charleyrogan

No! I am sorry if you think it is. I haven't had long to get stuff together, got the job a week ago and fly on 20th march, so i just wanted to ask people directly what i would definitely need or what i should bring!

RedDragon2008

Forgive Grayling, he's always on the lookout for someone to "wind up"

SQ is a good airline so you're in good hands. Stay hydrated through out the flight with non alcoholic drinks if possible. Changi Airport is a good place for a stop when you wait for the SIN to Brisbane leg.

If you're bringing food just make sure you declare everything on arrival in Australia otherwise you'll be fined & the item maybe taken off you. Yes, imported things are expensive here, usually double what you would pay in UK. M&S delivers with a 15 Pound postage charge and also Next. No idea what the "shopping scene" is in Brisbane as not based there.

Good luck!

NickyC

HP sauce is available in all supermarkets. You don't have to buy it in a 'British' food shop - or bring it with you. It costs $3.20 in Woolies - it's nonsense that you have to pay £5-6.

And sun block is not expensive. You can buy vats of the stuff - 1 litre pump packs cost less than $15.

Kelli28

I reckon, ffs the lass is a scouser, just bring jarmies and ugg boots add sun voila instant qld'er.

spouse of scouse

Hi Charley and welcome to BE. Unless you absolutely can't live without something, don't bring food to Australia. It'll most likely get confiscated by Customs and anyway. HP sauce is available in every supermarket and it won't cost much more than in the UK, certainly nowhere near 5 or 6 quid.

Do you mind if I ask how you got a nanny/au pair job in Australia? Is your employer sponsoring you?

spouse of scouse

Oh, and meant to say, I'm an Australian married to a Scouser so happy to answer any 'cultural' questions - such as you'll have to repeat yourself 3 times when you ask for something in a shop, or you'll get something completely different We live in Perth, which is just about as far away from Brisbane as you can get. Whereabouts in Liverpool are you from? Bill my husband) is from Bootle.

Saxy

FilmOn runs all major UK programs (not SKY) plus loads more, without the need for IP hiding such as Expat Shield, Hola or Astrill, and of course with the time difference - UK/OZ, being able to record direct, you can go to bed and you won't have to use BBC iPlayer Desktop! Check it out now before you leave.
Also if you haven't done it, connect your computer to your TV using an HDMI or VGA cable!

Pollyana

3 degrees here last year. And most houses are poorly insulated and have little or no heating. Quite common to put extra layers ON when going indoors!!

charleyrogan

Just because I am from Liverpool doesn't make me a chav! I am educated to degree level and not one of these doleys!

charleyrogan

I'm from Crosby, so not city centre, and my accent isn't too scouse! I got it through a website on the net, my friends went to NZ by becoming an au pair and said it was amazing, so I thought I would try it too. I want to train as a teacher when I come back to England. I can only stay in Oz for 12 months on a working holiday visa and can work for 6 months for the same employer.

Bermudashorts

I really would not bother bringing any consumer goods that you think you might miss. If you are going to live here for 12 months you might as well just get used to the Australian product offering from day one. Anything you bring will soon run out and you will have to do that anyway.

Singapore Airlines are a popular airline. I flew with them once and was pretty indiffferent myself but that was a long time ago now.

GarryP

In that vein, ignore anything calling itself Marmite, or worse, Vegemite. Tis the excrement of satan himself. Instead you can find real Marmite on the "weirdo foreign foods" shelf at Coles, called "My Mate".

As far as phoning home, Skype or a similar VoIP service is recommended. Get a UK dial in number for your family/friends to use, but remind them of the time difference.

Phone wise, your unlocked UK mobile will work on the optus network - be aware that there are two network frequencies and your phone may not work on Telstra (which has better rural coverage and costs more).

Oh, and the usual advice given to emigrates, a multi-way extension strip is worth bringing. That way you replace the plug with an Oz one and you don't need umpteen adapters for your UK stuff.

There are as many manual cars as autos here, but if you are thinking to drive places on your time off, be aware that generally everything is a loooong way from everywhere else, and if you are looking to go distances cruise control is a godsend.

On a working holiday visa you should be entitled to medicare, but you may need to enrol - check it out.

RedDragon2008

if you get Medicare, make sure you bring yr NI card as this will show you are a Brit (speeds things up)

Sunscreen is better bought here in Oz as the regulations of the SPF numbers are better controlled, etc

Most Coles and Woolworths (the 2 major supermkt chains in Oz) have a British area with British stuff like Iron Bru, Marmite, etc

steve_kelly_and_boys

Hi

i had never heard of these

are they any good ?? also i have seen that if you subscribe they have a sports channel

does anyone use this to watch the footy back home and can you record it ?

thank you

Chortlepuss

I'm flying Singapore soon, how do I get a top deck seat? (I always check in as early as possible and there only seem to be the nasty seats in front of the loos free - what am I doing wrong?