bladesandfloss

You should be able to trade in your UK license for a fee (the fee will depend on the State you're in) but it should be done within 3 months. What State are you moving to?

Hi elp12 I will be moving to Australia on my own in April of this year. I applied for a permanent residency visa (175) in June 2012 (just before the change to SkillSelect), having never been to Australia before, and was fortunate enough to have had it granted in August 2012. I did a whirlwind 'reccie' in Australia at Christmas (stayed for 2 weeks and visited Melbourne, Sydney and Perth). I loved Melbourne so have picked this as a starting point but beyond that I haven't really got a clue. I don't have a job yet but I am a qualified teacher and have registered with a couple of agencies. I've also requested references from all previous employers and I'm lucky enough to have quite an eclectic mix of jobs on my CV so hopefully I have a few back up employment options in the meantime. Before I went on holiday at Christmas I opened a bank account with NAB's migration team (applied online) and was able to collect my bank cards on arrival which made my stay easier. I also bought a mobile phone SIM card, registered with Medicare and interviewed with a teaching recruitment agency. I plan on using Couchsurfing/Airbnb for the first week or so and to search for accommodation and work early on. Arranging transport is another priority; when I arrive will be to convert to an Australian Driver's License as I didn't get a chance to do this whilst visiting at Christmas. I have created a blog too. The main reason for this was to help me sell all my belongings as I don't plan on taking more than a suitcase or two with me but I've also been using it to tell my story and chart the process I'm going through. I did this in a bid to help others as, like you, I've found it hard to find people going it alone. Check my blog out if you get a chance, it's called Rollerblades and dental floss.... It's been quite cathartic to write it all down too, it's helped me to remind myself why I'm taking this crazy leap when I start to doubt the decision I've made! I'll use the blog eventually to help me keep friends and family in the UK up to date with my "adventures". I hope this helps. I've personally found it comforting to read about the plans and experiences of everyone who have commented to this thread so far, so thank you!