What 10 Things should you know before you move!
May 9th 2013, 7:47 am
#16
Joined: May 2006
Location: in the Sydney asylum
Posts: 20,690
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.
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.
May 9th 2013, 8:28 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
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.
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.
May 9th 2013, 12:02 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
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.
Last edited by BadgeIsBack; May 9th 2013 at 12:08 pm.
May 9th 2013, 12:12 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
#
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!
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!
May 9th 2013, 12:59 pm
#20
FREE TIBET
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
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.
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.
May 9th 2013, 3:07 pm
#21
Live to dream
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
Best advice thread so far on this forum.
Thanks
Thanks
May 9th 2013, 10:10 pm
#22
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
May 10th 2013, 3:09 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
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.
May 10th 2013, 8:19 am
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,603
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
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
May 10th 2013, 9:33 am
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,603
Re: What 10 Things should you know before you move!
Broadband takes 2 weeks to sort out in Melbourne
May 10th 2013, 11:05 am
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
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.
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.
May 10th 2013, 12:22 pm
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
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.
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.
May 11th 2013, 7:48 am
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
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. And no I don't condone ripping seats out!
The banner they unfurled at Etihad was pretty sick and the last word suggests the product of a sick Scottish mind.
And no I don't condone ripping seats out!
May 11th 2013, 9:14 am
#29
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
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. And no I don't condone ripping seats out!
http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psf2fd53db.jpg
The banner they unfurled at Etihad was pretty sick and the last word suggests the product of a sick Scottish mind.
And no I don't condone ripping seats out!http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...psf2fd53db.jpg
You don't get that sort of carry-on at the lawn bowls final.
May 11th 2013, 9:14 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,337
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
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
