Sandra’s Story – 482 Temporary Skill Shortage
Tell us a little about your background
I was born in Cork, Ireland and came to Australia in 2018 when I was 25. I began my journey completing regional work in Darwin; this was a big culture shock, but the most amazing experience. I am a secondary school teacher, specialising in English and History, so swapping the classroom for the construction site was quite a change. Originally I had intended on staying in Australia for 12 months on a working holiday visa, but really loved the lifestyle and of course the weather! 12 months turned into 4 years and I’m currently awaiting my permanent residency. I was delighted when my employer agreed to sponsor my partner and I in 2020 and since moving onto the 482 visa, the stability of our work situation has allowed us to travel during my school holidays. From scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, climbing Mt. Kosciuszko and visiting the crocodiles of the NT, I really have been blown away by the diverse landscapes.
“My experience with Migration Downunder has been excellent. Everything was so straightforward and simple with both applications I’ve processed through the agency. If I ever had a question or a problem, Alice and the team were able to deal with it so efficiently. I was always well informed about what part of the process we were at and the stress associated with visa application was dissipated completely. I would recommend Migration Downunder to anyone who is applying for sponsorship, PR or merely looking at their options for extending their stay in Australia.”
What’s your favourite part about being Irish?
My favourite thing about being Irish is the sense of community that we seem to exude wherever we are in the world. No matter where I’ve been, Irish people always seem to naturally gravitate toward one another and I believe being Irish means always being there to lend a hand; we always look out for each other. They say “it’s such a small World”; I believe that little idiom was developed by the Irish! You’re only ever a few questions away from finding a connection to that other Irish expat; “Where are you from?”, “Do you know [person’s name]?” and usually it results in “Oh yes, they actually live next door to my cousin!” We may be 10,000 miles away from home, but these little connections make that distance a bit more manageable.
What are three things you like to do on St Patrick’s Day?
St Patrick’s Day in Ireland meant a trip to the parade, since moving to Australia I’ve begun to create new traditions. A pint of plain [Guiness], a packet of Tayos [chips] and a traditional Irish music session are mandatory on Paddy’s Day.
How was your experience with Migration Downunder?
My experience with Migration Downunder has been excellent. Everything was so straightforward and simple with both applications I’ve processed through the agency. If I ever had a question or a problem, Alice and the team were able to deal with it so efficiently. I was always well informed about what part of the process we were at and the stress associated with visa application was dissipated completely. I would recommend Migration Downunder to anyone who is applying for sponsorship, PR or merely looking at their options for extending their stay in Australia.
