BearnBob

Thanks Baby Pom, Guess living 232 outside the Melbourne CBD adds a bit - not sure what effect Cheltenham might've on the UK costs. Am keen to drive the quotes down a bit further. I do like the all-in approach of Crown but not the price! White appear keen for the business but at £4k that's still fair chunk of money. Bear

Finally booked with Singapore for 30 kg each and for convenience from Manchester. At the end of the booking the representative said 'if this is for migration I can offer you 40 kg if your visa is unused'. Happy with 30 kg then Bear

Update, Cathay Pacific refused to issue the fare as we had already validated our visa having been on holiday to Australia. We now have cheaper flights with Singapore but not a migration baggage allowance. Any insight appreciated. Bear

Three quotes in so far. Most expensive £4,940 from Crown and £4,040 from White.The only obvious difference is that the Crown service includes AFRA fees. Crown estimate that his will cost £300-£500. Both quotes exclude insurance.Any thoughts on either company or the costs of customs would be appreciated. Bear

We are having some similar thoughts ..... especially as we are moving to furnished accommodation. We are thinning out and considering a re-quote as another option. Thoughts welcome. Bear

Hi All, We are moving from Cheltenham to Sale (Victoria) in April and have had three quotes for shipping. For a 20ft container, prices range from £4,500 to £5,000, plus marine insurance. Is this a typical ball park figure? Many talk about this being the first quote. How do you bring the cost down from such a figure? Bear

If it helps .... have d one a fair bit of investigating migration fares. Cathay Pacific the only one that worked for us. One way fare and 40 kgs to Melbourne was good value.

Bump - anyone?

Qantas and Emirates most unhelpful but simply phoned Cathay Pacific. 40 kg scribbled on my blotting pad.

There used to be or have been special one way air fares for people migrating to Australia offering greater luggage weight. Qantas currently offer nothing so waiting to see what advice the forum can offer. Bear

Dear All, Have been offered an excellent migration fare with Cathay Pacific but can't seem to get an offer of anything else from another carrier. Any insight much appreciated. Bear

The Dunscombe family list was what i was looking for. Yikes - best get busy!

That is really helpful, many thanks. Having said that i did see something even more detailed with useful URLs etc. of banks and all sorts of useful stuff. If anyone does have a brainwave i would be most grateful. Bear

Folks, We are in the process of a fairly quick move to Australia, having accepted a job a week or so ago and having to be there by early April. Lots to do, obviously, but slowly getting there. In trawling this site I came across a brilliant moving checklist but for the life of me can't now find it. Can anyone help? Thanks Bear

An update. We have resigned and both feel elated. Truly excited by the challenges and opportunities ahead and touched by the reaction of our colleagues. As Alexander Graham Bell once said [h=1]“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”[/h] Bear

Graham, Knowing its normal certainly helps. Bear

Guys - thanks for the advice and the healthy range of views offered. As mentioned it is initially a 12 month guaranteed post plus accommodation (3 bed house with no bills) but could well become permanent and is a very good job, comparable to what i do here. We have PR to boot so Commonwealth Assisted place for the eldest and reduced fee private ed for the youngest. Our employers are actively assisting the OH with her job but have nothing at the mo. It's a risk but not in comparison to selling everything and having no employment. As regards to our gut feeling .... its been a long dream but that doesn't quell the nausea. Bear

Thanks Tina, It's that balance of moving back to Oz (lived there for a year a while ago before children) and have great vacations in recent years with the comfort and security of our current roles. We are fixated by Oz and have had the dream for soooooooo long. Just the nagging doubts at this stage are sowing those seeds. The eldest daughter would go to uni so for us this isn't for a year and we have to make it work ... would be so easy to cave in. Bear

Hi all, About to move out to Victoria in a few months time. After five years of searching we have secured a job (12 months in the first instance) that has an equitable pay to my current role, has decent benefits and even comes with a house. So all should be clear cut and we are about to hand in our resignation letters. Why then do we feel sick and are racked with doubts? Help! Bear

Interestingly Google maps says that Melbourne is a 2 hours 32 minutes away. That's not huge for Oz from our memory of living there.

Lou, Any information or insight you can provide re Sale would be much appreciated. What exactly is the heaps that we could do? We last travelled through Sale a couple of decades ago ? How long have you lived there? Bear

A New Subscriber! Hi Guys - Bob and I (Bear) are both teachers and are off to Australia at Easter.<br><br>I have a job at a school in Sale, Victoria, looking after the boarding house: essentially the job I do here in the UK. I have taught in Australia on exchange before and have 20 odd years experience. My teaching specialisms are IT and DT, and whilst my new role (Head of Boarding) is essentially management i will keep my hand in for future reference. I secured the role directly withe the school but have the advantage of PR, VIT Registration and an Australian Head as a referee. It is still very difficult to get a role from overseas and that final hurdle, via Skype, is often the most challenging. Smart and Hays were interested but schools do like to see you face to face. I found my role through the Australian Boarding Schools Association website and used Seek and Career One subscriptions. Any sage words of advice would be appreciated. Bear

Hello one and all, We are a family of four (three) moving to Sale at Easter 2015. We have actually lived in Australia previously, before children, and have visited on several occasions to ensure it was something we really wanted to do. Myself (Bear) and the good lady (Bob) are both teachers and I have secured a job at a school in Sale. Our youngest will come with us and study at the school where I will work whilst our eldest will stay here for eight weeks to finish her A2 examinations, before applying to Uni in Australia. We have a bit of family in Oz spread from Newcastle to Glass House Mountains but no-one close by. Any advice much appreciated. I suppose the two areas of uncertainty are health insurance (what variant we need as opposed to do we need it) and a good family car. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. Bear

Hi Guys,<br><br>We are a family of four (most probably) moving to (somewhat outer) Melbourne in April. Our destination is in fact Sale, which I know is a long way from Melbourne, but its the closest capital city so i thought I'd tag along for the ride.<br><br>Any Gippsland information greatly appreciated.<br><br>Bear