richselina

Hi, I'm sure other people have faced this and wondered what they have done. We will be shipping most of our items, but personal items including jewellery etc we plan to take with us. Our home insurance will only cover a certain amount away from home, but as we're above that amount and the amount on our travel insurance I'm trying to find out if there is some additional insurance that I can take out. If anyone has faced this I would appreciate knowing as I'm very nervous walking around with a rucksack that contains our valuables with no insurance to cover the replacement value? Thanks so much, Rich

Hi, Just trying to find out if you need to bring any proof of no claims with you or driving history when you take out insurance in Australia? All comments would be welcomed Thanks, Rich

Hi, Thanks so much for this. Fingers crossed on the application

Hi, We're now 3 months from moving and trying to decide on the removal company and would like to know any recent experiences or recommendations on who to use. All comments would be most welcome Thanks, Rich

Hi, One other thing. Our passports have no stamps as its within Europe so there is no physical record of an overseas holiday, but I want to be honest on the application form.

Hi, I'm in the process of filing an online application for importing a car to Australia. We have owned the car for the past 18 months, but during the past 12 months qualifying period we have taken one 7 day holiday from the UK to Europe where we didn't have use of the car. I'm really concerned whether this will stop the import of the vehicle as we didn't have complete use of it. Any help or guidance on this would be most appreciated. Thanks, Rich

Hi, the company is located on Pitt Street so I guess Wynyard would be the closet stop.

Hi, we've been planning to move to Melbourne in February next year but out of the blue we've been given a great job opportunity in Sydney which is worth considering. We have always discounted sydney due to the cost of houses but having looked in areas on the South - Picnic Point or Bangor there are some properties within our $750k purchase price range. However, not having visited the southern suburbs I'm not sure of what the areas offer for a family with a 9 year old daughter where schooling would be a priority. i would appreciate all views on the pros and cons of this region versus say living north of Hornsby. thanks so much, Rich

Hi, We're soon to be moving over and are concerned about finding the right school in the right area for our 8 year old daughter. She's in a lovely school here in the UK with just 60 pupils per year and we'd love her to be in a similar sized school when we move. Is there a parents forum, or something equivalent to Mumsnet in Victoria where I can connect with some parents to gain an insight into the good schools? Our decision on where to live will be largely determined by the schools, so this is an important decision for us. All help and advice would be most welcome. Thanks, Rich

Hi, I'm interested to gain some views on whether it's better to live in and around Point Cook or Berwick/Mornington. On the face of it houses seem more affordable in Point Cook than Berwick area and the commute into CBD seems quicker, but there has to be some drawbacks so interested to hear what they might be. looking forward to some interesting discussions. Rich

Hi, I just wondered whether anyone has taken advantage of getting a one year extension to their UK passport through the consular office in Australia? thanks, Rich

Hi, With that sudden realisation that my daughter is growing up too fast and soon our priority will shift from junior to senior school I'm keen to hear from any fellow PIOers in Melbourne where the best senior/high schools are? We're looking at a few areas, Berwick, Frankston South or Belgrave as possible places to live, but if there are some great high schools then we'd ideally love to be near them.... All comments most welcome. Rich

Hi, thanks for this. My main concern though is whether the existing TV tuner works within the TV or if I will have to buy external tuners (like a freeview / sky box) we have here in the UK.

Hi, I'd like to confirm whether or not UK TV's work in Australia and if they do, do you need to have a separate digital box or are signals picked up from the existing tuner within the TV. I've been told they work, but just need to confirm on what basis they do work before I ship them. Thanks for all help, Rich

Hi, I'm intrigued by the 2 - 2.5 calculation. We earn about £200K PA in the UK and we're coming to Australia and are looking to earn about $150-$200K which we think will give us a good lifestyle. I certainly don't think that we'd need to earn $500K in Australia to have a comparable standard of living to what we have here......Or am I missing something ? All comments welcomed.

Hi, Myself and my wife are planning to move in Late June/Early July and would like to get a sense on what the 'true' employment market is like in Melbourne for finance professionals. We're both accountants with 15 years of experience each at senior levels and while we're not expecting to get similar jobs to what we currently have in the UK, we'd really like to understand how long it's likely to take from landing to finding a job. We're both being realistic and will look at jobs from about $100K each versus what we know we could earn in order to get our foot in the door. If there's any accountants out there it would be great to get a sense of what the markets like. Thanks, Rich

Hi, I'm interested to find out from new arrivals from the UK what shocked you most about the prices in Australia and what surprised you the most when compared to the same items in the UK? Looking forward to some interesting comments

Hi, We're soon to be moving to Melbourne and want to make sure we hit the ground running in our search for jobs so am seeking a CV writing expert who could help us prepare two new CV's that are tailored towards the Australian employment market, not the UK as I think they are today. If you can help with this, then please PM me. Thanks, Rich

Hi, We're soon to be moving and want to make sure that we have enough of our prescribed medication when we move. My daughter has eczema and has to have various creams applied each day and I have to have inhalers for asthma. i know in Australia that we'd have to pay the proper cost versus the prescription charge in the UK so am starting to store up some of our medication, but want to make sure we can bring it with us through customs etc? Also, things like calpol, anadin etc I'd like to bring enough of. I'm only looking at about six months supply to bring. Any help as to the restrictions would be most welcomed. thanks, Rich

Hi, I am due to be moving to Aus in July and my UK passport will have 10 months left to run on it at the point of moving, so not sure whether to get it renewed prior to moving, or once we've moved. I am concerned that if I get it renewed before I leave my visa may not transfer correctly and I've got this vision of turning up at Melbourne and being told I don't have a visa and being on the next episode of Nothing to Declare Would you get the passport renewed before leaving and complete the Form 929 or move and get it renewed from Australia? If the latter, how long does it take to get renewed from Australia? All help would be most welcomed

Hi, I'd be interested in hearing from any experts in email marketing within Australia. If you are based in Australia, with local knowledge I'd be keen to hear from you to discuss marketing a new website. Thanks, Rich

Hello and Happy New Year, 2014 brings in the year of our move to Melbourne and as it draws closer I'm keen to find out fellow PIOers views on some good primary schools in our preferred locations, but also other locations. Our daughter is in Year 3 here in the UK and is in a very good school and we want to ensure this continues in Melbourne. We moved to a house to be in the catchment area for her current school and would be more than happy to do this in Melbourne. Our short listed locations are Mornington, Frankston South and Berwick. Key to us is our daughters school and a commute of an hour approx into the CBD. We would welcome any advice on good primary schools, both in these locations but also other areas with a good school in a family orientated area. thanks so much, Rich

Hi, that's a real shame. I only visited it the once, but the memory of the food there still lives with me to this day......

Hi, I'm trying to remember the name of a Greek restaurant on Main Street in Mornington, but can't remember - must be an age thing - so would appreciate it if a fellow PIOer could remind me. thanks, Rich

Hi, just wondered if anyone that participated in the filming of the new C4 programme on buying a house in Australia that was filmed earlier this year is to be aired on TV?