Anyone in WA who can recommend a job for a mech eng with 2.5 yrs exp? Got a 475, so constrained to working and living in regional WA only.

And a question to those who are currently living down under, has anyone gotten a job before landing in Aus? I understand that some employer would prefer that you land in Aus first before considering you for a job.

It's a visa requirement. 475 is a pathway to PR (subclass 887). Very easy to get PR this way since you only need to comply with the conditions for 475, ie live for 2 yrs and work full time for 1 yr in regional area.

Thanks for the useful link, though it doesn't really apply to me. 475 is a state sponsored visa whereas 457 is employer sponsored, which means that WA will have an interest in keeping their beneficiary within the state. In fact, I have to do keep WA gov apprised every 6 months on my work and residential location. Once I transition to a PR though there will be no restriction and all benefits entitled to a PR (ie Medicare) will commence immediately since I will have fulfilled the 2 yrs residency requirement.

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Added on May 29, 2012, 5:11 pm
Regional WA is big now with the mining boom I guess... but you can also move to other regional areas like Adelaide for example... because like what you said once you fulfill the 2 years stay in a regional area (not necessarily in the state that sponsored you) then you can apply for the PR ald..

Hope that opens up more possibilities for you?? =)

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Nope. Must stay and work in regional WA. I could have applied for a PR directly but the July cutoff date is just too close for comfort since I only fulfill the work experience point in April.

What's your visa status?

In any case, I'm planning to stay with a relative in Perth while looking for a job there. Getting a job before landing would be a bonus though.

At least you only have to earn back 6000. I got to fork up another 4000+ for the PR in the future.