AlunJenkins Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Hi guys, new to the posting of threads on here but looking for some advice basically. Firstly I have travelling wit me my partner and my 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son who is on the autistic spectrum. ive received an offer to work in melbournes CBD and looking on some advice on the basics such as the following:- 1.best place to live to commute to work which will accommodate for me and my kids to find decent enough schools for education 2.totally understand before getting on the plane that the cost of living is greater in oz but can anyone post their typical outgoings from taxes, bills, rent etc etc so I roughly have no shocks 3.any suggestions of places to look online to find a car or is public transport the way to go for the whole family? 4.any advice in general from you the experts in oz ! Hope to speak to you All soon. thanks alun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of threads on this forum giving a lot of the information you are looking for. To help you with an area to live we need to know where you will be working. Melbourne is such a vast city the size of greater London that the commute can be a long long one or a short one depending where you work. Anywhere within 10 km of the city is desirable and hence is more expensive than living further out of the city. The west is the west and the east is the east and never the twain shall meat. Generally divided by the Yarra River. If a school is purported to be a good one then you need to live within the zone as its probably at capacity with local people wanting their children there. Join up with the Life in Victoria forum, there is a link at the foot of this forum. Its only for Victoria and most of the people live in Melbourne and they will be able to help you with settlement and costs. Also they are a friendly bunch and quite a bit of socialising is organised on the forum which is helpful to new arrivals. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Welcome to the forum. Do you have your visas yet? Autism can create some problems with getting the visa, so if you don't have them already, I would consider employing a good migration agent to push you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzzy--bee Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 2.totally understand before getting on the plane that the cost of living is greater in oz but can anyone post their typical outgoings from taxes, bills, rent etc etc so I roughly have no shocks Very roughly, you will need $2.5 to the £1 to buy the same stuff. So if you earned £40,000 in the UK you will need to earn $100,000 here to buy the same lifestyle. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sustain Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 www.carsales.com.au for selecting cars and doing comparisons www.realestate.com.au for your renting, area research & prospect house purchase information http://ptv.vic.gov.au/ for public transport Myki is the Melbourne equivalent of the oyster card www.ato.gov.au for your tax related questions www.seek.com.au for your work related (benchmark income) other positions in the market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thanks guys for your posts so far, I'm waiting on a 457 visa to be processed is autism even in less severe cases likely to cause an issue with this being processed? I have heard stories of visas not being processed on health grounds etc just didn't know that autism would be a stumbling block! The job offered is in the CBD literally right in the centre so have been contemplating up to around 40 minutes on the metro train we are easy as a family to locate anywhere outside the centre! Which accommodates for a good family lifestyle and plenty to do to keep us all entertained ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 http://Www.lifeinvictoria.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sustain Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thanks guys for your posts so far, I'm waiting on a 457 visa to be processed is autism even in less severe cases likely to cause an issue with this being processed? I have heard stories of visas not being processed on health grounds etc just didn't know that autism would be a stumbling block! The job offered is in the CBD literally right in the centre so have been contemplating up to around 40 minutes on the metro train we are easy as a family to locate anywhere outside the centre! Which accommodates for a good family lifestyle and plenty to do to keep us all entertained ! 40 mins during the week could be 10 mins during the weekend:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 7 months old, but close enough to our current finances. http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/money-finance/173796-our-budget-worksheet-victoria.html I really need to do another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thanks very much for this as all the other replies said great info ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 We can advise you on suburbs a bit more easily if you give us an idea of salary. You will need a car unless you can afford to live quite close in to town where there are lots of trams. Just being on a train line in the outer suburbs probably will not be enough for your whole family to move around to school, shops etc. The price of a car (for your wife) will save you a lot on rent, potentially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Hi Rosie my salary will be $90k to support the 4 of us on a 457 visa so not looking to spend huge on renting so that we can afford to do other things for the kids etc will be looking at an area with a good school close by if possible. Gonna be out first of all on my own until I can sort things out therefore any help will be really appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzzy--bee Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Hi Alun, in my area you should be looking at Aspendale/Edithvale - that area has good schools and is reasonably priced. You can commute to the CBD in about 35 mins actual train time, add time getting to station and work from the train to this. If you need accommodation for yourself before your family arrives please contact us. Cheers BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Hi Alun, in my area you should be looking at Aspendale/Edithvale - that area has good schools and is reasonably priced. You can commute to the CBD in about 35 mins actual train time, add time getting to station and work from the train to this. If you need accommodation for yourself before your family arrives please contact us. Cheers BB I agree. I think you should have a look at the lower Bayside - Mordialloc down to