Beclang

Sorry your probably right, Iv only delt with friends on different visas to your one.

Moonee ponds is a good suburb especially for what you need, you will get a little more space there than in Flemington, Travancore or ascot vale. Moonee ponds is where we do our grocery shopping there's a Aldi, Woolworths and Coles there aswell as other smaller shops. I found this site really helpful as the primary schools are zoned so even if you were paying international fees you still need to live in the zone for that school. (http://melbourneschoolzones.com/schools/moonee-ponds-primary-school/) There is very few options for childcare in australia especially for shift workers, I worked in hospitality before having my kids and have been unable to go back to work due to the lack of options!! Your best bet would be to find a family day care to do pick ups from school clubs, another option which may work would be to advertise for a au pair in your area who wants to get some extra work by doing school pick ups, depending on the family's they are placed with they may not be needed at that time and are looking for extra work, Iv found the Facebook group "AU PAIR in Melbourne" handy for this. Also there is another Facebook Group called "Moonee valley Buy swap and sell"which can be helpful finding childcare, looking for advice on the area and picking up some nice second hand furniture for your house. NIB insurance does have ambulance cover but even if it didn't it's only $80 a year for a family, the NIB cover worked out the most cost effective option for my father at $70 per month for basic cover as he will be staying for a year on a tourist visa, there are a number of different company's which offer this type of cover though. 

If you sign a 12 month lease the price is fixed for that period, they can raise the price after the 12 months, it will be up to you then whether to re-sign at a higher rate or to say we will sign for another 12 months on the current rate, this may work and has in the past for us as it costs the landlord to relist and hold inspections, it depends on whether the house is in a sought after location? It can be hard to find rentals in Melbourne and we have in the past had to offer above the asking price to secure the property, if it's more rural that will work in your favour.

Melbourne is bad for hayfeaver, I used to suffer in the uk it is however worse here, according to tests evergreens and grass pollen are my problems? It kicks off every November but by the end of feb the worst is over, I didn't suffer in far North Queensland though. ?

Hi all my father has just been granted a 600 visa for 12month stay on each arrival the only conditions on it are 8101 (no work) and 8201 (max 3 month study) does this mean he could enter the country, then leave after 11 months and re-enter for another 12 months? It doesn't mention only being able to stay in the country for 12 months out of 18 so I'm a little confused? also this trip is a bit of a test to see if he likes it and wants to stay, if he was to apply for a 804 (elderly parent visa) while he was here would he then be granted a bridging visa while the 804 is processed (from the border site it says this can be up to 30 years?) He won't work or study as he has a pension to support him and meets all the criteria for the aged parent visa, it would be much better for us to have him in Australia as my brother and I are his only living relatives and my brother lives in New Zealand. I just can't find much helpful information on what will happen when these visas are applied for online? thanks for any advice you can give.

If you have up to $700 a week you may find something in Travancore Kensington or Flemington (we currently rent a small 2 bedroom house in Travancore for $415pw) also if you follow the 59 tram route on Mt Alexander Rd it's a easy trip to all the hospitals so ascot vale moonee ponds and Essendon would work, you'd get more for your money the further out you go, what age are your kids? Primary schools, most in the areas you have suggested are great Flemington primary and Kensington are both awesome. Strathmore secondary in Essendon is supposed to be great too. If you want something cheaper you could look arround west footscray (we're planning on moving this way later in the year due to cost. Williamstown seddon Newport spotswood, the train line from here goes through north Melbourne so easy access if you choose not to ride. Nib do pretty reasonable medical insurance for the type of visa your on. good luck with it all.