LukeM

NAB. $0.00 per month account keeping fee regardless of how much $ you deposit into the account. You can leave it open without using it and not incur any fees for doing so. You get a Visa debit card and you can control all of the features of the debit card in the app, including setting a PIN and you can even turn the PayWave features on/off if you would rather insert and use your PIN instead (note: if you do that and try to use PayWave it'll just decline). They also have no overdrawn fees. If a direct debit goes out of the account and is dishonoured, there's no charge to you. The transaction just reverses and it appears on your statement - that's it. No questions asked. You can also add your Superannuation account to Internet Banking if you go with MLC for Super. The interest rates on savings accounts are not great, though, so you could get NAB Classic Banking and link it to a ING Savings Maximiser with ING if that really bothers you...

There's a high chance of being killed in Chicago as a result of gun violence. Perhaps the "fun" is that element of danger? As for Sydney being bottom of the list? No way! Canberra takes the cake if you want a boring Australian city !

Have heard a lot of mixed reviews about Pimpama SSC. Some people say the bullying/student body is terrible, but the teachers are great. Others say it's the best school. Unfortunately, the same with all schools. If you're looking for a good school in the region, Coomera Anglican College is K-12.

Hmmm was only really an idea, thought I'd look into it for them. We don't really have the kinds of money to deal with it and she certainly doesn't have 30 years left in her... I'd bet 4 or 5 tops, so that 838's out of the question. She does have a pension, yes. She's not dependent on anyone financially (that I'm aware of). Oh and someone asked before if my dad has siblings - no, he doesn't. Both my parents are their parents' one and only child.

Mmmm while I understand your point of view, unfortunately she's not got anyone there. She lives alone and doesn't socialise with anyone - even immediate family including her brother and sister. She would rather be with us - whether that means her being here or us being there. She has a lot of mental and physical health issues and as I said we all know she would rather be here with us. It certainly wouldn't be easier on us but it would be easier on her. $50k is a lot. I don't think we would be able to afford that. I was just curious about options.

Just wondered how we go about doing this now, and how easy it is to do? We are citizens and wondering whether it's possible to bring my dad's mum over. She's living on her own currently. Finding it increasingly hard to travel. She's just turned 70 and we felt it might be something to look into for her benefit if we were able to sell her house in the UK (we own it anyway) and bring her over here. i think it would be better for us all in the long run. I've not really followed the forums since I got here and became a citizen so I've come crawling back for advice hehe

Currently living in Qld. Thinking of making the move to Vic after my fiancee and I get married. It will be the two of us and possibly a bun in the oven! Where would be a good place for us to start, based on this criteria? - Reasonably central location. Preferably further from the CBD, as we're not really city people, but close enough to a decent shopping centre and with reasonably good links to the CBD if we need to go there for anything. I'll still be at Uni for example, so it might be beneficial to be able to access the CBD for that reason (though I'm thinking more about doing online study so I can do things a bit more at my own pace!) - Easy access to doctors/hospital/chiropractor/other health services. - Quiet. Must be quiet and "out of the way", family friendly, good for raising kids. Again - refer to above, we're not city people! - Green! - Relatively cheap - we would be renting, looking around the $370 per week mark. That's what we're paying at the moment for a townhouse. We would prefer to have something a bit more private. I don't really like townhouses/apartments. I like separation from neighbours! They've proven to be noisy here!

I have a Gumtree ad with all of the details in it. Please PM me if you would like information or the link to the ad. Please comment or message if you require information, please only do so if you know someone who is interested or you are seriously interested yourself. Thanks.

Depends on study area and level...

If you're not a Permanent Resident you may have to pay "full" fees, same as University. Depends on study area and the level. A Diploma of IT at TAFE can be $10,800 up to $14,900 just as an example. Certificates and random courses would be a lot cheaper.

Said friend attends UQ, and stays in a UQ residential college.

You might want to start looking at the news about all the "proposed" changes to University funding in Australia. They haven't been passed by the Senate as yet but if they are, then I'm afraid your "cheaper than the UK" may be abruptly shattered I hope for the sake of all those who rely upon a University education to secure their career and boost employability, myself included, that these ridiculous measures never come to pass.

Really? I was of the impression from a friend who lives at the residential colleges that you can't stay over summer or the break between semesters but you can obviously stay for mid-semester break...

Eh? What? Degree easier? No. The timing is different as Quoll said. To be honest it's just more stressful dragging it out over so many years I say stuff 'em in to 2 years full time and deal with it. But they cleverly plot it so they can index fees and interest rates and steal your money for the government. Depends. Queensland I read has the highest dropout rate for University as they go younger from school to Uni. I don't think it's easier at all. Everything is just what you make of it. Obviously a 'brighter' student is going to handle it differently... Public/private makes no difference IMO.

Got my drivers license (Aus path to getting licensed is painful) Known how hideous the public transport system can be Researched University life more and been more aware of my options and opportunities relating to what I want to do with my life rather than what people thought/think I should do with my life. Known how terrible 3G/4G speeds are :jimlad: Oh well no time for dwelling on the past those are all minor things so I don't really care I wasn't expecting aus life to be like the UK anyway so I guess I just went in with no expectations and I haven't ever been disappointed - I wouldn't go back so yeah.