So you wanna move to OZ?

Good evening my british chums!

 

Well after 2 years, we arrived in Darwin a month ago........I used to look through threads to try and get answers, Are there snakes? Is it hot? Price of accommodation? Is it like "Home & Away"? *rolls eyes* So heres a guide on how much dolla dolla cash your gonna have to spill for a life down under!

 

So heres a rough guide for you novices wanting a better life in OZ.

 

We went with Immigration 2Oz. Go to the DownUnder centre in london. You can meet John, Warrick and Bianca and Tiffany.

First step we done is £200 to start the process off. They do things in 5 steps, you supplying documents with each step.

Another 2 payments of £400.

Two payments of £800.

One payment of £1000.

In-between these steps was the IELTS Test. (Hahahaha it sucked!) DONT expect to pass first time, its like your driving test. Do it once to get used to it. Husband done it 3rd time.

 

Now we came on a 489 skilled visa. You have to work for 1 year out of the 2 years then you can apply for residency. We got told 457 visa, you lose your job, you come home. Tough Boobies.

 

My husband is a chippy and needed to change his qualifications to aussie qualifications. You do that at a centre in dartford. Cost £800ish.

 

Whitecard. £140ish. YOU NEED IT IF YOUR A TRADE!

 

Visa cost husband £1850. Me £1200ish. Kids 2x £480 each.

 

Last stage is done, you get your visa. HURRAY!

 

Actually no, now the BS starts.

 

Medicals, we went to the spire centre in brentwood. You CANT go to a pupa or your own doctors. It needs to be a immigration doctor. £350 each. £80ish for each kids.

 

Police checks you can do online, £40 each ish.

 

We went with PSS movers. £1400. That was based on 270 square foot. We had to pay a clearance fee of $160 when arrived at OZ. Everyone has to pay that no matter what company your with. So we got told.

 

Don't bother bringing big furniture. You can get stuff off gumtree. Big W, Kmart and Target do nice new stuff for cheap. Its better to take the personal stuff and save money than bring everything and pay a fortune!

 

Flights cost us £2800 one way booking on CheapOair. Apparently they don't do "open returns" anymore. So its cheaper buying a oneway.

 

We booked a months accommodation for £985.70 for 2 adults, 2 kids at the travelodge mirambeena in darwin city. Hotel club.com! Look for "KIDS STAY FREE" Cuts costs down so much!

 

Getting a house took us 1DAY! No lie, if you go prepared, we took copies of our previous landlords reference and bank statements showing we paid rent. We went with Ray White.

 

Swapping your drivers license is easy and cost $26. You go to the aussie "DVLA" pass a simple eye test, take a photo and get it there and then! DONT SPEED! Today i went 5mph and got a $200 fine. Not happy. But yeah, watch your speed.

 

Childcare is just.....bloody hell. *heart attack* Goodstart centres charge $101 for under 2's and $89 for over 2's. A DAY! For 1 DAY!

 

We buy gas bottles, electric is 3 monthly, 1 water bill is 3 monthly. No council tax if you rent, no tv license. Petrol is cheap. Food is ASTRONOMICAL!! We easily spend $300 on our big shop. $100 every week. Buy a BBQ and shop locally. You'll see loads of stalls at the site of the road. Clothes are stupid expensive. Stock up on Primark clothes before you come!

 

We haven't actually seen any spiders or snakes. We have tons of lizards and frogs in the garden. Its just about being careful. Mozzies are f&^%ing awful! So are the flies, so buy a citronella candle and a load of fly traps!

 

Aussie folk are nice. Very blunt and to the point. I kinda get they don't get sarcasm.

 

I wouldn't personally bring my cat. Its too hot. We've only seen one cat......and it was dead. Or the kids got told it was sleeping, with its eyes out on the grass.....they seemed ok with that.

 

Homesickness hits you hard. I miss irn bru. I miss soreen cake! I miss my local take away! Even thou chinese and indian food is awesome here!

 

Thats it. If I have anything wrong, please say. This is only my personal experience.

 

Oh, IM not meant to be racist but the local abbos can be so racist. I got called a "white racist shitbag" on my first night because I never gave him a dollar. I didn't have any money on me! LOL.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Huntersmummy

Interesting posts, I appreciate the honestly. Could we perhaps avoid the use of the word Abbo ?

Good evening my british chums!

 

Well after 2 years, we arrived in Darwin a month ago........I used to look through threads to try and get answers, Are there snakes? Is it hot? Price of accommodation? Is it like "Home & Away"? *rolls eyes* So heres a guide on how much dolla dolla cash your gonna have to spill for a life down under!

 

So heres a rough guide for you novices wanting a better life in OZ.

 

We went with Immigration 2Oz. Go to the DownUnder centre in london. You can meet John, Warrick and Bianca and Tiffany.

