Check this out - we're in the "Australian" today

[Guest caz and wayne]

Michael Owen | June 04, 2009

 

Article from: The Australian

ONCE an international high-flyer, Carolyn Van Hecke is part of an emerging new aspect of the global financial crisis.

Mrs Van Hecke, 40, her husband Wayne, 35, and two children Thomas, 10, and Emily, 9, came to Australia from Britain after being lured by a two-year contract with accounting firm KPMG and the promise of a bright future.

But after four months, without warning, she was marched from the Adelaide office by the company's security guards after her position was made redundant as a result of the economic slowdown.

She was advised that under the terms of her business-sponsored visa, she and her family had 28 days to leave the country. Mrs Van Hecke, like thousands of accountants and auditors brought to Australia from financial centres in London, New York and Singapore under the Skilled Migrant Program, has been hit hard by the financial crisis and a subsequent sharp fall in demand for her skills.

After being hired by KPMG through an international recruitment firm, Mrs Van Hecke, a consumption tax specialist for a British accounting firm, and her husband, a firefighter, quit their jobs, sold their house in Bolton, a town in Greater Manchester, and relocated to South Australia.

They enrolled their children in school and bought a house in southern Adelaide.

Mrs Van Hecke took up her new $115,000-a-year role as head of KPMG's GST unit in Adelaide on August 4, and after being made redundant on December 4 she said the company "tried to bully us into moving on to a tourist visa, presumably to wash their hands of us and get out of their repatriation obligations".

 

"Obviously business is business ... but I am upset that we have been treated this way; the financial and emotional cost to my family is breaking my heart," Ms Van Hecke said.

 

She said KPMG had wanted her to help develop its GST business unit, which she had been told had lacked direction for many years.

 

"KPMG had jumped at the chance to talk with me because they had struggled for years and years to fill the post," she said.

 

"We had a couple of video conferences and they offered me the job. Things are not good in the UK, and I really do not want to go back. We thought Australia would provide a good life for the children, and the opportunity presented itself as a new challenge."

 

Although her husband and daughter have since returned to Britain, Ms Van Hecke had been given an extension by the Immigration Department to stay on with her son until June 23, as she tries to sell the family's Adelaide house, which remains on the market. She estimates she is $50,000 out of pocket, and is still seeking promised relocation costs from KPMG. Ms Van Hecke said she had received an $8000 redundancy payment in December.

 

"I am an absolute wreck; it is just not what we imagined it would be like," she said.

 

"You just want to cry. But we have no choice. We can't stay. I would love to come back one day, despite all that has happened, because Australia feels right for us."

 

KPMG's corporate communications co-ordinator, Claire Fitzsimons, said in an emailed statement that the company "does not discuss its employment arrangements in relation to any particular employee".

[Guest ems]

Hi Guys.

That really is awful what has happened. It's such a shame that you have to return not because you want to but because you are being forced to. Keep fighting for that money they owe it's complete B****cks they haven't even had the decency to give you that.

I wish you all the best for the future and hope that one day you will return if you decide you still want to.

Take care and good luck, hope you get the house sale soon.x

[Guest mOZzy]

oh wow - what a story!

i wouldn't believe it if you hadn't told me that's you it has happened to!

 

what an absolute nightmare and what a "%$!£!$! company to put you all through this!!!!

i do hope you come out of this stronger and won't give up!!!

 

all the best and i hope you have all the support back home that you deserver!

[Guest Fozziebear]

This seems very unfair. At least the company concerned has been "named and shamed" by the media.

 

Very best of luck to you.

[Guest UzinOz]

OMG, you must be so angry, that's a terrible way to treat people, hope you get all that's owed to you.

 

Good luck with the house sale and hope you get your wish and return to Australia some day.

 

Allthe best

Jackie

[Guest cazzie]

From one Carolyn to another,

How shameful of this company to treat you like this. I am amazed that this government allows this to happen to anyone, especially after uprooting yourselves as a family. It is truly disgusting and I hope that this changes. Keep fighting for those relocation costs - you certainly deserve them. I wish you lots of luck for the future and yes, this experience will make you so much stronger.

All the best,

[Guest rich]

Wow, hard hitting article- glad they have been named and shamed. I hope the wider exposure this gives your situation will help you in a way to get some sort of justice.

 

All the best

[Guest BAZnDAF]

Thats a horrible situation. I hope you manage to get your relocation costs from them. This problem highlights some serious implications regarding moving to Oz.

 

Good luck in the future.

 

Barry

[Guest wemadeit]

This is shocking..................but unfortunately this is happening all too often!! The only way you are 'safe' to plan for the long term here in australia is if you arrive on PR status, which is very tricky to get in many cases. We are on a 495 provisional visa and there are alot of people going through hell and back trying to gain PR status even after they have met the criteria!! I am pleased you have named and shamed and I hope they and certain immigration depts take note!! It is all well and good enticing people here by wonderful roadshows crying out for immigrants (and believe me it is a beautiful place), but you cannot mess around with peoples long term futures once they have commited to the move. I wish you and your family all the very best and don't give up on the dream..............

[Guest TC for short]

Hi Carolyn

We picked up a copy in Melbourne. See you soon!

