What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Hi everyone,

We are looking to move to Australia in the next 12 months and I would like to know what 10 things we should know. The things that people don't tell you. For example things like.... You need to re take you driving test (I don't know if this is true). All 10 things would be great even if people repeat then I know that it is a major thing to get your head around. Please feel free to write anything!!

Cheers Kx

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

There is a useful list here - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345774

I think the biggest thing that people emigrating seem to be missing at the moment, is that to maintain your UK standard of living in Australia, you need to earn $2.5 to the pound, so if you currently earn say 20,000 pounds, you will need to earn $50,000 minimum to have the same buying power.

BB

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

re the driving test - every State is different, thats one of the first things to remember, that things can differ from State to State.
Where are you heading to?

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Things people dont know but should, mine would be..

Employment conditions, about 40% of jobs are casual, that is.. on call, if when, employers whim, professional jobs too, not just low skilled.

Summer - generally the WORST season not the best, think extreme, heat, rain, flies, UV, fire etc

Expensive :eek:

Kids medical and dental, not free.

Medical, even with medicare and private insurance, still allow more for gaps.

Australian Pension, age, residency and income and asset tested.

Budget may 14. Expect severe tightening of the already strangled belt.

Airfares out back to UK for a family allow around $10,000 in school holidays.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

So, Jad, come to Australia if you can get a professional job that won't make you casual.

my advice is, don't be a battler.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

10 things from me in no particular order:
1. Never start a sentence with 'This is stupid, back in the UK its like this...."
2. Never say "We want the best lifestyle for our kids"...its expensive here and your kids could adapt anywhere not just Australia
3. DO make sure you get the best possible package to come over..salary/relocation expenses/relocation agent
4. IF on a Temp 457 Visa, account for SOME states charging $4500 per child per year at Public School
5. DO NOT think you can rent a property without seeing it physically first, NO agent will allow that and believe me it is better for you. This means you will have to arrange some short term accom for when you get here....OR...like I did, get your company to sort it for you.
6. In line with 5 above, do NOT believe the Real Estate pictures of a property, they will have been taken years ago when first built/refurbished.
7. DO plan to be lonely at times, DO think about how you can cope without your friends/family and usual support.
8. DO NOT be afraid about not meeting people, if you have kids you WILL make friends through school pick ups, sports etc....if you have no kids then you are a lucky sod! :)
9. Do think about what furnishings you will/will not bring especially electricals and TVs.
10. Do expect a massive culture shock, it is definitely NOT Britain with sun and some variances between States is bizarre. Politics is an embarrassing shambles and some things are said in a public domain which you may consider Un-PC.

God I could say far more and I'm trying to not be too pessimistic, in fact I'm trying to provide realistic advice.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Yep - I'd say that was all very realistic.

Another favourite of mine is - never confuse a great holiday destination with a great place to live. I wouldn't particularly care for 2 week holiday in Melbourne but I absolutely love living here, equally I would love a 2 week holiday in Coral Bay/Port Douglas/insert sun-soaked beach here but living in those places would drive me a bit nuts.

BB

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Something we really do have in common with the UK

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

What he said :thumbup:

My top ten
1. Do not underestimate the size of Australia. It is bigger than you can ever imagine unless you've lived in the US or another vast country before. And even then, it is different to the US or any other vast country.

2. Following on from 1 above, do keep in mind that advice and experiences that apply to life in Melbourne (weather, school system, culture...) do NOT apply to life in Sydney, Hobart, Cairns, Perth or wherever you might think of settling. The sheer size of the country means that every state, region and city is different, not only in climate but also in a myriad of other things.

3. Make sure you come on the right and best visa for your circumstances. Research visa types extensively and be aware of the limits/restrictions of each option.

4. Prepare yourself for loneliness and feelings of isolation at times. Even if you think you are very self-sufficient today, think again. Especially if you have kids and rely on family/friends for help. It will take time to make a network of friends you can count on so make sure you know what work/schooling/childcare conditions you will have. And Australia IS VERY FAR AWAY FROM EVERYTHING!

5. Life will seem more expensive. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But it takes time to uncover the good deals, the best shopping places, the right suppliers. This means that you will most likely spend a lot of money getting set up. This gets better and cheaper.

6. You won't have to re-sit a driving test but you will have to adjust to driving in Australia. And the fact that we drive on the left is helpful but no certainty that we drive well (well I do but that's just cos I'm an awesome driver:p)

7. Research areas where you might want to live. Then book temporary accommodation and actually live there. Only once you have lived somewhere for a little while will you be able to decide if it is the right place for you. This could just be deciding on a state or a city, but also a suburb.

