Queen Victoria Market Hot Chocolate @ Max Brenner Phillips Island Mt.

. Buller Sightseers $56 Family Snow tubing free, tobogganing free Federation Square Childrens Playground Collingwood Childrens Farm Farmers Market 14th August Shopping There are four main shopping areas in the city of Melbourne. Bourke St mall, which is where the major department stores are, Melbourne Central and QV (NOT the Queen Victoria market), which are both located on La Trobe St, and Spencer St shopping center (the old DFO). DFO Authentic Converse Factory Outlet Melbourne - Chocolate Shops Haighs Block Arcade, Lind't, (Collins street), Koko Black (Royal Arcade or Upper Collins st), Max Brenner (QV Centre), San Churro (QV Centre), The Chokolait Hub (Hub arcade just off Royal Arcade). SIM cards for phones are very easy to buy- they usually cost aorund AUD$20 or $30 dollars and come with a credit (usually aorund $5 or $10) towards phone calls. Most calls are time charged and charged by either the second or 30 seconds. 3 largest companies are; Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Mobile phone shops (which breed like rabbits) or department/discopunt stores are your best bets to purchase these as they usually have a range. The Post Office also retail them. SURBURBS TO LIVE Doncaster and Balwyn Hawthorn and Kew as you mentioned, Ivanhoe, Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Brunswick, Essendon, Strathmore, Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds. In regards to schools one area to consider in the Eastern suburbs is Balwyn. Little bit further out than Kew or Hawthorn but very nice area and a resonable tram ride to the city. The local secondary there has a great reputation and many people compare it a private school without the fees. So much so that people deliberately try and buy or rent in its catchment area (Postcode 3103) so that there kids can get into that school. Also good primary schools in the area. Checked on Domain.com.au and there seemed to be a number of retals there around $350.00. Here in Fairfield is excellent as I mentioned, 15mins by train, 25 mins on a bike, 1 hour walking or 20-30mins by car in normal peak times. I don't know all the schools around but I do know that Strathmore has an excellent high school (did you want primary or high schools..??). Essendon is a great choice as well, surrounded by very good schools. Ivanhoe will probably be too expensive, much like Kew. The public vs private schools is HUGE debatable subject. Have a look at a map as 6Andy6 suggests and throw up a few

choices that catch your eye and we can let you know what we know of the areas. Melbourne is very safe and most areas will be fine, there may just be a few areas that will be best avoided. Good luck Wouldn'y necissarily recommend FG or Bayswater. OK but there are better areas. Have a look at the North Eastern suburbs like Eltham, Greensborough, View Bank, Rosanna, Eltham. Bery nice green lesfy suburbs along a train line to the city. Good schools, shopping and family facilities. GlenWaverley (on the Monash Fwy and Glen Waverley Lines) and Wheelers Hill/ Mt Waverley. On the other side of the city you have Sunbury (a separate town but with all facilities) and Keilor areas (urban fringe). Even further out in the South East are greenfield sites (large new estates or a choice of purchasing a block and building to your own design) is where i live Berwick (which is one of the fastest growing municipalitys). This is also on the Monash fwy (40 klm from city) and the Dandenong/Pakenham train lines (about 55 mins by train to city and 30mins on freeway outside peak hour- about an 1 hour in peak hour). Your head must be really spinning with all this information. I think it was will that suggested that you would have to go out a bit. I live in Vermont, and over this way you should be able to find something. The rail line out this way is quite good as the trains run every few minutes, and the bus service is quite good. There are plenty of schools in the area. Shopping is very good as you have Eastland, Knox City, Doncaster Shoppingtown, Chadstone, and there is Box Hill. If you miss the food of Singapore, then Box Hill is the place to go as a large Asian Community live in the arrea as well as shopping there. If you get to the startion early in the morning you can park in the basement, as it is free, and it is mainly for the train traveler. Driving to the city is only about half an hour, but a little bit longer in peak periods. Car parking in the city is a nightmare and they have just increased the price of the fees as well. Box Hill is a great suburb, and it has nearly everything that you will need. On Saturdays in the afternoon the fruiterers auction of the food they haven't sold which is the time to get a bargain. Having spent 6 years catching the train from Croydon Station to Melbourne (32 km's approx 50mins approx) from 1994 to 2000. It can become an issue. Personally, if your husband will be using Public Transport rent a home close to the Lilydale Train line. This line goes through the Eastern Suburbs eg) Hawthorn, Box Hill, Ringwood , Croydon, Lilydale (1 hour to the end of the line). Melbournes outereast is having major road works being done over the next couple of years which will cut down car travell time significantly.

From the info you have supplied around Box Hill may be the spot for your family. . Easy access to Melbourne, great food choice, plenty of school options. In Australia there are plenty of Gyms, or swimming pools, parks etc. available for use. Another option would be around Glen Waverley (Glen Waverley Train Line). Doncaster/Templestowe while great suburbs (I'm biased having grown up there) transport is the issue, closest train station either Box Hill or Eltham Essendon seems to be the most affordable choice given that its prob closest to the city (within zone 1 of the trains too). Box Hill sounds interesting too & seems to be surrounded by other good suburbs too. And seems to fit my budget too. Balwyn seems affordable too from my search Sunbury had a populaions of about 2500o in 2993 but has had a lot of development sincs so expecy it to be 30000 by now. Has 2 ir 3 supermarkets, 3 pubs, all the major banks and good shopping. Has transport to city on a country(I think)train line. Of the nort-eastern suburbs I mentioned here is a summery. Note all are on a frequent suburban train service to the city. All are in undulating to hilly ares with plenty of trees and parkland. Eltham The trediest, greenest and most expensive. Good shopping in a hogh street type shopping centre wih allbanks etc & a couple of supermarkets. Slightly longer access to the Ring Road &therefore Sommerton Greesborough; Nice hilly sort od area Large shopping mall, plenty of shops, banks etc. Easy access to the ring road. Montmerency: Nice hilly area 5 minuts to Greensborough shopping plus its own smaller but nice local shopping strip. Cheaper housing thanthe above 2. Pretty good for ring road. Macleod: Closest to the city, good shopping access to Grenaborough and another big mall ito the west in Preston as well as a food market in Preston (10mins drive) Good treed area with lots parks. Housing on 2 levels older Macleod about the same as Monty but has a big new development called Springthorpe which is megs $$$$. The easiest access to Ring Road as you go against the traffic flows. These are very much outer suburban areas with hoses an 1/4 acre blocks, all within 20 mins drive of Somerton via Ring Road. Ivanhoe is very nice, upmarket suburb on the same train line to Eltham etc mentioned in my earlier posts. Drive to Somerton would be 30 to 40 mins but pretty easy as you would be heading outbound against the flow of the traffic which is predominately inbound. $500k would get you a house in Ivanhoe but not at the top end of the suburb where prices can reach $2million. Be wary of cheaper prices in West Ivanhoe as this is an alomst seperate suburb with lots of government & former government housing and not nearly as nice. Ivanhoe is a great area! Look at east ivanhoe as well, my friend just bought a small house in east ivanhoe and just loves the area!! Very pricey though...you might prefer a bigger house in a less glam suburb!!

