Hello All,

I'm a dutch guy with the idea(dream) of going to australia for windsurfing.
I'm 23 years, and i am working as a physics teacher. I already was a reader of this forum, but now I have some questions for my idea to come true. Since I am from Holland and not having any familie or friends in australia, I wanted to ask if anyone had an idea how to get work and everythind there? I love the waves so it would be great to be around them
If there are people with ideas for me, I would really aprecciate it!
Since the water is frozen here I'm going nuts!!

I just graduated from school at geraldton, western australia.
And i can tell you, you will be welcome with open arms to teach, as they seemed to always be struggling to get teachers there. Obviously Geraldton is where your wanting to go? So thats a good start on your behalf.

My best suggestion, find where you want to live, i.e geraldton. And if you still wanting to be a physics teacher, simply search for the schools in Geraldton.

www.geraldtongrammarschool.com.au
web.ncc.wa.edu.au/
etc..

Make some phone calls, and openly discuss your interests, and query how the 457visa works. Usually the Employer does all the hard work of getting you over here. And they will Know Exactly how it works for you to work here, rather than asking a bunch of windsurfers that will be mostly guessing on how it works..

Goodluck

OK JJ - firstly - just do it..... you'll love it

For Visa information look at www.immi.gov.au (immigration website)

I'd also suggest maybe forget about surf or windsurf schools etc. There are very few and they are owned and run by the instructor - getting work from a one or two employee business will be hard.
However - teaching is good. Our windy season is Dec - Feb in WA and that is when teachers get 2 months holidays!!! So you can earn good money and have a stable job (won't get the sack if you keep your hands off the schoolgirls) and get holidays when it is windy.At a surf school IF you find work as an instructor you'd earn 25% of the money and after a year maybe be unemployed.

Go to the above immigration website, check Australian Embassy where you live, and check out Department of Education in Western Australia.

you could have your details recorded with a international recuritment agency such as Smart Teachers. Many private schools recruit this way and will do phone interviews and together with a good recommendation from Smart Teachers they will then organise (and pay for mostly) the 457 visa.

Make sure your conversational English is good as this is often the difficulty with overseas trained teachers. I think there is a shortage of good physics/maths teachers in certain parts of Australia. However, when I was in Holland everyone spoke English very well - so I don't see you have a problem with is this.

good luck

good advice from the lads above.
Its not like Europe where millions of people converge on the Mediteranean and have a go at sailing.
Instead we have loads of euros trying to run us over in the water with their kites they never learned to steer properly...

Theres virtually nothing of that sort (surf schools) near any area of good sailing and you'd have NO chance of getting a work permit for that.
However Im not certain but I think cheeseheads (kaasekopjes AKA Dutchies) can get a working holiday visa for here that allows you to take holiday work for a few months at a time.
Come to WA and have a look first-its a friggin great place!

try http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard