Vinsmuft:
Landing

I got IOM tickets and the journey to Melbourne was a breeze. No issues with immigration at Melbourne airport. I came in with my pregnant wife and three children and we stayed with a former colleague in Cranbourne West (South east of Melbourne). If you have PR, register with Centrelink/Medicare asap so that you can start receiving Aussie dollars. Those Centrelink payments really made sense for us before I got job. And like tyosho said, a concession card from Centrelink is a must.

Accommodation

Getting accommodation was tough. We were not really comfortable staying with a family and needed ours fast. I used www.realestate.com.au to look for places to rent. Then if you see one you like, you need to book for inspection where you and several others who are interested in the house will come to have a look at it. After inspection, try to be friendly with the agent and convince him/her that you are able to pay the rent on a continuous basis. This "pally-pally" is important before you submit a formal application (yes they apply for accommodation here) so that the agent can put in a good word to the landlord for you. Some of the documents you will need to submit along with a formal application are proof of identity (passport, Australian drivers licence, Medicare card, etc), statement of account, proof of source of income (i.e employment letter), rental history and history of payment of bills (which you don't have as a newbie). In my own case, after we don inspect house tire, one of the agents had compassion on my wife who was ready to drop at any time (her due date was in 3-4 weeks time) and spoke with one of the landlords and so we got our own place. Advice: please get a place that has ducted heating which uses gas. It is more effective and cheaper than buying all these standalone heaters (my opinion though). Most houses here have a backyard lawn so prepare your mind to do some work mowing it regularly. I just mowed mine on Saturday and have not fully recovered 48 hours later

Work
As a Aussie newbie, prepare your mind to do casual work. Simple and straight. I am an IT person (programmer with 10 years experience) and before coming I checked seek.com.au. I saw millions of jobs in my field and was very confident that I will land one in my first month. Na dem go dey beg me to come collect job (na wetin dey my mind). But after coming in and staying for almost two months without job, my eyes cleared . I had been applying for like 5-6 jobs every single day but with no results. They always ask for local Aussie experience. My 10 year naija experience did not count for jack. Omo I had to register for a factory job and did that for 6 weeks before I got my career job through divine intervention. And factory jobs plenty for here and they all pay well. Advice: If you will be doing factory jobs, please get a back support belt otherwise your back go hear am.
Yes work here is not as stressful as in naija. Yes, most jobs have table tennis and other games. In my own case, its a small office space so what we do is play cards. Omo see where my supervisor with other colleagues dey teach me how to play cards. That was a culture shock for me. But dont be deceived by all this and you think that you will come here and relax and not work hard. No be so o. Oyinbo wont give you this dollar free like that. You gast to work mehn.
If getting professional work is tough, you could also look at doing care for disabled or aged care. Men those jobs pay well o. I know guys who are making solid dough here. You could do a course on these professions. I'm currently doing one (Certificate IV on Disability online).

School
School age is from 5 years. If you have any children above that age, they can start school immediately at the nearest public school. You don't need to come with a letter from their naija school. Just go to the closest school and ask for their requirements which are usually intl passport of the child , visa grant, and maybe some little money for books. Tuition is free. But my problem with their school system is that the children play a lot and are not being given homework to do. So be prepared to do some extra work to help with your child's education like borrowing books from the community library for them to read when they come back from school and at weekends. I did not have time to compare and contrast schools. I just looked for the closest one where my daughter can walk to and fro by herself (she's 8 years). That's because I would be doing my factory job and my wife was heavy with child and taking care of 2 other children so nobody has time to drop her off and pick her from school.

Other tips. DO NOT COME HERE WITHOUT YOUR NAIJA DRIVERS LICENCE. Even if it's expired, still bring it. FRSC or no FRSC certified bring am. At all at all na him bad o. And I don't mean international drivers license. Somehow during the rush of packing I forgot mine in Lagos. I have to now start from learner's permit . An Aussie driver's license is as important as a means of ID as your naija passport. So no carry am play. I can give you some info on the different tests you would need to do to obtain your Aussie drv licence. Then since I have a large family, I needed to buy a car asap. Its an absolute must here. If all your children are past 6 years, a normal car would do. www.carsales.com.au is better than www.gumtree.com.au for new/used cars because you can get more detailed info about the car you want to buy. Also it's more expensive but safer to buy from a car dealer than from a private individual. Please dont come and be spending your newly converted naira dollars anyhow o (I mean the dollars you got after converting your naija naira). You might think this burger is just $10 and want to have a bite etc. Plenty things dey here wey go dey draw your eye. You children sef go add to your stress by carrying you to where tantalising chocolate and stuff are being sold. Pls hold body o. This is because when you finally get your first accommodation and start paying rent and bills, all that money will finish fast. We used up all our money to pay our first rent and bond, and did not have enough to pay the next rent. That was the point where my eyes cleared and I quickly jumped on the factory work bandwagon. I cant dull myself in this country abeg

This my article (or epistle) don too long sha. So I'll stop for a while and wait for questions.

