Hi all
Just to let you all know that we finally got our visa granted last week and now on the manic panic run to be out there for the end of the month! I shall come out first and other half will join me later as he has stuff to sort out here first. Excited but nervous!
be in touch on BIB when I get sorted out there with internet etc. Is it easy enough to do?

Heather x

 

Congratulations on the visa and lots of luck with your new life
Cal x

 

Hi Heather great news that your visa has come through. We are just starting the process and were wondering if you had to get x rays done as our agent said they have changed that requirement for British applicants, but all over the forums everybody seems to have had them done? How long did your process take from start to finish? You are very brave going out alone first, bit wish you the best of luck!

Raych

 

Hi Heather
Good luck, how long after the medicals/xrays did it take for the visa to be granted? We had ours two weeks ago now.
Tony

 

Hi Raych
We had to have xrays as we will be working as nurses, hopefuly in Oct/Nov this year!!!!
Tony

 

Hiya Raych
I did have to have medicals done but that was last November so it may have all changed now - sorry I cannot be of more help. I would say to go wth what your agent says.
I was offered a job in May 2008 and with all the processes etc, it has taken nearly 14 months but I did have a few issues that took a bit longer than most to be honest so it will probably be quicker for you fingers crossed!
it took 10 weeks for my visa to be granted once it was all lodged officially - seemed like a lifetime but worth the wait.
Hope all goes well for you and you get to Oz as soon as you can.

heather x

 

Hi tony
see my reply to Rachy.
Stick with it and see it through to the end like i did. Where are you going to be working then? I am going to the Mater as a midwife.
Good luck!
Heather x

 

Hi Heather
I will be working in the community as a 0-12 children and families nurse and my wife 13-18 school based health nuse (fingers crossed!). How long from the medical did you wait? We had ours two weeks ago.
Tony

 

Thanks for reply. Bit worried about what we are being told as everybody on here has had x rays and medicals done. Hope agent doesn't come back and say we need them after all and this delays things.

Raych

 

What school will you be working at Marie, we have a 14 year old daughter and are looking for the right school?

Raych

 

What area are you looking at Raych? Are you looking at state school or private school?

Love

Fred

 

Looking on the internet I like Thornlands, Redcliffe, Cleveland and Wellington Point, but that could all change once we get out there. It looks like we will send her to private school so once we find the right one, we will then choose that surrounding area to live. My husband will be working in Fortitude Valley and doesn't want to be more than 45 minutes or so away.

Thanks,
Raych

 

I don't know much about Redcliffe, but from Thornlands, Cleveland and WP (you should also consider Ormiston btw), there are a number of excellent private schools. I have a daughter at Ormiston College and have been really happy with that - it's a fabulous school. It's co-ed. Very locally there's also Sheldon College - it's also co-ed but run by the iron lady, but an excellent school. The next tier down from those very locally are Redland College and Faith Lutheran. Both schools are relgious schools, but not overly so, so don't let that put you off. In terms of results they are pretty close to Sheldon and Ormiston, but in terms of cost they are much less!!

A bit further afield is Moreton Bay College. It has a boys school and a girls school, but it's basically single sex education. Excellent school. You are spoiled for choice in this area!

Love

Fred

 

Thanks Fred, I have looked at Ormiston College and had earmarked that for a visit when we get there. Tell me about your journey, where you are from, how long have you been there etc. What year is your daughter in at school? Britt is 14 turning 15 this November and would have been going into year 10 here in the UK in September, is it the same there? Were the children in school friendly towards your daughter when she first started and what does she do outside school, does she mix with her friends? Sorry for all the questions but very anxious about my daughter and want her to be happy and settled.

Love

Raych

 

Phew....well where to start!!

We've been in Australia for 6 years now. We spent 5 of those years in Sydney and then moved to Qld last year. We were really happy in Sydney, but somehow Brisbane feels like home and we are loving it here. My daughter is in grade 8 here. It all depends on where birthdays fall as to what year kids are in - it can be very complicated as it varied from state to state!

She has been happy at Ormiston from day 1. In fact before day 1!! She came up for a scholarship test in Feb / March time last year and on the day of the test some girls at the school took her under their wing and that was it....a ready made group of friends for when she started there. She's actually got different friends now - not that she fell out with the others, she just found other friendships.

My younger daughters are at the local state school at the moment, but will go to Ormiston for high school.

HMMM, outside of school. We my daughter is part of the Queensland and National Junior diving squad, so she spends a lot of time training. Her socialising time is very limited. Having said that, she often meets with her friends on a Saturday or Sunday to go to the movies or shopping or something.

Moving can be so hard and we so desperately want everything to go well and for our kids to be happy. I think the most important thing is to come with a positive attitude and not make comparisons with the UK all the time, it can be such a negative experience if you do that. You seem like you are really looking into things and researching areas for your family which is fabulous.

What is your time frame for coming?

Love

Fred
x

 

Wow Queensland and National diving squad hey! Also very academic by the sounds of things, if scholarships are the same as here. You must be very proud. Not sure what time frame is at the moment, we have just submitted our 457 application form to our migration agent who told the company sponsoring my husband that it could take anything from 1 month to 3 to be granted. Can't wait for that day so we can breathe out!

Love

Raych x