Sorry but could use some help. I seem to have used my full name as my log in and don't know how to change it to some different user name. Help11

Ok, never mind that. It's taken me 30 mins to work out how to post. You all can tell I'm not a computer person.
Hope someone can help as I have loads of questions.
1st Melbourne or Sydney as my husband has been offered a job in both cities, cost of housing in Melbourne seems a bit cheeper.
2nd. Want to bring my dog but will that mean it is harder to rent.
3rd. Am i being cruel to the dog, she is quite nervous and am worried about her being scared on the flight and quarantine.

Hi there and welcome to B.E.

It's my pleasant duty to welcome you to the forum and give you a point of contact should you need any help with the site in general. You can contact me here.

A list of all the moderators and helpers with their relevant countries including Australia can be found here.

Any problems, dont hesitate to PM me.

If you want to change your username, reply to this post and you will have made three posts, then you can use the PM service. You can PM here. For any other problems, please PM me.

I'll leave other people to talk about Sydney/Melbourne.

Yes you can bring the dog and no it's not being cruel. As you find your way about the site, try using the search facility.

We were all new here once and some are more computer literate than others. Don't worry!

Alistair.

sorry another question. Our yougest son has type one diabetes. In UK all meds are free. Does anyone know whether we will have to pay for needles and insulin ect or is it free. Thanks Kaz

Thank you Alistair.

You will have to pay for meds here. Costs can vary, but maybe take a look on the following site to see prices

http://www.pharmacydirect.com.au/product_search.aspx

Hi,
You can't change your username yourself, but i will get Sue, the site Administrator, to get in touch with you over it

Yes. Housing is more affordable in Melbourne and the salaries for both cities seem similar (in fact in my profession Melbourne pays a bit more). Both cities have lots of other things to consider though - all I can say is we've been in Melbourne 3 years and love it, but we might have just of easily loved Sydney had we moved there.

BB

6 years ago, I was so surprised at what you got for your money in Melbourne - I was very surprised - not only that but that Melbourne was not all grey and rain - which I had myself decided after an earlier visit. Back then, for us, it translated as being well over an hour closer to the city...for the same property type - and yes, salaries were about the same...

it was one of the reasons I drove down from Sydney to Melbourne.

The forum regulars might not realise that Sydney was my first choice and I was a bit reluctant to go to Melbourne intially, but it did not take long to change my mind.

My wife and her friends knew all along that Melbourne was the choice. They had never been but seemed to think that Melbourne was superior(!) What did they know...

Thanks to all for your responses. Don't know yet if it is Sydney or Melbourne. We are very lucky in the fact hubby is a Kiwi and we all have NZ passports so we don't have the immigration drama. Just putting the house on the market, zone in for very good schools so hope it will go soon. If Sydney we are looking at Gosforth (think I spelt that wrong) I have just seen a link to that area so will look at that. Still worried about taking the dog, hubby said when he found out it was about £3,000 to take her that we could just get a new one!! But I love my one. She is a bit of a scardy dog and does not like traffic she shakes if trucks come by on a walk. So am I being selfish to put her through the flight and quarantine or to find her a good home here.
Thanks Kaz

Hi Kaz

We came on NZ passports too. You don't actually get permanent residency on an NZ passport, just perpetual temporary residency. This is fine for most things but there are a few forms where you are asked if you have PR and you have to answer "no". Many people do not understand the NZ passport situation and you can get declined for mortgages and credit cards etc so just be aware of the fact you may have to explain every time. Also Uni fees if relevant have to be paid for as if you were overseas students.

It's pretty much PR for most things though eg medicare.

BB

If you're eligible for medicare or eligible for the reciprocal health agreement then you'll be eligible for subsidised diabetes equipment.

I have type 2 diabetes which is diet controlled so can't answer about insulin, but once you register your son with a doctor they'll send off registration to the NDSS and a lot of things will be much cheaper than the shelf price.

This is probably a good place for you to get ideas of prices, if you can't work it out, shout and I'll see if I can find my NDSS price list. I can get my test strips at about 80% discount, although I have to pay for my lancets (as far as I can remember, injection needles are subsidised)

Oh needles are free
National Diabetes Services Scheme

Your doctor will also set your son up on a care management plan which will give him access to podiatrists/dieticians etc.

sorry not very good at this but am trying, Thank you all for your rplys. Did not know that we would have to pay for uni fee's as we have one ready to go and as for med's we had better stock up. thanks all for your help,
Kaz

It's not just that you have to pay uni fees, but you pay as international students, which is very expensivee.