we have made it

[freshfields]

Hi All
It's been such a long time since we've been on the forum.

Well we have made it, we are staying in Padbury and we hit the ground running so to speak.The bank was the longest which did take up to 2hrs to get everything sorted, medicare just filled in the forms they copy your passport not even half an hour, centerlink which was a bonus because we did'nt realize we could claim for this. This does take a bit longer because you have to have your TFN then fill in forms and send it off so when you go back you are on there system. TFN is being sorted with keith's employers.
We are now looking at houses and cars and it's like being in a sweetie shop, soooo much choice.
It's winter and we are walking around in t-shirts because it's very warm. We do pinch ourselves because we cant believe that we are in OZ, and the people are so friendly & helpfull.
I am in the library at the moment because we haven't got broadband, boy do miss not being able to go on at any time.
Talk soon & hope all is going well for all those waiting to hear good news on there visa's

Karen, Keith & Gang xxx

[gary12]

Hi Karen

Glad to hear you are getting on ok. Tell me, how do you know what to do and where to start with regards centrelink/medicare etc

What do you do first?
Please tell me they give you a nice big folder with everything you need when you step off the plane

Failing that maybe Cal could set up a franchise all over Oz

thanks Michelle

[minlady]

hi karen... lovely to hear you have settled in ok and you are ... excuse the line...'living the dream'!!!

Thrilled for you

min x

[Curlysoo]

Happy new life to you all! ....

.... one day someone is gunna get up out of bed in the UK ... and the country will be empty!

Sue ...XXX

[Lynandsean]

Originally Posted by Curlysoo

Happy new life to you all! ....

.... one day someone is gunna get up out of bed in the UK ... and the country will be empty!

Sue ...XXX

Just hope the last person leaving remembers to turn the lights out!!!!!!!
Lyn xx

[Lynandsean]

Congrats Karen, Keith and gang
Hope everything continues to go well and you can stop pinching yourself!
Lyn x

[freshfields]

Hi Gary12

Sorry we didn't get a folder with where/what to do. The lady at the bank told us to go to centerlink.
Medicare was really easy, just walk in to the medicare office fill your form out, very straight forward form, get in line and wait your turn, we didn't have to wait long take your passport as they photocopy the visa page and you will be given a tempory piece of paper quite flimsy so look after it untill they send your card through the post. Centerlink is more form filling but you have to have your TFN, get your tax file number first this makes it a lot easier and if you qualify you will be paid from the date you enter oz (it's like child benifit) it will go by your earnings.
By the way changing your uk driving licence to a WA licence is easy, go into the Licenceing Center fill in the form, part with some money, you have the choice of 1yr or 5yr we did 5yr and paid $155.
We have done these things in our first week, make sure you have always got your passport and some proof of your address as these do get asked for all the time.
Hope this hasn't confussed you, you should find the offices you want quite easly.

I really do miss not being able to just get on the internet, I'm missing all the chat on PIO
Hopefully not too long now

Thanks everyone for your good wishes, hope to be back soon take care all

Karen,keith & gang x