BearnBob

Fish, Thanks for all the detail - very helpful for when I spoke to GMHBA and the the Teachers' scheme today. We are well under 180 at present but if / when the OH gets work then we would be over and the fact we are 50 this year does make me think that the cost of the levy down the line might make it a no brainer Bear

Mhags, Thank you. Really, really helpful as we get our heads around it. Just to clarify as we are 50 this year the policies would cost an extra 20% if we didn't get med insurance within the first year. It isn't form 30 is it by any chance? Looking through rebates and exclusions as we speak ... sort of. Bear

Depends if you have a university degree - not QTS - with sufficient teaching practice days as part of your course.

Anyone there?

My better half has returned to the UK in order to collect our eldest daughter who has spent the last term in the UK to finish her studies. I have been left with two challenges - the youngest daughter to look after (quite easy tbh but I can spin that one for a while) but also to sort out the medical insurance. At present we have nothing in place and I would welcome information about: Ambulance cover - needed, I know, but do people have it as part of their insurance? Victoria charges $80 for Ambo cover but BUPA for instance appear to charge much less. We would be looking for a family policy for us two, the eldest (18) and youngest (12). Have looked at GMBHA (?) and the Teacher's scheme. Any recommendations? Having migrated in our late forties my wife tells me that when we registered with Medicare could offset the lack of years we have in a scheme. How does that work? Any experience? How does the claim back part work - i.e. three of us have glasses and how might the insurance help? At present only I am working but that is likely to change so we think paying med insurance would be better than the Medicare levy. Again advice welcome. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer. Bear

Cleaning the house for the nth day - packers arrive tomorrow and we fly Easter Monday. :wink::chatterbox::wacko:

Enquired with Crown. Was told that unless it was new and in the box there was no need to fill this in. Thankfully the leaving gifts are unpackaged. Bear

Tina, You'll never know how much those few words of your help ... packers next Weds, Fly Easter Monday, start work the following Sunday. Yikes Bear

Ozmaniac, Thank you - really helpful. I managed to get my dates mixed up so in fact it was July and August 2013 when we last visited and 2011 when we validated. I'm therefore assuming the 2011 dates are far too far in the distance but might the 2013 weeks still count? For some reason I thought it was four years for citizenship: more than happy for it to be three if I have read your reply correctly. The only relevance of the question is for the eldest who is going to be a student in Oz and it might affect the loan system. As PR holders we don't qualify at the mo but it might help for her final year of study. Bear

Folks, Not an urgent but out of interest question. We are moving in a weeks time (Yikes) and were trying to work out how our citizenship might pan out in due course. We spent 7 weeks in Oz in 2012, whilst validating the visa, 7 weeks in 2014 job hunting an finally got the job at Christmas. Do these two periods of residence count towards our citizenship providing in due course we fulfil the other criteria. Of the other criteria am I right in thinking its four years and the 12 months prior to application being resident or on an RRV for no more than 90 days? Bear

Dear All, A strange one this which may be something or nothing. We move to Victoria in a few weeks and will live in the school where I have a job, effectively in accommodation provided by the school to look after the pupils who live in the school! I have just had the address through and at it is a PO Box so in effect our mail will come through the school, most probably through a pigeon hole type system. Its what I've had for the past seven years here so no major change but in the UK I don't have a PO Box address. Am I right in thinking this might be a problem for some utilities, banks, soothing else or is that simply an experience of a minority? Bear

Very aware of the deadline implications and we have discussed the real possibility that not transferring might well work best for us given our circumstances: had I gone for a no fee advisor then I am sure of the answer i would have been given! Might I ask if you transferred your pension and are you in Oz to stay? I had thought that my state pension would be frozen from the time I left Australia. Paying NI would therefore seem to ensure index linked increase until 67 as things stand. Bear

Folks, Am currently speaking to a pensions expert regrading my Teacher Pension where I have 26 years service to date. We don't know if we are moving short term or for good so will be interesting what advice he offers. We have paid a fee up front so it isn't as if he is on comission to move our money. With regards to state pension I had assumed it would be frozen at the point that I leave the UK - five weeks to go. Am I reading this right that I could pay Class 2 contributions of £700 approximately a year to maintain my UK state pension and that it would therefore increase untilI reach retirement age? The joys of financial planning Bear

What a brilliant post - as much about your spirit and determination as the basic nuts and bolts of moving overseas. Having lived on the Coast for a year (twenty years ago) I agree that it is hard done by - great climate and close to so many places to visit. That said my journey to Brissie was on a two lane highway through scrub (type) land in places. Can't believe I have four weeks of teaching left and that in six weeks time we will be en route to Melbourne. Bear

Just had our fifth survey and are awaiting the last quote. The quotes range from £3,960 to £4,960, the highest including DAFF fees, usually £300 I'm assured but happy to be corrected. Once we have the last quote we will then see where the land lies but am delighted to get a quote under 4k from one of the top companies. Pays to shop around but by the end of next week everything needs to be booked, so wish us luck. Bear

The problem with the forum is that there are many views from many posters and thus are coloured by their views and experiences. However, only your view is valid for your circumstances. Only you can know what will work for you. When I don't know I seek advice (Pension) but having a property in a growing UK market may make the jump back more attractive, or indeed might secure our financial future. In brief - only you will know. Seek advice, filter and enjoy the ride, says the most cautious person I know. Me.

White at 4,000 seems competitive but doesn't include DAFF inspection fees. For this who pay for them personally what d they 'usually' amount to? Bear

Ah, so if just under half the container then about 4k would seem ball park - astronomical but still ...... Assuming you paid customs costs as well as insurance. Hand luggage for the expensive stuff for sure. B

That's the sort of post my wife will appreciate once we arrive. Oh my bank manager might as well. Who else delivers free to Australia?

Six Nations is on the BBC so free to air. Using Firefox or Chrome use a VPN bolt on such as Hola. It will allow you to appear as if you are in the UK and off you go. Have done this in the UK before we move and can watch Australian programmes .... Bear

Captain Roberto, We seem to be matching issues step for step so thought id add to the discussion. We will have a property in the UK that is currently rented and will continue to be as we maintain some links with the UK. Although originally our home it has now been rented out for over ten years and we have never had any major issues. We use a large Estate Agent in Chester and will move to partially managed as we have a fair bit of family in the area. We have a gas man to do the certificates and a builder for the general stuff. Tax in Australia as we have PR will be a challenge so getting someone who understands both is key. Bear

Just contacted Robinsons for a quote today - coming next Tuesday. £2,000 seems a long way away from the £5,000 starting point offered by Crown and am hoping that they have a depot in Bristol and Abingdon will be in our favour. PSS also coming next week before we make the choice. Out of interest, what have people done with the removal of valuable items such as gold jewellery etc. Hand luggage would seem safest? I guess it would amount to £10,000 but that really is a guess. Bear

I can vouch for what is said above - finally went Singapore as CP need an unvalidated visa. Nothing elsewhere seemed to work. Big thumbs up to the service desk at Singapore Airlines as our computer connection hung during a three part booking and they sorted everything out brilliantly. Bear

PSS just quoted £3,700 before survey which is £1,200 below Crown! Crown phoned today and they did say that the first quote was a starting point. White at £4,040 is attractive. Does anyone have experience of DAFF inspection fees? Bear

Good luck for next week. Awaiting PSS quote next. Thankfully able to store some items with in laws in North Wales but havinga container price below £4k is the next stage. Bear