Stu2688 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hi everyone, I'm heading over to Melbourne first or 2nd week in October for up to a year or maybe more. I'm staying with family friends in Geelong for the first few weeks though. Just wondering if anyone has any advice, been getting cold feet recently. Been wanting to do it for years and I've been given a years sabbatical so if I don't do it now, I never will. Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss everyone. I have mates over in Australia who absolutely love it, they have told me a few things I can get sorted before I arrive. I'm an electrician to trade, I know I can't work as an electrician but would be keen to do some sort of manual labour so I've been told to do an online course to get a white card? Does anyone know if you can open a commonwealth bank account before I get there? Also, how easy is it to transfer money to an account in Scotland say once a month? My mate told me to try and get a tax file number so I can start work straight away. Any help would be appreciated guys Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Don't give in to 'cold feet' and cancel your trip! [h=1]Applying for a TFN[/h]It’s not compulsory to have a TFN, but if you don’t have one you may have more tax withheld than you need to, or you may not be able to receive certain government benefits. Why you need a TFNBefore you apply, you should understand why you may need a TFN. Individuals (Australian residents for tax purposes)If you are able to attend an interview at a participating Australia Post retail outlet, you can apply for a TFN on the web. Otherwise, you will need to complete the paper application form Tax file number – application or enquiry for individuals form (NAT 1432) and provide the necessary proof of identity documents. Individuals living outside AustraliaIf you are a non-resident of Australia for tax purposes, you need to understand when you might need a TFN. You can apply for a TFN using the form Tax file number – application or enquiry for an individual living outside Australia (NAT 2628) and providing the necessary proof of identity documents. Permanent migrants or temporary visitorsIf you are a permanent migrant or temporary visitor to Australia, you can apply for a TFN online at any time after entering Australia. Lodging your applicationWhen you have completed your application, you can post the form and your certified copies of your proof of identity documents to the address specified on the form. Do not send us your original proof of identity documents – documents you mail to us may not be returned to you. Alternatively, you can take your application form and your original proof of identity documents to your nearest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shopfront. [h=1]Moving to Australia[/h] Personal/ Help and guidance/ Moving to Australia [h=2]Pre-open your Australian bank account before you leave home[/h]Whether you are moving to Australia to live, work, study or for a working holiday, we understand that moving to a new country can be both an exciting and a daunting experience. With so many things to think about, it's good to know that opening a bank account in Australia before you leave home is an easy process. NAB is well placed to help you with all of your financial needs. That’s why we place a real emphasis on providing our customers with a personal service. Find out how our dedicated migrant banking team based in Australia can help you set up your requirements before you leave home. Visit NAB Migrant BankingApply now [h=1]Health care for visitors to Australia[/h]The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy. These agreements entitle you to some subsidised health services for essential medical treatment while visiting Australia. If you applied for, or received a Subclass Visa 410 (Retiree Visa) before 1 December 1998, you may be able to access Medicare under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement of your home country. If you applied for Subclass Visa 410 after 1 December 1998, you’re not eligible for Medicare and you’re not covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreements. [h=2]Period of cover[/h]If you are a resident of New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Finland or Norway, you are covered for the length of your stay in Australia. If you are a visitor from Belgium, the Netherlands or Slovenia, you need your European Health Insurance card to enrol in Medicare. You are eligible until the expiry date shown on the card, or for the length of your authorised stay in Australia, if that is an earlier date. If you are visiting from Malta or Italy, and you are a resident and citizen of those countries, you’ll be covered by Medicare for a period of six months from the date of your arrival in Australia. [h=2]Access to cover[/h]Reciprocal Health Care Agreements cover treatment that is medically essential. This means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before you return home. [h=2]Students[/h]If you are in Australia on a student visa from the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy or New Zealand, you are covered by Medicare. Students from Norway, Finland, Malta and the Republic of Ireland are not covered by the agreements with those countries. Note: With the exception of students from Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden it is a condition of your student visa that you take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). [h=2]Your entitlements[/h]As a resident of one of these countries, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy, you are entitled to the following health or injury treatments while you are in Australia: free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor Residents of the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand are entitled to: services as a public patient in a public hospital (including outpatient services) for medically necessary treatment medicines available on prescription which are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), at the general rate [h=2]Treatment outside a hospital[/h]You can get medical treatment in private doctors' practices and community health centres. Doctors in these