 

TC et al

[Guest caz and wayne]

Hi Carolyn

We picked up a copy in Melbourne. See you soon!

 

TC et al

Hi Clarks

 

I read your message and it made me smile. I was thinking about you all day yesterday. Just hearing from you is great and I'm writing this holding back the tears. You'll be in Hong Kong by now!

 

Carolyn xxx

[Guest Avastar]

you've made the Daily Mail back home too!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1191010/Recession-forces-heartbroken-British-mother-dream-job-Australia-forces-England.html

[Guest caz and wayne]

you've made the Daily Mail back home too!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1191010/Recession-forces-heartbroken-British-mother-dream-job-Australia-forces-England.html

 

Crikey

 

Hopefully this is a mesage to everyone on 457 visas to be very careful and generally to check out the employer in terms of fulfilling their obligations.

 

Thanks

 

Carolyn

[Guest Jo&Phil]

It is probably cold comfort but at least everyone else agreeds with you that KPMG are b******ds !

 

These huge multi-nationals are very good at making 'hard business decisions' in a nanosecond ... which usually translates to 's*d off we don't need you any more and our care factor is zero'.

 

Hope you find something great in the UK - or somewhere else.

[Guest dunnarunna]

i really feel for you, we too have had friends go home recently because of work situations, all the best for the future.

donna

[Moosh]

Afraid KPMG aren't the only ones who are doing this. It's happened to loads of people. There a lots of companies who treat their employees like this, just makes it harder because of the visa. Still shocking though.

[Guest Aussie pat]

you've made the Daily Mail back home too!

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1191010/Recession-forces-heartbroken-British-mother-dream-job-Australia-forces-England.html

 

Crikey

 

Hopefully this is a mesage to everyone on 457 visas to be very careful and generally to check out the employer in terms of fulfilling their obligations.

 

Thanks

 

Carolyn

 

Hi Carolyn, it seems to me that KPMG does have obligations to you, what ever happened to moral and ethical obligations? You know the ones most decent and honest businesses follow? I'm so sorry you've been treated this way.

[Guest Avastar]

...and in the Sunday Mail....

 

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25598833-5006301,00.html

[Guest sjs]

What an upset this is for your family. I just couldnt imagine it and to be seperated now from your husband and daughter............... just awful.

 

Good luck for the future

[jim and adel]

We are on a 495 provisional visa and there are alot of people going through hell and back trying to gain PR status even after they have met the criteria!!

 

Really? I hadn't heard that. I'm aware of how slow it can be to get PR from SIR but that's all.

 

Would be interested to find out more - any links for this?

 

Cheers, Jim

[Guest soggy]

Really? I hadn't heard that. I'm aware of how slow it can be to get PR from SIR but that's all.

 

Would be interested to find out more - any links for this?

 

Cheers, Jim

 

Hi,

I have heard a lot of people are having trouble getting pr from 457 visas, with the 495 you should be ok, just make sure when you apply you do not take anything for granted, PROVE you have met all the requirements, don't assume anything, it is a new visa application.

 

Simon

[Guest TC for short]

Strewth Carolyn - you're getting famous! We've had a terrific time in HKG & the kids are worn out. Last day tomorrow & flying back last thing. Hope you're both ok.

 

TC

[Guest Admar72]

Our heart goes out to you guys, what a dreadfull situation to be in. We can't believe that there's nothing that can be done for you to help keep you there especially as the children were settled into schools and that both you and your husband are professionals.

Wishing you all the luck you deserve and that things eventually work out for you for the best.

 

Maria & Adam

[jim and adel]

Originally Posted by wemadeit

 

We are on a 495 provisional visa and there are alot of people going through hell and back trying to gain PR status even after they have met the criteria!!

 

Really? I hadn't heard that. I'm aware of how slow it can be to get PR from SIR but that's all.

 

Would be interested to find out more - any links for this?

 

Cheers, Jim

 

Hi,

I have heard a lot of people are having trouble getting pr from 457 visas, with the 495 you should be ok, just make sure when you apply you do not take anything for granted, PROVE you have met all the requirements, don't assume anything, it is a new visa application.

 

Simon

 

Hi, not sure if your common sense hints on on how to apply for PR were for me or just general advice, but I was responding to the post about 495ers having to go 'through hell and back' for PR - I hadn't heard anything about this - anyone know if there's any substance to it?

 

Cheers, Jim

[Guest soggy]

Originally Posted by wemadeit

 

We are on a 495 provisional visa and there are alot of people going through hell and back trying to gain PR status even after they have met the criteria!!

 

Really? I hadn't heard that. I'm aware of how slow it can be to get PR from SIR but that's all.

 

Would be interested to find out more - any links for this?

 

Cheers, Jim

 

 

 

Hi, not sure if your common sense hints on on how to apply for PR were for me or just general advice, but I was responding to the post about 495ers having to go 'through hell and back' for PR - I hadn't heard anything about this - anyone know if there's any substance to it?

 

Cheers, Jim

 

it was for you, I have heard about 495ers having trouble getting PR and when I looked into it they were on 457 not 495 visas, I have spoken to diac and they told me if you meet the requirements you should get PR under the current guidlines !

DIAC are very helpful if you talk to them, if you have any worrys call or email them.

 

Simon:D