Fantastic schools in Ivanhoe though, the above poster is right it is an up market area so it might be out of your price range...have a look at www.realestate.com.au and look at Ivanhoe prices...its just my opinion but $500,000 wouldnt buy a family home in Ivanhoe...5 years ago yes but not anymore!!!! again, totally up to you, rent there if you wish and make up your mind once you arrive! MM, Ivanhoe is right next door to me. I agree with EJH, that money won't get you anything there these days. I am in Fairfield which is the adjoining suburb, it is also a very nice suburb and has a bit more life in it than Ivanhoe but even here now you will struggle to get anything over 2 bedrooms for 500,000. Ivanhoe has it's own public golf course, as well as 2 or 3 private courses, all built along the edges of the Yarra River. There are numerous bike, running and walking paths running through Ivanhoe, Fairfield and Clifton Hill that run all the way into the city. I can do a 20km ride into the city (following the Yarra) and never come near a car. If you are looking at that area, try Fairfield, Alphington and Eaglemont to see what you think of similar areas. Just to clarify my comments re $500K in Ivanhoe. Just looked at my local paper and you can get a family home in Ivanhoe for $500k but at the lower end of the market for that suburb and as Will suggests it may well be 2 bedrooms and/or an older house(by our standards). As I indicated Ivanhoe was probably at the extremities of you drive time to Somerton and the problem I see with Fairfield & Alphington, which are very nice areas, is that it is even further away. A couple of other suburbs to consider are Heidelberg (Not West Heidelberg or Heidelberg Heights), Rosanna and View Bank. All are in the same general area, with Heidelberg adjoining Ivanhoe, are on suburban train lines and definitely have nice housing starting probably at $400,000. The are all slightly north of Ivanhoe so giving easier & quicker access for your drive. One extra apect of Rosanna & View Bank, is that they are in the catchment area of a very good government school, View Bank College, which people go to great lengths to get their kids in to. In regards to schools it can be a difficukt situation. We live 100 mtrs from the zone for View Bank College & are therefore tied to one of two other schools that do not have such good reputations, so we've chosen the private school (read expensive) option. For MM with 2 kids knowing that there are good government or private schools nearby and understanding how the allocation system works may be important. Does anyone have any idea what the schools are like in Sunbury? We are going to be renting in Kew for 4 weeks but really like the look of Sunbury, mind you we might change our mind when we get there as it does not look to bad for a commute to Somerton or Melbourne. Hi These two websites may help in regards to schools The magazine is available online or from Newsagents once uou arrive. The PDF gives deatails of students successful completion on year 12, called VCE here.

Hope theyhelp.MMhttp://www.shopsafe.com.au/Magazines/Choosing_A_School_For_Your_C hild_Victoria_Magazine.htm vic.edu.au/vce/pccia2005.pdf Kew is a real lovely area, very upmarket and some of the best schools in Australia, after living here for 4 weeks you may not want to leave!!!! By the way once you decide that you like it here you should put your kids names down to become Melb Cricket Club members. Costs $20.00 to be nominated, you fill in the form and then wait 10 years for junior membersip and about 25 for full membership. Then you can go to evey footy & cricket match at the MCG for your yearly subs.and get priority tickets to things like the Comm Games or whatever. Yes the MCC is the club that runs the Melb Cricket Ground and when he becomes a junior member he could also take you & others as a guest. You could also put your name down too. Only problem is the waiting list for adult membership is almost 30years! For the state schools their web sites are all constructed the same. Killara is www.killaraps.vic.edu.au so all you do for the others is substitute sunbury , etc for killara in the web address but remember to include ps)for primary school) after the name. For the 2 catholic schools the web sites are http://www.sannsbry.melb.catholic.edu.au/ and http://www.sbrgdgsb.melb.catholic.edu.au/ Gisborne is a very nice little town about 15 kms on from Sunbury but on the Calder freeway so a resonable drive. There is another area nearby called New Gisborne which is more of a new estate without the attractiveness of Gisborne. People deliberately try and move into the catchment areas (usually postcode areas) of schools like Kew High, Balwyn High & Camberwell High. Box Hill Central and Box Hill South are excellent areas to live in. The transport is easy to get to the various schools in Camberwell and other eastern suburbs.I know that some people will disagree with me, but by having your children educated in the eastern suburbs does carry a bit of weight. It only takes about thirty minutes to get to the city by car, and the trains runs every fifteen to twenty minutes. As well there is an excellent bus service. By being in Box Hill you have a variety of shopping Centres to choose from such as Box Hill Central (which also has a market), Eastland, Doncaster ShoppingTown, Chadstone, and Knox City. Whitehorse Road in Nunawading has good area for the various bargains in clothing, furniture, computer, electrical, and other areas of interest. Just recently I was considering renting a house in Box Hill, and there were some for about $230_$300 a week.. I have lived in the various areas of Melbourne, and I have the eastern suburbs to be the best in terms of living. www.realestateview.com.au

