Chalky4388 Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 HELP ANYBODY PLEASE HELP WE (ME OH AND 2 KIDS AGED 4 AND 6) HOPEFULLY MOVING OUT JANUARY TO NSW (EITHER COFFS HARBOUR OR TERRIGAL) AND DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT ALL HOUSEHOLD BILLS, TAX , COUNCIL TAX, ELECTRICITY, PETROL, INSURANCES BOTH MEDICAL AND HOUSE CAR ETC. ALSO WHAT COSTS LIKELY TO BE FOR SCHOOL AND ALL THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES THE KIDS DO. ONE LAST THING IS LIFE AFTER THE MOVE WORTH IT AND DO YOU ACTUALLY GET THE OUTDOOR LIFE YOU READ ABOUT. THANKS ALL HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED.. :wacko: TRACEY X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuju Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hi Tracey, I live in Terrigal and yes we do get to live the out door life (although you need a few extra layers on in the winter months) my daughter is always at the beach and often comes home from school,changed & straight down to the beach - the school kids also do beach sports.The extra activites that the kids do are no more expensive than in the uk really - like dance soccer - im not sure on surfing as my daughter has not joined a group yet. all the best gizmo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Liam Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Australia's cost of living is low compared to many other countries. Use www.hifx.com.au or www.yourmortgage.com.au calculators to get an idea of the cost of everyday living in your country's currency. Groceries Grocery websites will give you an idea of the cost of your weekly food bill. Woolworths is one of the biggest, nationwide food retailers. Browse their food products and prices here. Coles is another major supermarket chain with stores around the country. Shopfast is a major online food ordering service. Department stores To get an idea of the cost of items such as towels, sheets, kitchenware, toiletries and clothing visit the websites of department stores David Jones or Myer. Petrol (Gasoline) The Australian Automobile Association compiles figures on petrol prices and updates them regularly. Cars For information on new and second-hand car prices and to see the range of manufacturers who sell in the Australian market look at www.drive.com.au. For additional information on the cost of motoring in NSW, visit www.nrma.com.au. Schools The school day generally runs from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Public schools Each Australian state runs and manages its own education system. Almost a third of NSW schools are privately run, including primary and high schools. Public schools are free but parents are asked to pay fees for textbooks and the school library, plus extra amounts during the year for school excursions and special performances. The NSW Government has recently changed fee structures for temporary visa holders. Guidelines are available by visiting the Department of Education and Training website. Private schools Private schools are competitively priced when compared to schools in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. In NSW, there are some 900 private schools, catering for all age groups from primary to high school. Many private schools are affiliated with church organisations. Boarding facilities are provided within many schools and fees range from around A$2,000 to over A$20,000 a year. You can search for private schools at the Private Schools of Australia website for all non-government schools or on CitySearch. You will usually have to phone the school in person to get an idea of fees and facilities. Pre-school Long day care centres are available for babies and children up to school age and they generally operate from 7am to 6pm. Children aged from two to five can attend a kindergarten or pre-school. Most of these are privately run and have shorter hourse than daycare centres. Day care centres and Education in NSW can start at a kindergarten or pre-school - the majority of pre-schools are privately run. Children from two to five years can attend these schools. Fees vary but you may be able to claim some back from the Government if you work, depending on your income and visa status. Find out more from Centrelink. Primary school In NSW, children must turn five before July 31 in the year they start school and must start school by their sixth birthday. The first year of primary school is called kindergarten and children complete another six years of primary school, Years One to Six, before going on to secondary or high school. Vaccinations You may find that primary and pre-schools insist your children have been vaccinated against childhood illnesses such as polio, smallpox, measles and diphtheria. You will need to show a vaccination certificate and schools usually ask to see your child's birth certificate for proof of age. Secondary school In NSW, students enter secondary school in Year Seven at age 11 or 12 and can legally leave school at age 15. There are four kinds of government-run high schools in NSW: local comprehensive high schools central schools that service rural and isolated communities specialist high schools including sports, performing arts, technology and languages high schools and entry requirements can include extra tests or auditions selective high schools that accept students who attain the highest results in the Selective High School Test, held in June each year. To find a primary or high school in your area visit the Department of Education website. Students are examined for their School Certificate in year 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC) in