To do list
Apr 17th 2003, 12:40 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 41
To do list
For those who have expressed an interest in our 'to do list' for the first couple of weeks living in Perth. Here goes....
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
Apr 17th 2003, 12:51 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 275
Re: To do list
Originally posted by loulou74
For those who have expressed an interest in our 'to do list' for the first couple of weeks living in Perth. Here goes....
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
For those who have expressed an interest in our 'to do list' for the first couple of weeks living in Perth. Here goes....
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
Thanks wombat
Apr 17th 2003, 1:15 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 123
really useful thanks we hope to be going in Sept - what have you done re housing??
james
james
Apr 17th 2003, 1:18 pm
#4
happy bunny!!
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Joondalup
Posts: 206
Re: To do list
Thats fab.
Thanks for that!!
Ive printed it off too, we are hoping to be getting to Perth in September!!
Thanks for that!!
Ive printed it off too, we are hoping to be getting to Perth in September!!
Apr 17th 2003, 1:54 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Bristol
Posts: 56
Thanks Louise and Neil
That is such useful information..printers are in full use today over here!
Hope you are both well and enjoying yourselves between all the "things to do"
Look forward to seeing from you Perth-side in a couple of months..and hearing from you sooner xx
That is such useful information..printers are in full use today over here!
Hope you are both well and enjoying yourselves between all the "things to do"
Look forward to seeing from you Perth-side in a couple of months..and hearing from you sooner xx
Apr 17th 2003, 1:57 pm
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 712
Hi Louise,
We went to Francis Street today to do the tax file numbers - waste of time!!!! We were handed the paper forms, takes about 28days to come back, were advised to do it on line takes about 7-14 days. HOWEVER, you can do this from your own PC, or from any internet connection, you don't have to go to their office! You can't apply from the UK though we were told, you need to be here. Hope that helps someone.
www.at.gov/au/individuals is the address you need.
MEDICARE Went along yesterday but our details hadn't arrived advised you have to be in the country 7-10 working days before registering, as LouLou says though, you're still covered, just need to claim money back.
Another bit of advice, our stuff isn't due to arrive for another 10 weeks or so and already I'm regretting getting rid of some things. It costs so much to start completely again and even if some things were old they would have done until we could afford to replace things. Don't forget gang plugs so you only have to replace one plug at a time, very useful already.
Went to the Commonwealth today, be prepared, we thought we were popping in to pick cards up - took ages. We were on a 30 min parking meter and kept on having to pop out and top it up. Also, despite warning them, our cards weren't ready and will have to be posted.
On a positive note, took possession of our rental property today. Rang up to organise gas, electricity and the phone and were all sorted for later in the day, not bad. Went with Telstra for ease, for the time being. They have homeline plus account, about 3 or 4 dollars more on the line rental but they then have international calls for 21 c a minute, local are18 c . They then have a half hour call for $5.25, with an extra half hour free. It must be to the same person though, so good idea to arrange it beforehand so you don't get the answer machine instead!! Anyone know of any other rates for other companies??
Bye for now
Loopy
We went to Francis Street today to do the tax file numbers - waste of time!!!! We were handed the paper forms, takes about 28days to come back, were advised to do it on line takes about 7-14 days. HOWEVER, you can do this from your own PC, or from any internet connection, you don't have to go to their office! You can't apply from the UK though we were told, you need to be here. Hope that helps someone.
www.at.gov/au/individuals is the address you need.
MEDICARE Went along yesterday but our details hadn't arrived advised you have to be in the country 7-10 working days before registering, as LouLou says though, you're still covered, just need to claim money back.
Another bit of advice, our stuff isn't due to arrive for another 10 weeks or so and already I'm regretting getting rid of some things. It costs so much to start completely again and even if some things were old they would have done until we could afford to replace things. Don't forget gang plugs so you only have to replace one plug at a time, very useful already.
Went to the Commonwealth today, be prepared, we thought we were popping in to pick cards up - took ages. We were on a 30 min parking meter and kept on having to pop out and top it up. Also, despite warning them, our cards weren't ready and will have to be posted.
On a positive note, took possession of our rental property today. Rang up to organise gas, electricity and the phone and were all sorted for later in the day, not bad. Went with Telstra for ease, for the time being. They have homeline plus account, about 3 or 4 dollars more on the line rental but they then have international calls for 21 c a minute, local are18 c . They then have a half hour call for $5.25, with an extra half hour free. It must be to the same person though, so good idea to arrange it beforehand so you don't get the answer machine instead!! Anyone know of any other rates for other companies??
Bye for now
Loopy
Apr 17th 2003, 3:50 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Going Home
Posts: 1,215
Excellent list,
One to add is
Get registered with Centrelink (Social Security) if you have children. You should qualify for family allowance
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
One to add is
Get registered with Centrelink (Social Security) if you have children. You should qualify for family allowance
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
Apr 18th 2003, 8:32 am
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Posts: 64
Re: To do list
Originally posted by loulou74
For those who have expressed an interest in our 'to do list' for the first couple of weeks living in Perth. Here goes....
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
For those who have expressed an interest in our 'to do list' for the first couple of weeks living in Perth. Here goes....
1) Tax file numbers- apply at the Australian Tax office in Francis Street, Northbridge, Perth, on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the paper versions.
2) Bank accounts- we had already opened an account with the CommonWealth bank in the UK, so the sooner you get the bank account activated the sooner your credit rating starts!
3) Driving licence- even though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit checks etc. You can get a Drive safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free, and the exam consists of multiple choice questions.
4) Mobile- hard to get a contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there name, but you pay the bill.
5) Police checks- most jobs require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost $41.
6) Medicare- can only be applied for after 10 days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK.
7) Purchasing a car- ring around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company, as it does in the UK.
8) Ringing the UK- buy a phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
Any other advice please do not hesitate to contact.
Louise and Neil
Good Luck