Chairman, I hail o! Pls, did you say one shouldn't come with int'l driver's license? My Naija license expires by end of Nov!!!!!!!! I enter before then and the new one can only be applied for from a month prior to its expiry. What can I do? The only other option is the Intl licence.

kamotisha:

They just did. It's roughly 1.6M. 2 adults, 2 children and 1 infant. We plenty for our yard

Pls,how much did charge for the infant?

Congratulations!!!

jelmusboy:
NT nomination (489) submitted - 1st July 2017
Case Officer contact - 29th August August 2017
ITA received: 26th September 2017

Sooooooooo happy!!!!!!! Grants flying everywhere! Congratulations, people! I'm yet to hear from IOM ooo... Anyone got thru to them yet?

Teejah80:
Oga bellong,good to have you back.The Lord will perfect everything and makes all the rough road straight. @Jamson,this your campaign for Sidney no be here fah.Abeg make una give us update about the serenity of Queensland too now,tired of all these parapo for Melbourne and Sidney peeps.@ Uchlye,where you dey,and everyone heading to Queensland, abi na only me waka come.

Are you heading to Qld? Have you got your grant yet?

OzyMigrant:


That same assumption cost me a second CO contact. Don't mind the COs jare......they claim to be always right even when they are dead wrong, buh wetin poor applicants go do na?

@sofi01, I sent you a pm already.

Seen and replied. Awaiting yours.

OzyMigrant:



Sofi01 and lalaazo, how are guys prepping for the big move? which states are you heading? I'm considering Melbourne. Wondering if we can bond up to share ideas.

Well, we may have to. Please email asap.

Friends,
Please, how do I go about IOM?

I had to mail CO requesting that my application be put on hold. That was acknowledged with an email from CO stating I had to inform them about baby's birth with form 1022, birth certificate and passport. Baby was added for free.

If you don't inform them and you give birth after your case has been finalized then that one na loooooong thing ooo

disectur:
Regarding adding your Baby to the application, did you have to put the application on hold before adding the baby?

Skills assessment May 2016
Visa lodged January 2017
Baby added May 2017
Grant Sept 2017

OzyMigrant:


congratz man......best in Aus. Any reason why it took so long?

Please can you share your time line and experience?

Guys!!!!!

I finally got my grant today for myself, wifey and baby after 234 days.

I wish everyone here a speedy grant and best wishes.

Aussie (QLD ) here I come!!!

Can I have a response to this concern of mine? I'll really appreciate. Thanks.

sofi05:
Hi guys...

I applied second week of January and pressed IP in May. However, I haven't heard from CO up until now.

Do you think I should do a follow up mail to them? Or not?

Hi guys...

I applied second week of January and pressed IP in May. However, I haven't heard from CO up until now.

Do you think I should do a follow up mail to them? Or not?

Congratulations!!! @lalaazo.

Been waiting since January. May God remember us all soon too. Amen.

How come he doesn't have O'level Mathematics? Have the rules changed?

Hi all!
My wife is one of my secondary applicants. When we applied in January she had her old passport in her maiden name. Now we applied for a change of name and a new passport has been issued. How do I notify DIBP? Remember it is a case of change of name and also passport no.
Thanks.

For the guys that required the IELTS listening...I'm so sorry I didn't get right back to you guys. It's been crazy...I've not had time at all to come here or even to reply mails. I'm grateful someone has replied you all. So sorry again. Thanks for your understanding. As for the guy in PH I was hoping to give you personal tips. Please, you guys may also use ieltsbuddy.com added to theone already sent via dropbox. The materials on ieltsbuddy.com are very useful. Thanks.

Send me an inbox. I can give you tips for listening which is one of the easiest parts.

1naira50kobo:
My result came out R/W/S/L 7/7/7/6.5


registered for another IELTS again


If there's anyone with nice material please drop it..or anyone within PH axis that wanna study together please indicate

Cheers

SegunWamiri:
I believe the test from DIBP is a mild one. Try asking people who are working on Canada's PR

Na wa sha...

Waiting for grant from DIBP is indeed a true test of patience and resilience. Wehdone, DIBP. Una wehhhhdone ooo!!! Chai!!!! ***can't wait to rejoice like the rest of the gang with their grants in their hands***
Meanwhile, any PH residents on here?

mctowel01:
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9 : 11)

.
I m a living witness to this.
It was all a dream

.
Nov 2015, I didn't really know where I was thinking what next with life, and what it will present, in the hostels in UNI. A friend told me about studying in Australia and the fact that they didn't have so complex admission process, as far as one had the funds, there were always spaces. Plans were down. Time went, then I started service, and thats how exchange rate started dramatizing... Till it reached an unthinkable level. Australia in turn changed student visa policies, just a week to July, making it soo tough at that point. Then I felt really bad and knew studying wasn't possible again.

