On the way to Melbourne

[bluepope]

Hi all

 

Not sure where to start but it's been a whirlwind few weeks (months) for my wife and I and our 2 sons, 13 & 10. My wife has been successful in getting a job as a lecturer in OT based at the Frankston campus of Monash University on a sponsored visa and, after sorting out the finer details, looks like we're looking at an arrival date of mid September from Manchester.

 

From initial interview to starting it will be about 9months so as you can imagine its certainly focused our minds in sorting everything out, not that we're finished yet by any means!

 

We've had a lot of helpful advice from the university giving us details of places to live etc and my wife and I are coming out the first week in July to have a (very quick) look around however I'm hoping all of you out there can contribute as well, any advice welcome and maybe possibly meet up in July for a chat.

 

Anyway, enough for now and thanks for reading.....I'll be back:wink:

[Petals]

Welcome to the forum. Monash Uni in Frankston is in a good position. Living in South Frankston would be ideal as it would be very easy for her to get to work and also the primary and high schools are very good in the area. Mornington and Mount Martha are also popular areas but you would need a car for work. Buses go around the world.

 

Join up with the Life in Victoria forum there is a link at the foot of this one. A lot of the members are recent arrivals and may be able to help you out with things that us long term residents take for granted.

[rosiew]

Google "Frankston High School zone" for a map of the catchment area for the state secondary school. It has a very good reputation but the zone is critical. That's assuming you want to live in or near Frankston - there are many beachside suburbs and towns that are in easy reach.

[bluepope]

Hi Petals- thanks for that. Funnily enough my wife is sat across the living room on her laptop (we know how to live!!!) logged into the Life in Victoria forum (in fact i think you've just replied to her!!)

 

Frankston South is definately looking like an area we'd be interested in to rent as it seems you get a bit more for your money and

 

Rosiew- we're looking at houses within the Frankston High school catchment.

 

Also considering north of Frankston South (Mount Waverley etc.) in case the work I get involves working nearer the CBD (I currently work for the UK's largest exam board and would be looking at something similar within universities)

[rosiew]

Hi Petals- thanks for that. Funnily enough my wife is sat across the living room on her laptop (we know how to live!!!) logged into the Life in Victoria forum (in fact i think you've just replied to her!!)

 

Frankston South is definately looking like an area we'd be interested in to rent as it seems you get a bit more for your money and

 

Rosiew- we're looking at houses within the Frankston High school catchment.

 

Also considering north of Frankston South (Mount Waverley etc.) in case the work I get involves working nearer the CBD (I currently work for the UK's largest exam board and would be looking at something similar within universities)

 

We only have one exam board here and centralized university admissions based purely on marks for most courses, so those opportunities are fewer. Check out http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - that's the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment body - it may be worth you contacting them directly for some advice, if not a job.

[rosiew]

If you are looking further afield also look at McKinnon/ Ormond. Near the beach, on the train line to Frankston, and another excellent and strictly zoned school - McKinnon Secondary College.