We've now been in Australia for 6 months! Can't believe it, but it's true. but still fresh off the boat, as my new Aussie mates jokingly say...
What you want:
a new life in Australia
What you think:
It's going to be tough, wonderful, adventurous, happy, sad, hard work and fun
What they DON'T tell you:
you're right ;-)
It's all of the above, but not a single second of regret having made the move. Things are, of course, very different. It IS a new country, with a very different culture and ways of doing things, but it is also a civilised, first-world, english speaking, proud, patriotic, economically sound place to live.
There's loads of work if you want it and very few problems compared to good old SA.
To illustrate:
2 weeks ago the front page news carried the headline 'Golf widows unhappy' or something similar.
THAT'S exactly why we moved here - if the biggest news they could suck off the end of their thumbs was that the men are playing too much golf, and it's THE headline of the day, we (Australians) have no worries! I shudder to think what the news was in South Africa...
Loving it! Come on over...
'it's easy to live here, you'll love it' - Melbourne Cab Driver, aged 57, 2nd generation Australian, on the way to Melbourne airport, May 2007
He's right.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
WTF - Q & A
What you want:
Some general information on the day to day expenses
What you think:
Where am I going to get this?
What they DON'T tell you:
Here!
Some general info I've put together for some friends that are coming over...
Q - Medical & Hospital insurance/cover - Is this government medical?
A - Yes -Medicare if you're a permanent resident. Very expensive privately, so make sure you get medical included when you get employed if you come over on a 457 VISA.
Q - Do you pay for medical if there on a work permit (before Residency is through)?
A - yes
Q - How much?
A - The doctors , dentists etc are not regulated, so you should discuss with them before treatment. Also prescriptions are the same. Quite pricey.
Q - Pharmacies - Dischem equivalent?
A - yes - Chemist Warehouse http://www.epharmacy.com.au/chemistwarehouse/welcome.asp
Q - Cars - buying. Cash? Or deposit and credit?
A - Both. 10 % deposit.
Q - How much deposit if latter option. How does credit vetting / rating work?
A - Need 100 points. This is proof of address, copy of Visa, proof of employment, copy of SA drivers license.
Q - Car Insurance - More or less an average amount?
A - We pay $98 for house and car. see http://www.realinsurance.com.au/ . MUCH Cheaper.
Q - What is the transport system like (buses, trains, trams)?
A - excellent. all the above avialable - trams only within about 10km radius. clean and on time.
Q - Petrol/fuel price per litre?
A - Varies - cheapest on Tue/Wed morning - around $1.36 then more expensive towards the weekend - around $1.46.
Q - Process of getting your driver's license, some kind of ID card?
A - Have a look at http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/NewResidentsVisitors/OverseasDriversLicences.htm
Q - Groceries - do they have equivalent of Pick & Pay or Woollies
A - Yes - Coles, Safeway. No Woollies or equivalent found so far. Markets are great - good quality food, meat and veg.
Q - What do you spend on groceries per week / month?
A - around $600 to $800 per month.
Q - Clothes - equivalent of Woollies, Edgars, Foschini.... or just name brand stuff?
A - Mostly brand name, but also large discount stores such as dfo (http://www.dfo.com.au/)
Q - Cost of a Starbucks cuppa
A - Dunno, but average good coffee around $3.50
Q - Eating out for two - decent restaurant, average bottle of white wine
A - Pricey - around $50 to $60. Wine is $8 per glass, beer around $6, spirits around $8
Q - Water, electricity, gas bill per month (Stoves - gas or electric?)
A - water - $50Gas & Elec - $50Gas cooker with elec stove
Q - Telephone - home phone vs cellular. Rental and call prices
A - Home line=$19 pm depending on package
cell= from $30 depending on package. $79 for equiv of talk 500. calls are between 27 and 40c, with 30c connection fee
Q - Malls - ZA or US equivalent?
A - very few - mostly UK type shopping strips
Q - Social life - do they invite/include foreigners?
A - very open to cultures. no issues
Q - Electric appliances - looks like all our South African stuff will work there?
