Settling Into Life Downunder Q&A
There’s no doubt that when moving to Australia, you have to take that leap of faith and just assume that everything will work out fine. We are answering the questions that you had about settling into your new life. DISCLAIMER – While we do our best to give accurate information, please always consult professionals rather than taking our word for it. Things will vary between states.
HOW DID YOUR ELDEST SETTLE IN? OUR ELDEST WILL BE 10 WHEN WE MOVE AND WE ARE WORRIED HOW HE WILL ADJUST?
Lily was 10 when we moved, and she just went with the flow. The most important thing, in our opinion, for you to do, is to be enthusiastic. Tell your son what an adventure you’re embarking upon, all of the great things about his new school, all the fun things you will be doing, and the new friends he will be making. Reassure him that he will be more than just fine, he will be having the time of his life. I think that kids pick up on their parent’s energy – if they see their parent’s worrying about if they will settle at school, then they will worry. They need to see your positive pants!
DID YOU SET UP A RENTAL PROPERTY BEFORE YOU SET FOOT IN OZ?
We did not. We booked temporary accommodation for 2 weeks, and then when we arrived and saw the property, we thought we would ask the managers if we could have a decent rate for staying there long term. They gave us a great price, which included our bills. We ended up living there for 5 months, until we purchased our first Aussie home. It worked well for us, because we didn’t need to purchase any furniture immediately. Watch this video about finding a rental in Australia.
HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO MOVE WITH? 1 JOB READY TO START ON ARRIVAL, FAMILY OF 4.
Save up as much as you can, and then just make it work. We’ve known people move with $10k, and we’ve known people move with $2mil. The more you have, the easier it is, but if you have a smaller amount then you will just have to find a way to make it work. If you’re working with a smaller budget, then start work straight away, find furniture on marketplace or Gumtree, and don’t spend beyond your means. There is a whole section of advice in our Arriving In Australia ebook on how to be savvy with your money here – these are things that we have discovered over the past 7 years and they will save you a lot of money from day 1.
WHAT DOES BEN DO FOR WORK? LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!
Thank you, we’re so glad you’re enjoying watching! Ben is a crane truck driver.
MOVING WITH BABIES/YOUNG CHILDREN… CHILDCARE/SETTLING IN
When we moved Ella and Mia were just 3 and 2 years old. At that time we were not eligible for childcare assistance as we were on a temporary visa, so we hired an au pair to help us with childcare. She was a lovely Swiss girl and would make Ben watch Disney movies with her when he was home! We are still in touch with her, and she may be visiting us next year.
Check if you are eligible for childcare assistance with Centrelink. If not, I guess it will depend on how many children you have as to whether that option is still viable for you. If not, have a think about other options, such as having an au pair, or working from home.
With regards to settling in, as above, show your kids your enthusiasm and make sure you arrange playdates, not just for your child, but for yourself too. It will really help you settle if you have a Mum squad to hang out with.
DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU HAD A PROPERTY BEFORE BUYING A CAR?
We were staying in a resort and used the address of our temporary accommodation until we had our own property. If you’re concerned about using the address of temporary accommodation, maybe you could consider using a PO Box address.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO FEEL SETTLED IN AUS AND CALL IT HOME?
Australia felt like home immediately to us, there hasn’t been a single moment where we’ve felt otherwise, we love being here, it just feels right. It did however take us a while to settle. It was about 3 years before we really settled. That seems to be quite normal from speaking to other expats. Finding the right friends, setting up a home, finding the right jobs and recovering financially from emigration doesn’t happen overnight.
WE FLY TO THE SUNNY COAST ON THE 18TH AUGUST, WE HAVE 4 WEEKS ACCOMMODATION ARRANGED. WILL THIS BE ENOUGH TIME TO SECURE A RENTAL? WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT $600 PER WEEK. ALSO, COULD YOU RECOMMEND FAMILY FRIENDLY SUBURBS CLOSE TO THE BEACH?
We have made a super useful video about securing a rental, you can watch it here. We had a look on realestate.com for you and depending on whether you need a 3 or 4 bed property, the areas where you are most likely to find something in budget are Little Mountain, Sippy Downs, Birtinya and Currimundi. They are popular areas on the Sunny Coast.
SCHOOLS – ARE THE STATE SCHOOLS THAT BAD? IS IT WORTH PAYING THE EXTRA FOR PRIMARY AGE KIDS TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL?
We have sent our girls to both state and private schools here in Australia, and we certainly found that the state schools were just as good. There are many exceptional state schools in our area. Obviously not all schools are equal, but we have certainly been impressed.
WE ARE BRINGING OUR SUITCASES, ARE THERE ANY SHOPS YOU COULD RECOMMEND FOR REASONABLE FURNITURE?
Take a look at Fantastic Furniture (personally I think some of their mattresses provide great quality and value). For other items we like Amart, Ikea and Harvey Norman. For white goods, we usually shop at Appliances Online or Harvey Norman.
HOW EASY WAS IT TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO SCHOOL WHEN YOU FIRST MOVED HERE?
Lily started school within a few days of us arriving. If you are enrolling in a private school, there may be a wait depending on availability of a place, but with state schools (in our area) they are required to accept all students who live within the catchment area for the school.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND COMING OVER FOR A FEW YEARS FIRST BEFORE APPLYING FOR A PR VISA?
Personally, if it was me, I would go for the PR to start with. If you fall in love with Australia and then your occupation drops off the list, you will be in quite a predicament. Having PR in Australia gives you much more security.
WE ARE MOVING TO COOLUM BEACH IN AUGUST FROM NEW ZEALAND. JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR TRICKS ON GETTING A BLUE CARD?
For those of you not it the loop, a blue card is required for most people working with children. There are no tips or tricks though, it is a simple process to apply, and you will need to answer their questions truthfully and supply anything that they require of you. Blue Card Services are pretty easy to deal with.
