clan mac

We have only recently arrived and to be absolutely honest the work situation isn't good. i understand that the employers here don't know me or my hubby from a bar of soap, but I swear if anyone else suggests a training course (costing a couple of thousand $!!!!!!!) i think i might do an incredible hulk! at the risk of sounding like a "whining pom" is it really that hard to understand that if you worked in a specific sector in the UK then your skills are transferable???? i mean surely a sales assistant is still a sales assistant wherever the blazes you trained? particularly so when there is no language barrier. How difficult can it be - be nice to customer, answer questions politely, take money ............. I agree the people are lovely, well mannered, polite and helpful. The houses are pretty swanky too plus great weather and awesome beaches. Trouble is I can't eat awesome beach or pay my bills with nice friendly manners. Unless you have a VERY COMFORTABLE financial cushion then I would advise do your homework regarding the labour market conditions here very carefully. Before anyone asks - no I'm not a sales assistant but my 19 year old son was in the UK. He could work here if we shell out $$$$$$$$$$ for a certificate that says he's a sales assistant so this is why is used this as a reference point. He has had rejection letter after rejection letter and I see a once confident young man demoralised and hurting. That is really hard to see. So my conclusion is this - make sure you do your homework or make sure you bring a hefty chunk of wonga to see you through.

Thank you will check east coast car rentals etch123. Thanks also Blossom.

Hi Sarah, I've pm'd you too x

We (McKnight) family arrive in Adelaide 2/4/15, we do not have a credit card. I paid our off and got rid of it last year as we are emigrating, thinking that i was doing the right thing!!!!!!! I have looked at renting a car when we arrive for about 2 weeks until we can buy a car, the rental companies I have checked thus far all require a credit card!!!! Does anyone have any suggestions please, can anyone help? grateful thanks in anticipation, Lorraine

I don't have a credit card, would they accept a booking with a debit card from the UK?

Me too x

Go Matilda are fab, we used them and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. They kept us right through various changes in the rules. Worth the money.

We are the McKnight family from Glasgow. Me (Lorraine) hubby and 2 boys aged 19 and 16. I work in community mental health and addictions support, hubby is a construction manager now but joiner to trade. My 19 year old is a lens technician in an opticians. We arrive 2/4/15 and will initially be based in the Seaford Rise area. Tbh I'm completely bricking it! The thought of no work scares the living daylights out if me. I don't think its gonna be real until I'm on the plane!!!!!!!!!

I feel physically sick! Actually unwell after reading the "reality check" posts re work. I think it's all fine and dandy to be candid, I don't believe anyone considering moving their entire life across the continents is doing it blithely!!!!!!! It's fair enough to check SEEK etc but I wonder if the way forward is to get there, speak to potential employers face to face and try to secure something that way. We have been advised that it's not what you know but who you know which will initially open doors to employment for you. Once you have that crucial Aus work experience under your belt then you are perhaps better placed. We too have state sponsored PR, and due to life events here have been unable to make the move before now. I would LOVE to make Adelaide my forever home but how easy is it to move within that first 2 years if you cannot secure employment?

Thank you! A positive post is lovely to read. Hubby works in construction management but joiner to trade. I work in mental health/addictions community support. i really hope we find something. We arrive 2nd April, must admit the nerves are killing me!

This has really put the jeepers up me!!!!!!! We have PR but no job to come out to. Doubt I'll sleep tonight!

Thanks Russell x

Thanks Snifter, Gonna try some deep breathing, don't know why I'm so spooked, I'm usually very pragmatic! And breathe .............. Gotta get some sleep, I'm at work in 5 hours! Deep breaths ........... and again .....

Hi we we will be arriving in April, my OH is a construction manager (joiner to trade) with 30 years experience in large scale commercial fit outs. I previously worked in the Civil Service (benefits) as a customer services manager for 18 years before changing career into homeless services and community mental health support. Realistically does anyone have any idea if we will find work? I appreciate I'm not the only one on here asking this so my apologies also I understand that any responses are not guarantees. I'm just trying to get a handle on this amidst my mounting PANIC/TERROR that is fast becoming my normal emotional state. Any advice welcome. Sincere and grateful thanks, Lorraine x

Hell's Bells this makes for grim reading! That said I appreciate the candour. I think my concern is this; how can you budget for being out of work for up to 6 months?????? The days of cash rich ex pats arriving with a few hundred K are long gone I would imagine. I'm gutted! There is no way we can afford to be out of work that long! We simply do not have enough money to survive. The cost of getting there and bringing your stuff from the UK isn't cheap. Don't think I'm gonna get much sleep tonight. Lorraine

Hi Lorraine, Just wanted to say hello! I dare say we'll all end up meeting up when we get there, gonna feel like newbies! Hope you had a nice Christmas, all the best for 2015. Lorraine x

Hi Tanyaw, Thanks for your response, we have something sorted now. I hope that everything works out for you. Lorraine

Emirates all the way for us.

Thanks Tyke, We had a look at Tamara's properties but they're booked up already! Have been looking on real estate.com, some of them were brutal!!!!!!!! I don't know if the dog is the sticking point? Will keep plodding away, but thanks for taking the time to reply. Lorraine

We don't have jobs yet, my hubby works in construction management so hopefully he will be around the CBD, I work in homeless and mental health social care so wherever there are jobs to be honest. Having said that, I would happily do whatever just to work, I'm a good cleaner, I have civil service, pub and retail experience so hopefully I will find something. I also teach Zumba in the evenings.

Hi we are clan mac, arriving from Scotland April 2015. We are looking for a furnished rental from April 2nd till the middle of June when our furniture arrives. We have a house trained border collie so the accommodation needs to be pet friendly. Ideally a 3 bed property pref areas, Reynella, Woodcroft, Happy Valley, Hallett Cove & Brighton. But would consider other areas. Been advised to avoid the north?????. I have looked on here but the properties are booked up? Any advice welcome please. Thanks in advance, Lorraine

Thanks for all the replies, food for thought re bringing stuff vs not bringing it. I have a lot of expensive furniture which I'm loath to part with so think I'm probably gonna bring it and take the shipping cost on the chin!!! OUCH! The car thing is a bit worrying as we have a limited budget hmmm. Might actually think about the camping thing this end and send the furniture middle of Jan then we go straight to unfurnished which might save some money. I suppose too that it will give me time to get rid of stuff that wont fit. All advice much appreciated xx

Flights booked, flying out on April 1st will follow up on your advice Amit regarding Seek. Now let the planning begin accommodation to sort!

Hi all, we will be arriving from the UK end of March/beg of April 2015, was wondering if we should look at an unfurnished rental vs furnished rental till our stuff arrives from the UK???? As you will see from our signature we have been in this process for a LONG time. Our house took ages to sell in the recession and we had to sell it at a reduced price, which means that we will not have a lot of money to spend when we arrive. I am aware of the fact that it may take time to find work, although I hope we get something quickly! Any advice please? Also any advice re areas? Sincere thanks in advance - Lorraine x

We are arriving end of March beg of April 2015, I am just waiting on the pet transport people telling me when the dog is safe to travel. We have been in this process for a LONG time! It took nearly 3 years for our house to sell and we were stuck unable to do anything. We are in a rental property here with most of our stuff in storage. We are very excited and I think it's a great idea that you have set up this thread. HELLOOOOOO we are the McKnight family from Glasgow. My hubby is a project manager (construction). I work in community mental health and homeless services (I teach Zumba in the evenings too). We have 2 boys aged 18 and 16, and a year old border collie named Theo. Lorraine x