Burnley Girl

just a thought and don't want to worry you but if no-one has told you yet watch out for the magpies. Its nesting season and they often swoop and attack when people are around the trees. You will see runners and bike riders with cable ties fastened to their hats or even people with eyes painted on the back of the hats. Apparently you should stare them in the eye to ward them off. I didn't think much of it but when in Brisbane on Saturday I saw it for myself when a magpie attacked a bike rider and she didn't even see it coming. You will find also that everything is bigger here like the crows. They are huge..don't want to panic you but just to make you aware.

Its lovely there. You've done well to find a rental so soon. Yes we should meet up. My youngest is 12 so goes to high school after xmas. We should introduce them so your lad knows someone at primary when he gets there.

There is a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement for people from UK in Australia. So I think you would be able to access medical services anyway until you get your medicare number. Once you've signed your tenancy take a copy in to medicare office. Once its on the system you don't need to wait for the card you can ring for the medicare numbers. Just quote these at GP as they don't ask to see the cards anyway.

Welcome to the new arrivals...glad you made it over safely. I'm glad your first impressions of the Gold Coast have been positive. There is always so much to do. On Saturday we went to South Bank, Brisbane and spent the day there on the beach in the city, had lunch at Max Brenners chocolate bar then English fish and chips at Chumley Warners. Had a great day out with lunch and tea for $100 (three of us). We'd probably have spent double that at good old Blackpool. Anyone fancying meeting up I would love to join. I'm in Helensvale and have been here for nearly four months.

You are a fountain of knowledge Tina2. Me, being a newbie, am not that knowledgeable about how things have changed and progressed on the gold coast so its good that people on here have access to your experience and knowledge.

we are definitely lucky to be living in this area of the gold coast. I think its got great prospects and the good schools can only mean the areas will maintain a good reputation (hopefully anyway)

Hi, Our sons also went to a small school in the UK but we have found that the class sizes are very similar at the primary here. The high school classes are smaller here though as our home town in the UK has the 'super schools' . I think because the schools are split into houses and similar groups this may disguise the fact that the school is actually huge. I agree that it should be considered when choosing a school but we haven't found it a problem so far.

Hi I can recall being asked for more information and don't think they actually acknowledge whether you have sent what was requested. They will only acknowledge if it wasn't sufficient . In my case it was just processed and accepted with no acknowledgement. I agree with MaggieMay they wont just leave it if what you have supplied isn't sufficient, they may request something further which I think again will have another 28 days deadline.

Hi Tracey, Im sorry to hear how you're feeling because I have been there myself and some days end up back there. I also had a great job, life, house etc and decided to make the move for the kids and OH and their futures. I have had days where I have felt sick to the pit of my stomach but I agree with others that its too soon to throw the towel in. I've heard people that do that and then end up 'ping pong poms' because when they go home they regret that also. Just out of curiosity..if you are a midwife does that mean you still retain your registration as RN also. I only ask because Anglicare gold coast have been advertising for nurses. I suppose the job is similar to district nursing in the UK. It took me three months to get a job and OH about six weeks. I have to commute to Brisbane which isn't ideal but I like the job and am glad to be working. It must be heartbreaking if you loved your job in the UK but really I think you should think of your current job as 'not a life sentence' and paying the bills until something else comes along. My OH says he cannot believe the way they do things where he works, and I think sometimes its a case of 'suck it up' because it is a different way here. We've settled on the gold coast and know a couple of people but other OH has been meeting people through a FB running group. I guess it just takes time which I know doesn't quite make you feel any better. How about checking out the meet ups as someone else suggested. I guess you could also try the gold coast ones if you plan to relocate there anyway. Good luck and keep your chin up. There's lots of people on here been in the same boat or still in it.

I know this is an old thread but we paid $475 for two dogs to be flown from Sydney to Brisbane from quarantine. SO for one cat it should be less than half of that because the price goes off the size of the crate. hope this helps

