CORA –
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
on THE GOLD COAST

Visapath client story · Austria → Queensland

The email arrived one evening on a terrace in Bali: “Permanent Residency granted.”
Cora remembers the moment vividly. “I just burst into tears. And then we went out to celebrate,” she says today.

FROM EUROPE TO BALI TO AUSTRALIA

Cora is an occupational therapist trained in Austria. After completing her qualification, she worked in Austria and in the United States, and later lived in Bali, working remotely in several jobs.

The decision to move to Australia wasn’t made at a desk — it happened along the way. “I met so many Australians in Indonesia. A lot of them said: if you’re an OT, come to us, there are great visa options.”

It was Cora’s mother who found Visapath. Their first consultation took place in September 2022, and in late 2023 Cora began the Skills Assessment process.

FROM SKILLS ASSESSMENT TO VISA

The visa pathway was straightforward: Cora started the Skills Assessment in December 2023 and received a positive outcome in February 2024. After that, she submitted Expressions of Interest for both the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190). In May 2024 she received State Nomination for the 190 visa, and lodged the application in June.
On 2 October 2024 — around nine months after beginning the Skills Assessment process — her visa was granted. Three weeks later she entered Australia as a Permanent Resident.

ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA

Cora spent her first three months travelling along the East Coast to get a feel for places where she could imagine building a life. Today she lives and works on the Gold Coast — a place that instantly felt like home:

“I’m happy to get up at five, head to the beach, go for a walk or a surf, and then start work. I don’t ever want to give up this lifestyle.”

AT A GLANCE

Timeline

2023 → 2024

Location

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Status

Permanent Resident (Skilled Visa)

JOB SEARCH AND NEW PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES

Professionally, it was very much a fresh start. The provisional registration required to practise as an Occupational Therapist took much longer than expected, even though she met all requirements. “All up, it took four to five months,” she recalls.

Since July, Cora has been working part-time under supervision. Her employer is setting up a new site on the Gold Coast, and Cora is part of the team from day one. “Now, step by step, more clients are coming in and that means more therapy. It feels like everything is falling into place.”

Professionally, Australia has been a complete system shift. Working under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), she conducts assessments, plans home modifications and prepares recommendations that influence funding decisions for individual support plans.

“I never experienced anything like this in Austria. Here I work closely with doctors and other therapists — it’s very interdisciplinary. It’s all new to me, and I’m learning an enormous amount every day.”

Her longer-than-expected job search wasn’t due to a lack of positions, but because supervision creates additional workload for employers — something smaller practices often avoid.
“I thought: travel first, then casually send out applications. After two months with no replies, I was getting pretty desperate.”

Being visible helped: Cora introduced herself in Australian occupational therapy groups on Facebook and received responses from there.
“I can really recommend doing that.”

TIPS FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST

Cora also has a clear recommendation when it comes to the English test: the IELTS test.
“Other formats stressed me out. The IELTS suited me better — it felt more realistic. I speak English easily, but grammar and writing are not my strengths.”
Her advice: prepare early, especially if the test is required for the Skills Assessment.

WORK–LIFE BALANCE IN AUSTRALIA

Why Australia? Cora compares it plainly: she loved Bali for its ease, but also experienced inconsistency and unclear rules. Europe means structure and reliability, but is very work-centred, with the 40-hour week as the norm.
Australia, for her, is the perfect blend: “A structured system — and at the same time a lifestyle that allows you to go to the beach in the morning and work afterwards.”

Settling socially happened faster than expected. Connections she made in Indonesia led to her first share house; roommates turned into a friendship circle. “People are open, things happen easily,” she says.
That simplicity shaped what “home” means to her: feeling comfortable.
“I feel incredibly at home in Australia, and I think this will be a long-term base for me.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Cora looks ahead with pragmatism. Her supervised practice is ongoing, and she hopes to meet the requirements for full registration as an Occupational Therapist by June 2026 — ideally sooner. In the medium term, she can imagine becoming self-employed and living a lifestyle she calls “8-2-2”: eight months in Australia, two in Austria, two travelling.
“That’s what I’m working towards.”

She remains aware that her visa status is not to be taken for granted.
“I have friends who’ve been here ten years and still don’t have Permanent Residency,” she says.
“I tell everyone: I wouldn’t have wanted to do this without Visapath.”

Her summary of the collaboration is simple:
“Jürgen, my consultant, told me exactly which documents he needed; I sent them — no paperwork for me. Amazing. I really don’t like paperwork, and Visapath took all of that off my shoulders.”

Interview with Cora

What do you miss about Europe?

“Definitely my family — family and friends. But after five years around the world, you develop your own way of doing things. My parents and my grandma are coming to Australia now, and we’re doing a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast. And of course the food — especially when your family cooks for you.”

How did you experience working with Visapath?

“It was just easy. I’m incredibly grateful I found you. Everything was super clear, professional and still personal. I tell everyone: I would never do this without you.”

What do you value most about Australia?

“The work–life balance and that almost everything revolves around surfing — at least here on the Gold Coast.”

What is most different about your work here compared to before?

“Occupational Therapists work very differently here — much more responsibility and very interdisciplinary. I’m doing lots of assessments, writing reports, suggesting home modifications. We submit recommendations to the NDIS about what would benefit clients: physio, psychology, group programs. It was all completely new to me, but I’m learning so much. And the collaboration between professions is much more open and cooperative.”

Which Australian cliché turned out to be completely wrong for you?

“Definitely the one about all the dangerous animals. I have a small spider phobia and really didn’t need that, but luckily I haven’t seen a huntsman spider yet. My perspective has changed a lot — I love how consciously Australians protect their wildlife. In Europe so much has disappeared. Here it’s the opposite: I go surfing and swim with dolphins, see whales passing by. It’s nowhere near as scary as people think.”