Eddy Smirks

Hi.

As you'll be on a 457 visa make sure that the policy you have exempts you from the medicare levy surcharge which isn't a given just because you have insurance.

I initially took out insurance with iman ($80/month) to allow me to get in to the country and just kept it going thinking I wouldn't have to pay the levy. Come tax time it became apparent that even though it was exactly the same type of cover a PR or citizen would have I still got hit with a $1000 surcharge. When I spoke with iman, I could pay for additional hospital cover which I couldn't technically use but which gave me a letter exempting me from the surcharge. The cost of this additional cover was double what I would pay for the surcharge. Needless to say I canceled the policy there and then.

Not sure if the above is the same for all 457 health cover policies but definitely ask the question and do the maths.

Eddy

Hi,

If you rent you'll find that the water bills are covered already. You can also get pretty good payg mobile Sims for $30 a month - just bring a couple of unlocked phones with you.

Think my last electricity bill for a 2 bed unit (no a/c though, just fans) was about $200 a quarter.

You might also want to factor in contents insurance. Think mine is about $80 a month with $20k cover including extra bicycle cover.

Travel in bris is pretty cheap by public transport (I think). Shouldn't be much more than $35 a week if you live reasonably close as after your 9th journey it's free for the rest of the week by go-card.

Good luck!

Eddy