kirra Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 OK I kind cheat..Im an Aussie, BUT, I have been living in the UK for 10yrs since I was 25 yrs old. In the UK I *grew up*..so got married to an englishman and had 2 kids. It took 2 yrs to wind down our UK life which included applying for my husbands PR and selling our house. In 10 yrs you forget lot about the admin of your home country so arriving has made me see it all from fresh eyes, as I guess a 'pom' would. So here's our story.. My husband was granted PR in January 2011 and in April 2011 did a quick fly in/fly out to Perth to activate it as we werent sure when we would actually move to Australia. The Gods shone upon is in mid 2011. Our house that wouldnt sell all of a sudden had a buyer who wanted to move quick. It went from offer to completion in 6 weeks. In September we moved into a short term and decided to wait until after xmas to move to Oz but we shipped our furniture to Sydney then thinking we will store it if it arrives before us. My husband and I were applying for jobs and we thought we were going to Sydney but I noticed on SEEK a job that suited my husbands skillset and just so happened to be with my brothers firm in Brisbane (my brother is HR Mgr). I called my Brother, he got my husbands cv and sent it to Line Mgr. he got the job! Flights booked for early December. Message sent to Sydney to re direct our shipping to Brisbane. Im not from Brisbane and know nothing of it other than my brother lives there so set researching areas with his suggestion. In early November I started applying for rentals from the UK. It was hardwork as most agents ignored me. A few didnt and I sent my brother to view them (rules are someone must view to apply). I sent the biggest suck up applications showing our financial stability (proceeds from house sale) and proof of husbands employment and offered to take up the rental 2 weeks before we arrived. We were accepted! Having an address was paramount to me before arriving as it meant I could start school enrolments from the UK and ease the burden upon arrival. I was able to set up my internet, utilities, everything to 'turn on' the day we arrive and also planned for my shipping to be there the day after. I really should be a Project Mgr! We hate being without internet so it was great having it all *working* from day 1. I also ordered online any furniture we were missing to arrive that first day..it was crazy so much stuff going on all around us. I totally recommend http://www.appliancesonline.com.au and was not too proud to buy Super Amart...the stuff is just fine and it delivered on time. I was able to arrange online for the gas and elec to be turned on ...too easy. Our shipping container also arrived that day..talk about busy, but great as no time without stuff. I enrolled my daughter into the catchment school from the UK by calling them up and scanning, emailing all docs they requested. So I didnt need to do once arrived. The first 6 weeks has been non stop buying, enrolling, organising though. Centrelink which I dreaded has been fairly straight forward and I got the CRNs for the kids and claimed the Childcare benefit rebate to help with nursery fees. I already had a medicare card so just had to go in to the shop and fill out the forms to get my husband and kids names put on it..took 3 weeks to arrive. The first GP surgery I called were happy to accept us and I booked an appt to have my kids Immunisation history verified so they can be uploaded to the Aussie Immunisation Registry (they are up to date in the UK but the UK does not vaccinate for HepB so my kids need 3 rounds of HepB to be 'Australian good' with regards to vax's). I had a major fail at the GP's. I had no idea you had to pay to see one. I saw the DR and walked out and the secretary chased after me down the street waving the bill! :laugh: I organised my husbands butt within an inch of his life and got him to apply for a NAB bank acct online from the UK. The set up was so easy and all accts and card given to him right away when he saw them. I got him to apply for a tax file number online the day he arrived so that arrived 28 days later. I sorted his medicare and just about to sort out our private medical. I also printed him the correct Driving License forms and he just went in and done it and had 4 other Brits in the centre come to him for help as he looked like a man with a plan! He's had it lucky We have mown through money. In 6 weeks Ive spent $AUD40K..admittedly that includes the purchase of a $AUD18K car and bond for our rental. We really need his income to start rolling in. I am lucky in that my UK job asked me to continue my role remotely (Im an IT contractor) so I been working the whole time Ive been here (hence why internet connection being here d=from day 1 a huge thing) From my husbands eyes he loves Brisbane so far. The ease of just being able to drive in fairly uncongested roads (compared to london), the fact you can just pull up in your car and get a park and its usually free to most places.His commute is 15mins by car...in London it was a 3 hr round trip. He likes how customer service is good and even when a product is faulty people help him and sort it out. He loves how his groceries get packed at Coles/Woolies. He hates Aussie TV. He loves drive-in bottleo's (offies) and goes out of his way to find one that is a drive in one. He thinks the big walk in beer cold rooms are heaven! He likes how nice everyone is to him but hates how he isnt 'exotic' or a novelty as everywhere you go there are as many British people as Aussie's! :laugh: