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Hello, Next Tuesday (4th of January), I will land in Sydney, and as policy, I must get tested. Before was a PCR, but today they also allowed with RAT. Does anyone have any suggestion regarding a clinic close to the airport that performs that test valid for my arrival?

Hi, my husband and I arrived in Sydney 7 weeks ago and are loving it but are looking to meet some new families and friends. We have two boys, one almost 4 and another aged 1. Would love to meet up with some mums midweek for playdates and socialising as I'm at home with the boys. We are living in Frenchs Forest in the Northern Beaches but am happy to drive to different suburbs to get out and about. As much as we would love a night out in the pub but we are bit lacking in baby sitters but we have just bought the new BBQ which we are dying to test properly :-) Get in touch if you fancy catching up. Lorna

MAZDA 121 1997 4D Hatch Manual 220,000 km One Owner In Good condition Location Aldinga $2,000 o.n.o Phone: 0413898196 or pm me for further details

Hello members, yesterday we got our golden ticket. Now I would like to ask if someone could advise me and my hubby where we could live for a short stay after our arrival in Adelaide? What would you recommend, a fully furnished appartement or a hostel? I've checked the prices of fully furnished flats, they seem pretty expensive!!! Thanks for advice. Have a nice weekend, Rabeah

Hi everyone, My name is Danni Lomas; I’m a documentary researcher based QLD. I’m working on a new UK documentary series about Ex-Pats living here in South- East QLD. Check out the info below. Century Films are producing an eight-part, prime-time documentary series for ITV1 in the UK about Brits living in SE Queensland. The series follows the Ex-Pat experience; exploring the lives Brits have made for themselves in Australia and how they fit into life here. From ten-pound poms to new arrivals we'll discover what it is to be a Brit in Oz and the diverse experiences people have had here. Both ITV and Century Films are keen to produce a series with a warm, entertaining tone, but also take an insightful look at Australian culture and how Brits integrate. 

 Since the start of January we’ve had the pleasure of meeting lots of Ex-Pats from many different backgrounds and interesting stories of life in Oz. We’re shooting till mid March and now focused on meeting an Ex-Pat, couple or family who’ll be newly arriving/ moving to the South East QLD. If that sounds like you then we’d love to speak with you and I look forward to hearing from you soon! Best regards, Danni

Hello everyone, We had our 176 visa granted just before Christmas and are coming over to validate it in March and do a bit of fact finding. I was told that because we have a permanant residence visa we should use the Australian CItizens line at the airport. Is this correct? Regards, Pete Skills Assessment applied for in Feb 09, approved in Apr 09. State Sponsorship applied for in Mar 09, approved in Apr 09. 176 visa application applied for in Jul 09, granted in Dec 09. Hopefully moving to Melbourne in Aug 10 (as long as we can sell our house).

AUSTRALIA is heading towards recording its biggest drop in immigration numbers in 90 years. Although official data will not be published until next month by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, analysis of long-term entrant figures - an advance indicator of official migration levels - show a 32 per cent fall in the past year. Demographic experts Macroplan Australia said the number of long-term and permanent entrants - including permanent settlers, students and temporary workers - fell by 111,000 people, from 341,000 to 230,000 in the 12 months to July 31."The fall is the greatest since just after the First World War, when arrivals were boosted to record numbers of returning soldiers," said Robert Hall of Macroplan. "The following year, numbers obviously subsided back to normal levels." That aside, the decline in the 12 months is the largest since 1901."If there is only a small change in overseas arrivals then you should not take much notice, but if there is a big difference drop then you would expect that to filter through to our official migration figures," said Neil Scott, assistant director at the ABS. Immigration was a hot issue in the federal election, with the Coalition promising to cut net migration to 170,000 each year, a figure Labor said would be achieved anyway through a natural decline from the high numbers recorded before the GFC.The Intergenerational Report, produced by the Treasury, has assumed average annual migration of 180,000 from 2012 onwards, but Labor has been careful not to enshrine this figure as a target. Macroplan said for net migration to fall below 200,000, the government would have to introduce a variety of new restrictions on migration quotas and visa restrictions. It says the fall in arrivals in the past year was due to a combination of factors including the GFC, government policy reducing the number of visas available, and reports of racist violence against Indian students. Robert Hall said a drastic cut in immigration would be disastrous."Over the past 20 years our economic growth has been 3.4 per cent a year, but if migration falls to the Government's target of 180,000 a year, it would fall to 2.7 per cent - meaning a big drop in our standard of living," he said.

Just read this good article in The Age newspaper online and thought I'd share it. Pandering to 'anxiety' about boat arrivals

Hi All We have had a request for more "Meet the Movers" the Australia and New Zealand Editor has asked for me to find more people who are willing to answer some questions on their move to Victoria and for it to be featured in the magazine. We are hoping to get some people in for the next edition so if you are happy to answer some questions and have some photos of your new life in Victoria please contact me asap. Thanks Kate

Hi, Not sure if this is the correct forum for this and apologies if isnt. The situation is me(IT Consultant) and partner(Nursery Nurse) and our 10 yr old duaghter are looking at moving from the North West of England in the Uk to Oz but not sure of the best location for us as a family. So I am looking to hear from families from the North West of a similar make up that have made the move to Aus recently? Thanks in advance for any replies. Cheers.