Melways map www.realestate.com.au Appliances Goodguys and Harvey Norman are two of the biggest chain whitegood and electrical retailers (D&ick Smith Powerhouse sells maily entertainment and computers) although there are smaller outfits out there. http://www.thegoodguys.com.au fantastic furniture is good for people starting out. basics for the house www.fantasticfurniture.com.au/default.asp for electricals etc http://www.binglee.com.au/ one of the main department stores like robinsons/metro/isetan http://www.myer.com.au/ BANKS www.commbank.com.au www.national.com.au www.anz.com www.wespac.com.au I'm not sure about opening an account before you get here without an Aussia address. The procedure is pretty simple though and the web sites will explain what is required. For standard savings or cheque accounts it is all about proof of who you are rather than credit rating. So you just need to provide enough proof of identity such as Passport, drivers licence, credit cards, birth certificate to reach 100 points. Have just got back from the CBD and I parked in Queen Street which is one block towards the main shopping area from your hotel. On the corner of Little Bourke & Queen Street is a large convenience store and on the corner of Bourke & Queen is a Pharmacy which will have lots of things you may need for kids. 100 meters further down Bourke Street is a Mc Donalds which your kids might also like. Supermarkets are off Lonsdale about 3 small blocks away as described by 6Andy6. If you walk up William street to the north 3 blocks you will come to Flagstaff Gardens, just opposite Queen Victoria Market, which is a good sized park with a few kids playground games. One place to consider is The Melbourne Sports & Aquatic centre, known as MSAC, about a 15 minute tram ride from the city. It has in indoor wave pool that kids really love and a number of play pools for kids of all ages. About 250 meters south of the Aquatic Centre is a huge Childrens Playground with lots of climbing equipment, swings etc. This is all also by the side of Albert Park Lake which has lots of ducks & swans which our

kids always loved feeding with old bread rolls. So the three things together could be a nice outing after the Aquarium or Childrens Farm. I agree with the above post about the pool and the playground in Albert Park: the kids will love it. Both the aquarium and the Childrens Farm are not full day things but are great for kids. The Children's Farm is fantastic for little kids and very much authentically Australian, and only a 10 minute taxi ride from your hotel. As for Buller, I often do a day trip for skiing and it's usually a 5 am start and a 10 pm return to Melbourne if you're planning to ski. If its just to see snow the sightseeing day trip gives you about 4 hours at Buller. I probably wouldn't do it with kids the age of yours. Rather than planning ahead I would wait until you're here and then check www.ski.com.au for regular updates to see where the closest snow is. Most reliable close snow to Melbourne is Lake Mountain at about 90 minutes: great for snow play for the kids, X-country skiing if you want to try it and a fabulous, very pretty drive. If you're very lucky Mt Donna Buang *may* have snow, and its virtually in the outer suburbs. Also, I would drop the overnight at Phillip island and have an extra night along the GOR. The penguins are overrated, and you can sometimes see penguins on a boat ride from St. Kilda Pier if they're important.

Pick up a copy of "On Arrival" magazine at the airport; it contains lots of ideas, information and helpful websites. Collect hire car and check into accommodation. Try not to sleep through the day. Take a few days to get over the journey and explore the area. Activate bank account Set up a savings plan for emergencies, ie. Dental work, unexpected trips back to the UK etc. Explore the area or suburb you think you would like to live in and ask the locals as many questions as possible Guide to Public Transport (timetables for trains and buses) Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria Arrange a house rental and start reviewing some accommodation property options. When filling out application form, put at the top of the rental application form recently emigrated from the UK and will offer 3 months rental in advance in cash Viewing days are often arranged rather than an individual viewing, most agents wont let you come and pickup the keys and view a property straight away. They tend to have days where several interested people go along but they tend to have them every few days. Build up a list of estate agents and their addresses, ask when calling if they have any other similar properties. They may not be that forthcoming so the best thing to do is drive to their offices, go to the front desk where they will have printed lists of all properties. Once you have these lists drive to the house and see what its like from the outside. If its good (and many arent) call the agent and find out when it can be viewed. Its very exhausting but you can get maybe 3 or 4 viewed a day if you can get the timing right. When youve found a rental: * go through the inventory with the Rental Agent etc so any damages are logged down- be scrupulously detailed * Take a video of EVERYTHING * Turn on taps to see if theres good water pressure. * Check how much the water tank holds (160L for 3-5 people, 250L for 4-6 people) * When moving in, make sure that all existing defects with the property are marked on a sheet with both you and the owner (or agent) having a copy. Ask the agent for the checklist used in final inspections and work from this. In particular pay attention to anything like carpet stains, wall marks, oil stains in garage, scratches on windows/mirrors, hooks on walls, etc * If buying a plot of land, get a soil test done or put in an offer for land subject to soil test Once youve decided which house you like, the agent will give you an application form, get it filled in (these are handed out at each viewing) and back to them asap. Now depending on the agent and the circumstances it may take only a couple of days to process and you then get the keys. Easy as that. There may be a delay if the agent has to send your application to the owner who then takes a week to decide before saying yes or no. If there is a delay like that just carry on viewing properties until you know for sure if you have it. Short term furnished rental Short term furnished lets comprise of accommodations available to let for relatively short periods of time (e.g. weekly, monthly). Corporate let or serviced apartments and holiday lets would fall under this category.

A variety of standards are available, but usually they are relatively well equipped with everything you would expect to find in a basic house, such as kitchen equipment, furniture, and sometimes bedding and towels. They are often quite highly priced, but with the added convenience of a living layout (a full house or apartment all to yourself), rather than just a room, so you can just do your own thing. This often makes a particularly attractive proposition over a hotel to families with children. Some short-term furnished rentals include a weekly or twice weekly service where the living space is cleaned and the bed linen and towels replaced. Some are specifically for migrants, and will provide a food package and pick up from the airport on arrival. A big advantage of this option is that, as with hotels, you can arrange it easily before you leave the UK, making one less thing on the to do list once you arrive. Longer-term rental In some areas, in particular inner city, rental properties are at a premium, so you have to be quick off the mark once they are listed if you find something you like. Be prepared to make a quick decision and have deposits and applications ready to roll asap or you could miss out. Each agency has an application form which you will need to fill in, an example can be found here, http://www.raywhite.com/im/raywhite/...ion%20Form.pdf The forms are unlikely to differ much from agency to agency, but you will need the form from the agency the accommodation is listed with. You should be able to get a form when you view the property, but if you are in a high demand area and want to be ahead of the game collect a few forms from each of the rental agents offices first. Some agents will require one application form for each adult living in the house. Regarding documentation, most agents work on the 100 point check (like the banks) so you will need documentation to add up to 100 points. Take photocopies of the relevant documents with you so you are good to go. For a list of how many points your documents are awarded see here: Document Points Passport (current or expired within past 2 years, but not cancelled) 70* Birth Certificate 70* Citizenship Certificate 70* Australian driver's licence 40 Public Service Employee ID card 40 Social Security Card 40 Tertiary Education Student ID card 40 Mortgage documents 35 Letter from employer (current or within last 2 years) 35 A Rating Authority eg. land rates 35 Utility bill eg. electricity, gas or telephone 25 ATM card, credit card, bank book, bank statement 25 Council Rates Notice 25 Medicare Card 25 International driver's licence 25 Marriage certificate 25 * Only one of these can count towards your 100 points You should also carry evidence of rent/mortgage payments in the UK or references from those companies. Rent is often listed per week, and you are likely to be required to pay the first two weeks rent in advance along with a bond (deposit), which is usually four weeks rent. Some people find that due to their newly acquired zero credit rating, paying several months rent in advance is