Seaford. Close to the beach, nice people, good schools, train to town. Feels like "living in Australia". Remember that on a 457 what you earn is all you have. It may feel like a big number, but with no child benefits etc it will not be a luxury lifestyle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwolst77 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 I agree. I think you should have a look at the lower Bayside - Mordialloc down to Seaford. Close to the beach, nice people, good schools, train to town. Feels like "living in Australia". Remember that on a 457 what you earn is all you have. It may feel like a big number, but with no child benefits etc it will not be a luxury lifestyle. I agree $90,000 is not a lot of money especially with 4 kids and on a 457 you get nothing from the government in terms of help Without going into too much detail, I salary sacrifice my new car (including fuel, rego, insurance) and the base salary that is left over is not a million miles away than the figures you are quoting. We have a comfortable lifestyle with what's left over, BUT there are some months were once the quarterly bills come in coupled with a few birthdays or unexpected bills/repairs and your money has soon dried up for the rest of the month. My car and fuel has already been paid for, if I had to run a car from your base salary as well things would not be so great. However if you look long term and accept the first 2 - 3 years will be financially the hardest (or take a hit on your savings to fund the difference if you have any) until you get PR then I think the move is worthwhile. Not going to get into the best suburb or cost of living debate as they have been done to death by myself and other posters, and at the end of the day they are just individual opinions. However one word of advice regarding suburbs is take advice from people who are living (or lived in the past 12 months) in that suburb. Not by people basing their advice on what they have read on PIO (sometimes years ago) or if they or a friend visited an area years ago. I would spend some time reading PIO posts going back over the last 6 - 9 months on here and do plenty of research. You are only asking the same questions as everybody (myself included) have asked so the answers are here (saves us typing them out again) and then come back and ask any specific questions you have. Two websites to help you are in your quest are... http://www.realestate.com.au/rent http://www.paycalculator.com.au/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzzy--bee Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 However one word of advice regarding suburbs is take advice from people who are living in that suburb. Not by people basing their advice on what they have read on PIO (sometimes years ago) or if they or a friend visited an area years ago. This is an excellent piece of advice. Really excellent. So many areas have historical bad reputations which don't count today, or may not apply to you. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 Thanks buzzy bee for the advice and the offer to contact you before heading out I appreciate it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 Gwolst thanks for the response, 4 kids couldn't cope with that number haha only have the two, four of us in total. I agree $90k is not really a lot when u take out taxes etc net is around $62k which I would anticipate just to have the basics that we pay here $1000-$1200 a week is a definite like you said would need to most likely buy a car etc which would eat into the difference quickly. Any ideas if I'm out there on a 457 whether getting a permanent visa would be any quicker? I can't get a skills assessment for permanent visa until September when I have passed my degree for two years (quantity surveyor skills assessment) somebody please tell me if I'm wrong on that but appears to be that this is to only requirement I cannot quite make at the moment for a PR visa. Any ideas roughly what the Australian government would pay to assist with two children on a PR visa ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzzy--bee Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 You would be eligible for probably both family tax benefit part A and part B as believe it or not I think you would be classed as a low earner. This site should help you - http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/themes/families $1200 a week will buy you about the same as £480 per week, so if you can currently live on £480 you will be OK. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlunJenkins Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 Cheers Bb will take a look now before heading to bed . Stressful times aye? I agree prob down as a low earner but strange all the feedback with average salaries puts it above average if you know wha I mean hopefully that doesn't sound up myself in any way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwolst77 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Gwolst thanks for the response, 4 kids couldn't cope with that number haha only have the two, four of us in total. I agree $90k is not really a lot when u take out taxes etc net is around $62k which I would anticipate just to have the basics that we pay here $1000-$1200 a week is a definite like you said would need to most likely buy a car etc which would eat into the difference quickly. Any ideas if I'm out there on a 457 whether getting a permanent visa would be any quicker? I can't get a skills assessment for permanent visa until September when I have passed my degree for two years (quantity surveyor skills assessment) somebody please tell me if I'm wrong on that but appears to be that this is to only requirement I cannot quite make at the moment for a PR visa. Any ideas roughly what the Australian government would pay to assist with two children on a PR visa ? I am on a 457 with two kids, been here almost a year, so got another to go before applying for PR (which is gonna set us back at least $8000). If you go PR you will get the following 1. Centrelink payments (Aussie benefits depending on you income) 2. Help with childcare costs you get back half of what you pay capped at $7500 per child per year (I may be wrong on this figure) You get NOTHING on 457 apart from Medicare and that is only because it is reciprocal because Aussies get free health care in the UK If you can go PR I personally would wait and go for that, I was lucky I was head hunted so got offered good base salary / good bonuses package and relocation. However if a company really want's you and offers a good wage and is going to cover your costs, then defo consider it. I am lucky that I work for a large global IT company that moves people to different regions all the