The realism that we are actually leaving in 2 weeks is beginning to sink in. The trouble is I have spent so much time planning this end that I have no idea what things I should be sorting when we get there:scared: :scared:

Can anyone give me some tips on what I should be sorting and how? I have no idea how we get Tax file nos, Medicare, Gp, Child benefit etc.

Carrianne where are you and your fantastic lists?!

Thanks guys:scared:

Best thing to do is relax, get over the flight and jet lag and prepare yourself for job hunting. First thing to do is get a TFN. Either walk in your local tax office with your visa although I believe that there are some who have got their TFN at www.ato.gov.au .

The Medicare card can be applied for at your local medicare office. Again take your visa and some ID. There is no need to rush the medicare as the money can be reclaimed retrospectively and they take their time sending you the card.

For locations of medicare and ATO offices either look on www.whitepages.com.au, www.ato.gov.au or http://www.hic.gov.au/ .

As far as the UK goes there is the tax form to say you are leaving the country and want a refund. You can get some of the TV license refunded as well. Ring the no on your TV license for details. Cut off telephones, gas and electricity. I don't have sprogs so someone else will have to answer the child benefit stuff.

I am sure there might be other stuff like getting on line when you get here. I recommend swiftel ADSL www.swiftdsl.com.au .

tina, do the tax file number online it only takes 2 weeks to come through.

With the medicare card, immigration apparently don't update the medicare system for a week or 2 it seems so you can't get a card for 10 days/2 weeks anyway. After that time just walk into one of there offices which seem to be in most many major shopping centres.

Don't know about GP we just phoned up the local medical centre when i was ill 3 weeks ago. Though you should get medical insurance.

I am sure lots of peopel know the details of all this better than me though as we have been in sydney only 3 months.

James

Hi Tina, bet you are excited! If you qualify for the equivalent of child benefit (think its either parenting payment or family payment and its means tested) you claim it from Centrelink. When you go in there you get a form, fill it in immediately and lodge it, they will date stamp it, give you an interview time and benefit then gets paid from that date. I dont know if you will qualify immediately or if you have to be in Aus for x amount of time.

Take some to relax, you will have a few weeks before the kids start school. Give yourselves time to get over the jet lag, aclimatise to the warmer weather and enjoy the scenery.

Start as you mean to go on, take a deep breath, slow down and enjoy Australia

Hi Tina, we've been in Perth now for nearly 4 months. Our "to do" list was: go to bank and activate our bank accounts, apply for TFN online, medicare leave for a couple of weeks till they've picked up on you entering the country, go to centrelink - you can claim from the day you arrive and basically thats it. Nothing major just make sure you take plenty of ID especially your passport, you will carry it with you for weeks! Just take it easy, take it all in your stride!!!!! It is all quite hassle free so just enjoy it.....

GP / Doctor

You can go to any doctor that you wish. You don't need to register for one doctor in the same way as the UK. Just go to the doctor when you need to, and fill in a simple form giving your brief details.

If the waiting room in the first doctor seems full, just go on to the next one

They have begun to discuss the possibility of recording patients notes on a smart card version of the medicare card, so that one doctor can see what another has done etc. But that may or may not eventuate.

You often have to pay for doctors up front, or at least part of it, and then claim a % of the total bill back later. Some doctors do not charge you anything.

Sounds like all the other points have been covered by others.

Good luck

Tina,

Buy a fridge - the biggest one in the shop

Mark (been here for one week, and its warming up!)

if they 'bulk-bill', then you don't pay a thing..which is good as I would bulk at the bill when it arrives..

Tina

IF YOU ARE AN EXISTING CLIENT YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY DEALT WITH THESE AND OTHER ISSUES AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN YOUR CONSULTATION - IF YOU ARE AN EXISTING CLIENT PLEASE ADVISE ASAP.

If you are not an existing client you should be concentrating on what you should be doing PRE-departure, NOT post departure, i.e. medical considerations for one - 50% of Australians have private medical insurance - have you got all that work done? As to once you are there our teams around Australia can put you right.

The list is extensive - but one of the big ones is if you are a family with husband and young children - what about if one of you dies - what plans have you made for the children? - these are pre-departure issues and this is one you should discuss with your family - because if it happens and death is hereditary - you will need a contingency plan. We believe that this and many other issues should be dealt with pre-departure.

So focus on pre-departure

Hope this helps




Geraint Davies
Managing Director

Hmmm, focus on pre-departure, Tina!!! With 14 days to go, I should think you are well focused on pre-departure, post-departure, and the bit in between!!!

Mr Davies,
With all due respect, I suggest you rethink your advertising technique! For instance.......
- can't do that with TFN and Medicare - they have to be done when you get here.

Must admit though, you qualify for prize of the night for the Basil Fawlty "stating the Bleeding Obvious" Award.......

indeed the shouting at the start lost you a few customers I reckon!!! tell you what, edit your post, start again, eh?

Badge

Tina, Hows things? Hope you aren't tripping over each other too much. Try -

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hreadid=171254

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hreadid=171256

and

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hreadid=171255

(thanks Carrianne - the definitive expats lists!! Maybe that nice Mr Davies would like one!!)

Tina,

First of all, chill...
Arrived in Jan this year and there have just been so many things to do that it probably wouldn't have been healthy to try to cover all bases when we first arrived.
Part of the fun of being here has been the evolving nature of becoming a participant in another society.
Above all, I would say, avoid the scaremongering of agencies telling you that all sort of things could happen to you and that you should beware. Of course they could, but anywhere not just Oz and it is stressful enough going through the immigration procedure without people trying to scare you into buying life insurance policies.......

Take your time, enjoy Christmas and then do what you would do in UK, sort things out as they evolve, talking to locals and getting their advice. Of course some things are more urgent than others, but don't be scared into buying anything like life policies on the pretext that being new to a country means that you should prepare for every eventuality. At the end of the day, all you have to do is to replicate what you have already set up for yourself in UK.

Good luck and don't panic, it is a brave step and I congratulate you for taking it.

whoa mr davies!!

this sort of thing has probably been mulled over for months by tina and her family, Im sure she is well aware of ALL the implications of a move abroad - tina has certainly waited long enough and read enough to know the system inside out!

sometimes you just need a friend to tell you where to start.

its called perspective

sue

ps, love your name - how romantic - 'geraint'