Can a 47-Year-Old Have a Long-Term Future in Australia?

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Hello All,

I am giving very serious consideration to moving from Scotland to Australia to further develop my career and enjoy all that life there has to offer. I spent a few weeks in Queensland and Tasmania last year and I fell in love with the people and the place. My problem is that, as a 47-year-old, it appears the best I can hope for is a visa which allows me to stay for only four years. I would be really grateful if anyone can advise me if there are any options which would allow me to stay for a period longer than 4 years.

I graduated from Huddersfield University in 1993 and have worked for the NHS since then. I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Care Diabetes Management (2005), and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists Diabetic Foot Module (2011). I am presently employed as a Highly Specialised Diabetes Podiatrist. I have extensive experience in the areas of wound management, high-risk patient management, education, nail surgery, and biomechanics.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Eileen

 

Hi Eileen,

in 2006 i was 48 years young and after much pain sweat money and patience got a 457 sponsorship visa.

So i departed UK for Sydney to a large practice there. Most Pod is in Private Practice and you have the medicare which within certain criteria can enable pts to access subsidised pod care.

The 457 guarantees a minimum salary of $55,000.00 , divide by 1.5 to give pounds.

As i was old ie over 45 i had to do a competency exam at University of Western Sydney before i was able to obtain registration with the regulatory authorities.

In UK i was a band 7 specialist pod diabetes wound care and responsible for PNA.

When you have worked for your employer for 2 years and have been a good girl, you can then ask your employer to support your application for permanent residency, You usually then have to sign a 2 year agreement to work for the practice as they sponsored your residency. This is what i did.

Remember health care in aus is expensive. When on 457 vise you have reciprocal health care. This means some things will be on medicare.

So my GP who charged $65.00 for an appt, was kind and Bulk Billed me so i paid nowt, as i had reciprocal health care. He did not have to do this.

When you get residency you no longer have reciprocal health so have to pay.

When old in Aus private health ins is expensive and increases with age so at your age you could be looking at $3500.00 pa.

Also your UK pension will not be index linked so NO:boohoo: annual increases with cost of living.

Housing in Aus can be ferocious and cost of living is high compared to UK.

I enjoyed my 4 years in Sydney but i decided to return home in July 2010 and do not regret my decision to return home.

If i was under 35 i would have stayed in Aus and would have moved to either Tasmania which i adored or to the Queensland Coast north of Brisbane, the Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Fraser Island area.

Also remember in aus if you live semi rural then travelling for hours to see a Hospital Consultant will be the norm.

Mu Aunt and Uncle ( in their 80's) live 3 hours north of Adelaide and every 6 weeks have to drive to adelaide to see the Eye specialist.

A friend of mine and his wife and 4 kids moved to Qld last year. He bought a practice and a $1,000,000.00 home.

I would say that i really do prefer the UK.

I hope you have been watching Poms in Paradise on ITV. It is a rosy picture of the good and bad of Aus and takes place on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts of QLD.

I went as it was my midlife crisis. So i really enjoyed it and my visits to various parts of Aus.

Do you like venomous spiders snakes and other beasties.

Where i lived in Sydney went a slow as -7c and a hot as 42.8c. That is a 50c swing.

How are you with 90-95% humidity.

I would say if you want to do it, do it. it will be a life enriching experience. If you do not want to stay then you can return as i have done.

A lot of serious thought for you.

Also do not underestimate the costs of this adventure.

Wen i went to Aus i got 2.414 dollars to the pound. Now it is about 1.5 dollars to the pound.

Median house price in the part of Sydney i lived was 1.4 million dollars for a 3 bed detached house.

You can buy a 4 bed house in one of the western suburbs of Sydney for about 500k.

In Tassie a 4 bed bungalow over looking the Launceston River valley is about 300k

regards david:drinks

 

Hello David,

Many thanks indeed for your reply; it has been of considerable assistance and has given me lots of food for thought.

Best wishes

Eileen

 

Hi Eileen.
I'm an Aussie who has lived in both England and Aus. Currently reside in Melbourne.
There are consistenetly good opportunities in Podiatry. I can't offer any positions at moment but would have to say the profession here is on the up swing.
The average wage I would say would be closer to 70-75000 AUD. Just on gut feel.
Aged care in Australia is probably the highest growth market. But all aspects of podiatry are improving and patient awareness of podiatry is great.
Living costs are high but most people live closer to the major cities. Not every one lives in the outback. There seems to be a shortage of podiatrists now in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

I've lived in country Victoria and have never considered that there is a shortage of health care providers to service me. Most of the larger regional centres do have the major specialists. Again it depends where you live.

I could recommend melbourne for lifestyle. We get 4 seasons a year. A good Summer with only occasional humidity. reasonable public transport if you live within 10km of CBD.
Housing is expensive though.
Hope this helps

 

Hi Podtiger,

Many thanks for your reply; it too was extremely useful and has given me even more to think about.

Best wishes

Eileen.

 

hullo Brochpod,

Have you considered the possibility of a job swap incorporating a house swap. I'm not sure if this is possible but I know of a 49 year old podiatrist in a fantastic part of Australia who is considering this.

