope in a small town.

The 2 women who interviewed me were lovely which helped.

Also, as lekkilizard mentioned too, there is a big rise in applications this year. The job situation for teachers in Ireland and Scotland is very grim (two thirds of NQTs unemployed a year after graduation) so WA, other Oz regions and the US VIF are advertising heavily in these places right now, and getting lots of applicants.

I think before there was a reasonable amount of safety that you would likely get in, whereas now there's more competition alright.
WA are also advertising in Oz for teachers to go rural or remote and offering similar housing packages etc.

But the best of luck to everyone! Let us know how it goes.

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Have you pestered them yet? Still heard nothing here, keep waiting for the elusive email or phone call :curse:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

I only sent l my email on thursday night, they took up refs on the friday and I received an email today (tues) saying that I have an interview! I have been very impressed with the speed of it all! :)

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

It's good news guys.
Interview date is Monday 27th October for me in London.

Hope you all hear soon if your waiting.

Lee

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Fantastic news Lee!!!

Glad you finally heard some good news. You've waited long enough!!!!

Nicki

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Thanks Nicki,
It does seem like this takes forever.

Has anyone else had interview dates yet?

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

20th Oct, in Leeds :D

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Thats great news.

I'm sure it will go well for you:thumbup:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Hmmm now stressing about how it will go :unsure:

Hopefully will be like as others have described ;)

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Me too;)

When are you hoping to go over?

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Would be January 2010, as Primary not Secondary.

Will give us plenty of time to save up and do a life laundry lol.

Only issue will be wishing time away, first interview then (I believe) 4 weeks to find out if successful, then a year to fly out :eek:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Yes,
Time does creep up on you doesn't it.

Do they not let us know on the day then? oh well more waiting:rofl:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Have been told it's 4 weeks :eek:. Wasn't expecting same day, but 2 weeks max would have been far easier to come to terms with! But if it's 4 weeks it's 4 weeks.
I'm hoping Gems will confirm this? :confused:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

We were told same day, but was telephone conference. Also the scheme was new.
We were given the impression they do a lot of the deciding sifting through CVs, reference etc. As they told us that the interview was a legal requirement, and it was more to check we wanted to come and knew what we were undertaking. You will be amazed how many people think they are moving to Perth city or Bunbury on the scheme.
Also so they could ask a few questions regarding experience to fit us to right school.

Gems

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

I was told interviews were held over a few weeks in UK and it wasnt until the interview team had got back to WA with all the paperwork that applicatons would be assessed. Seems if you have done the paperwork up front before interview (resume, reference check, quals check, IELTS check if from a non-english speaking country) you will hear quicker than if you havent gone through the checks first. Have heard they keep refining the process so they only interview who they really need. Getting much tougher as it seemed they took everyone and anyone at one stage. Should have gone for it then, but a colleague now working in WA tells me that they had lots of people pull out and that is why they look at applications much closer now. Seems everyone I speak to these days has an application in too, so I expect WA ED Dept are in the position of being able to pick and choose who they want.

Good Luck everyone with your interviews!

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

I wonder why people back out? I mean it's no secret that you can't pick where you live and that ties with the UK/family will be broken. We can't wait to go and I hope this comes across in the interview :thumbsup:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Reason I know of are: the wife refused to move to Australia!
They wanted Melbourne, but applied anyway!

Its a big move, so not everyone is 100%. You also get someone in every group who only lasts a few weeks. You can usually spot them as unsure even in Perth.

Gems

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Gems - maybe they should have you on the interviewing panel!

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

got my interview in Leeds in a week, also got two free passes to the expo in leeds through the post. really nice gesture, didnt even ask for them and will say a few quid.

am i correct in thinking they are not inviting all who applied to the interviews? has anyone applied and not been invited to interview,(guess u might not want to share that info, does anyone know of anyone in this situation?)

anyone else got an interview in leeds?