A - Yes, except if your TV is older than around 10 years
Q - Garden Equipment - are you allowed to ship your lawnmower and spades, gazebo (I happen to like my metal sculpture) etc?
A - Yes, just make sure NO seeds/grass etc comes with - they will find it and destroy it. Steam clean it.
Q - Container / move - what size did you take, and how much did it cost?
A - 30m3/R40000.
Q - Hiring a car when you get there - cost per week / international license ok?
A - Varies - best site is http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/. SA licence is OK.
I'll keep updating this as I get questions.
Some general information on the day to day expenses
What you think:
Where am I going to get this?
What they DON'T tell you:
Here!
Some general info I've put together for some friends that are coming over...
Q - Medical & Hospital insurance/cover - Is this government medical?
A - Yes -Medicare if you're a permanent resident. Very expensive privately, so make sure you get medical included when you get employed if you come over on a 457 VISA.
Q - Do you pay for medical if there on a work permit (before Residency is through)?
A - yes
Q - How much?
A - The doctors , dentists etc are not regulated, so you should discuss with them before treatment. Also prescriptions are the same. Quite pricey.
Q - Pharmacies - Dischem equivalent?
A - yes - Chemist Warehouse http://www.epharmacy.com.au/chemistwarehouse/welcome.asp
Q - Cars - buying. Cash? Or deposit and credit?
A - Both. 10 % deposit.
Q - How much deposit if latter option. How does credit vetting / rating work?
A - Need 100 points. This is proof of address, copy of Visa, proof of employment, copy of SA drivers license.
Q - Car Insurance - More or less an average amount?
A - We pay $98 for house and car. see http://www.realinsurance.com.au/ . MUCH Cheaper.
Q - What is the transport system like (buses, trains, trams)?
A - excellent. all the above avialable - trams only within about 10km radius. clean and on time.
Q - Petrol/fuel price per litre?
A - Varies - cheapest on Tue/Wed morning - around $1.36 then more expensive towards the weekend - around $1.46.
Q - Process of getting your driver's license, some kind of ID card?
A - Have a look at http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/NewResidentsVisitors/OverseasDriversLicences.htm
Q - Groceries - do they have equivalent of Pick & Pay or Woollies
A - Yes - Coles, Safeway. No Woollies or equivalent found so far. Markets are great - good quality food, meat and veg.
Q - What do you spend on groceries per week / month?
A - around $600 to $800 per month.
Q - Clothes - equivalent of Woollies, Edgars, Foschini.... or just name brand stuff?
A - Mostly brand name, but also large discount stores such as dfo (http://www.dfo.com.au/)
Q - Cost of a Starbucks cuppa
A - Dunno, but average good coffee around $3.50
Q - Eating out for two - decent restaurant, average bottle of white wine
A - Pricey - around $50 to $60. Wine is $8 per glass, beer around $6, spirits around $8
Q - Water, electricity, gas bill per month (Stoves - gas or electric?)
A - water - $50Gas & Elec - $50Gas cooker with elec stove
Q - Telephone - home phone vs cellular. Rental and call prices
A - Home line=$19 pm depending on package
cell= from $30 depending on package. $79 for equiv of talk 500. calls are between 27 and 40c, with 30c connection fee
Q - Malls - ZA or US equivalent?
A - very few - mostly UK type shopping strips
Q - Social life - do they invite/include foreigners?
A - very open to cultures. no issues
Q - Electric appliances - looks like all our South African stuff will work there?
A - Yes, except if your TV is older than around 10 years
Q - Garden Equipment - are you allowed to ship your lawnmower and spades, gazebo (I happen to like my metal sculpture) etc?
A - Yes, just make sure NO seeds/grass etc comes with - they will find it and destroy it. Steam clean it.
Q - Container / move - what size did you take, and how much did it cost?
A - 30m3/R40000.
Q - Hiring a car when you get there - cost per week / international license ok?
A - Varies - best site is http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au/. SA licence is OK.
I'll keep updating this as I get questions.
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