[Londoner]

About seven years ago my mate (and some time work collegue) Mick left with his family to start a new life in Oz.

Well he's back, apparantly the whole place is going down the pan bigtime. Don't know what he's going to think of this place when he starts to settle in. A lot of things have changed over here while he's been away.

He said it was a beautiful country with loads of potential but its just never happened over there and now it never never will. The people are the worst moaners he has ever come across they blame everyone else in the World for their problems.

He did come back with a couple of good jokes.

He describes Auzzies as being extremely well balanced, they have a chip on both shoulders. Also, in Oz you can't be arrested by one policeman it has to be two, thats because one has to hold both cans of beer while the other writes down your details.

We have considered going to Oz in the past. Anyone else got any experience of the place? 

[sageorgeta]

Yes i lived in perth for 9 years,all my family still live there.
I moved back to the uk after living in thailand for a few years,now thats a place you cant live a proper life.
Australia is going through the same economic crap that the rest of the western world is at the moment,but they still live a quality life.
Australia is full of winging pomms,as the aussies say,but generally they come home...as your mate did.
I stayed over here because of my businesses and we had kids and settled well.Once my kids education is sorted,and the eldest boy is going to university in Perth anyway,we will be back over there.
In perth the sun shines 9 months of the year,albeit too hot sometimes,the rest of the year is like our spring weather.
I have two mates over there who are shiners and although they have diversified into pool cleaning they make a great living.
Getting over there is a differant kettle of fish,unlike this F..ked up country they dont just let anyone in,they only let people in that will benefit the country,although they do take a fair bit of refugees in,but they are put into holding camps whilst they are being processed...like they should be.
Window cleaning doesn't come high on the list of preferred skills,and you will have to go through a points test for your skills,education,language abilities,age (over 45 years old you cannot apply),criminal record,health records.
It is a long process and there are a few ways around getting turned down,such as having millions  ...but then i guess we wouldn't be sitting here reading this if we had...lol
Like anywhere in the world though...you still have to work to earn a living,unless you are able to come and live in this country then you can sign on get a council house make out you are disabled coz you are fat and get a nice new car as well.
 

[Dean Aspects]

Thats pretty much the same rules for going to Canada as well they dont classify window cleaning as a skilled job or should i say its in the bottom list of four catagories and they dont count the bottom list as skilled again they let in loads of east asians and chinese and the brits cant get it take an age for them to do anything
I dont know if the Australian rules are the same as the Canadian rules but you cant go as self employed unless you are world class sportsman arts and culture or going to buy a hobby farm business class is way to much money needed or you can invest $400k in a canadian business and still have a net worth of over $800k none of them make it easy for us 

[Dean Aspects]

Although this man managed it somehow


www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=f99d0663-a27c-4c8e-86d6-8321fca1bca8

[paulscotney]

A lot of people emigrate to NZ as it is slightly easier to get in. Once you have been there for I think 3 years, you can become an NZ citizen, then you have full rights of entry to OZ as there is an ageement between the two countries.

[*Chris Browne]

Very interesting article...good on the bloke!

[dai]

I have a mate that was in the Aussie police force for 23 years, he came back here but couldn't hack it.
This guy used to help me out on his days off.
He returned to Australia 5 years ago and started window cleaning in Harvey bay, he's now got a good little business doing mainly commercial, he starts at 6.30 and finishes by noon because of the heat.
This guy has an Australian wife and duel nationality, so can come and go as he likes.

[karlosdaze]

I worked for a while over in Sydney. I found it quite similar to Spain for cleaning in. Everyone always dreams about it being warm & the beachlife that you have. Once you've been at it a few months - you find out the sun is your enemy. I still hide from it over here. I used to clean commercial over there - we started at 4:30 in the morning, usually finished by 10 - depending on the wind. You would loose a day if it was too windy as we worked from a cradle overlooking harbour bridge & the opera house.
I believe the domestic market is quite a tough nut to crack. Also you have to remove screens - much like the States. I had a great time over there. I can't see it being worse than the UK. I say go for it. The point system as mentioned will be quite hard unless you have a sponsor. Go for it - you'll never regret it 

[windowwashers]

Dont you have to have certain amount of money just to go over there?

[Paul Coleman]

About seven years ago my mate (and some time work collegue) Mick left with his family to start a new life in Oz.

Well he's back, apparantly the whole place is going down the pan bigtime. Don't know what he's going to think of this place when he starts to settle in. A lot of things have changed over here while he's been away.

He said it was a beautiful country with loads of potential but its just never happened over there and now it never never will. The people are the worst moaners he has ever come across they blame everyone else in the World for their problems.

He did come back with a couple of good jokes.

He describes Auzzies as being extremely well balanced, they have a chip on both shoulders. Also, in Oz you can't be arrested by one policeman it has to be two, thats because one has to hold both cans of beer while the other writes down your details.

We have considered going to Oz in the past. Anyone else got any experience of the place? 

Wasn't there the one about the guy going through the immigration department in Australia.
They asked.  "Do you have a criminal record sir?"
He replied "What !!  You still need one to get in !!"

[Londoner]

Actually I saw him last night and told him I has put a post about him on here and he was horrified.
Australia, like America was the land of opportunitity yet compared to America what have they done? where is the Australian equivilent of Microsoft, Boeing, General Motors, Hollywood etc. Name one famous Austrailian other than Paul Hogan who isn't a cricketer?

