pearldiver

Does anyone know if giving birth is free for newly arrived PR visa holders in OZ?

@boy

Yes - as you will be covered under medicare (assuming you get your Medicare paperwork sorted out - usually something you do in the first weeks of arrival)

katsmajic

The birth is the easy and free bit...

22B

And you will get the Baby Bonus (is it $4k or $5k ?) - in fact, I believe you will get it as long as the baby arrives in Aus before it is 13wks old

TiddlyPom

And the baby comes out anti clockwise due to the gravitational pull.

22B

And feet first, being upside down an' all.

I've even heard reports that some come out wearing boardies.

TiddlyPom

...holding a stubby. (And that's just the girls)

@boy

$4,133 until Jan 1st (non means tested), at which point it becomes 5k, but then subject to means test.

I don't think the bit about the 13 weeks is quite right though...
"You must register your child's birth with the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry in your state or territory to be eligible for Baby Bonus."

From http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...l_how_maty.htm

22B

I dunno ? - we arrived when boy was 14wks and were told 'oh, if only you'd arrived last week'. Either way, they weren't gonna give me the dosh, so I lost interest.

But - back to the OP - as a PR holder you will also be immediately eligible for Family Tax Benefit (the rough equivalent of Child Benefit, but much heftier). This comes in two parts (A and B) - one is a flat rate if one parent is stay-at-home, the other is means tested on the other parent's income (or something like that). See your Family Assistance Office to get forms and help/advice.

When we arrived, the first thing we did was buy a car, second was get Driver Licences (you often need ID here so it makes sense) and the third was get down to the Medicare / Family Assistance Office - and I think that was pretty spot on.

stevenglish

Have a look and tell us if the umbilicle chord really does twist the other way too

You may have to pay for a pouch to be installed, not covered by medicare I don't think