year 12. The HSC mark determines which courses the student is eligible for admission to at universities and colleges in NSW. Sport Australia is a leader in the Asia Pacific for access to quality sporting and recreational facilities. There are many excellent local and indoor sporting facilities in every town and in most areas of NSW. You'll find general sporting club information at www.sportnet.com.au and information on the range of activities available in NSW at www.activeaustralia.org. For information on golf courses in NSW visit www.ausgolf.com.au which has course reviews, rankings, listings and information on golf resorts and tours around the State. The most popular spectator sports in NSW include Rugby League, Australian Football (or Aussie Rules) and Rugby Union. Information on NSW soccer clubs is at Soccer NSW. All football codes have amateur leagues and the playing season runs from February to September. In the Australian summer, cricket and tennis are popular. For information on NSW cricket facilities and clubs go to the Cricket NSW site. The Tennis NSW site provides information on upcoming competitions and sporting news. The most popular women's sport in Australia is netball – 1.2 million women participate in this game during the winter months. For information go to www.netball.asn.au. NSW is a bushwalker's paradise. The Sydney Bushwalkers website suggests where to go and what to take with you. The Snowy Mountains offer excellent skiing for three months of the year. You can find more information at the Snowy Mountains tourism site. Watersports Water activities of every kind are very popular in NSW and the coastal areas of NSW have some of the best swimming and surfing beaches you'll find anywhere in the world with clean, sparkling blue water. NSW's coastal waters are warm enough to swim in from September to May. For detailed information visit Coastalwatch or Surf It Australia. There are many inland lakes and rivers for swimming, kayaking and waterskiing. Sailing is also popular and there are many yacht charter companies along the coast and on the State's waterways. The Yachting Association of NSW website has comprehensive information on clubs and organisations, sailing events and weather updates. Travel and holidays NSW encapsulates a wide range of holiday experiences within its borders; this is because the landscape across the State is dramatically varied. This variety of holiday experiences makes it easy to get away to somewhere interesting for a weekend. Accommodation options are diverse enough to fit any budget – you can stay in luxurious resorts, child-friendly hotels, holiday apartments, private retreats, modest motels or just camp in the wilderness. The most popular destinations in Sydney are: The Rocks Darling Harbour Bondi Beach Manly Glebe/Newtown Kings Cross Paddington The most visited regions in NSW are: Blue Mountains Hunter Valley Central Coast Coffs Harbour Canberra Southern Highlands The following sites show the diversity of NSW holiday destinations as well as all the attractions of Sydney. Visit NSW City of Sydney National Roads & Motorists' Association Walkabout Australian Travel Guide The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website lists national parks by region of NSW and tells you where to find bushwalking tracks and camping facilities, and what fees, if any, need to be paid. Hope all this was of help Liam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACDONALDO67 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Very informative Liam, good work. :notworthy: Just had a tinker about with the car websites and I was surprised to find that a 2002 5 series BMW 530i equivalent to what I have, which I paid £9000 for just over a year ago, costs $38,000 ????? That's twice the amount I paid here in Britain ??? Looks like a Ford Focus job if we ever get out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalky4388 Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 HI EVERYBODY BEFORE I START BE GRATEFULL IN OZ AS SNOW FORECASTED HERE !!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE AND INFORMATION LOTS OF LINKS FOR ME TO CHECK. IS IT JUST ME OR DO YOU GO ROUND AND ROUND IN CIRCLES, ONE MINUTE YOU DEF GOING THE NEXT YOU THINK IT SAFER TO STAY HERE. AHHHHHHHH WE WENT FOR MEDS YESTERDAY THEY SAY IT TAKING 3 MONTHS TO GET A REPLY. THANKS AGAIN FOR HELP NO DOUBT I WILL HAVE LOTS MORE QUESTIONS..... TRACEY:wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinhead Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Very informative Liam, good work. :notworthy: Just had a tinker about with the car websites and I was surprised to find that a 2002 5 series BMW 530i equivalent to what I have, which I paid £9000 for just over a year ago, costs $38,000 ????? That's twice the amount I paid here in Britain ??? Looks like a Ford Focus job if we ever get out there. European cars are more expensive in oz than their US/Japan/Oz counterparts (to do with import taxes from EU I believe). If you're looking to buy a car steer clear of VW/BMW/Audi,etc and go for Toyota, Holden ,Ford etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACDONALDO67 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 European cars are more expensive in oz than their US/Japan/Oz counterparts (to do with import taxes from EU I believe).If you're looking to buy a car steer clear of VW/BMW/Audi,etc and go for Toyota, Holden ,Ford etc. Thanks for the tip. Looks like a Ford Focus. Could even get 2 of them with some cash left over for the same age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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