time, so I believe I probably have more security / understanding of my visa situation than working for a smaller Aussie company, so I am not overly worried about job security (apart from the usual worries you have in any job). The childcare costs are the big killer out here and that is stopping the wife from starting work as she can't earn enough to cover to kids as we have to pay full whack ($80 - $90 a day), the oldest starts school in February so realistically it will be then before my wife can start looking for work (term time only). The school uniform alone is going to cost $800 - 1000 (and that's not including the iPad and school books we have to buy) As a rule of thumb 90K is probably the equivalent of $36,000 - $40,000 to live on BUT in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I work in the IT project game and I am use to planing and budgets as part of my work, but even with all the planing and research I did before coming out here, I was and am still surprised by some aspects of the cost of living. This is especially true when it comes to items your generally purchase with what you would class as your disposable income. Even if you do all your budgets and find you have $1000 disposable income each month, it is not the equivalent of having £600 left over (roughly the actual current exchange rate you will get at bank). It is probably more like having £400 leftover to spend each month. However to remain balanced and not a gloom merchant as I said before we manage fine on what I earn but there are some months your money seems to all go in the first two weeks. We are still paying off credit cards from setting up home (nearly done once my tax rebate comes in) so that probably compounds the impression 'where has all my money gone this month?' Once the wife starts working in theory that money will be disposable income, so that instantly puts us in better position financially and will have a chance to put some proper savings away (just in time to pay for our PR). Also on the plus side you can do a lot of things for free here that you would have to save up money and go abroad on holiday to do back in the UK. So if you factor that into your equations over the course of a year the cost of living balances out a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I am on a 457 with two kids, been here almost a year, so got another to go before applying for PR (which is gonna set us back at least $8000). If you go PR you will get the following 1. Centrelink payments (Aussie benefits depending on you income) 2. Help with childcare costs you get back half of what you pay capped at $7500 per child per year (I may be wrong on this figure) You get NOTHING on 457 apart from Medicare and that is only because it is reciprocal because Aussies get free health care in the UK If you can go PR I personally would wait and go for that, I was lucky I was head hunted so got offered good base salary / good bonuses package and relocation. However if a company really want's you and offers a good wage and is going to cover your costs, then defo consider it. I am lucky that I work for a large global IT company that moves people to different regions all the time, so I believe I probably have more security / understanding of my visa situation than working for a smaller Aussie company, so I am not overly worried about job security (apart from the usual worries you have in any job). The childcare costs are the big killer out here and that is stopping the wife from starting work as she can't earn enough to cover to kids as we have to pay full whack ($80 - $90 a day), the oldest starts school in February so realistically it will be then before my wife can start looking for work (term time only). The school uniform alone is going to cost $800 - 1000 (and that's not including the iPad and school books we have to buy) As a rule of thumb 90K is probably the equivalent of $36,000 - $40,000 to live on BUT in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I work in the IT project game and I am use to planing and budgets as part of my work, but even with all the planing and research I did before coming out here, I was and am still surprised by some aspects of the cost of living. This is especially true when it comes to items your generally purchase with what you would class as your disposable income. Even if you do all your budgets and find you have $1000 disposable income each month, it is not the equivalent of having £600 left over (roughly the actual current exchange rate you will get at bank). It is probably more like having £400 leftover to spend each month. However to remain balanced and not a gloom merchant as I said before we manage fine on what I earn but there are some months your money seems to all go in the first two weeks. We are still paying off credit cards from setting up home (nearly done once my tax rebate comes in) so that probably compounds the impression 'where has all my money gone this month?' Once the wife starts working in theory that money will be disposable income, so that instantly puts us in better position financially and will have a chance to put some proper savings away (just in time to pay for our PR). Also on the plus side you can do a lot of things for free here that you would have to save up money and go abroad on holiday to do back in the UK. So if you factor that into your equations over the course of a year the cost of living balances out a bit more. I don't want to depress you, but there are few "term time jobs" outside schools unless your wife is self employed/ casual and can choose her hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwolst77 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I thought I also had 'part time' in that statement She is also looking into a carer change and going self employed, either way with only one set of childcare fees to worry about during term time financially it will be worth while her going to work. Once we go PR in 12 - 18 months full time hours regardless of school term times then becomes an option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I thought I also had 'part time' in that statement She is also looking into a carer change and going self employed, either way with only one set of childcare fees to worry about during term time financially it will be worth while her going to work. Once we go PR in 12 - 18 months full time hours regardless of school term times then becomes an option uty Well of course the beauty of self employment is the flexibility and the lower taxable income because of deductions. That will maximise your family tax benefit when the times comes after you do these long hard yards on the 457. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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