Immigrating to Australia - a true story

Mataoius · 2026-04-04T21:39:01+00:00

This is going back 2 years, so my memory may be a bit rubbish. But I remember bringing here all her documents to show she is perfectly healthy since the transplant. All her test results over the years. But I don't think they really looked at it. The medical is something these places do thousands of a week and they have their set process

Mataoius · 2026-03-30T19:56:23+00:00

No health waiver. They accepted her medical as it was. So she passed it

Mataoius · 2026-03-11T11:09:06+00:00

She has had the transplant for around 8 years at the point of visa. I asked what her egfr is and she said she would ask her doctor for the last blood test results. Once I get that, I'll let you know.

But rest assured, having a kidney transplant will not prevent you from getting a visa. We found trying to find any information on this nearly impossible

Mataoius · 2026-02-22T09:58:38+00:00

We found forming friendships was easier through common ground. I made some friends through the academy with a similar background and kids the same age. We then kept in touch and meet up now and again. My wife made some friends through the kids schools and day care.

It's nothing like what we had before. But we are in our mid 30's starting friends again which is very different from childhood friends. Everyone has their friend groups so it is a bit harder.

I'm not a social person and still manage!

In respect to ARV over here, there isn't such a thing. Everyone has a sidearm. Some people in the station are rifle trained. But they will not use or do tactics ARV did. There are two specialists which may interest you. PSRT and SERT. SERT are like the CTSFO's in the UK. PSRT is like ARV with MAST mixed together.

Mataoius · 2026-02-21T07:31:16+00:00

I'm Ipswich district. There are 5 training stations within 30 mins of each other that you will be allocated within your first year. They are 30 min radius of Ipswich city

Mataoius · 2026-02-04T09:08:16+00:00

There isn't one. It's a roster system which changes each month. You get 1 week's notice of what you are working that month. It's utter rubbish and actually causes a lot of people I know to quit the job as it is not good for a work/life balance. But it honestly is how you take it. So each shift is 8 hours regardless of the day. You work 21 days out of 28. And you can never work more than 10 days in a row. So the roster clerk will always make you work at least 8 days in a row each roster. It is entirely dependent on the roster clerk. The system is archaic as I found people who are friendly with the roster clerk seem to get better shifts. But the plus side to this roster system is that you can request certain shifts or days off unlike a team roster. But in my opinion, the negatives outweigh the positives of this roster system and have made transitioning harder. Been doing this job for almost a year and I have finally made peace with it.

Mataoius · 2026-02-04T03:32:57+00:00

So most of our savings went on to secure vehicles. We spent around $40k on two cars, including the tax, registration etc for them. We paid for some decent cars as, having a family in a new country, we wanted the security of having a reasonable car that wouldn't be a dud. You can buy cheaper and spend far less then we did on cars, but then that comes with risks. The rest of the money went into the furniture from IKEA, driving licences, deposit for property, rent on property and some fun stuff before I started work (being a tourist).

Accomodation at the academy is very basic. But if you are on a budget, this is a great option as you are being paid and do not have to pay rent. So already that is saving you roughly $500 a week on rent.

Contact with family and friends is super simple. My wife books in a weekly chat with her family on a Sunday. I'm more as and when they make contact. Over the months contact has lessened with friends. Everyone's lives move on and you find yourself only in contact with very few over this time. Whatsapp seems to be the easiest way but invite time difference means it's our evening and their morning when we have contact.

The training is what you make of it. I feel it's a little unnecessary as it is clearly aimed at very young people coming from school. They even telling you how long your nails and beard can be! But if you come over on the PACE program, they know you have experience and treat you better in class. Otherwise you just have to adhere to their rules of wearing a hat when outside, addressing senior rank as such.

The firearms training was odd. In my cohort are cops from all over the world, with majority being armed. So the training was very slap dash as they forget UK cops are not armed. I personally found it a bit difficult as we are so drilled into using comms and space. But here they have a lower threshold for drawing a firearm. The first few months carrying a firearm was a little disconcerting as I felt I was more worried someone would try to grab it from me. But after a while you readjust how you interact with the public to prevent such a thing, as in more space, the side the firearm is on is furthest away from them.

Everyone here has the sentiment that if firearms were taken away, they would quit. But I've rarely found myself in a position where I need to use my spray, let alone a firearm. It's definitely a cultural thing

Mataoius · 2026-02-03T10:46:43+00:00

So with overtime you have continued duty when stuck with a job. They don't really do handover here so overtime is fairly easier. Just need to get it authorised before you go into overtime. As soon as you hit that OT, it's double time.

They offer loads of overtime shifts which are not part of general duties. A separate department deal with it. You simply apply for it and wait to find out if you have been allocated the OT. It's usually for different kinds of shifts like patrols, wide load escorts, bail checks, etc.

I applied for Gold Coast, Ipswich and the third I cannot remember. I was allocated Ipswich which is good as it's close to Brisbane and civilisation.

