Eclipse

Hi This will all depend on our job situation, we currently live in NSW, although we are happy here and have jobs, there are issues that we are unhappy with and have decided on a new start on the Gold Coast/Brisbane area.We are busy applying for jobs, as soon as one of us is successful, we will move, I am hoping it will be Gold Coast rather than Brisbane as I detest commuting. Once again, a good school is priority as we are very unimpressed with the one they are enrolled in just now. Unfortunately we are not of religion and cannot afford private education.If you have any advice on areas to avoid etc, that would be greatly appreciated Ozellis. The information already recieved has been very valuable to us.

Really appreciate your replies, thank you,, this gives me some more information to go on and places to avoid Pamela

Thank you for your reply, I will have a look, Helensvale is a nice area ! Pamela

Hi Jac2011 Hope someone can help us soon! We moved to NSW over a year ago, we moved close to my OH's work which was a mistake as the school designated to the area is really bad,don't want to make that mistake again! Pamela

Hi I am looking for some advice on High Schools on the Gold Coast. I have two girls one in Y8, the other Y10, would just like to know which schools to consider/avoid etc.. This may be a stupid question but do they have air conditioning in classes?, the reason I ask is, we currently stay in NSW and the girls sometimes struggle with the heat when it gets extreme and their current school has no air conditioning, not even fans!! Oh and, are there any public schools where the kids don't wear their skirts as belts! Thanks Pamela

Hi mackay My OH is a joiner/cabinetmaker, where he works has a high turnaround of joiners, why?, because the pay is rubbish, the company knows that as soon as someone leaves there is someone else looking for work, he has been there a year and seen so many come and go (mostly foreigners like ourselves). We are in NSW so may be different in Western Australia. I think you will find it near impossible to find a sponsership Wishing you all the best x

http://visa-go.com/ from Edinburgh

I would agree with Rupert, Central Coast is lovely but can be difficult to find work unless you commute to Sydney (not something I would like to do!). Lake Macquarie is beautiful and being closer to Newcastle more likely for you to find work.

http://www.stayz.com.au/

Hi bennyboy We are with NAB, we opened up our account in Uk then when we arrived went to the bank and got our cards, we have been into various nab banks for one thing and another and always found staff to be very helpful and internet banking is so easy to set up too (hope this is what you are looking for) best of luck :biggrin: x

We live on the Central Coast due to OH getting a job in Tuggerah, we have been here for nearly 7 months and I cannot get a job (admin). I have decided to look towards Sydney for employment (something which I really have tried to avoid), we may have to upsticks and move again which will really upset my kids having to move schools again but impossible to live on one wage here, it may be cooler, it may have great beaches but if you can't get work all those things are meaningless...

Been a joiner for 20 years now, now thinking of moving to Brisbane if $30+ is the going rate !

$18 an hour for joiner working in a workshop, having to work overtime to make a decent wage :arghh: in NSW - like to know where a joiner can earn $30, wasn't even offered that in Sydney !!

Thanks guys Gosh, I thought you were having a real go at me at first ! It's just things like tax, pensions (all the boring stuff) that I just have no idea about but now we are getting on a bit we really have to start thinking of our retirement and what we are doing with money as our pensions are no way near where they should be, I just don't want to be paying out when we don't need to. I will go check out cbus :hug: Thanks again x

Hi Andy Thank you so much for your posts once again, sorry for being really thick, I just find this a little confusing, if we have already set up another pension fund in Oz (cbus) and bring over the UK pension but just leave it without putting any more money into it then why would I need someone to do an annual check on it? Thanks again x

Hi Andrew Thank you for your reply Yes we have been in Australia for 4 months now. We have three small pensions still in the UK ( I think it all adds up to only £37K) that we were going to leave in the UK as it really isn't very much but were advised to move over to Oz by our agent. I just thought that it was a lot of fees for the amount of pension we have and there is nothing complex to deal with. Thanks again x

We use NAB, there are plenty of ATM's and customer service is brilliant..

I was just wondering what people have paid to get their pension transferred, we have been quoted 4% for transferring pensions over from UK to Oz but they also want: "1% PA OF THE ACCOUNT BALANCE" is this normal? :mad: Thanks in advance x

Hi sinead We are currently in Killarney Vale, next to Shelly Beach but not sure if this is classed "West of Bateau Bay"?. we have only been here two months, it is great for young kids here, plenty of shops and not far from Tuggerah train station. Like everywhere it has good bits and bad bits but overall I think it has a safe environment for families, if you would like anymore info just let me know but I wouldn't rule it out until you come and see for yourself..good luck x

Thankyou for your reply Alan I will get in touch with both UK and Oz just to be on the safe side.. thanks again

Thanks SupportPants We are on a Permanent Residence Visa so we should declare this to the ATO, thanks for your quick reply. x

Hi We have been in Australia since June 2011, we have a flat that we rent out back in the UK. We only got a tenant for the flat and started receiving money when we arrived in Australia. For tax purposes, who should we contact to declare that we have money coming from the UK (I think it is worlwide income?). We have a UK bank account that the money from the flat goes into. thanks x

We used Pickfords from Scotland to Sydney, our container arrived on Wednesday...we had no problems with them..