the best option. Unfurnished rental If you manage to find an unfurnished rental for the medium term soon after you arrive you will most likely be keen to move into it as soon as possible. If you decided to ship the minimum of personal items from the UK and are planning to buy new once you arrive in Aus then you can start your purchasing frenzy and furnish your new accommodation with everything you need immediately. If, however, you have chosen to ship your belongings from the UK, there are a few options available to you: Ship early and stay with relatives in the UK before you leave, so that your belongings arrive around the same time as you. Buy the bare essentials that you could make do with for the weeks until your own furniture turns up. Rent some furniture - furniture rental is a lot more common in Australia than it is in the UK, and can therefore offer a suitable short term solution for some. Below are a few Aus-wide furniture companies, and you may also find local companies in the area that you are moving to. Furniture Rental and Relocation Furniture Hire Australia - Living Edge Furniture Rental Furniture Rental Australia and Furniture Hire by PABS Furniture Rentals PHD Rentals :: Furniture Hire Sydney & Brisbane Australia :: Electrical Appliance Rentals :: Car Rentals Furniture Hire Sydney Appliance Hire Furniture Rental Appliance Rental Lounge TV Washing Machine DVD Dryer Sydney Furniture Rental Australia. Hire Office Furniture, Rent Relocation Furniture, Rent Event Furniture Hire. Valiant Hire Rents Furniture Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane. Others have found that they can get by with buying a few items to keep them ticking over until their shipment arrives. For example: Garden furniture which can initially be used as a dining table. Airbeds which can be used for visitors in the future. Cheap kitchen equipment which can be purchased from Ikea, Big W, Target or similar. A small TV which can be used as the main one then moved to the bedroom once the shipment arrives. Yard/garage sales also tend to be more common than in the UK and offer a good opportunity to buy temporary solutions at knock down prices. Register for electricity/gas (online) Some providers: AGL : AGL - Competitive gas and electricity rates - Request an Energy Offer Red Energy : Red Energy - Supplier of Electricity to Homes in Victoria, Australia TRUenergy: Electricity, Energy, Electricity Company, Energy Company - TRUenergy Set up regular payments for utilities: may have to pay a deposit as you dont have credit (approx $80). Advise removal company of new address Get a landline installed and set up internet access in your rental.

(find out who owns the line first). Check out Whirlpool - Australian Broadband News for Broadband deals Skype You can use Skype or another VOIP (Voice Over Internet Provider) phone that you can plug into your computer - free international calls. Use an appropriate website or program (skype or messenger) and plug the phone in and your away. If you get trouble with delays it could be your broadband provider or the phone or the computer or anything in between so make sure everything is in tip top condition - try your neighbour/friend/work computer to see if you can isolate exactly what the problem is! Also, now available is a corded phone - VOIP CORDLESS phones that can be used anywhere in the house. An alternative is to use phone cards. We use this one Go Beyond Phone Card and Go Beyond Calling Card Daybreak Phone Card - International Calling Cards with instant pin delivery Transfer driving licence Overseas drivers - licences : VicRoads (In Victoria, UK driving licence will only be valid for 3 months after arrival). Turn up with lots of ID, including your proof of residence in Victoria (i.e. rental agreement) and passport, etc. VicRoads 71 Hartnett Drive Seaford, Victoria 3198 Opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 8:30am - 4:30pm, Friday - 8:30am - 5:00pm unless otherwise stated Telephone number for all customer service centres : 13 11 71 (operating hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm Mon - Fri, 8:30am to 2:00pm Sat) Go to Medicare. (you can only apply 7-10 days after arrival). You will be given a small slip, this will do until your Medicare card comes though. Also when applying ask about Medicare Safety Net and apply for that too http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...y-net-work.pdf Register with Centrelink: Centrelink are the government agency who deal with jobseeking and social security payments. They will be able to help you looking for work, getting your skills achieved external to Aus recognised, and seeking suitable training courses Invite your neighbours around for drinks and focus on making new friends for us and our children. Get a local mobile phone/SIM card You can either buy a whole brand new phone or buy a new SIM to use in your UK mobile phone. Either way, you will probably need to opt for Pay as You Go for the first few months until you can get a credit rating in Aus. If you are using a UK phone we will need to make sure it is unblocked before you can use a new SIM in it. To buy a phone or a SIM card just visit the retailer of our choice. Most of them will have a

store in most major towns, and we can locate them by visiting their website. Here are the main players: 3 Three - Home AAPT www.aapt.com.au/ Optus Optus - Welcome to Optus.com.au Telstra Welcome to Telstra.com Virgin Home Mobile phones, great rates, free voicemail in Oz. : thats Virgin Mobile Australia Vodafone Vodafone Home You will need an address to register our Pay as You Go, however a hotel address or temporary address seems to suffice. Ask about offers as they dont always advertise them. For more info about Aussie mobile phones and to compare networks try these sites: Apply for a tax file number: you will need to fill out form 4157, which is especially designed for permanent migrants and temporary visitors with work rights. This should be completed online wherever possible, but you cant do it until you arrive in Australia, and you must have a street address (not a PO Box) where they can send your TFN any time in the next 28 days. iar.ato.gov.au/iarweb/default.aspx?pid=4&sid=1&outcome=1 If you are unable to apply online you can download the form from here: www.ato.gov.au/content/downloads/nat4157.pdf then post it to: Australian Taxation Office PO Box 9942 Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039 Buy a cheap scanner/printer: lots of paperwork involved in finding a rental (application forms have to be in asap). Buying a car & getting car insurance You will probably find that the Asian manufacturers are a lot more prevalent (and usually better value) than the European brands in Aus, and it often makes sense to choose them as the parts are a lot closer geographically should we have a problem. You can often find success negotiating on price, whether we're buying privately or from a dealer. To get an idea of prices check out the following links before we set out to buy, and as a comparison once you have a model in mind: www.autotrader.com.au/ CarGuide.com.au - Let us make your new and used car search easy at Car Guide. Used Cars - New Cars - Search New & Used Cars For Sale - carsales.com.au Used Cars & New Cars for Sale | Car Sales | Car Reviews | drive.com.au Red Book AU : Your site for New and Used vehicle prices Victoria RAC of Victoria RACT - Home The vehicle should have a Safety Inspection Report (Pink Slip) this verifies road worthiness. For more info visit the following link and select the authority for your region:

