Jonahs_mummy

My friend posed a question to me today..... if we had a wish list of things we could 'request' to help us adjust to our new Australian life what would be on that list...?

I tried to come up with stuff that I know would help my family...... what do you think?

This is what I came up with....

Furnished home to rent temporarily
Maps
Sim cards for phones
Mobile phone to hire
Hire car
Linen/bedding
Info about schools
Info about restaurants
Info about travel to Brisbane CBD
Train/bus timetables
Info about TFN

What would help you?

Claire
x

andy & jayne

A Visa would be good!!!!!

Jayne

wmoore

Seconded

andy & jayne

Then a bloody good piss up!!

Claire, my hubby is a chef too! Perhaps he should have retrained as a hairdresser or nurse, might have been a bit quicker! Good luck

Jayne

ohippy

A lottery win would be the icing on the cake !!

ABCDiamond

Some places locally do actually provide almost all that, with the exception of the hire car.

soapy©

make friends quick. it really helps u settle

gedge

A friendly face.

It doesn't have to be someone you've met before, just someone to meet up with and talk to. It can be a very lonely time in the first few days/weeks of arriving. Everything else you can do for yourself.

Geordie George

A job.

You've moved to t'other side of the planet, you know not a soul (or at least we didn't), you're living in a hostel (quickly to be followed by an unfurnished place, where your worldly possessions consist of an air mattress and TV) but added to all that, your ego is going to take a huge battering because then you have to get on the job hunting merry-go-round! Yay! Just what you want to do when you're feeling low and homesick.

Still, it all seems to come together somehow.

GG

KatieStar

I agree. It was job finding that Tim found most stressfull and I was stressed until he got one and we had an income.

We were staying with my aunt at first, but when we got our own place and had rent to pay and bills it was scary. :scared:

Katie

nfernand

Well do what I did.....as you all know income generator is the main thing. Therefore, moment I recieve my Visa in Dec 2004 I applied for jobs through agencies and directly to companies. In March 2005, I secured a 12 month contract in Sydney where I wanted to be. On 29th of April I arrived in Sydney and started my job 3 days later. This helped me a lot.

Hired a car for 4 wks until my car arrived from London and stayed with my sister in law for 4 wks until I got my place.

Basically.....due to the fact that I had income from day one life was brilliant and for the 1st two weeks I even got paid from my company in the UK as my leave consist of 2 wks of annual leave.

So....do not leave without a job.
You could get your Australian drivers license with the British license.
Car is a must !!!!! If you are not bringing your car then buy a car without spending money on hire. Do not bring any old car from the UK. What I would suggest a German car.... Infact the car I brought I could make atleast $5000 profit.

Without income no country is good !!

KatieStar

Well it seems like you were very lucky. My hubby tried to find work in the UK before moving out, but they wanted him to start right away, so it was not suitable until he got here. The job he did get they wanted him to start a few days after he was successfull at the application.

Katie

Geordie George

Except, it's not that easy!!! If it was, everyone would.

Most people do try looking for work before they leave the UK - Mr GG and I both did. However, most replies we received were of the, 'contact us when you arrive' ilk.

You're in a lucky minority. Most people will have to undergo the stress that Katie and I have alluded to.

gedge

That's easy to say but not easy to do. In practice not many employers will consider you until you are physically in the country with a real visa. Unless your skills are in such high demand, why would they consider the risk of taking an unknown?

Jonahs_mummy

Ok guys... whilst I understand that it woudl be great to be offered a job on arrival what I meant was is there something that you would need or be happy to receive that would help you or make you feel at home...?
Info about schools maybe? A guided tour of the area? An escorted trip to Woolworths? Discounted tickets to theme parks? What?

I am just interested thats all......