He bought the biggest bbq known to mankind and bbq's..every..single...night. He takes photo's of spiders in the garden and emails them back home to the UK (saddo!). He thinks having a McDonalds/HUngry Jscks/KFC on every corner is bizarre and laughs that Aussie's love a 'big world'..ie shopping centres or any place to shop has be huge and a world..ie camping WORLD, boating WORLD...he thinks we cant handle just a shop and only satisfield if the store is the size of a football pitch and has WORLD in the title We havent really had a chance to sightsee or explore our new city but it shouldnt be long until the admin of the move calms down and we can just ...relax Me..well, Im shattered! sorry for the ramble. For those of you moving to Brisbane you need to GET EXCITED! We love it so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrahams Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Wow, you sound super organised! I am glad it is all going well for you, enjoy! We are hoping to get to Brisbane in Sep/Oct. I would love to know how you get on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirra Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 The one downside I see to brisbane , which possibly could be an upside (?)..it looks like a city, but run like a country town and the locals all seem to know each other. Im looking for work here and suspect it but had it confirmed by locals themselves who all tell me alot of the time jobs come from who you know... now..if only my brother could sort ME a new job The city appears to be growing quickly though and Ive seen alot of Britsand Kiwi's here all new trying to get on with the place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lkquick Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 wow, that sounds so organised.. we're arriving next tuesday, aarrgghhh, but have no where to live yet, just a hotel for 10 nights.. so here's hoping we can get a rental quickly, however am really looking forward to it. goos luck with the rest of your adventure x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mandajay Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hi Kirra, Sounds amazing!!! Glad your enjoying it all. My family and I are just the scary point....and i am honestly in a world of ups and downs! Our move is planned for about 7 weeks time and i have no clue if i have done everything! Im just thinking about the adventur and hoping i havent forgotten to do anything major! No idea of the list of things i have to do when we arrive! For example i had no idea kids had to have Hep B vaccs!!!! CRN???? Think i may open the wine and continue to have my mini melt down! lol And heres me thinking its all under control at this side... oh well time will tell.... manda xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirra Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 dont sweat it! Kids vacc's is not a priority. Im just miss anal so when I went to Medicare they gave me a form which your GP fills out which captures all the kids UK vax's from your red book and compares it to the Aussie standard ones. We have them all except AU vax's for HepB..so the surgery is arranging for my kids to get that so we can send the completed form to the Aussie Immunization register and my kids be all good and in their system Centrelink and CRN..stands for customer reference number. You only get a number per person once a claim has been made. You just go online: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/childcare_benefit.htm and make a claim. I did that even before my son started his first day at nursery as it takes 3 weeks. your nursery will ask for your kids CRN. Only yesterday did centrelink finally get round to processing it and my kids got assigned CRN's. You only need it if you want to claim back money , up to 50% I think of the nursery bill. It is not means tested the bit I applied for. You may need to be a resident to claim this..unsure good luck with your move Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Sounds great! We are off to Brisbane in March. Whereabouts are you? We will be north. x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirra Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Inner west - Auchenflower. Location wise its central and convenient. I can walk to South Bank. Its a good 1 hour round trip but its a nice walk along the river cycle way whether we stay here is another thing. Being so inner city it comes with a hefty price tag so maybe not so affordable when time to buy. But, I dont like the outer suburb style housing estate with new houses. They are boring and soul destrying (just my opinion as someone who grew up in one). Horses for courses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fabricator Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Fab post Kirra , and OMG your organised !! Good for you :-) lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauracoldwell Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 :laugh: He bought the biggest bbq known to mankind and bbq's..every..single...night. He takes photo's of spiders in the garden and emails them back home to the UK (saddo!). Ha ha this made me laugh, we are moving to Brisbane and can NOT wait. I am so excited. We just need to get our PR sorted and we will be on our way. The 40k makes me a bit scared though arrrgh. Glad you have all settled so well and are loving it. Hope to make a post saying the same in the future. xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fashionably Late Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 