Karlthecamper

hi Thanks for the reply and details. I must admit, we had to google earth Gilston as we had never heard of it. It looks a small area (but then again, we are perhaps still in a 'UK map' mindset!) - is it a small area? What is the local primary state school to this area and is it any good result-wise? Were you happy with it? Will perhaps drop by there when viewing areas then! I prefer road running than cross-country but happy with hills. Will get get in touch with rental agents then to find out what we can do ahead of arriving then. That means this week or next! Time is fast-approaching! When do you arrive? Best of luck.

Thanks for the advice. sadly our holiday accommodation doesn't have availability after our stay- it is also on the expensive side so we'd need to move on anyway. Can you recommend a good website/ company which would supply short term rentals by any chance? I guess it's hotels for us if we get v desperate! Eek! what sort of paperwork is needed usually do we can prepare? So far we have copies of our latest UK bank statement, job offer letter (with salary), a bank reference letter (as we are coming from the UK do no credit history yet) & copies of the funds held in Australian accounts. I recall a particular form which can be completed beforehand - is this what you are referring to, or do you literally mean proving it to each estate agent in preparation for property viewings? TIA

Thanks Howard. I agree, we may like different things- been great to post on here anyway as its help us to rule out ashmore so at least only 3 to explore when we arrive. May at have to re-look at this when it comes to buying a house in the future though!

How is it very British?

thanks for your honesty Cal, tbh Ashmore is the last on our list at the moment- so you have helped to confirm this. The other 3 areas (Robina,Coomera and Mudgeeraba) are all great for different reasons.

thank you for your reply and all the best for your move. We will be staying in Coomera to begin with for 3 weeks so we will get a little feel for that area at least. Then, if it's great, we could be looking to stay there for the imminent future too! Best of luck

Hey hey. Been a while since on here- drowning in paperwork and suchlike. Finally preparing to move to South Brisbane/ Gold Coast in less than 3 weeks but keep to-ing and fro-ing between the 4 areas we have narrowed down to live in. Any honest, useful advice would be really appreciated. The areas we think suits us best are: Robina Mudgeereba Ashmore Coomera now a bit about us: family of 4- early 30s and 2 children - aged 4 and 1. The 4-yr old will start school January 2016 so the local school is important to us. We are a v active family & keen runners and currently live in a rural part of England with a wonderful sense of community with down-to-earth people (which we like!). We much prefer newer-build properties. One of us will be working in Ormeau. Based on this, we'd love to hear which would be most likely to suit us and also anyone's experiences within these areas. Also, we're a little anxious because we keep being told how quickly rental properties get 'snapped up' as fast as they are advertised (unless it's a stinking hell hole!) - how true is this? Starting to get nervous about the prospect of being homeless once we are out of our 3-week holiday home! :0/ Please take the time to reply with any info you have to offer, good or bad- we'd appreciate it massively. we really want to begin our biggest life change in the right area (hopefully!).

Me too, which I why I was getting twitchy! :0D

Hi Milliem. Thanks so much for replying to my question - it's lovely that people who have been in a similar situation to me are taking time to pass on info and advice. I will gather together the evidence recommended before contacting QLD college of teachers then. :0) I notice you are Brisbane-based - did you find it tricky getting a teaching job in this region? Only asking as it's just south of Brisbane where we are heading off to in August. Is there a central website where Primary school jobs are advertised like in the UK? Thanks a million.

Thank you for getting in touch with this information Sammy1. I have studied for 5 years so should be ok I hope, but I did study a 3-yr sports degree then a 1-year PGCE opposed to a 4-year specific teaching degree so hope this will be fine. I have taught for 7 years so do I need to dig out my NQT paperwork then? Or can my school just write a letter to provide evidence that I have completed my training and additional 6years there? Thank you!

Thanks, that's what I thought. Do you also happen to know what evidence I need to provide the teaching body with to register please? I will get everything prepared for application. Thank you.

Hey, I have read so many acronyms that I've become cross-eyed and wondered whether someone in the know could clarify what I need to do/ who I must register with in order to teach in a Queensland Primary School please? I have already been approved with a 189 Permanent Residency visa via my husband's profession so do I need to register with AITSL if I do not need the skills assessment for a visa application? Would it only be QLD College of teachers I would need to register with as I already have a visa? Once registered, would I need to register / become a member elsewhere or could I literally begin applying for jobs as soon as I arrive? Any advice would be great and would help stop my head from spinning! :0/

Hey Iron Chef, would really value your advice! we were set to sell our cars ready for our move to Brisbane in August/September and have since heard that each person can have one car sent to australia from the UK without paying import tax. Is this correct do you know? If so, based on our car details below would it be worth bringing them (or one) with us, bearing in mind whether parts and repairs are straightforward for the models: CAR ONE Audi A6 S line TDI 2011 plate. Lots of upgrades went for went bought - including A/C and sat nav (can this be changed to Australia?!?!). It's a 2l diesel. Done around 110000 miles. CAR TWO BMW 1 series M sport, 2l diesel. 2007 plate - done around 80000 miles - some upgrades incl A/C. Would be taking them/ one to QLD. One more Q if that's alright- what would we have to do to register the car on arrival? Would we need to change the plates, get a roadworthy certificate etc?ttyibg to work out additional costs of taking a car other than just shipping and import tax (if relevant) Thanks for taking the time out to answer Qs from newbies like us!

