So, I think we're moving to Australia!

[Matt]

I had a quick look at that PDF and you are best contacting the agency and then letting them know the qualifications you do have to see if you meet the conditions.

Whilst you may have on the job experience with many items, the main thing that document stated was X years of study in Y vocation followed by Z years of experience working in that field of study

Both yourself and your wife will be assessed on that criteria to determine if entry is granted.

In Melbourne depending where you live will depend on what salary you require to afford a property. Australia has had a sharp increase in property value (similar to the US did prior to GFC) but there appears to be sufficient demand to keep this high in the interim

Peoples wages have not met the same level of increase in that time period making mortgages here higher for new property buyers compared to those who bought say 10 years ago. I dare say many incomes are dual to afford moving closer to the CBD areas

[Caspers_240]

Thanks again!

We will be in contact with them this week. I called the AUS Ambassador's office here in the States, but no one was in the office Friday afternoon... There is SO much information, and SO many different ways to go about this... It's a little daunting.

Through more research, (and my wife not wanting to live in another huge city) we have also started looking at Adelaide as another option. (BTW, as you said b4... it looks like you have some awesome roads via google earth )

Then I found out that most of the manufacturing is done there. My interest really peaked when I saw the GM Holden had a plant there! That would be a incredible job to land presumably! Anything with large amounts of sophisticated automated machinery really opens my eyes. I really enjoy troubleshooting and updating electronics.

I've also found that Adelaide has a median family income of $59,124 per year; our median family income is $28,712. You can get a pretty decent (nice area, nothing extravagant, but not broken either) house here for $100k... What would you consider a decent/safe suberb to check out in Adelaide? It looks like you can't really find anything for less than $400k there.

What about the income levels? The stated income levels include every person in the respected areas ages 15 and up... So I don't really trust the figures. My wife and I bring in almost double the local "median income." So I would assume that a "comfortable income level" would be what, maybe $70-$80k per year for a working couple?

Thanks again for your time, effort, and patience with my many questions. I realize and respect that you are a very busy man, so I really appreciate your input.

Oh and.. good afternoon! It's tomorrow there

[chris2712au]

Hi mate,

I am working for a company in sydney looking after the packaging, manufacturing machines and processes and also industrial based IT systems.. similar to the skills that you are saying that you have.. I am from a dual trade instrument / electrial background. It is not uncommon to see industrial tradesmen earning up to 80K pa AUD. in this field.. most of the people are from india that are getting into this these days as there are not so many young people in australia taking up apprenticeships.

Ayway I think that there are major vacancies for people in this area and you could probably even find a sponsor that may help with your application. any easy way in is to try to get involved with a multinational company and do the transfer thing.. then it is really too easy..

[Caspers_240]

That's great to hear! Thanks for chiming in with some more good info
I've been around (heavy industrial) instrumentation in small doses... Mainly the installation of them and landing the leads into PLC's. Nothing major...

When I was younger, I started a 5 year apprenticeship with the U.S. electrical Union (IBEW). I was just starting a family at the time and after almost two years, I decided that I didn't like the traveling that was involved.

Those guys stay away from home for months at a time and the divorce rate is something like 85%! Unless you was really good at "politics"... (read: butt kissing) Then you may be able to find a job within the 1hr driving distance range; but even then it was unreliable.

Since, I've found local jobs and I hope to be able to find a solid position where I can be at home every night (~95% anyway) with my wife and kids.

I said all that to ask you this: Are the Industrial Union jobs there the same way? I've read that they will test you and access your knowledge to "place" you in the proper skill level/pay grade (and I have no problem with that)... But is there a lot of "Do this job for 8 months, then go here for 5 months, then............ "?

That's why I've been looking at solid factories and the like... I like stability, not to mention my own bed!

My only problem with Adelaide is that there is only one race track... I think Melbourne has around 6!

BTW... Has anyone done the Great White Shark Dive thing?!? That looks intense!

[Candellan]

I'll chime in here as I work in the electrical industry & if you are coming to Australia, now is the time. We're designing a crapload of substations in NSW & QLD & the mining industry is about to pick up again. SCADA is a specialized industry & we're short of those specialists.

I'm biased but Brisbane, Queensland is the place for Living, work & racetracks. Summer is frigging hot though (40C/105F for a week every year).

Lakeside Raceway is one of the best tracks in the country & it's only open for amateur motorsport, so it's packed every week or so with real enthusiasts. It also has Australia's fastest average lap. QR will send you to sleep, until you get to the huge bumps at the end of the 4 drag strips. Mt Cotton is a hill climb set in paradise. Then there's annual events where small towns shut down a few of their streets for road race events. Tweed Heads, the new home of the Oz round of the World Rally Championship is just 2 hours away.

Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise is 1 hour south if you like scantly clad women & salt water. Sunshine Coast is 1 north with rainforest hinterlands & stunning beaches.

What's not to love?

[davehoos]

brother works for powerserve.
they are flat out.well payed.but travel is required.
these big project companies are not that well organised.
lots of waist.product of boom bust mentality.

also i get thinking seriously about it as you need to get In to these systems-get trained.

know anyone that wants A/C automotive work.
I put my notice in to work on trucks.
been help out my boss but new replacment broke his leg playing soccer.

[davehoos]

nearly the one that got away.

i didnt but neighbour thought he caught another snag.

[Caspers_240]

Holy crap! I'm not much on fishing, but that may make my dad want to go with us

Is that a simi normal fish, or some kind of freak show state record type of fish? Salt water bass? I see the river in the background, but I'm sure it's brackish...

Nice catch nonetheless!

[davehoos]

http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/jewfish.htm
54kg is listed but this was well over that as hanging on 55kg scales.
caught on small beach rod being used to catch bait fish.took 45 min to pull in and ran 6 times+.

this is caught in karuah river-salt water.allworth is at the end of navigation deep water.
just recently national parks closed of this river for comercial farming,no fishing at all above this point in rive.
have no dought that more sharks will be caught in river,recently lots of meter lenght have been caught.
sick of dolphins hearding fish at night-so loud.

common size-not seen these this far up river.have plenty old photos of great grandfather with 5ft+ fish[taller than him]caught on handlines and split cane.most here fish for-
http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/blackfis.htm
http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/flathead.htm

flathead classic contest is once/year deal.normally 75cm+

[davehoos]

when i was little we used to hunt these with rifle.
22 not big enough.
was told these are sea bream.not really.