Re: Aussie Standards
 

It's not a case of not wanting to read anything bad, this place isn't for everyone and you can take a while to get used to things and realise that some things you were shocked at initially are actually quite good. Some things will always be odd but you just have to get used to them. I certainly don't have rose tinted sunnies on, this is my home, it has good points and bad points, but for me the good is good enough to outweigh the not so good.

What i was trying to do was point out that the OPs post was innacurate in what is said about health care, many people may have read that and thought oh my god we have to pay for all out health care, thats not the case, medicare cover your treatment in public hospitals and many other things too, sure it is still advisable to have some sort of private cover too, if you arent covered you would have to pay for ambulances, also it covers for things like specialists and gap payments, dental and stays in private hospitals, but the level of cover is up to you.

I could go on about how at the school my kids go to there is no disruption from waiting parents etc...etc...etc.. but there is no point as it again is just my opinion. It would be interesting to see what the OPs views on the same points are in 12 months time. It is good for people to see what a new arrivals immediate reaction is but you also have to remember that it is a different country and is not going to be the UK in the sun, you need to have an open mind and look beyond the "this isnt how it's done in the UK" attitude to maybe think well why is it done this way.....

I'll stop now before i come over all rose tinted. :D

Lynn

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Agreed Lynnj - balance is important, and I'd question after 9 weeks an opinion so wide ranging on the funding of health care and Schooling.

Ive been here a little longer (maybe 10 weeks!) and Ive "read" that the funding for mental health care is weak, but Ive read it because people are complaining and campaigning to get it funded... I think mental health professionals were on the MODL so its hardly been ignored. Contrast with UK - in 10 weeks Id be surprised to get an appointment beyond GP care for any mental health problems. You are correct in balancing that you DO get hospital care here, its not like the US where public perception is a credit card is required before they put you in the ambulance. In some states (not qld) you pay for ambulances - its about $250 from memory but hell how many times a year / in your life do you need one. To my mind Mental Health care in any country is awful and underfunded its a relatively new science, the treatments are still developing and the cost of care is tremendous.

Free banking... Jeez... how much are people paying for their banking... find a better account, there are some around. Or if you dont mind paying $2 to get cash out of an ATM instead of getting it free when you got your shopping then go mad use those non-owned ATMs'. How about a thread saying " I bought a new car and sold it 2 yrs later and only lost 4K$ " in the UK that'd be 30% depreciation the day it left the shop thats a HUGE difference in cost and a material one that for example outweighs 50$ bank charges. Petrol, Car Insurance, etc its all in the mix of the total pot of living costs.

The govt doesnt 'rely' on the public sector to pick up extra spaces - they fund them. The govt gives funding per capita to private schools subsidising the places - this is fantastically fair - it means that everyone benefits from their tax dollars going to their kids . (Mine are not in private school here just to balance).

Before I came here I read this forum avidly my preconceptions were that we'd be saving up for lettuce, dressing in polyester, and kids in $12,000 / yr prep schools just to get a standard of education remotely like the UK.
Sometimes I wonder if I landed in the same country as those posters. The schools ARE good, both private and state, the clothes are available from Versace to K-Mart and much in between.

Im not digging the OP for posting their perception, I hope Ive helped rebalance some of it for those peeps reading it in UK. I dont think this place is heaven on earth but its far nicer environment than the UK and for some time this will be our home. I dont think its fair to post incorrect statements without finding out the reality because it sets peoples perceptions incorrectly.

Its a great place with nice people and just enough differences to make it novel and a bit foreign, and just enough similarities with the UK to make you feel not too out of depth.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Not needed in QLD :) We now have a community ambulance service :)

I agree with your points. We can all make our own statements about things, but we should also try to make it clear, especially for new readers, that they apply to us, and only us.

eg: I went into my daughters school, outside normal start and finish times, and was approached by a staff member "saying who are you, why are you here?"
Now, that could give the impression that "Australian Schools" are very security aware, however, that is just one school, what the rest are like I can't tell.

