Info on Brisbane/South Queensland needed!!

[diaclone2008]

Hi. We're currently going through the Skilled Migrant Visa process, and we're at the stage where we're just waiting to hear back.

We've decided we want to live near Brisbane, but we're trying to work out where.

The situation is I will need to be near an airport for work (I'm a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer - Aviation 4114-15 as the form calls it - I think!!!), but I don't want to be too close to the city:

1) it's too expensive for us: our budget would probably stretch to AU$500,000, but we don't want to go that high, but would still like at least a 4-bed house with room for a pool or a pool or a pool already there (I know, we want the moon on a stick!).

2) we'd like to live in a quiet-ish area: this is a compromise, as I've almost always like in/near a city, with everything close, and my husband would like to live away from the city (he'd like 2 acres, I've said 1000m if you're lucky!!!).

I wouldn't really want to have to travel more than an hour to get to work each day (traffic permitting, obviously).

I do have a lot of demands, don't I???

So if anyone knows of a nice area with a low crime-rate, nice and cheap for the house we want, and neighbours not too close but not so far away that we never see them, that would be great!

The other thing is, we'd need to be near schools as we have two young children (7 and 4). Our 7-year-old has Aspergers, although he doesn't have a Statement of Disability, so he is currently at a mainstream school and performing well, but I don't know if Aussie schools would be able to provide the one-on-one help he'd need at times.

If anyone can help with either of this questions, that would be great.

Thank you for your time.

[scottishcelts]

Originally Posted by diaclone2008

Hi. We're currently going through the Skilled Migrant Visa process, and we're at the stage where we're just waiting to hear back.

We've decided we want to live near Brisbane, but we're trying to work out where.

The situation is I will need to be near an airport for work (I'm a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer - Aviation 4114-15 as the form calls it - I think!!!), but I don't want to be too close to the city:

1) it's too expensive for us: our budget would probably stretch to AU$500,000, but we don't want to go that high, but would still like at least a 4-bed house with room for a pool or a pool or a pool already there (I know, we want the moon on a stick!).

2) we'd like to live in a quiet-ish area: this is a compromise, as I've almost always like in/near a city, with everything close, and my husband would like to live away from the city (he'd like 2 acres, I've said 1000m if you're lucky!!!).

I wouldn't really want to have to travel more than an hour to get to work each day (traffic permitting, obviously).

I do have a lot of demands, don't I???

So if anyone knows of a nice area with a low crime-rate, nice and cheap for the house we want, and neighbours not too close but not so far away that we never see them, that would be great!

The other thing is, we'd need to be near schools as we have two young children (7 and 4). Our 7-year-old has Aspergers, although he doesn't have a Statement of Disability, so he is currently at a mainstream school and performing well, but I don't know if Aussie schools would be able to provide the one-on-one help he'd need at times.

If anyone can help with either of this questions, that would be great.

Thank you for your time.

Hey d, check out Thornlands, you get loads for your money house wise and also google; Thornland State School, they have a special education unit which is ace, we have checked it all out they have kids with all different types of needs, autisim etc. and they spend time between the unit and the school.

Hope this helps and let me know what you think.

[NELBHOY]

apologies diaclone2008, this is slightly off topic, but as a fellow a/c engneer, do you know the procedure to be legally allowed to sign off a/c in oz if you hold EASA licences. Good post by the way. We are in the same position as you with regard to finding somewhere suitable in Brisbane. Pretty confusing!

[diaclone2008]

Originally Posted by NELBHOY

apologies diaclone2008, this is slightly off topic, but as a fellow a/c engneer, do you know the procedure to be legally allowed to sign off a/c in oz if you hold EASA licences. Good post by the way. We are in the same position as you with regard to finding somewhere suitable in Brisbane. Pretty confusing!

Hi. I currently do not hold any licenses, as I've worked on military aircraft only. Sorry I could be any more help, but if you find out anything, let me know!

What stage are you at in the application process, have you gone through your TRA, by the way, and when are you thinking of going?

[NELBHOY]

Originally Posted by diaclone2008

Hi. I currently do not hold any licenses, as I've worked on military aircraft only. Sorry I could be any more help, but if you find out anything, let me know!

What stage are you at in the application process, have you gone through your TRA, by the way, and when are you thinking of going?