Actually, if you want to go to Oz you sign up at your local night school and do a C&G in plumbing. Once you have that you are in.
A while ago on the radio they were saying how all the plumbing courses were ten times over subscribed and said its because of what plumbers charge but most of the people were doing the course to emigrate.

[sageorgeta]

What a load of tosh....
C&G in plumbing may be the first step to getting professional qualifications for migration but it will certainly not get you in unless you have a certain amount of working experiance in the trade...years not months.

No famous Australians....hmmm....Kerry Packer,Alan Bond....oh yes and what about Rupert Murdoch owner of news corp (sky tv etc etc).....

[*Chris Browne]

Famous aussie....Rolf Harris    (sorry, back on topic)

[Paul Coleman]

What a load of tosh....
C&G in plumbing may be the first step to getting professional qualifications for migration but it will certainly not get you in unless you have a certain amount of working experiance in the trade...years not months.

No famous Australians....hmmm....Kerry Packer,Alan Bond....oh yes and what about Rupert Murdoch owner of news corp (sky tv etc etc).....

Yvonne Goolagong (Cawley), Rod Laver, Skippy   

[sageorgeta]

NED KELLY,ERNIE DINGO,DAME EDNA EVERAGE,

Wheres the man been all his life....

[Simon_King]

My brother lives in Sydney and works as a window cleaner for a company that cleans high rise and other commercial like Karl did. He married an Aussie and has been there 6 years.
He loves it ...and says hes got the best job in the world.
Hes over here now for a holiday but there is no chance hes coming back any time soon.
Ive been over there and frankly I dont blame him one bit.
If I could go now believe me I would seriously consider it. If you get a chance GO.

[Polewash]

Yes i lived in perth for 9 years,all my family still live there.
I moved back to the uk after living in thailand for a few years,now thats a place you cant live a proper life.
Australia is going through the same economic crap that the rest of the western world is at the moment,but they still live a quality life.
Australia is full of winging pomms,as the aussies say,but generally they come home...as your mate did.
I stayed over here because of my businesses and we had kids and settled well.Once my kids education is sorted,and the eldest boy is going to university in Perth anyway,we will be back over there.
In perth the sun shines 9 months of the year,albeit too hot sometimes,the rest of the year is like our spring weather.
I have two mates over there who are shiners and although they have diversified into pool cleaning they make a great living.
Getting over there is a different kettle of fish,unlike this F..ked up country they dont just let anyone in,they only let people in that will benefit the country,although they do take a fair bit of refugees in,but they are put into holding camps whilst they are being processed...like they should be.
Window cleaning doesn't come high on the list of preferred skills,and you will have to go through a points test for your skills,education,language abilities,age (over 45 years old you cannot apply),criminal record,health records.
It is a long process and there are a few ways around getting turned down,such as having millions  ...but then i guess we wouldn't be sitting here reading this if we had...lol
Like anywhere in the world though...you still have to work to earn a living,unless you are able to come and live in this country then you can sign on get a council house make out you are disabled coz you are fat and get a nice new car as well.
 

Very well put young man and very true...

I have just come back to Perth (last night) after 1 months holiday to Ireland and HK. The big word in Ireland is the *R* word RECESSION. Every time you turned on TV or radio it was all you heard. So be ready for some hard times over there guys, I'm sure the UK will be hit too. We are lucky here in Western Australia with a huge mining boom (iron ore). The Chinese can't get enough of the stuff and its predicted to go on for another 10-20 years. While the housing market has slowed a little and the economy has slowed due to the oil prices, its nowhere near as bad as Europe.

There are so many jobs going over that bar and cafe's could not get enough staff and had to close their restaurant's. There is also a huge shortage of teachers and nurses. If you have any trade skills, there is loads of work.

As already said sunshine 9    months of the year, beautiful unspoiled beaches 5 mins away and a great lifestyle. I know where I'd prefer to be. (23 days in Ireland and it rained on 22 of them). Great place for kids what more could you ask for.

We get our share of whinging poms as the Aussies call them but after a few years in the lucky country they will be in for a rude shock when they return to the UK. I'll bet they they will find it expensive to live over there and wouldn't be surprised to see them come back.

Good topic and interesting comments even the jokes.

John

[garry]

Dont you have to have certain amount of money just to go over there?

    45K MIM.

[Polewash]

Dont you have to have certain amount of money just to go over there?

    45K MIM.

I don't know the rules at the moment, I've been here 20 years. maybe someone else on here does.

John

[sageorgeta]

You cant buy your way in anymore.You can invest in a business,but that has to be state sponsored and employs at least 4 australian citizens.
My family owned flooring franchises around morley and ballajura and they sold out to an irish couple who had a lot of trouble getting the visa for residency on the basis that they had bought the business.
There is a kind of back door way of getting in at the moment.As stated they are short of tradesmen and there is a courses run in western australia (freemantle...notra dame uni) for a commercial chef.You basically do the two year course  and once you have passed you get a job (probably in the mining towns like parabudo....too hot for me.) and then you can apply whilst in Australia for your residency visa.
There are several english consultants who are well above board who deal with this type of entry visa....only stipulation you have to be below 45 years of age when your 2 years and 6 months work experiance is up to apply for residency...oh yes and it also costs about £12000,but if that doesn't put you off then i can only say you will not be dissapointed,western australia in particular is a fantastic place to live and play.
I am back this year and along with hillarys harbour i will be giving the poker tables at burswood a good bashing....might have a go at twos up if i can get in the pit past the aussies...