First step we done is £200 to start the process off. They do things in 5 steps, you supplying documents with each step.

Another 2 payments of £400.

Two payments of £800.

One payment of £1000.

In-between these steps was the IELTS Test. (Hahahaha it sucked!) DONT expect to pass first time, its like your driving test. Do it once to get used to it. Husband done it 3rd time.

 

Now we came on a 489 skilled visa. You have to work for 1 year out of the 2 years then you can apply for residency. We got told 457 visa, you lose your job, you come home. Tough Boobies.

 

My husband is a chippy and needed to change his qualifications to aussie qualifications. You do that at a centre in dartford. Cost £800ish.

 

Whitecard. £140ish. YOU NEED IT IF YOUR A TRADE!

 

Visa cost husband £1850. Me £1200ish. Kids 2x £480 each.

 

Last stage is done, you get your visa. HURRAY!

 

Actually no, now the BS starts.

 

Medicals, we went to the spire centre in brentwood. You CANT go to a pupa or your own doctors. It needs to be a immigration doctor. £350 each. £80ish for each kids.

 

Police checks you can do online, £40 each ish.

 

We went with PSS movers. £1400. That was based on 270 square foot. We had to pay a clearance fee of $160 when arrived at OZ. Everyone has to pay that no matter what company your with. So we got told.

 

Don't bother bringing big furniture. You can get stuff off gumtree. Big W, Kmart and Target do nice new stuff for cheap. Its better to take the personal stuff and save money than bring everything and pay a fortune!

 

Flights cost us £2800 one way booking on CheapOair. Apparently they don't do "open returns" anymore. So its cheaper buying a oneway.

 

We booked a months accommodation for £985.70 for 2 adults, 2 kids at the travelodge mirambeena in darwin city. Hotel club.com! Look for "KIDS STAY FREE" Cuts costs down so much!

 

Getting a house took us 1DAY! No lie, if you go prepared, we took copies of our previous landlords reference and bank statements showing we paid rent. We went with Ray White.

 

Swapping your drivers license is easy and cost $26. You go to the aussie "DVLA" pass a simple eye test, take a photo and get it there and then! DONT SPEED! Today i went 5mph and got a $200 fine. Not happy. But yeah, watch your speed.

 

Childcare is just.....bloody hell. *heart attack* Goodstart centres charge $101 for under 2's and $89 for over 2's. A DAY! For 1 DAY!

 

We buy gas bottles, electric is 3 monthly, 1 water bill is 3 monthly. No council tax if you rent, no tv license. Petrol is cheap. Food is ASTRONOMICAL!! We easily spend $300 on our big shop. $100 every week. Buy a BBQ and shop locally. You'll see loads of stalls at the site of the road. Clothes are stupid expensive. Stock up on Primark clothes before you come!

 

We haven't actually seen any spiders or snakes. We have tons of lizards and frogs in the garden. Its just about being careful. Mozzies are f&^%ing awful! So are the flies, so buy a citronella candle and a load of fly traps!

 

Aussie folk are nice. Very blunt and to the point. I kinda get they don't get sarcasm.

 

I wouldn't personally bring my cat. Its too hot. We've only seen one cat......and it was dead. Or the kids got told it was sleeping, with its eyes out on the grass.....they seemed ok with that.

 

Homesickness hits you hard. I miss irn bru. I miss soreen cake! I miss my local take away! Even thou chinese and indian food is awesome here!

 

Thats it. If I have anything wrong, please say. This is only my personal experience.

 

Oh, IM not meant to be racist but the local abbos can be so racist. I got called a "white racist shitbag" on my first night because I never gave him a dollar. I didn't have any money on me! LOL.

 

I did enjoy reading your post! Made me smile. Mozzies will be bad there up in the tropics. Maybe food is dearer because it's trucked in?

 

Keep us up to date with your life in Darwin.

I really couldn't live in Darwin, in fact it would probably be the last place in the world I would live. An interesting choice

I really couldn't live in Darwin, in fact it would probably be the last place in the world I would live. An interesting choice

 

Some people don't have much of a choice.

 

I enjoyed reading the original post. Brutally honest and to the point.

Thats a great post, thanks for sharing that info i am sure many will find it helpful.. Good to see you back on the forum too and it sounds like your settling in ok.

 

Cal x

V interesting and honest post:laugh:

 

i would love to visit Darwin. Thank you:confused:

I keep reading that child care is expensive in Australia but it doesn't sound that much more. $100 is roughly £50 isn't it? I pay £42 a day and it doesn't get cheaper when they turn two.

Great post

 

I miss irn bru

 

You can get it in Coles in the English section

 

Well you can in ours for sure

Interesting posts, I appreciate the honestly. Could we perhaps avoid the use of the word Abbo ?

 

Perhaps when the indigenous gentlemen refrains from calling the new arrival a "white racist shitbag" methinks.