8. Decide whether you can survive without going back to the UK every year. If you can't, then budget about $3,000 per person to fly back and spend some time there. For a family of 4, a minimum of $10,000 will be needed to go back. Also, you will find a lot of similar food and things but not everything. Australia is NOT the UK.

9. Get used to the idea that there will be things you will never get used to - Christmas in summer, extreme heat, critters, people wearing tracksuit bottoms and flipflops everywhere... ;)

10. Don't compare - prices, fashion sense, lifestyle, accents, culture, TV, food, whatever... Some things are better than the UK, some things are worse. If you choose to live in Australia, be prepared to take the bad with the good.
For us, the good has always outweighed the bad and therefore we can be described as successful migrants. Others have not been so lucky, for whatever reason, and so are either miserable living in Australia or have gone back to the UK.

We are all different with different stories, backgrounds and expectations. Take everything on this forum with a pinch of salt even all of the above :starsmile:

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Not a top 10 and in no particular order...

This is not the UK with sunshine, nor is it nirvana. It is a different country with different attitudes and cultures. It has crap drivers, crime, traffic issues, school issues, work can be crap etc etc.

Be prepared to be alone and fed up. It takes a long time to establish a good circle of friends who really understand you.

You will miss your friends and your family. My wife has become very very homesick or parent-sick and this has become a real problem especially as they get older. Calls, emails, skype and visits home cannot compensate.

Be prepared for friends/family to visit for long periods - and the close relationships you had with these people will become strained ! Going away for a weekend in the UK with friends is very different to them & their kids staying for 2 weeks, expecting to be fed, housed and shown around. Similarly, you may get very frustrated at the inlaws being in your house twice a year for 4 weeks at a time !

If you intend renting then bring a letter from an agent in the UK explaining what a wonderful person you are - regardless of whether you are renting out your place or have sold it.

Be careful where you rent and the school you choose. Many people arrive and rent in a fabulous area and send the kids to the local school. A few years later when they look to buy they cannot stay in that area and either have to take the kids out of school or are faced with a long journey each day to take the kids to/from school.

The move can put enormous strain on your relationship, especially in the first few months/years. Due to a lack of friends/family and limited social life we spent much more time together as a family and with my wife. Sounds great but we probably spent too much time together and relying on each other.

That said, it's a fabulous experience. Good luck.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

You asked. This is for South Australia, and in no order:

1. You do not need to retake your driving test if you have a full British licence.

2. Australia is a very hot country. Even now with winter a couple of weeks away we had 31 yesterday and 29 today. Nights can be hot. Make sure your accommodation has good air conditioning.

3. Retail is expensive, but wages can be much higher than the UK. Make sure your wage is one of those that is much higher than the UK.

4. Try not to make any judgements about whether you like or hate Australia until you have lived here for a good amount of time. You read a lot of stuff here about how much people love/hate where they are. If they've been there less than a year or two it's just honeymoon phase feelings.

5. House prices in Australia are expensive, but differ greatly by region. In South Australia they are cheaper than southern England, but those living in more expensive parts of Australia report much less affordable housing. Look at this carefully. You will get more for your money, but it could be a lot of money!

6. Make sure you are eligible for a visa, and that it is the right visa for you.

7. It is expensive to keep a vehicle on the road. Fuel is cheap, but Rego is not, and driving licences are expensive as well.

8. I have done extensive comparative analysis between online shops, and my findings were that food was cheaper in Australia, just. Most is of the same or higher quality than the UK, but not vegetables, which are considerably higher quality in the UK. It's something that happens to bother me! They go off much faster in Australia, but I am told this is because more veggies are irradiated in the UK. I don't know if this is true or not.

9. No matter what you think now, you will get irked by non-stop sunshine and heat, especially the heat at night. Flies and mosquitoes can be a real pain as well, sometimes so bad, even with repellent, that you are driven inside. Suck it up, it's Australia.

10. You will enjoy the extra space in Australia, and the lower population density. There is always somewhere to park, parks and gardens are usually totally empty and you can sit and picnic where you like without being bothered, the beaches are clean and empty, the ocean is a private swimming pool half the time, etc.