Thanks for the swift reply. just starting out I'm afraid. In middle of filling out TRA. Looking to go as soon as possible. QANTAS have a heavy maintenance base at brisbane so probably start trying to get in there. Have a friend who is unlicenced & works at pratt & whitney. Seems to think theres work aplenty at airport! Are you looking to go civil or back into military? Seems to be as much military work out there as there is civil. Who did you send your TRA to for assessing by the way?

[diaclone2008]

Originally Posted by NELBHOY

Thanks for the swift reply. just starting out I'm afraid. In middle of filling out TRA. Looking to go as soon as possible. QANTAS have a heavy maintenance base at brisbane so probably start trying to get in there. Have a friend who is unlicenced & works at pratt & whitney. Seems to think theres work aplenty at airport! Are you looking to go civil or back into military? Seems to be as much military work out there as there is civil. Who did you send your TRA to for assessing by the way?

I don't mind civil or military, but I've been MOD for 13 years.

I've heard there 's loads of work at the airports, too, so hopefully I'll pretty much 'walk-in' to a job. My details are on the TRA's list now, so whether that will help or not, only time will tell.

The TRA was based in Canberra. All the details are on the Aussie Governments website, so I followed what do do on there: once you get all the relevant forms together (and get used to form-writing!) it's quite easy!

As my skill was on the MODL list, the letter approving the skills assessment came back quite quickly: about 6 working days in all (it says on the website it should take 10 max), so it'll probably be the same for you.

Are you going through an agency, or doing it all yourself? Also, it is just you, or partner and kids?

[NELBHOY]

Originally Posted by diaclone2008

I don't mind civil or military, but I've been MOD for 13 years.

I've heard there 's loads of work at the airports, too, so hopefully I'll pretty much 'walk-in' to a job. My details are on the TRA's list now, so whether that will help or not, only time will tell.

The TRA was based in Canberra. All the details are on the Aussie Governments website, so I followed what do do on there: once you get all the relevant forms together (and get used to form-writing!) it's quite easy!

As my skill was on the MODL list, the letter approving the skills assessment came back quite quickly: about 6 working days in all (it says on the website it should take 10 max), so it'll probably be the same for you.

Are you going through an agency, or doing it all yourself? Also, it is just you, or partner and kids?

Wasn't sure whether to use agency or not but have decided against it after reading earlier posts. seems like a big waste of money. Will be going out with my wife & 2 boys(ages 3 & 1). Thats why I was glad to read your post as you seem to be in a similar situation to us although much further ahead. I know scottishcelts has done a lot of research into schools so it's worth looking at his recommendatons. I think Alex hills is about a 40min commute on paper to the airport, but it is the opposite side of the river so I don't know realistically what it would be.

[HOPPITY]

Originally Posted by scottishcelts

Hey d, check out Thornlands, you get loads for your money house wise and also google; Thornland State School, they have a special education unit which is ace, we have checked it all out they have kids with all different types of needs, autisim etc. and they spend time between the unit and the school.

Hope this helps and let me know what you think.

Have to agree, we looked at Thornlands before we moved over here, great area & good schools, have to say we have since settled on the Gold Coast as this is where my oh does most of his work.

Sarah x

[NELBHOY]

just received an email from mate who works at brisbane airport. May be relevant Diaclone:
"as far as commuting goes, it would be ok going from alex hills area to the airport(probably around 10 or 15 minutes but you'd be paying the toll on the bridge every day. they're talking about putting the charges up quite a bit once the other bridge is finished. i think its currently around $2.80 each way. doesn't seem much but the guys who do make that trip every day moan like hell about it! works out around $1300 a year at the moment. you might find out more if you do a search for gateway bridge project or something. we looked at that area when we came over too, but decided against it due to it being an older area. we decided to settle where we are (north lakes) because of the school and it being a brand new area (they dont build small housing estates here, they build complete towns!) they started this place around 2000 and are just over half way through! its less than 25 minutes to the airport too. straight road. easy drive.

[dewey]

Hi there

We are also looking at moving to North Lakes once all Visa's are sorted. We have 3 girls aged 8, 3 and 1. It looks like a nice place for kids and families. I am just wondering about the medical facilities they have nearby, Doctors, Dentists etc? Also what is the level of education given in the State School? Hope you can help!