PomCat

Voluntary Class 3 contributions can be paid electronically through your Australian Bank account. They calculate the amount in Aus Dollars and add a small fee. You need to have all the correct details though, address of recipient, your NI number, the year/s that the payment relates to, etc. Also, for those wondering if they should add to their current years, it is worth remembering that you are entitled to a part pension based on the number of years paid versus the number required for a full pension. Therefore, if you only needed 30 years for a full pension but had just 20 years of contributions, you would receive 2/3 of the full rate (around $75 pw currently). As others have said, the pension is indexed and increases each year but not for those residing outside of the Uk or a number of countries in a list that the Government publishes (the list does not include Australia or Canada and pension rates are indeed frozen at the rate they commence). There are representations made to the UK Government and, I believe, there hve been unsuccessful legal challenges to this ruling. The UK pension is not means tested, which makes it an attractive option for those eligible to buy into it. When combined with the Australian penion and private superannuation, it is taken into account for the Australian pension assets and income tests (which means it can reduce the amount you get). There is plenty of easy to understand material on the UK Government website.

Edit for accuracy: Melbourne is a fantastic place to live and any suggestion that it shares similar weather with SE UK is just plain wrong. Next they will be saying it never snows in Kent. The OP needs to research options and do whatever feels right - but needs to take a lot of the comments on here from returned migrants with a pinch of salt. Many of us feel that we absoutely made the right choice in coming to Oz, but in saying that it isn't for everyone. As some say, tread your own path!

I think you will find that the amount of UK pension received counts as income for the income test for the Australian pension. Once you exceed a specified threshold the amount of Australian pension reduces according to a set formula (say, 1 dollar for every 4 dollars received with an upper limit at which there is no entitlement). The other half of the Australian pension test relates to your total Assets, which also affects the amount of pension entitlement once you exceed the allowable limit (I think it cuts out completely when you reach about 1.2 million dollars although the primary place of residence is excluded from the Asset test). Unlike the Australian pension, the UK one is earned by the purchase/payment of the appropriate NI stamp, which can be maintained whilst overseas via the voluntary Class 3 version that costs around 13/14 pounds per week currently. As somebody mentioned, the UK pension payment is effectively frozen for anyone living in Australia (and a few other countries such as Canada I understand), whereas those residing in the EU zone and quite a few other places have their pension indexed. And all this is subject to the whims of governments and the exchange rate..... Hope this helps.

Parleycross: +1

I have heard that the swimming pool at the Dingley Gym is currently closed for renovations but I'm not certain. In ay case, the OP could also checkout Toby Haenen for swim lessons in the Edithvale area or the Waterlions Club at Haileybury PS for lessons/competition.

Anyone that claims Melbourne has high humidity and no decent beaches has no idea. I'm sure there would be websites that provide water temperature records and I note that when walking along the beachside tracks there are usually a number of people swimming. And if anyone suggests the Melbourne weather is even remotely comparable to the UK weather, just take no notice. I have lived about half of my life in Melbourne and the other half in SE England - and my comments are based purely on personal experience. Melbourne doesn't receive such glowing endorsements such as World's Most Liveable City ( multiple times too) for no reason.

Just don't take any notice of somebody that says the weather in the UK and Melbourne is roughly the same. NFI. Hope you make the right decision.

Surprised that nobody has mentioned the sun glare problem if driving west to east in the morning and the same when returning home in the late afternoon/evening. Is a very real issue if commuting by car. My other observation would be that west of Melbourne is essentially flat whereas east of Melbourne there is more variation (some might call it character). A the end of the day, most people settle wherever the find a house that they can afford and the location offers the essentials they require.

No contest. Melbourne by a mile. Sydney is nice to visit occasionally but not somewhere I would live out of choice. And Melbourne weather is much better than those from outside Victoria claim.

Craig: the following link may be of assistance if you intend to try for Victoria. http://www.pic.vic.gov.au/www/html/7-home-page.asp i would expect that the PIC could also provide contact details for the other States. ​Good luck.

No, not a gasfitter. Would strongly recommend a rethink about the AFL team to follow (Geelong > all the others!)

If you don't already know, you will need to buy yourself a copy of the Gas Installations Standard (AS5601).

Easily the best move. Melbourne is an amazing city and Australians are great people. From my experience many that go back to the UK can't overcome the pull of family whereas many that make a new life embrace the differences. I also believe that it is easier to afford return visits from here - at least that is my experience. Every time I return to the UK, my decision to emigrate all those years ago is reinforced. This despite the fact that I do miss my family and I still believe that a nice summers day in the UK takes some beating (just not enough of them unfortunately). If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I guess I would say that in the UK you live to exist whereas here you exist to live. Just my twopenneths worth.

What BigD said.....

Saw it in London too last May. Front row seats and really enjoyed it. However my eldest and his wife saw it in Melbourne recently and they weren't that enamoured.