ok. so let me tell you what I know.. Biggerra waters is lovely but not much going on. Kids would go to southport school from there. runaway bay is also lovely with shopping centre and tavern but not much else. There are also some gated places there which are very close to industrial areas on the outskirts so be careful for that; they could go to Helensvale school from there. Coomera school I hear has a bad reputation and I believe that pacific pines is also headed that way. I know from speaking to school staff at Helensvale that people are trying to get their kids moved from coomera schools etc to enrol at helensvale by going through the excellence programmes which are at helensvale school. This is the only way they could get into a school out of their catchment area. we settled for where we knew the kids would be able to easily access things. Where we live in Helensvale they can walk to skate park, rugby, tennis, swimming. we can walk to taverns and eating places so no need for taxis after the odd tipple. we have two shopping centres which we can walk to. doctors, dentist, pharmacys, butchers, pizza hut and loads more without using a car. And or course because the weather is usually lovely its nice to walk now and again. when we buy I am almost sure it will be in helensvale and we will look at the discovery drive or lindfield rd area. There are some fabulous brick houses mixed with queendlander types, loads of trees, parrots, swimming pools etc and not many uncared for houses (not that I've seen anyway) even kangaroos come out at dusk. helensvale school has just discovered a pair of koalas in their preservation area, how cool is that. Not sure about crime but haven't felt threatened or insecure in any way. there was an incident last week which was domestic violence related and three locals apprehended the guy until police came. we sometimes hear cars doing donuts at night but I know they do that in every area as friends here them too in other suburbs. let me know if you see an address or area and i'll go and check it out for you..

I know the bay view apartments. They look really nice. its lovely at Biggerra waters. we found a good cafe there doing English breakfast with English tea right on the water. we are about ten mins away and often walk our dogs on the broadwater down there. If you're feeling energetic you can walk right down to surfers and beyond. OH sometimes runs down there and kids will follow on long boards. You couldn't do that In the UK..I'm actually feeling a little bit excited for you all. I'll get the number from OH for car rental as I think its in his wallet.

HI, we were in holiday accommodation and secured a rental within 10 days of being here. We came from UK and owned our property there so brought mortgage statements with us to show we hadn't defaulted on payments. we also provided proof that we had cash in the bank and we were accepted no problems. we didn't even have jobs when we arrived but the bank statements etc were enough to secure the property. we also had two dogs who were joining us and I think possibly because ours is an investors property they weren't overly interested about the dogs etc. . We left our details with local agents but also checked on realestate.com.au daily which is how we found our property. I guess what Tina said though is a good idea. Get the evidence about the dogs behaviour from previous landlord just in case. (unless you owned your own home of course). we have settled in Helensvale and it is suiting us fine. The boys love it and we are establishing social networks there. In fact possibly a few too many parties being attended of recent which is doing nothing for my much dreamed of bikini body. lol

Hi, we stayed in bigerra waters when we arrived. Which apartments have you booked. Also if needing care hire we found car hire for $30 per day and he will come and collect you and take you to car etc. He is quite near bigerra waters so let me know as we have his number. He's a lovely bloke from NZ and was real helpful. looks like everyone on here is getting ready for the big up and away. its only three months since we did it so I don't envy your anxiety but I am sure all will be fine. Just try and take it as it comes. we flew with Singapore airlines and couldn't fault them. They are very attentive. we were watching the border patrol programmes on tv before we left UK and were expecting a big stress at the airport. I filled all my declaration cards in and declared everything even down to the Monster Munch crisps that I brought over for a friend, expecting a big interrogation at brissie airport but to no avail. They didn't even check anything and just waved us through so that was when I relaxed and I guess that's when It hit me and I thought bugger me we've done it. We're in Australia. Really strange feeling after all the dreaming and planning and thinking you wont get there.

Welcome Kellie. Do you know whereabouts you may settle in GC..

Not sure about the CIPD job market but I came as a Social Worker and have taken a job with essentially the same role but different title. It has taken three months for me to find work but probably because a lot of the work at the minute seems to be around aged care or children and families which I have not worked in. I've heard that UK trained staff are highly regarded in a lot of workplaces and that is certainly what I was told when I was offered my position. I have worked full time for years but am able to work part time over here for same money which is good and makes a nice change. we booked a move cube container with one weeks notice and booked the flights two weeks before we flew. We sold our house and had fallen through twice so the third time we sold we asked to exchange contracts before completing which is when we starting booking things. I think the flights with Singapore airlines were £2.200 for four of us. I found the packing a nightmare but it depends what you are bringing. Soles of shoes have to be sterilised, you cant bring candles, pine cones, dried twigs or bamboo type stuff. The shipping people should give you the details. I think someone mentioned before about certain areas in coomera having a less favourable reputation I don't know the area well but I know people talk about what side of the road you are on and there is also upper coomera. I hear that the high school has a poor reputation so you may want to consider that for the catchment area stuff. Kids from out of Helensvale catchment area can attend Helensvale state high if accepted onto one of the excellence programmes but of course they are not guaranteed to be accepted. My youngest has just tried out for the rugby excellence but not had the outcome yet. We are in the catchment area but if on the programme he will get more tuition around his rugby. So either way he's in. I'm glad you're all feeling excited about your move. I was happy with my life in the UK but the kids and OH weren't. It was hard for me to give that up but now we are here and I have seen the difference in my boys I don't regret it. My 14 year old never went out in the UK but here he is much happier and out much more. Because it goes dark earlier here there doesn't seem to be the same groups of kids hanging around (not around us anyway). Mine go to the skate park before and after school and they're home for their tea.

