marynyho

Hi all

i moved over here with my 5 year old and looking for someone other than my son to talk to. I live and work here but it can be quite lonely.

I'm easy to get on with and my 5 year old loves any kid that'll play superheroes with him!

Thanks

Hi Rachael

I noticed that night so I contacted them via email and explained the situation and was very apologetic. The only option I had was to fedex it to them so that they could pack it in time. They were really good actually. It was my own fault for not checking around the house, too much going through my head!

My move manager was very good.

Hi Marynyho

 

I am in a similar situation although they didn't miss loads it's still too much to take as baggage on the plane in 2 weeks time. Can I ask what the outcome of this was? I hope it all worked in your favour!

Thank you so much. I don't think it helped that my 5 year old was running around the empty house! :-/

That's what I thought too, but I'm fretting that they'll charge me more on top of the extortionate amount already! I can't believe I didn't check around the house! Feel so silly!

Hi

I don't know what to do so advice from you great people out there would be a great help. I have to hold my hand up and say that its my fault but want to know whether it is rectifiable! So my shipping company movers came and packed today, yay. They were very professional and courteous, I spent the last week decluttering and sectioning off and labelling areas for shipping or not. I then spoke to my move manager and said all was well and that they had packed etc, baring in mind I was downstairs at the time and hadn't checked upstairs, since I thought everything was clearly labelled and they seemed proficient. Anyway, long story short, I just checked my clearly labelled storage cupboard (ship) only to discover the items inside has not been packed! I know it is my fault for not checking, but I've never done this before.

So do any of you know whether the movers would come back to pack what they hadn't packed initially? What are my options?

Thanks in advance

Do John Mason give you a tracking option? They never told me I could do that! Wow really no insurance, knowing my luck something will happen. I think mine is going in a shared container. Thanks for your response.

Hi, Marynyho,

Our shipment 20ft container, arrived exactly as the schedule said, We tracked the ships, there was a change over at Singapore, all the way to Brisbane. Regards insurance, after reading many threads about it, we decided to risk it and not buy it, luckily we haven't had a problem, so risk payed off,

Wow, John Mason only took a month, that's impressive. John Mason are coming to pack and move my stuff in December, they told me around 12-14 weeks. Did you get insurance with them too? I'm moving in January to Melbourne.

Hi,

I leave the UK in January,my husband and daughters are already there, I decided to wait until the time my dogs can leave, My husband arrived in Townsville, We have friends there, he got himself a job within a couple of days, so looks like we will be living there for a while, All our furniture is now with my brother in Brisbane, he is going to store it until we have a house.

I would have been happy to have relocated to Townsville or Brisbane,as have visited both several times, We shipped with John Mason, container left the UK 11th October arrived in Brisbane 15th November, cleared customs and delivered to my brother on the 26th, no problems.

Thanks Cal, I was hoping to do the same and get a letter from my sons paediatrician to state what it is for.

Mary

I kept putting repeats in ,in the month before we left and brought around 3 months supply of meds,prescribed creams etc with me. Just carry a script with you ,to show its your medication 'if' you are stopped and asked.

 

Cal x

Hi sorry EoE stands for eosinophilic esophagitis. It's asthma of the gullet. His gastro has prescribed it to be taken orally with a syrup to mask the taste. It's not really recognised by GPs in Sheffield, but his paediatric gastro says it's the best way to control his inflammation.

Im hoping when I get out to Melbourne my son gets referred as soon as possible. Also would anybody know how much medication I can come out with? I'll be getting a months worth but hoping I can being more as I don't know where in Melbourne I'll end up.

Thanks

Mary

Budesonide is available under the brand name pulmicort nebules. This is available on PBS for "severe asthma not able to take inhaled steroids via other routes", private cost approx $50-55month. I'm sorry EoE is not an acronym I recognise so can't advise if he falls into the PBS catagory - this is quite important as GPs are audited and if they are found to have prescribed medication on PBS outside the specific indication they can be personally liable for the full cost of the medication. Hope this helps.

 

Nemo (GP in Tas)

Thank you Jamie for the advice. My son has been prescribed budesonide nebules and generic syrup to mask the taste. It's for my sons EoE. Thanks in advance.

Hi Mary,

 

What are the names of the medications? I work in Pharmacy here and can advise on price and whether there are alternatives over here. Happy to help if I can.

