The Irish Support Agency was pleased to welcome members of the Irish Community in Sydney to our first Returning to Ireland information evening this month.

Roisin, ISA Cordinator, kicked the evening off with an overview of life in Ireland in 2016, providing an update on employment, accommodation, cost of living and education situations. Our Outreach Worker, Ashley, provided information on health care and social welfare entitlements for returning migrants before outlining the process for returning with non-EEA partners.

The Irish Chamber of Commerce's resident Tax Expert, Rae Ni Corraidh, provided an excellent (and humorous) overview of tax issues relating to departing Australia and options on accessing superannuation funds for those on temporary visas. John Mc Quaid, Registered Migration Agent at Arrive Australia Migration Services, provided an important outline on options for those who decide to return to Australia in the future.

The evening concluded with a Q & A session with our panel consisting of John, Rae, Jane Connolly (General Consul of Ireland), Jessica Waller (Financial Adviser at CABEL Financial) and Claire who has first hand experience of returning to Ireland with an Australian partner. Returning to Ireland experts, Crosscare Migrant Project, joined us via Skype. Guests in the audience had the opportunity to ask questions to the panel who gave them relevant information and referrals to appropriate services.

Our thanks to all those who attended the session and to our expert speakers and panel members for their invaluable contribution to the evening. Thanks especially to Crosscare Migrant Project for their guidance throughout the development of this session.

If you are considering a Return to Ireland but were not able to join us on the night you can contact us on 02 9300 8019 for information. Also check out these useful websites:

www.citizensinformation.ie www.migrantproject.ie www.dfa.ie/global-irish/coming-home/