Most people won't even think about mentioning normal things, it's only the things that are different that most of us really notice. However, when one person mentions something that is very different to our own experiences, we can't help thinking, "that's not right".
I see many posts that I disagree with, but I have cut down on the number that I make a comment on these days. I've ended up thinking that maybe it's just that i'm lucky with the area that I live in, but then, I spent a long time finding the right area for me :D

16 years now, and still can't convince myself that Private Medical Insurance is worth it :D

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I'm with the original poster. The schools here are crap. Our girls are now in their third school (2 govt. now private) and we're still not happy with it.

We still haven't found a house to compare with the house we own in the UK.

Having said that I love it here, the plusses outweight the negs. The kids look like they might finally be going to a decent school next year. But if this one doesn't work out it's back to the UK.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I have to say in all the time I have been coming to this forum...this is the best post I have read.

Its called "choice" people!! You always have choices.....but it takes time to learn your options and at first you may not always make the right ones. Doesnt make "Australia" any worse than any other Country on any of the points bought up.

spalen....lovin' ya work on this one!!! :D

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I really feel the chill in the winter. Outside its fine, but when the temp goes down to around 8-10 at night I find the house is freezing. I think there are some reasons for this:

1. No insulation
2. Tiled floors
3. No heating in the house.

In the UK you would never dream of sitting in a house where the temp was 8 degrees without the full blast of central heating etc.

I rarely ever feel cold outside when I'm moving around. I have only worn a coat 2 or 3 times since being here.

Went to Melbourne by road with the 3 year old when England were playing rugby down there. Stopped off overnight at Gundegai. It was bitterly cold there. My little fella was born in Singapore and had never experienced that level of cold. He was shivering so much he was bouncing.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I still feel cold on some evenings, and we have:
Insulated Roof
Carpeted floors in living room and bedrooms
OK, when we turn the heating on it fixes the problem :)

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Seems that MadDogs don't just go out NumbSkulled in the NoonDaySun but also stroll BareBuffed in the MidNightFrost!

Not to worry, when the NorthSea Oil slows to a molasses like trickle, you can warm your backside by a pile of nuclear waste. Might induce some useful mutations.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I'm still intrigued by the education debate in Australia.

I was of the opinion that, as someone earlier mentioned, the education system is just different - certainly less academic in the early years.

OECD figures suggest that Australia is above the UK in English and Maths and slightly below in Science - which in turn, suggests that they must be doing something right.

There must be some Australian educated highly skilled professionals such as doctors around. Did they come through a very elitist set of private schools? If not, then the system can't be that bad!

Do you think that Australia is just basically the same as England with huge local variations? Certainly in our area although we have been happy with the school (horrific bad habits notwithstanding!), other parents who send there children to a different place are not at all happy.

I used to teach in a school which had a lot of Australian parents - they were horrified at the pressure that British teachers place dtheir young kids under.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Sounds very feasible :)

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Agreed, I think it is the case here, just like the UK.

We had the luxury of a great little village school with a real community feel. All the parents used to get involved. Over here the govt. schools parent's generally don't give a shit and most don't bother with the "voluntary" contributions or even helping with fundraising events.

That's what we miss, the lack of a community feel.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Havn't read all of this thread but yes they do have our heating here its called "hydronic heating" It dearer to put in but 20% cheaper to run than ducted.

Its a relativly new concept here so the Aussies are a bit sceptical due to the fact that radiators are usually plug in and cost a fortune to run.

We are also having our windows replaced with UPVC double glazing as they only cost a small amount more. At the moment we have 3 ml glass and rotten window frames, brrrr (see previous paragraph:))

BTW it was a max of 7 in Tas today, here it was 21 :eek:

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Not really, it can be turned off you know:p :)
Each rad has a thermostat on it so for example in the kids rooms (where the heat from the coonara doesn't get) Its so cold there is running condensation on them in the am, two hours of heat during the night would be beneficial. The temp can be zoned to those rooms and totally turned of in others.

The guy has just been and he will put it in next Friday, hes fab and if anyone would like his number pm me:)

Also double glazing is not expensive to install and has the reverse effect in the summer too:)

Re: Aussie Standards
 

I think you have it.

In Australia, it can be warmer outside during the day in winter (hence little double glazing); in the summer, it can be cooler indoors than out - close the windows during the day.

Insulation can slow the important house cooling at night chore and slow the house warming during the day.

Re: Aussie Standards
 

Huh how can you not have internet at home unless you have no phone line at all coming into your home..... Please dont tell me you have gone with Bigpond.... please dont.