.
I started the PR processing, and thats how immigration started their wahala, almost two months to get a passport. Thanks to mamajaz at this point for her selfless service and support. She helped put.calls to lots of people in different states to help me process the passport. I will not forget it. Time went, I took ielts on the 5th of November, then prepared my CDR, which was submitted around that time. December 7th, I took PTE first time, scored all except speaking above 79. Speaking was 73. I booked again to take it on the 13th and scored all above 79, speaking 81.
Moreover, i got my assessment for professional electronics engineer on the 13th of December. Got the result on the 17th and lodged eoi immediately with 60 points. At that period, electronics went on pro rata, so I waited till April 12th round to get invited. I ll also add that the last invited 60points for electronics submitted on Dec 19, so it came down to the wire.
Lodged 13th April, submitted all relevant documents abd here I am, I ve gotten the Direct grant on the 31st May.
Sometimes, we think we are at the lowest point, but that point in life, not knowing we are being prepared for grace untold

.
Notable mentions to the veterans,...(some newbies might not know them) More like the forefathers in this thread... NNBB2012, scrollmeout, ericktack, bossylady Johnsontade, Malkinburg, and out ever, selfless, passionate and respected Bellong... God bless you sir. I owe you a complementary visit there.
My brothers from another mother Bnimz and big bro Jamson, catchdwindfrmkd... Thanks for being part of the journey.
Aussie, here I come

Congrats, mctowell01

Call . Let's talk.

Hi!

Maybe you may have to let them know that you are IBMS certified or registered and you may also get a waiver if you have years of practice from the UK. However, you may decide to register for the exam as they already have aided you by agreeing to accept an emailed copy. However, you may apply for 190 to Queensland and get nomination for PR as an MLT provided you can make 55 points.

jelmusboy:
I received this email from Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) for Medical Laboratory Scientist assessment. Does it mean they are giving me an MLT status or they might still give MLS status?

I'm asking this because I am a registered MLS in the UK with IBMS membership and am just wondering why AIMS will give me MLT status.

Having said that, what are the visa sub-class I can apply for if it turns out to be MLT and which states should I nominate?

Thanks guys

Hi man. Please I haven't followed the thread but what do you want to know about MLSs? Post again on here and I will respond.

jelmusboy:
Have asked many questions about Medical Laboratory Scientist in this forum but nobody is answering me. All I can see is about Engineers. Don't we have other occupations here or we can just change the topic to Engineers Migrating to Australia

If there was a maximum no of times one can hit the refresh button.......I would've exhausted it...!

God, please. If it be your will, let it be done!

There is God o....

"No man is an island"! This is a powerful statement. Co-operation is very key! Do u think if your Medical Laboratory Scientist knows that his work is appreciated and compensated as such he will not do all he can to conduct his test as soon as possible knowing that his patient is in the ward? If the patient belongs to everybody, don't u think there'll be more productivity? Do u think it is right that a worker who has laboured for over 25years does not have a hope that he csan attain the peak of his carrer when he is a graduate of a health profession?is it right that an accountant with a four-year degree can become Accountant general of the state or even the federation and can rise to heights such as becoming the permanent secretary of the ministry even higher than a director of that ministry? If that be the case, y can't a professional rise to the peak of his carrer as to head his department. In the US, the medical lab can be headed by a pathologist or a scientist who has attained such status usually over a period of time of service. In the UK, consultants exist for all departments. It is just a pity that ducks have been indoctrinated. Such shame!!!

It is clearly a huge pity that these issues are such that would be discussed extensively. It is a known fact that medicine has become really diversified and the roles of the different players in the health sector rather broadened. This is a global approach: the patient is the most important factor in this equation (although really an unballanced equation in this country). Reading closely thru the discussion in this thread, it is obvious that the rights and boundaries of the several players in the health sector has been trampled upon for a protracted period! Refering to the US, it is obvious that expanded roles exists for the Nurse (we now have Nurse Practitioner)))n the Pharmacist(Dr of Pharmacy), the Clinical/Medical Laboratory Scientist(Doctor of Clinical Lab Sciences) Physiotherapy (Doctor of Physio) etc. This goes a long way to show that the field of medicine is becoming more specialised and as such requires such trained and specialised professionals for the common good, the good og the patient! Why muct the Nigerian case be any different. Consultants exist for every profession in the UK. There are Consultant Biomedicla scientists and earn as high or even higher than lots of the doctors. If Doctors have left clinical practice for lab medicine, y can't other professions also extend their scope of practice? In all health schools, we have what is called basic medical science (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry) which forms the basis of the different professions...so y then do doctors say they do everything in medical sch? Gues we all did everything! That doesn't mean because I did pharmacology as an MLS student that I am a pharmacologist or can work in a pharmacy! Even students with a BSc degree in pharmacology do not have the license to work in a hospital pharmacy! What is the fuss all about