So glad you have settled in so well. I am just a couple of suburbs away from you and we also love it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missus B Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Fab post! I've bookmarked this is my Oz favourites as there's loads on it I haven't thought of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 What a superb update, thank you so much for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesnparry Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 dont sweat it! Kids vacc's is not a priority. Im just miss anal so when I went to Medicare they gave me a form which your GP fills out which captures all the kids UK vax's from your red book and compares it to the Aussie standard ones. We have them all except AU vax's for HepB..so the surgery is arranging for my kids to get that so we can send the completed form to the Aussie Immunization register and my kids be all good and in their system Centrelink and CRN..stands for customer reference number. You only get a number per person once a claim has been made. You just go online: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/childcare_benefit.htm and make a claim. I did that even before my son started his first day at nursery as it takes 3 weeks. your nursery will ask for your kids CRN. Only yesterday did centrelink finally get round to processing it and my kids got assigned CRN's. You only need it if you want to claim back money , up to 50% I think of the nursery bill. It is not means tested the bit I applied for. You may need to be a resident to claim this..unsure good luck with your move Do you reckon we could get the hepB vax done here? Take it you have to pay for them in OZ. My health visitor has already offered to do any jabs that OZ need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Welcome home Kirra. Loved your post :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Do you reckon we could get the hepB vax done here? Take it you have to pay for them in OZ. My health visitor has already offered to do any jabs that OZ need. Free in Brisbane: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/community-safety/councils-immunisation-clinics/childrens-immunisation-clinics/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Newlifefor6 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Hi there. This is just the sort of post I needed to read. We're in a similar situation to you, as in my husband is an Aussie citizen. We hope to be out in less than six months so I'm applying for my PR when we arrive. We have four children so I need to be super organised as you were. Could you pass on the websites that you used to get things like the Internet and gas sorted. Any tips would be fab. So glad to hear you've settled well, how are the children getting on at school? Thanks for any help Natalie x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirra Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 Hi re gas/elec I didnt really research suppliers so unsure if Im on the best deal. I just asked my brother who he uses. It was Origin so I went to their website and signed up with them online. V easy. For internet I wanted good performance as opposed to cheapest deal so begrudgingly went with Telstra and got one of their phone, internet and Foxtel bundles. Expensive, but Ive been happy with the service and speed of internet and if you order it over the phone early like me you wont have to wait to get the man to come around and turn it on..you pick a date around move in time. My daughter had her first week of school last week and loved it. My one tip if you have pre-school age kids would be to get an idea of area you want to live and start applying to daycares now. Just call up and ask to have names down on the waitlist. Most have 12mth+ waitlists. If your husband has family in the area use their address..no need to tell them you havent arrived yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrymaple Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 What a great source of information your post is. I used to think I was proper organised... not since starting my application process!! I must pay you to be my personal Agent :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody123 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Hi Kirra, I love your post it made me chuckle. I always thought I was so anal about everything but looks like the the title goes to you! We are in the process of waiting for our PM visa, I'm pregnant at the moment so we can't have medicals done until baby is here in March. Hopefully after that it all should be on the move again and we get our visa this summer....fingers crossed. We are coming to Brissie aswell, my OH has family near Gold Coast but they are so laid back about life that I'm not getting much sense from them. They just say come stay with us when you arrive and we'll help you sort everything but I'm like you and want to know before we go. I suppose our new baby will go into nursery so I reckon I should apply for CRN, I didn't even know about this until I read your post. Also do you have to have medicare in Oz, is it a one off payment or instalments and what does it entitle you to? I had a medicare card years ago when I backpacked in Oz but never used it. I will also get kids Hepb vax's done, makes sense I think to be a proper Aussie. Hope you don't mind the questions but you seem like the person everyone needs!!! Take care, Jules x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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