Just wanted to introduce myself. We've been in Oz for 7 weeks now (me, my wife & our 6 year old son), moved to Berwick beginning of September. Would really like to hear from anyone recently arrived in Oz maybe also in the Berwick area. Could swap stories of removal nightmares or unbelievably expensive rubbish old cars over a coffee or beer! Cheers, Dermot.

Record number of arrivals swells population Figures suggest we're experiencing the biggest boom since the 1950s, writes Kelsey Munro. A COMBINATION of high immigration rates and high birth rates has pushed Australia to a record population boom.

ok newbies landing in bunbury next wk end. looking to make new friends wayne 38 and jo 30 . happy go lucky and always up for drinks and would you believe BBQ,s........ very out going and looking for people who know the area so to give us advice etc ..dont be shy :jiggy:

Hi there due to late job offer i have just relocated myslef and my family down from qld(only there 1 week !!!)to Adeliade, (been here 3 days!!!)we have been lucky to secure a short term fully furnished rental in angle park but its only for 10-11 weeks ,we have no idea about the adelaide area as we have spent the last 18months researching brissie area so dont really know anything about anything down here,we have also bought a car yesterday but dont know how/wheres best to get insured ,its all the little things ,so cmon guys sell me your suburb ,your internet provider,car insurer etc i need to know it all , we are a very outgoing family of 4 girl 6 and boy 11 but just need a bit of a steer in the right direction especially with suburbs as there is so much choice ,my job doesnt start till the 18th may so i only have this week to help the missus out with it all and i think she is starting to panic ,so if its advice on offer or chance of a meetup then its all welcome and would be very much appreciated by these 4 3day old adeladians(?),thx for looking and have a good weekend whatever you are upto,cheers swagman

Just wanted to welcome our 2 PIO members to Melbourne!! We currently have Clare and family (TheClarkes) and also Jason, Donna and family who have arrived today!! A warm welcome guys, I hope Australia is all that you have dreamed of!!!! Kate:wubclub:

When do you WA bound PIOzzers Arrive? Sorry i had to put months together - could only have upto 10 options. you will be able to see who voted for which month, if you click on the number, once people have started voting (least that's what i think you do) Ali

Hello all, I thought that it might be good to have an arrival list for those already in or heading for the gold coast. I thought that as we arrive we could arrange a meet up for new arrivals to help us all settle in. Anyone interested?? If you would like to participate plesae leave your details as follows and I will keep updating the list. If you dont have a specific date just estimate, also can put reccie dates on too. Here goes: bvgEMMA&MICHAEL (+2 GIRLS 2YRS & 7MTHS) ARRIVING AUGUST 2007 ISH :jiggy: PLEASE DONT GIVE OUT TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFO JUST YOUR NAMES AND ARRIIVAL, MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE YOUR KIDS AGES SO WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS AROUND THE SAME AGE AS US, BUT THIS IS YOUR CHOICE (oops sorry for caps) Em x

Hi, we have used this site lots in the UK to see what everyone's opinions are on moving to the sunshine coast. Well now we are here, so I decided to join in! Myself, husband and 3 children 7, 4, and 2 years old. We left Leeds for Sunshine Coast and our first impressions are good! Can't believe we are here! Soooo much to do! Househunting, school hunting (looking at Mountain Creek and also Meridan). Brought 6 bags rest of our stuff arrives october, camping on floor for us when we eventually get a rental!! Have managed to buy a car, so that's 1 job ticked off the list! Any advice on schools, areas to live etc... greatly appreciated! Look forward for much needed advice, (too many decisions!) Helen

HI EVERYONE.JUST WONDERING,JUST BOOKED OUR FLIGHTS TO OZ,HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO BE AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE FLYING TIME?I KNOW ITS 2 HOURS FOR EURPEON FLIGHTS,GOT A FEELING ITS LONGER FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.AM I RIGHT?:unsure: THANKS FOR ANY HELP,TRACY.XX.

Anyone due to be arriving in Perth? Janette and I (aka Mrs Braveheart) and I want to organise another meet and would like to catch as many of you as we can (providing you're interested of course). Ali & Janette

Just wanted to say Hi & Welcome to Australia to fellow Poms in OZ members:- Natalie,Andy,Fran & Harrison (natma1) Arrived 30th June look forward to catching up for a few tinneys been a long time since essex meet with KP. Mandy Frank and Family (mandytuck) Hope to catch up soon hope work is better. Donna,Wayne Jay & Ellie (dbrown) Arriving 3rd july .Im so excited :jiggy: Michelle ,Jake,Brooke & Dillion (michelle74) been here 4 weeks Great to meet up today the first of many.

Hi Guys, I have cleared down all the info on our web based arrivals list as it was out of date. If you would like to be added to the new database please complete the "add me" form on the site and it will come to me visa email and I will add it on. Also will include the meet up details. Its hard for me to keep checking the threads to keep it up to date. I can only add you if you are either here or have a date booked to arrive as last time I had to keep moving people as they changed their plans and its time consuming. Gold Coast Residents, Arrivals & Meets | Thanks Em x

:jiggy:Hi everyone,great thoughts n postings,we are arriving in brisbane on the 9th of August on a 136.We have not spoken to anyone about the move really, but are looking forward to everything to come. You seem like a good lot,hope you can give us good advice and help.

Hi Anyone recently arrived? (going by the forum - there should be a few of you early 06) Let us know how you got on with initial renting/accomodation and the costs. Did you use Pominsperth or an alternative site, or even book before you left. Which region have you settled in and how did you come to that choice? How are your family and kids taking it? No doubt its HOT ! 8)