 

There's lots of good information here but I'd like to elaborate on some points:

 

* The PBS is basically a list of medications the government will subsidise, anything on the list will cost no more than $36.90 for general patients, or $6 for concessions. Anything listed on the PBS will have a PBS quantity (usually 30 days though some medications come in larger quantities) and PBS number of repeats - Generally you'll get 30 days supply and 5 repeats (6 months on each script)

* Many drugs cost less than $36.90, generics (not the original brands) will cost less - many drugs for chronic conditions will cost $6-$20 (per month) - Always Choose Generic!

* The 'cap' for medication costs (medications covered by the PBS that is is called the 'safety net' and for 2014 is set at $1421.20 - This is a cap set for the family unit (husband, wife, children under 16 or <25yrs and in full time education)

 

* There is a brand culture for medicines I've noticed in doctor prescribing. for example: In the UK if you have reflux you may be prescribed Omeprazole, over here doctors will prescribe Nexium...net cost for Omeprazole = $9, Nexium = $25-$36.90 The difference between the drugs themselves is negligible for 99% of patients. I'd advise to have an awareness of what you're prescribed and always enquire with the doctor or pharmacist whether there are alternatives (direct generics or alternatives in same class of drug).

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jamie

I fly fly out to melbourne in January. I just wanted to sort out my sons meds or at least look into it before getting out there. Thanks for the advice. So far is seems like CW for price and advice. Thanks all.

You may well find your sons meds are just call something else over here. One of the meds I take is called something totally different in the US. Best thing to do is ask Chemist warehouse if they have what you need. I find they are the cheapest for scripts, they also have generic meds, same as the expencive brand just a different name. Another med I have to take is not standard stock, but I just ring them tell them I need a repete of my script and it is delivered the following day, ready for me to collect. You can leave your repete scripts at C W and they keep a record of what you have spent. Oh also if you end up with private health cover, you may find you can make a claim on some meds and get some of the cost back from the health fund, but you will need to ask CW for a printed receipt, not just a till receipt so you can make a claim.

Do you know what state you are heading for ?

Thank you all for the useful advice. I will definitely apply for the Medicare card when we arrive. Yes we have PR. But I'm not sure where we will be living yet! I'm hoping to get all sorted once we're over!

Thank you all for your responses. So my son's meds don't seem to exist on the chemist warehouse site! So there are 2 repeats that are needed each month, which I'd have to pay $72 pm, once I hit $1250, I pay $5 for any subsequent refill? Is that right? So when I get to Melbourne, I should register with a GP, and then get referred to a paediatric gastroenterologist, which I assume will cost an arm and a leg?! I thought the medicare card would help to contribute towards costs and children wouldn't have to pay, how naive!!

Nope you will be paying up to $36 per drug per month so, two drugs up to $72 pm. There is a threshold (around $1250?) pa beyond which you get a discounted rate of around $5 per fill for the remainder Of the year. A doctor's visit will probably cost you around $36 for a GP (unless you follow the general Pommie migrant predilection for bulk billing GPs) as well - they will generally only give 6 months of repeats then you need to see them again. Specialists cost more

I'm hoping the good people on here can help me out with a question regarding medicare/prescription costs. In the UK, children get free medical treatment as do adults and children also get free prescriptions, is that the case in Australia? The reason for needing this advice is because my son will need repeat prescriptions for his medical condition and if I have to pay, does anyone know the cost?

Thanks for any advice that you can provide

Pm'd

Maybe write it all down..Do you qualify for a visa with your profession? That's the first port of call to see if you can even move to oz. . Will the father of the cold give permission for him/her to move? Hague convention. Look at prices of rentals compared to your income..start with the basics. .Yes in back in the UK..York.

Looking at your location, are you back in the UK? Yeah I have been looking at private rentals but it is true my money is tight and with a 5 year old in tow I am now in two minds!

You will need to afford to rent privately. .I would forget social housing.. Look to see if you can afford private rented housing.. Australia is expensive and if you have no money is horrific place to live. Good luck

Thanks, that's really helpful.

The private leases are normally 6- 12 months but that doesn'tmean you need to move every 6- 12 months. Its much more common here to rent some people rent the same house all their lives. You just renew it, if you like it and they like you.

Thanks Celt

Hi Mary. They do have public housing here, commonly called Commission Housing. There are normally long waiting lists to get one, so it looks like you may have to rely on a private rental.