And one for free:

11. As the honeymoon phase fades, you will start to miss home and family. The best advice is to ride through it if you can, and go back for a short visit when you're more settled. Write yourself a letter explaining why you want to come to Australia, and when you feel doubt, read it. We never did this, but we wish we had.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

I spent the year before I left the UK adding to a document called "Read this if you ever doubt why you emigrated". Every time I had to drive round 10 times to find a car park, or got bashed by a trolley in a crowded Tescos, or felt threatened on public transport etc etc, I added it to this document.

I actually haven't opened it since I arrived in Australia.......

BB

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

In case of emergency, break glass, etc! We wish we had done this. Sometimes when we look at photos of our old house we understand why we did it, which is a similar thing, I suppose, but a letter would have been clearer.:)

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Only one bit of advice - be careful about what you read and want to believe on this forum

Opinions are like assholes etc. Only you can find out for yourself

Good luck

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Some excellent advice on there already but mine, in no particular order

- try not to burn any bridges - take a career break, don't sell your home, don't transfer your super etc until you know it's what you're going to do for the next few years

- it's not UK with sunshine, it's a foreign country bestrewn with red tape on the other side of the world with all the same social problems of any other first world country

- most Aussies couldn't give a toss about where you came from or how you used to do stuff wherever it was you came from

- expect to pay for medical and dental services and prescriptions (and health insurance - but if you are going to take that, do it within 12 months of arrival or incur an age related loading for every year you are over 30)

- expect to have to fund your own retirement, salary sacrifice into superannuation if you can

- local phone calls from a landline are flat rate (that was the thing that amazed me on arrival LOL)

- tv is cr*p and you'll probably want to fork out for cable tv

- no fly repellant actually repels flies or mozzies (well, they love me and my pheromones!)

- always have enough slack on your credit card for an emergency trip back whence you came just in case you have a disaster and keep all your passports current just in case (join a frequent flier scheme with the airline of your choice attached to your credit card)

- if you are earning in $ don't keep converting everything to £ - that way madness lies

- and, no, you won't need to do a driving test although you might have to do a vision test. UK and Aus have a licence exchange agreement and if you are on a permanent visa you have to make that exchange within 3 months

- get vehicle break down cover with the state service eg NRMA and if you are likely o do any long drives then get the top level of cover with no restrictions on towing distance.

Good luck, enjoy the adventure but remember that it's not a life sentence and if it doesn't float your boat then move on to a place which will, don't bang your head against the same old brick wall in the hopes that it will make your headache go away. Some people love it, some don't, some grow out of live with it over time and others grow to love it more over time - only you will know what works for you.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

I agree with most of the above so i wont repeat but try to add to them


1 There is no MOT BUT you need to have your vehicle tested before you sell it this only lasts 10 days in Vic so you had better sell it then or you will have to pay again.

2 Third party insurance is compulsory everyone has to pay it but you can't top it up to fully comp you have to buy that

3 For some jobs and for some children to represent their school you have to bea citizen. It's mainly jobs you need a security screen for and not all schools ask for it but some do.

4 People on temporary visas can face difficulty in the job market as they are seen as someone who will move on. Again not a hard and fast rule but it does happen.

5 Govt offices give you different answers on different days as it all depends on the person who answers knowledge and they do get it wrong. Get your info direct from Govt websites if you can.

6 Only English speciality butchers sell Gammon, pickled pork is nothing like it. Buy ham off the bone in delis or look for Irish ham the rest of it tastes like plastic.

7 You will find the food tasting odd at first but your taste buds adjust and soon it's all good. Well mostly lol you can find English products but its best to get used to the Aussie ones its certainly cheaper.

8 Aussies socialise around the family so it can be hard to make friends but persevere and you will soon have a good circle of friends



9. Books are expensive do not jettison your library when you move. If you want to keep it ship it.

10 When Australians ask you about England they want to hear good things about Australia not how badly it compares in some things.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

10 things you should know before you move:

1 You need to know thousands of things before you make the move not 10, many have made the mistake of moving on the basis of limited information and misinformation. ;)

I can't add much to what's been said previously, most important bases have been covered well.

One thing I would stress though is £1 = approx $1.50 presently so the inevitable cost of living and house price comparisons will therefore show up that it is more expensive not less expensive as it used to be when the pound was worth nearly double that. Someone suggested you need a salary in $'s 2.5 x your UK salary to be equally as well off which seems like a decent rule of thumb.

There are huge differences too between the different regions and capital cities. What may apply to Melbourne may not apply to Perth or Brisbane and so on. In a sense they are like different countries within a country and the same 10 things may not apply to all.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Most Australians that ask me want to know about England, not start comparing - it's only English people I find compare(!)