Registration & Licences - australia.gov.au Once you have made the purchase you will need to transfer the registration (rego/green slip) to your name. You need to do this within 14 days of the purchase or you will pay a late fee. Standard rego is for 12 months, but if you buy a car it could be at any point through that period. For information on how to apply for the transfer visit the following: How to register or transfer : VicRoads If you are buying privately you can arrange for the motoring organisation in your area to check over the car for you before you buy for a small fee. You will also be required to pay Goods & Service Tax (GST) on your vehicle purchase. GST works on a sliding scale so the more your car is worth the more the GST will be. Once you register the car you will receive a tax bill for it. The amount taxed will vary from state to state. Some car dealerships: Toyota Dealership, Camberwell (Cannon Toyota) 610 Camberwell Road, Camberwell 3124 Car City, 411-473 Moorondah Highway, Ringwood (car city, melbourne, dealer, used cars for sale, used car finance) Booran Holden, Dandenong: Booran Holden - Dandenong's used cars for sale on drive.com.au Australia Car Insurance Registration (rego) includes a compulsory insurance, known as the Green Slip, to cover Injury to third parties. It covers the owner or driver of the motor vehicle in the event of an accident against any legal liability or obligation that they may have to anyone that they injure, it only covers personal injury and NOT damage to other property, cars etc. Most people take out insurance on top of this, similar to the cover they would have had in the UK. Fully comprehensive insurance is usually cheaper than you would expect to pay for the same cover in the UK, and if you find the right company they will honour your UK no claims (make sure you brought evidence of it with you). You may not be required to produce evidence of your no claims to take out the insurance, but if you have an accident you are likely to be asked for it, so it is advisable to keep it on file. AAMI - Car Insurance Australia - AAMI Car Insurance Quotes - CTP Insurance - AAMI Budget Direct - Car Insurance Australia Multi Award Winning Car Insurance and Online Quotes Budget Direct ING - ING Car Insurance NRMA - NRMA Insurance - NRMA Motoring & Services RACQ - rac.com.au/go/insurance/motor Make sure we know the road rules If buying a car from a dealership, they may sort out insurance for you HEALTH INSURANCE Many Australians choose to take out some form of private medical insurance, medical insurance companies are referred to as funds. There are a wide range of cover options available from a variety of suppliers. The Australian government provide information about private medical cover on the following web pages:

www.health.gov.au/privatehealth and the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) also provide information and advice including a booklet designed to help you decide whether to take out private medical insurance: Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) If we have existing health cover in the UK get a copy of the contract as some Australian companies will accept a roll over and not make you have a waiting period Types of cover Ancillary cover will insure for what are considered to be those basics that Medicare don't account for, such as dentistry, optometry, podiatry etc. Hospital cover allows you to choose who will treat us and in which hospital we will be treated (public or private). Do not assume that our full hospital bill will be covered as the level of cover differs from plan to plan. Government incentives There are a number of Government schemes in place to encourage those who can afford it to invest in private medical insurance and thus relieve some of the pressure on the public health system. The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a surcharge of 1%, on top of the standard 1.5% Medicare levy on income, which is charged to high income earners who do not choose to take out private medical cover. A rebate of 30% is offered by the Government on private health insurance premiums. Even if your employer has paid your premium you are still entitled to claim the rebate. The Lifetime Health Cover incentive scheme aims to encourage Australians to take out cover early in life rather than in their later years when they are more likely to make claims. Taking out cover before the 31st July after your 31st birthday leads to reduced premiums for life. A 2% loading is added to premiums for every year after the subjects 30th birthday that the insurance policy is started. Migrants over 31 can participate in the Lifetime Health Cover scheme provided that they take out insurance prior to the first anniversary of the day they became eligible for Medicare. Qualifying periods Most funds have a system whereby for a specified period of time at the beginning of your insurance you cannot claim benefits. A health fund can pose up to a 12 month waiting period for hospital cover and a limitless waiting period for ancillary cover to account for pre-existing conditions which should have been picked up in a medical before you subscribed to the insurance. Health funds cannot refuse you cover due to a pre-existing condition. If you have an accident after joining the fund the qualifying period does not usually apply Membership categories There are 4 types of membership category:Membership Cover Single Cover for one person named on the application Couple: Cover for contributor and one other adult

Family Cover for contributor, another adult + upto 2 dependent children Single parent: Cover for contributor and upto 2 dependent children Funds Funds must be registered under the National Health Act 1953. The websites of some popular funds can be reached using the links below: Medibank Private - choose medibank private for health cover and travel insurance Health Insurance, Private Health Cover, Home & Contents Insurance, Private Health Insurance - Australian Unity Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement Solutions - MBF Group Private Health Insurance, Private Health Cover, Health Care - HBA Health Insurance Health Insurance nib health funds Health Insurance Australia - ahm - provides Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, Health Management, OSHC, Corporate Health Cover and Overseas Visitors Cover (check if covers dental) Choosing a health care fund can be a daunting task due to the wide variety of plans available. A number of advisory bodies are available and they should be able to help is with our decision. Private Health Insurance Australia - iSelect - compares five of the top fund suppliers packages Health Insurance Australia - HICA - Offers advice on health insurance including a free online health insurance assessment Australian Medical Association - Australian Medical Association - provides a checklist for comparing funds Personal Finance, Shares, Money, Superannuation News - moneymanager.com.au - Sydney Morning Herald Money Manager - offers a clearly explained guide to how health care works in Australia Register at a local school To enrol a child(ren) in a school first telephone and make an appointment to enrol. You'll need to take with you: visa documents, proof of date of birth, hand over file from from their old school detailing their education to date, any reports etc. You may also be required to produce immunisation documents so check when you make the appointment or take them along anyway. Also, if there is a strict catchment area, you will be asked to provide a copy of your rental agreement. The Australian education system The responsibility for education is divided between State and Territory governments and the Australian Government, therefore situations will differ slightly from state to state so the info below offers a rough guideline only. For information on the area you are settling in please visit the relevant state education portal using the links below: Victoria - Redirect Notice for the Department of Education and Training School Type Age Grade ABC Learning Centres - Home Childcare - Live in Victoria Education & Childcare - Live in Victoria

