Lisa888

Hi Angelia, That sounds good : ) I'm free most Fridays so just give me a shout. I can meet you halfway. Lisa

Hi Kate ! Just realised there are two Kate's on this thread ! Wine is always good ! You're not far at all. What days do you work ? Lisa

Hi Kate, Baldivis is about 20 minutes away from me. How long have you been here ? I work Mon-Weds so am around other days if you fancy meeting up ? Lisa

Hi Marc and Doris, I came over on a 176 visa with my social work skills, got assessed by AASW ( assoc of Australian Social Workers ) and lived in a regional area of WA for 18 months where they were crying out for social workers so I was lucky that I landed a job straight away. I worked in a prison running programs and also as a counsellor. If you are able to get over and work in a Gov Dept in a regional area you are usually eligible for subsidised housing and extra regional allowance payments. I got a great cheap house and good salary but found 18 months in the outback a bit too challenging ! i have a degree and a Masters in social work but I have a social work friend who came to Perth the same time and she has not got a degree ( came on husband's skills ) and she found work very quickly as a team manager with adults with acquired brain injuries. If you want to work for health,DCP ( Dept of child protection ) or other Gov depts they usually specify a degree and if you look on the WA jobs site you will see they state : "specified callings" which means just that. I emailed and rang up about jobs and also social work agencies before we left the UK and got really frustrated and very worried as I got nowhere and it can be very confusing - don't give up ! I registered with Reed social care and sent my CV round and it didn't take long. I am not sure what the exact different visa requirements are now - I looked into a few and we nearly went to different states on various visas over a 3 year period as the lists/ criterias and requirements shift as you know. We used a migration agent in the end as wading through the changes and keeping up was a headache ! I strongly recommend it : ) Doris - I work for the Dept of Corrective Services in a prison as a counsellor in Perth . Started off on a contract and then got made permanent. Gov depts really like their "recruitment pools" over here - they advertise, you apply, if you get selected for interview and are successful you are placed in a pool and can get picked for a position or maybe not and can sit there for up to a year. Also social work is very different here. It's sounds arrogant but every UK / US SW I have met here says the same - it's very dated ! I work as a counsellor here and just being a qualified SW enables you to go into private practice as a counsellor which I find a bit odd ! I could not do that in the UK without formal qualifications in counselling but here that is not an issue. I applied for a job with DCP when I arrived but turned it down due to what I saw of they work over here but I know they have on going recruitment and are always looking for staff. There are also some good NGOs but they do not pay as well as Gov dept. Hope this helps !? Lisa

Moved to Harrisdale 12 months ago from the red dirt of regional WA ! Would love to meet some down to earth Pommy ladies to have a laugh with : ) Not exclusive to Mums !! I have a 6 year old son and work part time as a social worker. Husband was a gas engineer in UK and currently working full time and re-training - feel like its been a long haul and we would love to meet some new people. We are from North West England not far from Liverpool. Be great to hear from people. Lisa

Hi Jen, just saw your post. I am working in Perth as a social worker - been here for 3 years and it was very confusing trying to get my head around it from the UK ! If I can be of any help just let me know. Don't be put off. There are a few social work agencies here. Lisa

Hi Marc, Not sure if I have already sent a reply to you !? Having problems with this site : / ! Are you still looking for info re:social work here ? I am working as a social worker in Perth - been in WA nearly 3 years. Happy to help if I can. Lisa

Hi. Just read this post - are you still looking for info ? I am a social worker in Perth and my husband is a gas fitter. Happy to help. Lisa

Hi Maggie, I have a 6 year old son but live in Canning Vale - I have just logged on here for the first time in ages to have a mooch at what socialising is going on so I would be up for meeting up. I work part time, husband is full time - only been in Perth for a year but in WA for nearly three. Lisa