There are some great items here. Could be one of the best threads..

I particularly like Quoll's 'Do not convert'. There is no point - unless spending GBP.

It's getting hard not to repeat what others have said:
-There is not much Rugby Union in Melbourne.
-It gets cold in winter at night in all capital cities. Apart from those in the tropics .ie Darwin.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Well summarised...!

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Holy Buddha,you can speak some sense :blink::blink:

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Best advice thread so far on this forum.

Thanks

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Yes. However I have watched tons more live RU here than I ever did in London on account of it being so cheap to go!

$20 family ticket to the Rebels for instance.

BB

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

I sort of miss talking about it, not just watching it - and it's why I get the Australian on the weekend. Not only is my son getting some lego I will be indoctrinating him to the Rebels at some point. He is a fraction too young but next year maybe. Maybe we should meet up.

It's a shame they are losing so many games by narrow margins even, but to see O'Connor etc play.
I missed out on Mortlock.

PS I am going to the Lions vs Rebels game.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

1. Every State has different laws and rules for driving, etc
2. UK car seats are non compliant in Australia
3. Your first job in Australia will probably be the hardest to get as you have no Australian experience; they don't seem to care if you have a bril CV where you've worked in all sorts of industries and other countries.
4. Schooling is different for every State too
5. You may not be understood even though you speak English especially if you have a broad accent
6. Extremely bad driving with prior indication to turn nearly non exsistant and beating the yellow lights very common
7. Probably won't get any tax back till you've worked the full tax year; be prepared for overpaying in your first year till they have sussed you out

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Broadband takes 2 weeks to sort out in Melbourne

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

AAMI Park was absolutely jumping at the 2nd last Heart/Victory match which I went to but a much less cultured and sophisticated audience to the rugger chaps of course! Heart/Victory not quite as good and a bit more threatening at Etihad but hey what do you expect from a lot of migrants who bring their football behaviour and tribalism with them. :D

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

LOL.... Most of those fans are born here... I can totally vouch for that.

Here you go re live the day with "Horda Cam...".

Plenty of Ole's which is why the Anglo/Aussie South end came into being that and the flares and bloody flags and banners.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

I'm with the red lot. Long story but my pal's father played for Heart of Midlothian before he emigrated after the war so his son decided to support Heart when they started up and when we are back in Melbourne a group of us take in some Heart matches. I don't quite get the mentality of the Victory supporters not welcoming a local derby and the 'No Heart' banners and all the vitriol etc.

The banner they unfurled at Etihad was pretty sick and the last word suggests the product of a sick Scottish mind. :D And no I don't condone ripping seats out!

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psf2fd53db.jpg

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

You don't get that sort of carry-on at the lawn bowls final.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

1 You do not need insurance by law as rego covers basic 3rd party, but if you have a car with finance they will make you take out comprehensive
2 You don’t need an MOT. Which will become obvious the first time you drive down the freeway
3 Restaurants are either crap or wildly expensive – fine dining is pretty limited and expect to hand over some serious cash for when you do.
4 It is a very long way from anywhere – no more cheap holidays and holidaying in WA is incredibly expensive
5 If you drink and / or smoke you are in for a serious downer – booze is eye wateringly expensive and cigs as bad
6 Pubs are crap. I went from someone who popped in the local a couple of times a week to someone that maybe pops in once a year
7 Work is just as long in hours, if not longer and you normally only get 20 days annual leave
8 Housing is shockingly expensive and has a build quality that would I would be ashamed of if I knocked it together for a garden shed
9 Remember you are not coming to some great beach place – you will be working / shopping / paying the bills and all the normal things you do now.
10 The outback is the dullest place on the planet. Hot, dull and a with a fair few things that want to hurt you
11 If you think politicians in the UK are bad, you haven’t seen anything yet!
12 After doing a summer, you are longing for the cold winter and rain
13 Christmas is not only strange, it’s also almost a non-event.
14 Councils are miles better. Every local in the UK should be made to come here for a year to learn how to run them
15 Food is VERY expensive for anything that is decent. If you are used to good quality and organic then be prepared to have to shop at Boatshed where a small basket will set you back over $100
16 Don’t come with a interest in cloths as they are either very expensive or so bad that Primark would refuse to stock them and still expensive

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

My top ten for what its worth

1 - every ones experiences are different
2 - what i say wont apply to you so its irrelevant me telling you anything
3 - don't take anything as gospel in here as its only opinion
4 - one mans food is another mans poison and all that
5 - takes some people no time at all to settle others never settle...take yer pick
6 - cost of living costs money...just depends on who you talk to
7 - Some peeps like the beach,some don't and the water can be cold but there again it can be quite warm
8 - the shops suck and quality is crap unless you ask a shopper who enjoys shopping when they will say they love it
9 - The workplace is donkeys years behind but some people love it mind you some people don't
10 - Its really laid back here ...... occasionally

In other words its mostly bollocks and only opinion....a million persons with a million stories

Hope thats helped

Lee :fingerscrossed:

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

:rofl::rofl:

Seriously though....

