Do Some Research Before You Leave
Moving Household Goods
If you only have $15,000 or $20,000 of furniture then sell it. A 22 foot container will cost anywhere from $4 -7K to ship across. You may also be charged extra for decomtamination at Customs. It will take 3 weeks to arrive if you are lucky at a main port. So get 3 quotes and get insurance. Australia has many furniture outlet options so you can furnish a house very inexpensively or even eBay many new or near new goods.
If you only have $15,000 or $20,000 of furniture then sell it. A 22 foot container will cost anywhere from $4 -7K to ship across. You may also be charged extra for decomtamination at Customs. It will take 3 weeks to arrive if you are lucky at a main port. So get 3 quotes and get insurance. Australia has many furniture outlet options so you can furnish a house very inexpensively or even eBay many new or near new goods.
Do I Bring My Car?
Go to www.carsguide.com.au and compare car prices. What is your car worth in Oz? New Zealand allows Jap imports so there is quite a difference on second hand car prices, that is second hand cars are worth more in Oz. However to ship a car then to wait at least 3-4 weeks, experience Customs hassles and charges, Register and get a Road Worthy (WOF) Certificate you would want at least a $4k difference for all the hassle.
Economic Conditions
Go to www.ato.gov.au and review tax rates. Australia has Compulsory Superanuation of 9%. Most jobs are advertised at salary plus Super but some include the 9%...so clarify that first.
Go to www.seek.com.au and compare salaries. Ask friends for opinions. Bring references with you. Consider applying from NZ and phone interview from NZ.
Tradesman are scarce and paid very well however if you own your business you must have Public Liability Insurance. Workers compensation covers you for all accidents that occur at work but not for any other reason. There is no equivalent of ACC like NZ that covers for any accident. You would need to take out personal disability or accident insurance to cover all other accidents. If you want big $$$ even in the short term and like the outback, consider working in the mines.
Education
Our biggest headache! Each State is different. NZ is a 13 year curriculum, Queensland is 12 years. Do you put your child in age appropriate Year (usually meaning going back a year) or keep your child in Academic appropriate year? The latter usually means your child is youngest in the class by up to 18 months or more. But will they get bored repeating a Year? And if you do choose the latter, they finish Year 12 at age 16!
However they have just introduced Prep Year in QLD, which means that for those who haven't started school, your child must turn 5 by 30 June to go to full time prep 5 days a week at the beginning of that year. If their birthday is after this, they have to wait until the beginning of the following year to go to prep and then go into grade 1. Grade 1 in Australia is the equivalent of NZ year/grade 1.It's a personal choice but changing education conditions on school age children needs very serious consideration.With the introduction of the prep year this has now put QLD more in line with other states. Your child if starting prep from this year onwards will be at least 6 months older now than before under the previous system.High school starts at year 8 in QLD , equivalent to form 2 in NZ.
Family Assistance
Note if you do have children, Australia does have fairly generous Family Benefit Payments which you can qualify for. For example, it can be worth $350 a fortnight if you have 3 children and earn $50,000. Check out www.familyassist.gov.au .
Healthcare
Medicare Australia is an Australian government agency and provides assisatnce in Medical bills. We think its not too bad but make your own opinion. Have a good read at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
Transferring Currency
Simple rule. Keep away from the main banks. You can get a better rate elsewhere. Several good online foreign exchange specialist save you serious money. Try www.ozforex.com.au for a start and compare their rates to the Big 4 main banks..
Lifestyle/Entertainment
Do you love sun and surf? We are biased towards Brisbane but an hours drive south or north gets us to a family unit on the Sunshine or Gold Coast, theme parks, zoos, entertainment venues and more. Each city has their own web site. Check them out on www.australia.com
Australia is a tourism destination and as such there are plenty of resorts and quality hotels. One great lifestyle aspect in Oz is that you can go to one of these resorts for a weekend or holiday at cheap rates particulalry off peak. By utilising these online booking services and others you can get away for a very cheap holiday.
Janine & Cossie
Your Kiwi Guides in Oz
Ph: +61 410840874
PO Box 247, Everton Park
Brisbane, Queensland 4053