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development - Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Pre-School 4 n/a Primary School 5-12 Kindie/Prep to Y6 Secondary/High School 12-16 Yr7 10 College/High School 16-18 Yr11-12 University 18+ n/a Sometimes secondary/high school and college run into one Schools referred to as public are schools run by the state and not privately run schools as in the UK. In most states school is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15, through primary and secondary/high school. The school year in Australia runs from late January/early February to December. With the exception of Tasmania who has 3 terms, all states have a 4 term year. There is a long summer holiday during December/January and a break of between 10 days and 1 month between each term. The school day runs from around 9am to around 3pm. Subjects and Examinations Primary school and the first four years of secondary school teach the core subjects such as Maths, English and Science, with elective subjects also becoming available in secondary school. Students in years 11 and 12 are encouraged to specialise in subjects of their choice. Students satisfying requirements for their final year will be given an overall grade which compares them with final year students in their state or territory. The results of this grade can help them get into university if they wish. Several schools are now offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) which is recognised in universities in other countries too. Attendance requirements Many schools have a uniform and it will be expected that your child wears a uniform if there is one. Free lunches are not usually provided by state schools, there is often a canteen on site selling food and drink, although most students take their lunch to school with them. School buses are not the norm for public schools, it is your responsibility to get your child to school. Corporal punishment is not used in many schools across Australia - children are encouraged to respect their peers and teachers. Some schools will require that your child's immunisation record reaches a certain standard. Private schools There are a wide selection of private schools around the country for a variety of budgets. There are also a lot of catholic schools which are usually private and often a lot cheaper than other private schools. As a general observation, private school fees in Australia tend to be lower than in the UK. The choice between state and private schools is a personal one and a constant debate. If we decide to send our children to a private school in Australia there are regional independent performance rated lists available by searching on a search engine using private

school rating and the area you are looking at as search criteria. Have a list of questions covering the areas that we feel important, then we can ask the same things at each school and make an informed decision. Many schools will ask us to wait until we arrive to register, but some will hold a place for us if you contact them and discuss our intentions in advance. Find a doctor: some doctors bulk bill, which means that you don't get charged anything by the doctor - you sign the form at the end of the consultation and you pay nothing out of your own pocket. The doctor then claims your fee direct from Medicare. You can visit any doctor we like and move around each time if we want to. Find a dentist Scott Robertson, Bentons Square, Mornington or Mount Eliza Dr Scott Robertson, dentistry and information for all your dental needs in Mornington East, Victoria, Australia Tom Byrne, Vale Street clinic, Mornington: (03) 5976 1176 Mornington Peninsula Dental clinic, 354 Main Steet, Mornington (Megan Healey) : Dentist Mornington Peninsula VIC, Dental Clinic Mornington Peninsula Victoria, Dentists Mornington Peninsula, Dental Clinics, Cosmetic Dentists, Teeth Whitening, Fillings, Veneers, Root Canal, Crowns, Bridges, Implants, Orthodontist Apply for Family Tax Benefit (Centrelink) Visit a mortgage broker House buying is fairly simple. Lots more properties are failing at auction, or being sold prior. If you want the house, you. .* pay 10pct deposit .* sign a contract (making any changes you feel necessary such as having a building inspection) .* agree settlement date .* hand over conveyancer/solicitor details .* Wait for c/s to tell you how to pay, or what cheques need to be drawn up. Move in! Once a contract is signed, it is binding, unlike UK gazumping tactics! Get a dog permit : Application form: City of Melbourne - Pets and animal management - Dog registration To have a copy of this form sent to you, contact The Lost Dogs' Home on (03) 9329 2934. The application form provides general information and outlines fees and payment options. New applications can be paid via mail or in person at the Melbourne Town Hall (90-120 Swanston Street or The Lost Dogs' Home (The Lost Dogs Home ) Gracie Street, North Melbourne

And the most important one of all....... SPIDERS: Moretein bomb and then get pest control in too (no huntsmens in my house!!!). You can buy a pack of 3 cans of moretein. You open a can, leave one in each room of the house and then vacate the property for a few hours. WHERE TO SHOP When you first get here, you have absolutely no idea where to go for things (beds/TVs/toasters etc etc etc). So before we came over I trawled the t'internet and came up with the list below. Anyone with any other recommendations let me know and I'll add to the list. This is a list I used when we first came over:Electrical Goods: Good Guys http://www.thegoodguys.com.au/portal...rtal/tggwebcms Retravision http://www.retravision.com.au/ Go-Lo http://www.crazyclarks.com.au/ The Electric Discounter (online) http://www.theelectricdiscounter.com.au/ Allied Appliance http://www.alliedappliance.com.au/ Big Picture People http://www.bigpicturepeople.com.au/ Harvey Norman http://www.harveynorman.com.au/ JB Hi-Fi http://www.jbhifi.com.au/ Myer http://www.myer.com.au/ Furniture: Freedom http://www.freedom.com.au/ Domayne http://www.domayne.com.au/ IKEA http://www.ikea.com/au/en/preindex.html Sydneys http://www.sydneys.com.au/

Fantastic Furniture http://www.fantasticfurniture.com.au/ Supermarkets: Coles http://www.coles.com.au/ Safeway (Woolworths) http://www.woolworths.com.au/ Beds: Forty Winks http://www.fortywinks.com.au/ Bedshed http://www.bedshed.com.au/ Bev Marks http://www.bevmarks.com.au/info/general/Home/get/0/0/ Snooze http://www.snooze.com.au/bedding/default.aspx?show=all Department Stores: Adairs (on-line) http://www.adairs.com.au/ David Jones http://www.adairs.com.au/ Domayne http://www.domayne.com.au/ kmart http://www.kmart.com.au/ Myer http://www.myer.com.au/ Target http://www.myer.com.au/ BigW http://www.bigw.com.au/ DIY Bunnings http://www.bunnings.com.au/ Mitre10 http://www.mitre10.com.au/ BBQs Barbeques Galore

http://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/ Bunnings http://www.bunnings.com.au/

