yes, I have to activate the insurance policy. I got it from AHC Thailand.

Posted my application to the Sydney office. Received an email saying it's waiting to be collected at the GPO office. Is this right? Did this happen to others?

Sorry, I'm just stressing a bit.

When and where did you post? Where are you currently located?

I got an email saying they have received it. My bridging visa has been granted so all good. Now comes the waiting game.

Waiting is too long mate.. good luck..

I applied in June 2017 and am still without a case officer/any updates other than my initial bridging visa. Anyone else still waiting a similar length of time?

Annoying thing is, I'm planning to head back to the UK for a year with my partner in May 2019, what happens if they still haven't got around to my application?!

I applied on 20th June 2017 and still waiting also. Very frustrating!!
If you apply in Australia, you must be in Australia for the visa to be granted.
Looking at the wait times of 18-20 months, fingers crossed you should have got it by then.
I need to travel to NZ in Feb but it's only for a week. My lawyer told me we will apply for the no travel ban to be lifted but not until 3-4 weeks prior to travel dates...

Processing times have been updated - 75% in 17 months, 90% in 21 months.....

We applied in the same week! Amazing that neither of us haven't heard a thing yet. Getting permission to travel is surprisingly easy though, I've gone overseas three times while I've been waiting, just fill out the Bridging Visa B application form and pay the fee, job done :)

I will share my experience.
I am NZ citizen and my wife is only NZ resident. We applied for the NZ family visa at the end of May in 2018 in NZ (not in Aus), we got contacted by the case officer around late October, and everything was completed by mid November.

Seems applying in NZ was quicker than applying in Aus, but then again everyone has different circumstances so cannot be sure which factors sped up in my case.

I wish you all the best.