1. There are, contrary to what people may tell you, no drop bears.
2. The medical/health care scheme is very good - if you can afford to pay, but frighteningly expensive, especially dental work.
3. You need permits for almost everything.
4. Public transport, however much people moan here, is much better than London - well at least in Sydney.
5. Chocolate tastes funny because they put stuff in it to stop it melting, and it takes about a year to get used to it.
6. When the lights go amber, don't slam on the brakes to stop, as everyone else is accelerating to get through before they go red.
7. Rentals are also frighteningly expensive and in Sydney, not easy to get as a newcomer. Be prepared to be told you are fussy if you ask for things like a leaky roof or non-shutting windows to be fixed.
8. There is an incredible sense of "mateship" - if you need help you can usually get it.
9. Giving to charity is the norm here. People actually stop their cars to donate to the Salvos roadside collectors.
10. The best time to shop is before 9am on a Saturday, as the only Aussies who are up are the ones mowing their lawns, doing DIY, or the early morning sports run with the kids. As long as you don't mind half- stocked shelves and whacking great store trolleys blocking every aisle, that is.

Alright, it was only half seriously......I lied about the drop bears. Take an umbrella to scare them off.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

In line

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Either ship everything, or ship nothing and buy it all. But whatever you leave behind you will miss!:rofl:

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Yep and you don't get it at the footy either. Sadly, it's what some think 'real support' is! i.e. you have to fight the opposition, sing blasphemous songs and hate them. :D

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

If these are reasons to emigrate, swap Coles for Tesco and I better start thinking about leaving!

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Fortunately in Melbourne, there are far better and cheaper alternatives to the supermarkets......

BB

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Industrial relations can be like stepping back 30 years. Great if you were a docker or miner in the 70's as you will feel right at home

Take hundreds of photos of your rental when you are accepting it as when handing back our agent tried to hammer us for every little mark that would be considered wear and tear elsewhere in the world

Stop smoking before you arrive, it's hideously expensive

Mental health issues abound and I am surprised you don't have to have it to get a visa. Of course it's nothing to do with years of cannabis abuse

If you are buying a used car,budget for new tyres as you can get a Rwc with pretty much shagged out tyres

The sunny coast is far nicer than the gold coast

The ford territory is shite, an old falcon is much better

New Fords and Holdens are both pretty much crap

Low octane fuel can be shite, use 95

Ozzies aren't generally good at bbq'ing. If you must use gas then try a flat plate style

Before you buy something at BCF, check out big W first

If you intend to go camping, buy a 12v/240v fridge in the Uk at a fraction of the price you will pay in oz

Dont tell anyone you are changing the plugs to Ozzie ones on your electrical kit. Mums will not bring their kids to your house for fear of it spontaneously combusting.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

Get ambulance membership to avoid a nasty bill if something unfortunate were to happen.

Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
 

So true! Over the years I actually find most of the complaints just don't apply. And I would never have discovered them if I wasn't a forum reader..

There are a whole swag of things that might never be an issue:

Industrial relations for example, if you work in an office in a semi-professional/professional capacity then you will never spy a trade union or steward or battler in all the years you'll be in the workforce...if you work in the Melbourne CBD you might even enjoy it!

If you buy a house with plenty of space on the block you may never ever need a permit to build anything...and if you do, just ensure it's not too big.

If you make some good friends you may never need to complain about 'them' or what they do, indeed not even pay any attention where they were born or educated.

If you can count on the people you live and work with as having a bit of spark then you won't have to worry about what they say and do.

Noone has to buy a Ford or Holden - in fact many people don't.
You don't need a MoT outside NSW but you can't buy a car without one (at least in NSW and VIC!) Most people run reliable and well-serviced cars. I know this because the oldest car in Melbourne I spot is mine! (I do run some oil through it every 6 months!)

Someone made the point about councils...you know, they are actually not that bad. You pay a charge, you get stuff for it, you do!