Edited November 12, 2015 by scuffythetugboat

Perhaps when the indigenous gentlemen refrains from calling the new arrival a "white racist shitbag" methinks.

 

That doesn't make sense.

Great post

 

 

 

You can get it in Coles in the English section

 

Well you can in ours for sure

 

Should be in the Scottish section surely?

 

I keep reading that child care is expensive in Australia but it doesn't sound that much more. $100 is roughly £50 isn't it? I pay £42 a day and it doesn't get cheaper when they turn two.

Yup thats right, and if you are PR you can claim half that back so is actually way cheaper!

Yup thats right, and if you are PR you can claim half that back so is actually way cheaper!

 

Well it's not as simple as that, here for 50 hours the average cost is £197 and depending on your circumstances you get Government help with that.

Interesting post to start this thread - thank you for describing your experiences. There are a few comments I would make for people who don't know Australia.

 

 

I wouldn't personally bring my cat. Its too hot.

 

 

This may apply to Darwin but remember that it is by far the hottest city in Oz.

The average max. monthly temperature is 32 degrees. The next warmest city is 25 degrees (Brisbane). Where I live - the coolest - it's 17.

So, most places you are likely to move to in Oz are not too hot for a cat.

 

Mozzies are f&^%ing awful! So are the flies,

Again, undoubtedly true of Darwin - and some other places - but not of everywhere in Oz.

 

Food is ASTRONOMICAL

In price surveys of food in various cities, Darwin is always the most expensive - usually by a large amount.

 

Childcare is just.....bloody hell. *heart attack* Goodstart centres charge $101 for under 2's and $89 for over 2's. A DAY! For 1 DAY!

 

 

Most people qualify for a benefit to help with the cost of childcare but it is variable depending on income, residency status, number of children, type of care etc.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Skani

Presumably the houses are air conditioned so the cat can stay inside all day.

Mine does anyway. Inside sleeping all day and wants to roam at night.

Cats will certainly cope with the heat.

 

I used to be based at Marble Bar - holds the heat world record and there are masses of feral cats there.

Should be in the Scottish section surely?

 

Well to be honest its actually in the international section :wink:

Great post

 

 

 

You can get it in Coles in the English section

 

Well you can in ours for sure

 

And Soreen, whole or sliced

Moving to Darwin is moving to the tropics. Don't forget that folks.

Cats will certainly cope with the heat.

 

I used to be based at Marble Bar - holds the heat world record and there are masses of feral cats there.

 

Agreed. As ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, I can't see them (the cats) having any problem with the heat. FWIW, you got the death sentence for killing a cat back then

Food is ASTRONOMICAL!!

 

 

That is because it is trucked in from elsewhere around the country.

 

It is a bloody long way to food distribution centres based in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. Since it costs a lot in petrol and other transport costs to haul it up there; this will reflect in the prices.

 

But during the time I lived in Darwin, I found it was mainly processed foods and toiletries that were expensive.

 

Fresh food was cheap

 

Luckily Darwin is renowned for growing areas, so you should be able to pick up fresh food locally quite cheaply.

 

The Darwin region is renowned for growing many different fruits, vegetables and herbs. And lucky you, the region is also renowned for growing many delicious tropical fruits like dragonfruit, black sapote, mango and even durians. Due to the big Asian influence, a lot of farmers are also growing various Asian vegetables.

 

And the best place to buy cheap food is from the local farmers, who are at the numerous markets around town

 

Check out markets like Rapid Creek Market

http://www.darwin-australia.com/darwin-markets.html

 

Lucky you living within easy reach of such abundance. I gorged myself on nectar of the gods (mangoes) when I lived there…and I have been positively addicted to them ever since!

Edited November 12, 2015 by jumpingjellybean
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Im very sorry for the term "abbo" if used incorrectly. Ive heard it used a lot since being here and thought, naively it was a well used term to describe the locals. Like "pikes" or "chavs" back home. And yes I've read that over and sounds politically incorrect but I'm not being racist! Just a bit thick with words.

 

 

And yes Coles has the "international section" that has cadburys, irn bru, tetley teabags. But I don't like paying $10 for 40 teabags.....although i might succumb as being british, good tea is like sex.....hot, delicious and voluntary in the mornings!

 

And as for the cat reference, my cat is fat, heavy and stupid and struggles in the british summer so over here, he'd struggle big time! Although the in laws have finally kept him so he's happy, I'm happy, everyones a winner.

 

OH i also forgot to add, when you go to rent or buy stuff, you can barter. Got myself $50 off a washing machine today all because I asked! Got $30 a week off my rent too.

 

AND AND AND I FOUND SOREEN!!!! *happy dance*

Try Dilmah tea HM, it's very nice.

Tetley tea bags are on the normal section and not that expensive at all