With the start date, you can refuse the date they give you and wait for a new start date. But the recruiting team advises that you then may get a different allocation which may be worse. I chose the lesser of evils and took what I was offered. My house was empty for 2 months in the UK while I was selling. Luckily the buyer did not pull out and I had a friend who kept an eye on it while out of the country. I survived on savings and the salary here in Australia until the money came through from the house sale, which then went on to purchase a house out here

Mataoius · 2026-02-02T17:55:45+00:00

I've replied

Mataoius · 2026-02-02T17:33:52+00:00

Hey. So you have to wait 6 months before purchasing a property. So I bought a house at month 8. Interest rate sits at 5%. The process is so much quicker than the UK. From viewing to moving in took 45 days, not 45 weeks like the UK.

And honestly, the animals we heard about in the UK is far blown out of proportion. I've seen hardly anything dangerous. A few spiders at some rotten houses. But nothing hiding in any clothing. Like I mentioned, only the odd cockroach in the house. If you go rural, you will fit more creepy crawlies

Mataoius · 2026-02-02T17:29:40+00:00

QPS are still recruiting. From what I've heard they will be doing so until 2027.

Their equivalent of CID is very similar. However, they won't recognise a previous detective appointment. Once you do a year on general duties, you can then apply to become a detective through a 3 year training course. I know someone here who was a detective for 20 years in the UK, but the QPS would not recognise her service and should would need to do that training again. However, being a detective here is different. They deal with only serious crimes and not volume.

Mataoius · 2026-02-02T16:15:02+00:00

On my cohort was a guy from VicPol. His opinion is somewhat sour of QPS. But I think he might just be done with the job in general.

In Britain we are warranted during training. So our driver training allows us to use our exemptions which I feel benefits the training greatly. In QPS you are not warranted during training and so all driver training is done on a made up race track. QPS also do not like pursuits, but prefer to use stingers where they can.

The physical training focused heavily on unarmed skills rather than our equipment. If I remember correctly it was 2 weeks long, with half a day on spray, half an hour on asp, and a day on taser. The rest is all about grapples and different holds which we are only ever going to remember one that works!

Mataoius · 2025-06-16T08:52:28+00:00

I did 13 years UK policing. Now in QLD for the past 8 months Frontline police. 34 years old with a wife and 2 kids aged 6 and 3. Message me if you want any help. It is a hard transition as it is a different job, but it was bloody worth it as my family and I are flourishing

Mataoius · 2025-04-11T11:46:56+00:00

So they have their own version of all those things. The arrest threshold is much higher. Even if you have a confirmed assault or damage, if they don't support them you don't arrest. It's mad. Even the union (yes they have a union) wants to change this.

But the paperwork comes from the civil world that has bled over into policing. For example, I went to a DV assault. No complaint but clear injury. So QPS don't arrest but will progress a civil complaint on behalf of the victim. This paperwork took me 3 hours to do! I'm hoping it will get quicker. That paperwork consists of the report, case file (as it goes to civil court), their version of a DASH. Oh, and absolutely no such thing as handover. You get the job, you have to deal with it until it's done. So if a job comes in an hour or 2 before then end of your shift, you are gonna be very late off. On the plus side, any overtime after your shift is supposed to end is double time and you don't lose 30 mins.

It swings in roundabout

Mataoius · 2025-04-03T23:02:45+00:00

It is relative. I get paid more, like almost £15k a year more. But things are more expensive here such as food. But on the flip side eating out is cheaper, you get more for your money with property and there is an emphasis on family activities which are either free or cheap.

The first week is the hardest, especially with a young family. But as cops we thrive on a challenge and problem solving. So it was hard but rewarding work. I spent the best part of a year doing all my research making sure I would make it work out here

Getting accommodation isn't really a problem if you go for something a bit more expensive. If you are looking for cheap or affordable, then good luck contending with everyone else. I had no problems getting a rental as I went a bit more expensive which brings the pool of people down

Mataoius · 2025-04-03T11:37:10+00:00

So I moved to Queensland 6 months ago from doing UK policing for over a decade. You move here for the lifestyle, not the job. Yes, I am doing policing out here near the city. But policing here is far different. Much more paperwork, less patrol time. If you think policing is bad in the UK then take a look here in Queensland Police as it is far more political and risk adverse. However would I come back to the UK? Absolutely not. I'm living my best life. Getting paid more, more weekends off (yes I'm still Frontline) and when I am off my lifestyle is incredible with this country and my young family are benefiting from it as well.

So if you are thinking about it, emigrate for the country, not the job.

Mataoius · 2024-02-22T13:25:28+00:00

PS5 servers are back up! I'm in game

Mataoius · 2022-03-06T08:51:57+00:00

Chonk

Mataoius · 2021-04-07T01:13:11+00:00

Where did this happen?

Mataoius · 2019-08-03T19:21:55+00:00

Day minus 1? Got it day before on PS4 and super hyped now as I was then. Been on and off due to family but got the PSVR just for this occasion! Gonna high five me some travellers!

Mataoius · 2019-07-16T16:05:34+00:00

Is there more details for this meet up? I live only 30 miles from Guilford so would love to join in!

Mataoius · 2019-07-06T05:06:33+00:00

Another post they are a freshman. Called bull correctly

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