Thank you. Do you know if private rentals are on a 6-12 month lease basis?

Each state has its own social housing network.I'm guessing you would either have to have PR status or be an aussie citizen to apply ( I could be wrong on this though so don't take it as gospel!)Social housing is in high demand in Australia,as it is in the UK.I know in Adelaide there is a 10+ yr waiting list.It looks to me like you will need to rent privately first,and as soon as you arrive,apply for the social housing.It won't happen overnight,but atleast its a start!This is the link for SA.Google "Social Housing Australia"for other states.Hope this helps!

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing-property-and-land/housing/housing-sa-customers/waiting-list/applying-for-public-housing

Hi

I have a query but I don't know if it sounds silly..?

I have always rented in the UK, but from a housing association. I have been in my current home for close to 15 years. Reading these posts on the forum, it seems like nothing like this exists in Australia, everything seems to be private and on a 6-12 month lease contract, is this right? I'm coming over in January with my 5 year old and the thought of having to move continuously, like a nomad, is not very appealing. If I could buy I would, but I can't!

Can anyone explain to me how it works? Is anybody out there renting like I will be, or has everyone emigrated with the massive bank account?!

What at does your husband teach? Was it through an agency that he got his job?

When end we arrived, he had an interview 2 days after landing and got the job!!

Make sure you're signed up to Smart Teachers and ANZUK. Have you registered with the state yet to teach??

 

Tina

Yes I've got my provisional status from the state I'll be moving to. I'm signed up with quite a few agencies. Are you enjoying living in Brisbane? Are you glad you made the move?

We're in Wellington Point, just outside Brisbane. We came out not knowing anyone either - a scary prospect!!

To secure our rental, we offered 6 months rent upfront and our healthy bank balance (had lots in the bank from our UK house sale).

 

in regards to getting a job, my husband is also a teacher and applied for quite a few from the UK with no luck. His applications were very strong, but they just weren't interested as he wasn't in Australia yet - why give a job to someone who isn't even there yet? I know it's unfair but who knows what may happen to stop you getting on that plane.

 

When end we arrived, he had an interview 2 days after landing and got the job!!

Make sure you're signed up to Smart Teachers and ANZUK. Have you registered with the state yet to teach??

 

Tina

Yes I'm on an independent (189) visa. I've signed up to many agencies but still no luck. I think I have to go private/faith first to get my foot in the door. What is it that you do? Have you always wanted to move to Oz?

If you are on an independent visa you can take any job, not sure on state sponsored but even then I believe so. No idea whether teaching jobs are easy to come by - there are quite a few teachers on here, perhaps reach out to them with a specific post on teaching. What I do know is teachers are needed in regional areas....but that's an even bigger leap of faith! I think in WA at least it is hard to get a permanent teaching job in a public funded school without 'serving your time' in a regional school first but there are always supply and temp posts you could take to get a foot in the door.

Yeah I have a PR visa that is based on my skill (qualified secondary teacher), I am willing to take any job if my profession is in short supply. I didn't realise I could apply for any form of benefit or child care benefit. The visa bureau didn't say! I thought I'd have to earn a living based on my profession. Are jobs relatively easy to come by? Tbh, I've never been to Australia but it's always somewhere I'd say I'd move to. So literally it is a leap of faith. I'm thinking of east, south east Melbourne but I will go wherever there is work as long as my son is educated in a good school. Tbh I his schooling can't be any worse than where he goes currently . Thank you btw. You've been a great help.

I don't know that anyone would actually ASK to see your balance, however what we did was provide a 'Balance Enquiry' statement from our Australian bank (which they certified) showing the balance (but no other personal details).

 

They will ask for details of your current employer - we were able to provide that but since we hadn't started work, I also added the references we had got for our visa (I have no idea if they helped, but they were good 'character' references). Basically we provided anything that made it easy for the letting agent to see we were decent folk!

 

I would say 6 months 'living expenses' in the bank would certainly help - I can't really say whether $10k would be enough, a lot depends on the rent in the area you're looking - our last rental was $550 a week which on it's own is over $10k.

 

I would suggest you get a job, ANY job in the first month and that will really help secure the rental. I assume you are going over as PR so you will get family assistance and child care benefits even if your first job isn't too well paid.

I hope so!

Our circumstances are different since I'm only on a whv but I'm sure you'll be fine! Definitely not the first to move without visiting