practices charge for their services in one of the following ways. [h=3]1. The doctor bills Medicare directly[/h]You’ll be asked to show your reciprocal health care card and sign a completed Medicare bulk bill form after seeing the doctor but you won’t need to pay. Please note not all doctors bulk bill. [h=3]2. The doctor gives you a bill[/h]Doctors who don’t bulk bill will ask you to pay a fee at the time of consultation. You can either pay the full bill, or lodge the unpaid bill with Medicare. If you pay the full bill at the time of consultation, you can: ask the reception staff if they can lodge your Medicare claim for you claim your benefit in person at a DHS Service Centre[1] send a completed Medicare claim form, the original doctor’s bill and receipt to the Department of Human Services, GPO Box 9822, in your capital city. We will send you a cheque to cover the Medicare portion of the bill claim online by Self service[2] claim over the phone by calling 132 011 To lodge your unpaid bill you need to: take the unpaid bill and a completed claim form to a DHS Service Centre[1], or send it to the Department of Human Services, GPO Box 9822, in your capital city. We will send you a cheque made payable to the doctor take the cheque to your doctor and pay the difference between the Medicare benefit and the total fee charged by the doctor [h=2]Treatment in a hospital[/h]If you receive essential medical treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, you won't be charged for any treatment or accommodation. Simply show your passport or reciprocal health care card to staff when you arrive at the hospital. If you elect to be treated as a private patient in a public hospital or as a private patient in a private hospital, you will be charged for both medical treatment and accommodation. These fees can't be claimed from Medicare. [h=3]3. Medical services not covered by Medicare[/h]Medicare will not cover: medicine not subsidised under the PBS treatment arranged before your visit to Australia accommodation and medical treatment in a private hospital accommodation and medical treatment as a private patient in a public hospital ambulance services dental examinations and treatment (except specified items introduced for allied health services as part of the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, eye therapy, chiropractic services, podiatry or psychology (except specified items introduced for allied health services as part of the CDM program acupuncture (unless part of a doctor's consultation) glasses and contact lenses hearing aids and other appliances the cost of prostheses medical costs for which someone else is responsible (for example a compensation insurer, an employer, a government or government authority) medical services which are not clinically necessary surgery solely for cosmetic reasons examinations for life insurance, superannuation or membership of a friendly society eye therapy home nursing You can take out private health insurance to cover many of these services. 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Guest51810 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hi everyone, I'm heading over to Melbourne first or 2nd week in October for up to a year or maybe more. I'm staying with family friends in Geelong for the first few weeks though. Just wondering if anyone has any advice, been getting cold feet recently. Been wanting to do it for years and I've been given a years sabbatical so if I don't do it now, I never will. Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss everyone. I have mates over in Australia who absolutely love it, they have told me a few things I can get sorted before I arrive. I'm an electrician to trade, I know I can't work as an electrician but would be keen to do some sort of manual labour so I've been told to do an online course to get a white card? Does anyone know if you can open a commonwealth bank account before I get there? Also, how easy is it to transfer money to an account in Scotland say once a month? My mate told me to try and get a tax file number so I can start work straight away. Any help would be appreciated guys Stuart Hey Stuart Can't comment on the tax stuff but I bet once you get there you have so much fun you'll barely feel homesick! You'll meet loads of people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumpkin Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hi everyone, I'm heading over to Melbourne first or 2nd week in October for up to a year or maybe more. I'm staying with family friends in Geelong for the first few weeks though. Just wondering if anyone has any advice, been getting cold feet recently. Been wanting to do it for years and I've been given a years sabbatical so if I don't do it now, I never will. Just thinking about how much I'm going to miss everyone. I have mates over in Australia who absolutely love it, they have told me a few things I can get sorted before I arrive. I'm an electrician to trade, I know I can't work as an electrician but would be keen to do some sort of manual labour so I've been told to do an online course to get a white card? Does anyone know if you can open a commonwealth bank account before I get there? Also, how easy is it to transfer money to an account in Scotland say once a month? My mate told me to try and get a tax file number so I can start work straight away. Any help would be appreciated guys Stuart You can't apply for a tax file number before you get here, but it doesn't stop you working straight away. I started work before I got mine, know loads who have. Yes you can open a bank account before you get here and transferring money is very easy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 You can easily open an account with Commonwealth before you leave. We bank with them and did this before we arrived and had no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 And it's only a year (2 if you get your regional work done which is worth considering should you want to go back or stay in ). I'd not worry overly about missing people. It's an adventure, see a bit of the world and you'll be back before you know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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