The 'live in Australia' dream

Me and my partner had a dream to live in Australia, after spending a year travelling Australia on working visas. We both worked full time in Sydney and the work life balance was so different; there just seemed to be a much better quality of life. The weather contributes hugely to this, and the general culture is much more relaxed. I have a love for food and the fresh food available was another factor that would tempt me back to the streets of Sydney.

I'm a little nostalgic about it and it seems a distant dream to go back there to live. My partner qualified as a teacher with the hope that teachers would still be on the list of jobs that will get you a visa. Unfortunately, a PTP (graduate teaching programme) is a teaching qualification that isn't a recognised qualification in Australia. Yes, we should have looked into this first but honestly it hadn't even crossed our minds.

I have also been back to education to get a degree to try to up my points, I would still need to work in an occupation that is in demand in Australia and have 3 years experience. The visa system seems all very complicated, there are lots of agents that charge a fee to help your visa application- the obvious thing here is what if you were to pay the fee and never get your visa? The older you get the more points you lose towards a visa.

It's complicated. To apply for a skilled visa you need 60 points, the info below is taken form the Australian immigration website http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-189/ (14/08/2013)

You would need to submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply for a visa. ou must score at least 60 points (the pass mark) to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Migration visa (subclasses 189, 190 and 489).
Age at time of application:

8–24 (inclusive)	25 points
25–32 (inclusive)	30 points
33–39 (inclusive)	25 points
40–44 (inclusive)	15 points
45–49 (inclusive)	0 points

English Language Ability at time of invitation:

Competent English—IELTS 6 / OET B	0 points
Proficient English—IELTS 7 / OET B	10 points
Superior English—IELTS 8 / OET A	20 points

Skilled Employment (outside Australia)

At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)	5 points
At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)	10 points
At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)	15 points

 Skilled Employment within Australia (max 20 points for skilled employment in and out of Australia)

At least one but less than three years (of past 10 years)	5 points
At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)	10 points
At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)	15 points
At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)	20 points

Educational Qualifications:

Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or other Doctorate of a recognised standard	20 points
At least a Bachelor degree, including a Bachelor degree with Honours or Masters, from an Australian educational institution or other degree of a recognised standard	15 points
Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia, or qualification or award of recognised standard	10 points

Australian Study: check out the immigration website if you have already studied in Australia.

Other Factors:

Credentialled community language qualifications	5 points
Study in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education	5 points
Partner skill qualifications	5 points
Professional Year in Australia for at least 12 months in  5 points the four years before the day you were invited Nomination/sponsorship at time of invitation: Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only) 5 points Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship  by an eligible family member, to reside and work in a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only) 10 points