THINGS TO DO BEFORE
LIGHTS Get quotes for flights Make sure you get increased baggage allowance in Writing (usually 40kg Eastbound, 64k Westbound). Singapore Airlines & Emirates give the extra allowance and it's for one-time only. Cheap Worldwide Flights and cars, Discount Hotels, Bargain Holidays to Dubai, America, Australia and Thailand ASDA Travel - find cheap holidays, flights, hotels and travel Travel to Australia & New Zealand with Austravel, the holiday and flight specialist AUSTRAVEL.COM CheapTickets: Cheap Flights, Event Tickets, Hotels, Rental Cars, Vacations, Cruises, Concert Tickets, Sports Tickets Expedia.co.uk Travel > Book cheap flights, travel, hotels and package holidays ebookers - Cheap Flights, Hotels, Car Hire & Holiday Packages Flight Centre UK | Cheap flights, holiday packages, hotels, car hire, touring and travel insurance www.leestravel.com www.octopustravel.com Book cheap flights, hotels, car rental, city breaks and package holidays with Opodo Quest Travel long haul tailor made holidays Trailfinders - The Travel Experts TRAVELBAG: Deals on Cheap Flights, Hotels, Holidays and Tours Holidays and flights to Australia, cheap flights to New Zealand, Hotels, Holidays and Tours Worldwide Cheap flights & hotels | car hire | package holidays - TravelSupermarket UK Prepare your belongings to be shipped. Get at least 3 quotes . Doree Bonner Doree Bonner | UK and International Home Removals and Secure Storage Crown Relocations Crown Relocations U.K. PSS International Removal Company Robinsons The Business and Home Removal Company - Robinsons International http://www.britannia-movers.co.uk/ EMPLOYERS Give formal notice to employer and make sure you get P45 and work references BANKS/BUILDING SOCIETY Request credit references from bank, building society or any other lending agent Once youve arrived in Australia your credit profile will in effect start from scratch. Make sure you source as many credit references as possible before leaving the UK so that you can use them as evidence that we are creditworthy. Your bank, building society and any other lending agency should be able to provide a reference. You may find a reference from your mortgage company will also be helpful. You wont be able to get a credit card in Australia until you get employment Request up to date statements on any endowments, pensions and investments

Ask your doctor, dentist, optician, schools to prepare hand-over files IMMUNISATION RECORDS FOR CHILDREN Obtain a letter from your doctor confirming your child(ren) immunisations are up-to-date and give dates as they may be required for school and can also be requested for family assistance. MOVING YOUR PET: Pet travel services and pet boarding - Airpets Oceanic London UK Airpets, Willowslea Farm Kennels (Heathrow), Spout Lane North, Stanwell Moor, Staines, Middx TW19 6BW (01753) 685571) Golden Arrow, 01588 680240 (they dont have a website) Ruislip Kennels Tel: 01344 424144 Fax: 01344 861460 e-mail: info@ryslip.com The Ryslip Group Ltd | Welcome Organise temporary accommodation in Australia for a couple of weeks. Organise all birthday cards and presents for the next 3 months UPDATE CV There is not a huge amount of difference between a UK CV and an Australian Rsum. The content is by and large the same but the Australian version often tends to be a bit longer. Most CV's will not need to be changed much to make them suitable for the market. Read through your existing CV and look for anything which is likely to cause confusion, internationalise your CV, and think of any negatives an employer may see in your CV and offer an immediate explanation to counter them. Change the word CV to Rsum (and make sure its spelt correctly with the accents on the e) Check for any commonly used UK acronyms, are they used in Australia? Add a one line description of the companies in your employment history Explain any gaps. Give reference to your Permanent Residence Set spell checker to Australian/English and make sure you run a check before sending the final document. REFERENCES It is standard in Australia to attach relevant references to your CV. Before leaving the UK it is a good idea to contact any potential referees and ask them to write a generic reference for this purpose. In the main body list referees with contact details, and attach any references to the back of the CV using a paper clip. As well as showing that you have nothing to hide, time differences may often mean that it is difficult to contact your referees during normal working hours so attaching your references offers a solution.

Inform employer and get P45 and references Inland Revenue P85 Take these with you (for each adult), then complete and send them back to the UK within a couple of weeks of being in Oz to ensure that Revenue and Customs are aware we have left the UK and now Tax Resident in Australia. The form is designed to help you claim back any tax when we have left or about to leave the UK. This can be downloaded here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/p85.pdf Order a phone card from: MelbourneConnect.com.au -- Prepaid Phone Cards to call from Australia Works out at 1 cent per minute. Go Beyond card is the better choice. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Give your change of address to: Banks Passport office Pension company Inland revenue Insurance brokers and accountants Shares DVLA The DVLA require that you have a UK address on your driving license, so it may be advisable to change the address to that of a friend or relative who could forward any necessary communications to you, before you go. RE-DIRECT POST Arrange all post to be redirected Royal Mail offer national and international redirection services for your mail for a variety of time periods. You can either apply in person at a Post Office or online and allow a few days for the service to be activated . You can renew online if you find that you wish to continue the service longer after the initial period ends. We signed up for a year and it cost around 70. The redirection service is for a maximum of 2 years. For more information visit www.royalmail.com and select redirection services. It is cheaper to get mail redirected to another UK address, so if we are confident that we will need very little of our mail we could see if we have a trustworthy friend or relative who is willing to have it redirected to them and will forward on the odd piece of relevant mail. If you get the mail redirected internationally make sure that you have one address that you can access for the entire period of the forward, as you cannot change it. If you expect to be transient during this time it may be better to have the mail forwarded to an Australian friend or relative, or to set up a PO Box. The only difficulty with a PO Box is that you will need to open it once you are in Australia. For more information on a PO Box with Australia Post visit: Welcome To Australia Post Ship your goods Whichever option you have chosen for shipping make sure everything is clean before the

shippers arrive, as customs in Australia will not accept foreign dirt. Use a product like Jeyes Fluid. The timing that shipments leave varies with each individual case. Some choose to ship early and stay with relatives/friends/make do with things they will then dispose of, whereas others will choose to ship at the last minute and wait for their possessions to arrive at the other end. Don't forget to look into marine insurance, which is essential. Getting this insurance with your shipper may be more expensive than using an independent company like Letton Percival ( http://www.lettonpercival.co.uk/ ) so do research on both. Re Christmas decorations: on box write tinsel, tree ornaments or fairy lights NOT christmas decorations and mark No Pine Cones. The customs guys will be on the box like greased lightening otherwise. Make sure all the files on your computer are backed up Make a copy of everything on your computer and keep it withy our important documents, preferably in a separate bag to your computer. If you are leaving your computer behind and using a new one when you arrive it is worth making two back ups of your files and keeping them in separate places just to be sure they are safe. Start packing non essential items Prescriptions Get enough medicine to cover until you can see a doctor in Australia. Be aware that some destinations en route may have restrictions regarding bringing certain medications into the country so check this beforehand. Collect hand-over files from doctor, dentist, optician, schools etc. Arrange some private health cover for Australia if required/desired Pay off any outstanding debts Close any surplus bank accounts and destroy unwanted cards Shred and dispose of any personal records you are not taking Ensure all your relevant paperwork is in a travel file CANCEL: Ask for refunds where applicable Car insurance: Get a letter confirming No Claims Bonus Car road tax Standing Orders/Direct Debits: make sure they are cancelled with the bank as well as the company All utilities (gas/electric/telephone/community charge) cancel in writing Broadband House insurance Car Insurance Sky TV Newspapers TV licence