well that's that sorted then...another example of some really nice Helensvale folk..today I was parked whilst shopping and came out to find a note on my windscreen telling me that they had witnessed another car hit mine and gave me the offending vehicle reg number and their mobile number etc. I couldn't see any damage on my car but rang them to thank them for leaving me the note. They had taken pictures of the offending cars damage and have emailed them to me just in case I want to follow up. I thought that was really decent of them to do that. In all the times my car has been pranged by cars or trolleys in supermarket car parks in UK not once has anyone done that. Kind of restores your faith and all that

I think the holiday park is a Big4 holiday park. There is one in Helensvale near to theme parks and another in Labrador. We priced them up and found them expensive but I think it was school hols at the time. I am working in Brisbane which isn't ideal but its a good job so worth the travel. Train is really regular and about ten min walk from home for me but I prefer to drive. Many jobs in CBD don't have access to parking and its really expensive to pay meter or car parks. I'm lucky that I work on outskirts and have parking provided. It may be worth OH just asking the question re parking.

We had a couple of friends In Helensvale and to be honest I don't know what we would have done without them . It definitely made it easier but of course we don't want to invade their already established friendship network. We have made acquaintances via the kids sports etc but ideally would love to meet more friends. we went to the local tavern for a few drinks last Saturday and there were two chaps in there one from Chelsea and one from Sunderland. They started having a bit of football banter and before you know it you're coming away with a mobile number and an offer to take kids kayaking. Everyone is so much more friendly here I find. Others may have different experiences but ours have been all good so far.

Hi, when we arrived we stayed in a holiday apartment in Bigerra waters. we booked it direct with them for 500.00 per week. We hired a car straight away for 30.00 per day and started looking for rentals from day three or four. We struggled getting a rental as many wont allow pets but we managed to find one just before the end of the two weeks in holiday apartment. A word of advice though..bring mortgage statements or rent references and/or proof of money in the bank. This made it so much easier for us to be accepted as acceptable tenants. I don't think you can sort a rental out until you are in OZ. The rental laws here are not like UK ie: you have to sign inspection documents within 48 hours of signing tenancy. Many agents do block viewings and then whoever has best credit rating and circumstances etc gets the house. They are also very strict and request that no pictures, curtains rails, shelves etc are put up. No decorating and they inspect the property usually every three months. When moving out of the property they will ask for a professional full house clean including carpets and require a receipt as proof. we have friends who live in both oxenford and coomera but we still prefer Helensvale as its not short of anything really. I agree we should all arrange to meet up as it can be very daunting and complicated trying to understand the Aussie systems. You will all be ready for a good drink once here I imagine.

Hi ClezS, We arrived in Helensvale May 2014. So far we like living here. We have two boys age 14 and 12 and they have settled well into the Helensvale schools. Helensvale State High School has got a really good reputation and I hear that people are buying in the catchment area in order to get their kids into the school. They are now an independent school and run some excellence programmes for sport, art and drama etc. Apparently the school previously had some issues but the new head has turned things around. The shopping is great and close by. Access to motorway for commuting. Ten mins to beaches etc. Helensvale also has a new library which is open 7 days. This has been a godsend to us for using the computers and printers etc until our container arrives. There are a couple of taverns, some lovely eating places and a skate park which the boys love. Housing is also affordable. Discovery drive is the main drag that runs through Helensvale with rugby club, golf, cricket, tennis, swim centre and skate park and of course two shopping centres just off there too. So far we cant fault Helensvale as it has everything we need as a family. There are also good places nearby such as tambourine mountain, harbourtown shopping village and or course the lovely beaches of Southport (where next commonwealth games will be held) main beach, surfers etc. Where else can you go and eat fresh caught fish and chips sat overlooking the water watching the pelicans. I know people who live at coomera waters and they love it although housing there seems more expensive because its on the water. I think its a bit quieter there too with less going on. I am commuting to Brisbane for work which is not ideal but when talking about moving closer to work the kids will have none of it. They love it here..at the end of the day what works for one may not work for another but I just wanted to give you my perspective as a newbie to the area. good luck with the move. it is a massive thing to do and some days you will feel sick to your stomach wondering if you've done the right thing. for the first few weeks I woke up every day and cried. I was seriously pining for what I had left behind. Now we are both in work we are able to see that our life here will be so much better and we will financially be better off. We have not had a weekend yet where we haven't had a barbie on the beach, been to theme parks, long walks on beach, been to local events etc. Back in the UK we did very little mainly due to cash flow and weather. If you decide to move to this area and want a friendly face when you get here give me a shout..