He once played a season of cricket for Ayr and loves Scotland. He also has 3 children (school age) and a wife who would leap at the chance of some time living in the UK.

What think you?

Regards Micw

 

Hello MicW,

Thank you very much for your reply.

I'm afraid that, because I am employed in a senior role in the National Health Service, there is no chance of arranging a job swap :-(

I hope that your friend does manage to find something in Scotland.

Best wishes

Eileen.

 

Can a 47-Year-Old Have a Long-Term Future in Australia?
yes you can.

 

hi its your age that stops a permanent visa . solution 1 marry an aussie solution 2 if your wife / husband is 44 or under apply under her/ his name with you as the spouse my wife is a 41 year old pharmacist if we apply via me age 48 reply no if we apply via my wife 41 answer yes.and yes you can go anywhere but it helps if you are minted dont forget it will wreck your nhs pension. best to go on a retirement visa when work is finished if you are 47 its a bit late but if you are fed up go for it you are never to old for a new adventure

 

Hi.

Thank you for taking the trouble to reply.

I'm afraid that the more I look into the issue the less able I feel to I share your positive outlook. Given that I am already married and my husband is 51 (see Fishpod below), my only option appears to be finding an employer who is willing to sponsor me and hope that I can convince there are exceptional grounds to allow me PR even though I am above the 45 age limit.

Best wishes

Eileen

 

Hello Fishpod.

Thank you too for taking the trouble to reply.

I may have to give serious consideration to dumping my 51-year-old husband and snaring myself an Aussie toyboy.

Best wishes

Eileen

 

sorry my plan is not a goer im afraid they dont want us part used pods. good luck

 

Hello Eileen

I went to Melbourne on a 457 Visa in 2009 just as I turned 46. I only graduated in 2008 and had 8 months NHS experience. (So very different to your excellent resume). I worked for one of the big private companies that supply podiatrists, dieticians and physiotherapists to the private nursing home sector (aged care). It was extremely hard work on a full time basis and a de-skilling experience. I soon realised why the job was open to international applicants.

However, it's not all doom and gloom. If like others you can definitely find a good private clinic with some assurances from the start that they will support your application for permanent residency than I'd possibly say go for it. However you should investigate this fully. After the age of 50 the criteria for being accepted is increased and your sponsor has to say why they can't employ a younger Australian citizen to do your job, (on the basis of your specialist knowledge perhaps this may not be an issue).

Your best option (other than chucking hubby which I feel is very harsh ) is to contact an agency such as alliedhealth.com.au Ask them directly if they know of any employers willing to sponsor you on a 457 and then after 2 years go the extra step to get you onto a permanent visa. Working for a rural hospital/government might well be your best option because most younger people want to work in the cities. BUT do remember that if you are unhappy you are tied to the employer. (I think there's some changes to the 457 Visa and you may have to pay for health insurance from the beginning now)

One other thing. If you leave the NHS, no matter how long you've been there, it could potentially be impossible to return. It could be a very expensive move. However with the correct research and assurances it could be a wonderful move. You'll need courage, conviction and a willingness to graft hard.

• 
  Cost of living is extremely high
  Property prices in cities are much higher than the UK overall
  You have to factor in health insurance
  You're on a good wage here. You'd need more in Oz unless you land a great job.
  
  GOOD LUCK

 

Hello Deborah,

Thank you very much indeed for taking the trouble to reply. The information that you have given me is extremely useful, and it has heartened me considerably!

Best wishes

Eileen

 

Hi Eileen
I am a new pod graduate (so haven't got your wonderful CV) and am moving out to Oz on 3rd december. I got a job very easily and on a 457 visa. I will be in the same position as you would if you venture forth. If we like it I will be 48 when applying for PR. I've been told it is possible.

Re the comment above about health care. The visa just stipulates that you have to be covered when you arrive in Oz so you simply take out a month or so's private cover. Many companies do this simply for the purposes of the 457 visa and give you a letter to pass to diac (the visa people). Once you get to Oz being a UK citizen you are covered by a reciprocal health agreement and can sign up with Medicare and cancel your private insurance. Medicare doesn't cover private or elective surgery or ambulances or opticians or dental etc so you'd have to decide whether to take out cover for these. My understanding is that PRs can have medicare but depending on salary earned my need to pay a 1.5% surcharge from your salary. I just remember that UK health care isn't free - we pay NI plus for dental/prescriptions/optiticans etc etc

Anyway it has taken me just 8 weeks end to end to apply and get a visa. So if you need to know anything more about the ins and outs PM me and I can help.

Good luck
Sonia

 

Hi Sonia,

Thank you so much for your inspiring comments, and please accept my apologies for not having replied to you before now.

It is probably 50-50 as to whether or not I make the leap of faith and head to Oz.

I wish you all the very best for your future!

Thanks again.

Eileen.

 

Hi Eileen
Just a little bit of further info, I know someone who is currently working as a pod in Oz and I think she's about 49. She has just applied for permanent residency and has passed the first part. 45 is thought of as the cut off for some PM applications, so this is encouraging.

Sonia

 

Hi

Just to let you know Diabetes Podiatry is yet in Australia a specialty. The only specialisation that podiatry has at the moment is podiatric surgery. Only time will tell when the next one can be put in legislation