Request references from credit card companies, banks & mortgage lender; request up-to-date statements (financial statements useful when going for a rental) Sort out family allowance Buy currency for the trip Ensure that your possessions are on their way Check in with the shipping company to ensure that everything is going to plan Organise transport to the airport Take final gas/electric meter readings and send details to suppliers Get PHOTOCOPIES of: Birth certificates Marriage certificate Passport bio pages including visa page (handy for employers) Mortgage statements Driving Licence Utility bills for the last 6 months (to show regular payments) will help in rental search to show good payment Savings accounts Bank statements Then scan onto a stick Arrange for a NATIONWIDE credit card: no fees for international purchases (remember, you wont be able to get an Australian credit card until you have a job) Get an Australian bank account sorted Get a school report file together Sort out Ambulance cover before you go: (this will depend on which state you go to. Some states have a levy, some states have an annual fee. Heres the link for the Ambulance Service in Victoria Membership Home - Metropolitan Ambulance Service Make a note of useful UK telephone numbers, i.e. bank customer services etc (the International number) Set up an independent email address (Hotmail or Gmail etc) and transfer your existing address book over before we move) also save to stick. Remember that if youre with, say, Pipex or Virgin you wont be able to use that service in Oz therefore all your contacts and stored email will be lost. Arrange a rental car for when you arrive (but NOT from the airport as the cost is extortionate). A taxi into Melbourne city is around $50 and pick rental up from a regional office. Check out Europcar,.they are normally the cheapest rental from the airport. Info Pack for rental If you have a relative in Australia ask them to write a character reference Copy of bank statements/utility bills/mortgage statements Get a reference from UK estate agent stating how well our house has been maintained and what kind of people you are

If you have a rented, ask the estate agent for a character reference stating that you paid rent regularly and on time every month When applying for a rental, write a covering letter explaining why you currently dont have a job (i.e. just landed). Mention in it youve had a mortgage for X years and you have PR/or youve rented for X years etc Take passports with you Front up with cash for 3 months advance rental (we did, but it wasnt needed). There are usually quite a few people going for the same property so offering to pay in advance may clinch it for you

PO Box or other Postal Address for the first 4 months (visit a Post Office to do this) This is a bit of a catch 22 situation! You will need a long-ish term postal address in Australia to be able to setup your Bank Accounts, Medicare, Centrelink, Drivers License, etc. If you have a friend or relative, ask them if you can use their address. PO Boxes can be used for general mail and are available in most post offices but they are like gold dust. NOTE: You cant set up bank accounts, Centrelink etc with a PO Box as your address. Now, take a few deep breathes...... !!! This is intended for guideline purposes only (and comes from my own personal experience). GOOD LUCK!

Checklist Things to plan and do in your last few weeks in your home country

Start this basic planner from +_6 weeks to go and counting until the big day. This checklist will be updated regularly. This list is NOT exhaustive and you should allow for your own particular circumstances and position. The general idea is to plan your move well plan for contingencies, possible delays and for all possible scenarios. We are there to assist and you are more than welcome to contact us if you require any specific information or have specific enquiries and needs

Get quotes from Movers a typical 3 bed home contents should fit into a 20 foot container, if you have more good, go for a 40 footer. Shared containers are also available if you do not think you will fill a container yourself and it lowers the cost. If you have space available let us know, we often have people moving from the same country willing to share costs ! Plan for your household contents, and whatever else you are bring over in the container to be packed in order for shipment to take place at least 1 week BEFORE you depart for Australia i.e. to arrive here approx. 2 3 weeks after you arrive. Why ? You generally get 2 weeks free storage included in the quote for the move you should require around 2 3 weeks to find the right home for yourself in Australia (more on this when we get to arriving here) this way, if you find the right house within 2 weeks, you furniture arrives at the same

time, takes 3-4 days to clear customs and you move into your home furnished with your own goodies (makes you feel at home) yet, you have additional 2 weeks or so if you have not found the perfect place to call home where your goods are stored free of charge. Make sure your passport with the visa in it is kept safe and that your passport is valid at least 5 years after arrival in Oz (saves countless hassles later on). Make arrangements with your assurance and insurance companies regards your life and other insurance will you cash them out, make them paid up or keep them going. Make sure you keep a bank account in your home country active and arrange for a trusted person to have power of attorney for the account Make suitable arrangements in your home country with the taxation department (get a tax clearance if required) do not necessarily state that you are migrating! Note that Australian authorities do not require a tax clearance from you. Get the house on the market (should do this before the 6 week period starts actually) and arrange to vacate only a week at max before you depart for Australia. Get settlement figures (and budget for this) for your cars and any other goods including any loans and credit cards if applicable and make arrangements to settle these a week before departing. If possible keep one credit card for use in Australia initially (until you get an Aus card) and make provision to pay the card in your home country (one of the reasons why you need an operational bank account in your home country) Get offers on your cars and any other items you will sell. Send out invitations to all friends and relatives that will remain in your home country invite them all for a party a week before you leave ! Collect the following original documents file them and keep this with you when you fly over to Australia: All FULL birth certificates All marriage (and divorce if applicable) certificates All qualifications you have from school onwards

Job and employment references for the last 10 years plus Proof of no claim bonus for insurance (can save you a bundle in insurance premiums here) Copies of all life and other insurance documents Your will If you have trusts and companies that will still be operational after you migrate bring full records of those Receipts of all accounts / loans etc paid up by you and evidence of sale of e.g. cars Letters from banks where you have had loans to verify your credit record very useful when applying for loans in Australia ! Evidence of all your investments Evidence of your childrens :school records immunisation certificates academic records Update and send your CV / resume to ASA to assist with job searches (send by email). Note that your CV may have to be revised to meet Australian standards Prepare a budget for yourself and stick to it ! Open an email address for yourself in Australia. Send out the email details to your friends, relatives and important contacts well in advance. Arrange with your ISP in your current country to keep your account valid for 3 months after you leave and if possible, arrange for an auto response to be sent to people emailing you to advise of your new Australian email address. If you have a valid credit card, you can open up an Australian email address with Telstra or a host of other service providers in Australia. On arrival, you can update the payment (card) details to your Australian details. (www.telstra.com.au)