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

We got free passes today, day after we bought 2.
Interview on Monday

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Good luck with the interviews guys:D

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

OH had interview today in Coventry, we only found out about them at last weekend at the stoneleigh immigration expo. She thinks she has done ok and the interviewer was really friendly and explained the whole process thoroughly, and said she would find out in about 4 weeks. The thing is we have already lodged our 175 visa, so are we right in saying we wouldn't need a457 visa if OH was offered a job:confused:

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

As job is attached to sponsor, I'd ask them if I were you :confused:

Would be very difficult question to answer unless you knew all the conditions or had done the same in the past :blink:. Send them an email and see what they say ;)
Would you cancel 175 if told it's 457 or nothing?

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Hi Cov

I understood the interviews in UK were purely for Visa 457 sponsorship and if you were going for an independent visa, the interiews werent for you.
Maybe you should check with Teaching WA on [email protected] as I think they have something to do with the co-ordination of interviews in UK...

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Think we'll wait till we hear in four weeks how OH got on and then start asking the questions.

Would we cancel 175? thats a big question, i guess we will have to weigh up the pros and cons for each visa:confused: what would you do?

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

457 is best option for us at present, in a year or so's time would be looking for PR visa as finances would be better for us and most likely would head towards Vic as have family there. But as there is a chance of 457 now that's our focus ;)

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

If you meet all the points and think you will get a PR visa, then definitely go that route. At least then you can live and work where you want to. The 457 way means you have to go where they put you and then teach for 2 years before you can apply for PR. The plus for the 457 route though is that you do have a guaranteed job and housing.... the PR way you have to do it all yourself. From my investigations, I understand that if you have applied for a PR visa and you decide to go the 457 route, the 457 visa application cancels the PR application. Not sure if that is right though, so if anyone knows for sure, can you share with us?

Has anyone had their interview yet? If so, how did it go?

I was following a thread on Facebook by a group of teachers who are going to WA in January, but they have closed the group now for privacy reasons unfortunately. Good info on there though.

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

If you come on the 457 visa, you can apply for you own PR visa at any time if you have enough points. Eg. you could arrive and apply for you own PR the same week you start work.

However additional costs in doing your own PR such as you have to leave Australia to validate PR visa. On the ENS ( sponsored PR visa) you dont need to leave the country.

So in theory if you have the points, you dont need to wait the full 2 years. Also does not affect your job if you want to keep it.

Gems

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

would you still get the subsidised rent if you went off the 457 visa? i can see myself wanting to stay on the visa for at least a couple of years simply to save up some money.
or am i right in thinkin gems, all teachers get the subsidised rent for teaching and living in a remote community

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Got paperwork saying rent free in remote areas. Sorry not sure if going off 457 means no more subsidised rents, hope someone will answer on here. We too will need to save up and every little helps ;)

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Hi Folks,

Thinking of applying for the Sponsorship Programme, but won't be able to head out to Oz until 2011! Is it worth applying this year, will this opportunity come up again next year? Presentations and Interviews in Dublin in 2 wks. Cheers:D

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

As far as I am aware, the intervies being currently held are for 2009 and 2010.

Are you looking at primary or secondary?

Lee

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Free rent will be some place really remote. I dont know anyone on free rent.

We get rent about half price, eg newish large house costs $400 per week we pay $200. Think the smaller town and further out cheaper the rent.

Yes, you keep subsidised rent even if you are PR if your working in a country school.
Dont think you get subsidised rent if your working in say Perth suburbs (but this would not be on scheme any way).

Only reason you wont get rental help is if you buy, so your liable for your full mortgage. No additional help for mortgages.

Gems

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Interviews being held now arefor 2009/10, so if you can't go until 2011 then not much point. This route should be available for quite a few more years, are you secondary or primary? Secondary seems to have the most shortages at the present time.

Re: 457 October Interviews
 

Secondary has more shortage at the minute, but a recent education documents looking at forcast for shortages, says Primary will overtake and be a big shortage in the future. Hence recruitment drive for 2010.

Think long run, will be plenty of jobs. Also in our town all the private schools are advertising with plenty of both primary and secondary posts. If your willing to work outside Perth central you should get a job.

Gems