Thanks, we will keep an eye out for this. X

Hey Sparkeltastic, sorry have only picked up this message as didn't get an alert of your response (or I'm not clued up enough on how to use this site properly yet!). How did your Medicals, etc go? Have your visas been granted yet? We still plan to move to a suburb of Brisbane aug/sept. Andrew flies out tomorrow to explore possible job opportunities and also to scope out possible areas to live. Keeping everything crossed it ends up being a really fruitful trip then everything else will move forward really quickly, without the worry of no income coming in on arrival. Keep us updated about your move. Anyone else in a similar situation reading this, feel free to get in touch! Vonny x

Hey. Sorry for delayed reply- didn't get notified of your reply to us! We we are only just looking into childcare costs but seemingly there are some options for financial support with childcare- 50% refunds and childcare benefits- to permanent residents, even of less than 2 years. To be honest, sorting jobs is the priority at the mo then childcare and future schooling next. Let us know if you work out anything more regarding help with childcare costs, or if you can recommend any good schools south of Brisbane. This will pretty much dictate where we live. How long have you been out in oz? How are you finding life? Vonny x

Brisbane 2015

We have also now opened an NAB account. Seems the best option when opening from the UK- especially as we have no Aus address as yet. We contacted their migrant banking dept and a lady called Micaela Duncan who answered a million questions without being pushy. The email we have been corresponding on this email: Migrant.Banking@eu.nabgroup.com if useful to anyone. With regards to transferring money, we plan up look elsewhere than moneycorp- possibly transferwise- as we think we can get a better rate than moneycorp offer. We'll see though...

Thanks for taking the time to reply everyone. A lot of choice then it seems but at least a few bank names we can look into and compare from here. As we'll be exchanging pounds to dollars, we need to get a bank account opened ASAP! Hopefully the rate will stay like this for another month or so... (From our point of view obviously!) we'll need to look into the recommended money transfer companies too. thanks again! X

Hi, Would really appreciate it if anyone could take out a few moments to let me know their experience with opening an Australian bank account prior to emigrating. Is there a particular bank known to charge very little to receive transferred funds from the UK? Have you had a good/ bad experience with a particular bank you'd be willing to share? Is there a particular type of bank account which you'd recommend with transferring /receiving UK money in mind? Is there a bank known to charge the least for cash withdrawals? It would be great to have an insight from someone who's opened an Australian bank account from the UK then used it to transfer UK money prior to moving out there. thanks a bunch, Vonny

Do it! You will love it and not regret it! The best adventure and experience of my life! I went at the age of 24. Jobs were easy enough to get- lots of temping in offices and waitressing mainly. To do bar work, you had to have been on some sort of course so I couldn't get bar work- but it was years ago now so may have changed. I also went on my own and just arrived at hostels saying 'can I go in the room with the most beds please!' Knowing this meant more people to meet and interact with. The other thing is just to be brave and to say 'fancy a walk/ wine/ coffee?' Most will be pleased you dared to ask, and if they aren't interested, their loss and you can take comfort in the fact that they don't know you anyway! Lol. As far as coming back was concerned, I got my old job back and slipped straight into my old routine! And now, years on, my family and I have been granted PR and emigrate this summer! Best of luck & loads of love vonny x

We're in the middle of getting shipping quotes at the moment, had PSS out to quote and seem v professional. Now we'll get one or two more for price comparisons. Bournes are also meant to be good for overseas shipping so we've heard...

Hey. Vonny and Andrew here. Us and our two daughters (4 and 1) will be heading to a Brisbane suburb (unless a job requires elsewhere) Aug/ Sept 2015. Andrew is an engineer and Vonny is a primary school teacher. No family out in Australia so taking a leap of faith... Lots of planning & arranging yet to do and both the excitement & anxiety increases week by week! Would love to hear from anyone similar to us moving this year with who we can compare progress, to do lists, feelings and anticipation! Best of luck to all emigrating this year! Much love Xx

Thank you for taking out the time to reply to my thread. Much appreciated. First time I have used a forum and proved worthwhile! We won't take our wardrobes based on what has been said - even storing them will be pain when it comes to moving again and again - as I'm sure we will until we find an area which suits our family. If no built ins available, we'll just have to have floordrobes as previously mentioned! LOL! Thanks again and good luck to all making the big move in 2015!!

Hey, a quick question, if somebody would be kind enough to respond with a yes/no: Is it worth shipping out wardrobes from the UK when planning to rent a property in Australia? It seems many properties have build in wardrobes so don't want to end up left with wardrobes we don't need but at the same time we wouldn't want to end up without wardrobes either! Any experiences of shipping wardrobes and being glad/ regretful would be much appreciated! We are looking to move to a Brisbane suburb if this can help shed more light on the matter. Thanks a bunch in advance!