Beanigan

Hi, I'm now here and have been in Melbourne since September. We stayed in Travancore initially and are now in Moonee Ponds which is fab. My children go to Moonee Ponds Primary school and they love it. it is a fantastic school. If you have a job in Epping and your wife is working in Hoppers Crossing then that is quite some distance away from each other. You both don't want to be spending hours and hours in the car every day! Do you have children? as theat would make a huge difference. My husband works in Glen Iris and living in Moonee ponds means he spends 90 mins in the car each way every day - traffic is hell here! I work in Parkville and cycle there so door to door no more 20 mins. You'll find people raving about Point Cook out West and if thats your cup of tea then you may like it. Its a new build housing estate and the infrastructure is being built now. A bit like Telford! I'd rather move to somewhere a bit more central to enjoy all Melbourne has to offer than to a housing estate as you may as well move to a housing estate in the UK but that's just my opinion. Also Sunshine isn't as lovely as it sounds, may be best to avoid that area too. Keilor, Niddrie, Essendon, Airport West may suit you both - great areas and not too far into the city. That may work and Essendon has some of the best schools in Melbourne if you do have kids. The schools have before and after school clubs so that could work?

Thank you Aileen - feel free to PM me, would love to hear how your getting on. Our 457 is delayed, looking at September now!

Hiya Gareth, How exciting! And you arriving earlier will give you plenty of time to search for suburbs. I'm also going to be working in Parkville, arriving July/August time but I will be arriving with the entire family (husband and 2 kids, aged 6 & 9). We'll be renting until/if we eventually get PR. I was in Melbourne in December and have done some research on suburbs and schools. We also want to start with 1 car and I'm hoping to cycle/tram/train it to work. I'm looking at Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Yarraville. Good schools and transport links but if you don't mind a longer commute you'll have more options. Coburg (on tram line), Pascoe Vale also places to consider. Also I've been told Ivanhoe, Kew, Alphington and Hawthorn are good suburbs but I'm not too sure on commutes to work from there - but you can check it out on the PTV transport journey planner. https://ptv.vic.gov.au/journey Anyway, good luck - let me know how you get on. I'd be interested in your views of areas before I arrive!

Oh ! thought it seemed too good to be true!

What is Kensington like to live in? Kensington Primary school has good ratings and has cheaper wrap around care and only 30 mins walk to work!

When are you going? I thought if you lived in the school zone then that school were obliged to take the children? Have you heard this? Congratulations on the job ! We have to find some temporary accomodation or stay further afield with family...

Hi Aileen, Fab! We're looking to move in July so not long (not even started sorting our lives out yet!). I'm looking at schools with extended before and after school care although, we'd get no help on the 457 visa and childcare fees look expensive (especially the Camp Australia ones!. We have a 9 year old boy and a 6 year old girl. Moonee Ponds is still on the list as well as surrounding areas. I have a list of 16 schools to go through (shortlisted already on rankings) and now going through striking off all the schools with before school clubs starting at 7:30am or later! I have Footscray, Brunswick, Yarraville, Moonee Ponds, Maribrynong, Kensington, Fitzroy and Carlton on the list so lots to sift through! My friends children go to Wembley Primary in Yarraville and said she can help me with school runs if I live over that way - but the cycle ride may be a bit far! So much to look at and think about! How are you getting on? Where will you be working?

Yes we have a bit of wiggle room! he may be getting an off shore job or shift work so would be good if I had someone to help cover some of my shift work - that website looks great thank you!

Thank you again! International fees for schooling??!!! I thought we didn't have school fees in Victoria on a 457 visa - am I wrong???:nah:

Thank you so much! We'll be receiving around $200/300 a week from our property in the UK (currency rates depending) so we figured we'd like an OK sized 3 bed house (we can manage 1 bathroom) with an outside space for barbies! The children are 6 & 9 (just turned) so Primary school for both. I'll be starting work at 7:45am so I need to drop them off at 7am at before school clubs. I've been going through all the schools before/after school clubs and the only one I can spot which starts at 7am (in the areas we are eyeing up) is Moonee Ponds West Primary school. I can easily cycle to work from there (saves parking fees and tram feees). We just need to sort out after school care now as I'll be finishing at 6pm and that's when after school care finishes! There must be childminders who pick up from these clubs? My husband is a paramedic practitioner so he'll be working shift work also. We figured we'd try and stick closer to the hospital for ease of getting back following night shifts etc so Moonee Ponds is a perfect distance away (and not far from the beach, my friends in Yarraville and my brother in Box Hill North). Thank you for the tip on Medical Insurance - does ths cover ambulance cover as well?

OK thanks for the advice!

Thank you very much, fingers crossed!

Yes I have, i probably can afford up to $700 a week as long as my husband gets a job pretty quick!

Fair enough! Maybe I'd drop the beach then, as we can always drive there! Looking at Yarravile, Brunswick, Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Ascot Vale. All seem easily cycable to the hospital. I have friends in Yarraville and family in Box Hill North but can drive to these places....

Hi, Hope you can help us. We are looking to move to Melbourne and I have an interview for the Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville next week (but not got the job yet!!). If I were successful, which areas are easily commutable to the hospital, bearing in mind that I would need to drop children off to before school clubs before an early shift (7:30/8am start) so ideally need to get into work within half hour? (I can always cycle, maximum about 30 mins). As we're both healthcare workers (my husband is a paramedic), we won't be big earners so need to rent an affordable 3 bedroom house in a nice area with nice schools and not a million miles away from a beach (we will be renting out our UK property). It will be on a 457 visa so is anyone aware of school fees that we would need to pay? I assume we'd have to pay some sort of insurance for medical care. I know some parts of Melbourne, I really like Yarraville and my brother lives out in Box Hill North (which may be a bit too far away). Any help much appreciated! :wink: