richjop

Hi - Happy for you to pm me as well as well. I am involved in oil and gas but have a few logistics contacts so happy to put you in touch with them. Richard \

My oldest son, Ben, was 7 when we came to Australia in July 2007. His birthday is in May and so he had completed Year 2 in England. The school we moved to have a cut off of end of April so he was offered a place in Year 1, half way through term 3. We were a little unsure about this because he was so far ahead of his UK classmates, how would the kids react and how would he be socially? Its been the best move we ever made. Its a massive emotional upheaval to move schools and he needed a bit of time to settle in. In the UK he didn't really have role in the class, youngest but cleverest didn't sit too well together and so didn't really have many friends. Now he is oldest, cleverest, tallest, an asset on sporting teams and the one that his classmates look to for advice etc. We were offered the option of skipping a year after completing year 1 and didn't even consider it. One thing that we have found is that he doesn't like being 'different' so extension in the class suits him well, he sometimes 'dumbs' down but the teachers are fully aware of this and will push him without him realising it. I agree with things like the driving, sports etc, it would have been very difficult for him to accept his friends doing things so much earlier than him. Schooling was the most important consideration for us when we moved over and hopefully all the advice people have given here is in some way putting your mind at rest. It is such a different system over here and as someone says it takes a bit of getting used to. All the best Joanne

When you say 'gifted' do you mean that they are very clever or that they have been assessed as 'gifted' and therefore have the associated behavioural traits that characterise these special children because I believe there are 2 different answers to this question. I have 2 boys, 10 and 5 and they both fall into the second category so if this is the case I can give you more of an insight into education for these kids, if its the 1st answer then I agree with the previous responses, look at SHIP and IGNITE. Apologies for the quick response, off to school so need to get going. Please PM me if you would like to and I can expand on our experience out here, my oldest son was 7 when he entered the education system here having completed year 2 in England. All the best Joanne

Jo We stayed here Sands Turtle Beach and Sands Mediterranean Resorts - The Official Resort Site - Book online and save - Gold Coast which was good for kids and not too far away from anywhere. There are lots of pools etc and not right on the strip. Flight Centre booked it all for us and managed to get a few nights for free. Joanne

They paid interest on the first payment they received but it was refunded as I believe it does not take them above the threshold.

...you have paid no tax this year? Mum and Dad are on 405 self-funded retirement visa, do they have to fill in a tax return? Thanks Joanne

on a Retirement Visa. My brother and I both live in Aus so they passed the balance of children test. They had to have 500k as a bond, 500k as savings, a pension of approx 60k a year and completely private medical insurance. Interest is paid on the bond 6 monthly at about 5%ish. The reason we chose this Visa is because we came on a 495 but are now permanent. In October dad will be 65 and qualifies as an aged (!!) parent and will be going down this Visa route, costs about the same as the Cont parent (ie 40k ish each). Email Alan Collett from gomatilda and explain your circumstances, he is a mine of info or have a look at the immi website. There are ways, its expensive, but if you asked them they would say its worth it. Joanne

Ben is a May baby so when we came to Adelaide in July 2007 he had finished Yr 2of school eventhough he was just 7. He was top of class in UK, often disruptive and generally really unhappy. We put him in Year 1, and he was head and shoulders above the rest of the class as far as academic assessments were concerned but as Diane says school here is not just about spellings, reading etc its about the whole child and developing them to be comfortable, confident and rounded. At the end of the school year we were offered the chance of skipping a year so that he missed yr 2 completely and went straight into Yr 3. We chose not to and he is absolutely thriving, still way ahead of the class but probably ahead of the next year aswell and the school cope really well, he is extended in every lesson and I'm so pleased we stuck with his current year. Don't estimate how big a change it is coming here, especially for the little ones and if you can make life comfy to start with then go for it. A few things we did take into account were when could he drive compared to peers, socialising etc so i would even go as far as to say stay where he is, its early days and assess it at the end of term. PM if you would like to know some of the strategies our school uses to keep the little man occupied!!!! All the best Joanne

Hopefully someone out there may be able to help. My parents have come over on the above Visa and have lodged a bond with the SA Government. Their agent in the UK advised that they would receive half of the bond back after 2 years and the other half after the 4 years are up and then reapply if they are not permanent by then. Having looked on the immigration website we can see very little reference to the money, has anyone come over on one of these or know anyone? Thanks Joanne

when we met up in Rye and both discussed whether we would make it or not and we have now been here for nearly 2 years....well done, keep enjoying yourself and if you ever up this way pop in and say hello, the house is finally finished (for the time being!) Joanne, Rich and the boys

I have double checked and it may be worth talking to an agent but its pretty clear on the DIAC website http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/405/eligibility.htm#f that you need to make an investment of 500K and have assets of 500K plus an income of 50K and private medical insurance. The assets need to have been in your name for a least two years before payment (I know this because mum and dads house did not complete in time to pay the bond and we offered to lend them the money but it had to be theirs so they got an extension on the date). So all in all its 1million dollars plus income. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, as I say, see if there is another way, this one is very hard. Joanne

The extra 500K is correct I believe, so its a total of 1million which mum and dad achieved through the sale of their house in UK and other assets. They are on holiday in Melbourne at the moment but I'll speak to them tonight to clarify matters. By the way we are also from Kent, whereabouts are you?

My understanding is that you have to pay 500K that you get interest 6 monthly on, an income of 50k which for mum and dad is based on a work pension, completely private health insurance (mum and dad use medibank). I cannot think of any other criteria at the mo, PM if you have any other questions because I can ask them directly.

Is this the 4 year one that you have to pay the bond of 500k for, if so, mum and dad have done it.

We watched the first This Life yesterday as my Aussie friend has just discovered it, forgotten how good it was and yes it made me feel old. Just got the rest to watch now!