www.idealhealthcare.biz
What does ideal Healthcare offer you & the purpose of this document
Fast facts & what can Sydney offer you?
Things to do, places to see
Getting there & around: Sydney airports & public transport
Living in Sydney: where to live and what it’ll cost you
Moving your stuff: freight and shipping
Getting organised: banking, post, phone & internet
Looking after yourself, healthcare and gyms
Tackling tax, drivers licenses and car insurance
Learning in Sydney: early education, primary and secondary schools
NB: All monetary values represented in this document are in local currency and are correct as at June 2010. All local prices are subject to fluctuation and may not necessarily reflect exact values.
At ideal Healthcare, our highly-experienced consultants support you through every single stage of the recruitment and relocation process. Not only do we have a dedicated international relocation team, but our business is positioned strategically around the globe so we can offer informed and intelligent advice on local markets.
As part of our unique service, we offer a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of your intended market. Packed with vital facts on everything from the local nightlife to predicted pay packets, this document is designed to help you make the big decision about whether to move, and where to. What’s more, we always support our specialist knowledge with one-on-one advice and guidance.
Once you’re armed with the facts, we’ll work closely with you until you are placed with the right agency from our global portfolio of clients.
Our commitment doesn’t end when you get the job. To ensure your move is as seamless as possible, we have prepared detailed ‘local arrival’ documents for each of the cities we recruit for across Europe, North America, The Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Written by local people with local knowledge, these documents contain indispensable information on everything from banking to transport. Think of your arrival document as a practical bible for getting around.
We give you the information you need to make your move, the facts you need to settle in and we hope you recognize that our pledge to your placements goes far beyond recruitment.
Your market overview: helping you make the
decision to move
Your local arrival document: helping you make
the move
This document is a comprehensive guide to living in Sydney, we encourage you to read it carefully and set aside some time to consider your decision from all sides, always remembering that ideal Healthcare is here to help.
$US 1,192,955 million approx
GDP AUSTRALIA (2010 estimate)
Sydney is located in East Australia, 33 degrees 55' south of the equator with similar latitude to Cape Town and Buenos Aires in the Southern Hemisphere, and Los Angeles, Casablanca and Beirut in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sydney has three major openings to the sea. They are Broken Bay to the north, Port Jackson or Sydney Harbour in the center, and Botany Bay to the South.
Australia, the world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country is situated between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.
Geography
Police, fire and ambulance: 000
Sydney Airport Information Line: +612 9667-9111 VISA Lost Card Hotline: 1-800-125-440 International country code: + 61 (Australia) Area code: 02
Useful Numbers
The Australian Dollar
For current exchange rate, please see www.xe.com
As of June 2010, £1 British Pound equates to AUD$1.70 and €1 equates to AUD$1.42.
Currency
English is the most widely spoken language.
Language
Democratic, federal-state system, member of the British commonwealth. Three bodies established by the Australian Constitution -- Parliament (legislative), Commonwealth Executive (executive) and Federal Judicature (judicial powers) -- make Australia a constitutional monarchy, a federation and a parliamentary democracy.
Government & Parliamentary
Australia: 22.5 million Sydney: 4.5 million
Population
12,144.6 km
Size
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Christian, non-Christian.
Religion
Generally arid to semi-arid, temperate in the south and east and semi-tropical in the north. In Australia, seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer in Sydney is from December to February; autumn is from March to May; winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November. Sydney’s climate is known to be temperate, but summers can be hot with temperatures reaching 40+ degrees Celsius. With temperatures averaging around 17 degrees Celsius, Sydney’s winters are quite mild. Sydney, on average, has more rainfall then most of the other Australian cities, but seems to do this in concentration therefore raining less often.
Climate 2
Sydney is spectacular, exciting, fast paced and is the economic powerhouse of Australia. It is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and houses over 4 million people. Described as the gateway to Australia, it has famous landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Sydney is multicultural and offers fine cuisine and a wonderful café culture. North and South of Sydney are the beaches, including Manly (a short ferry ride) and Palm Beach (where Home and Away is filmed).
Sydney is the recruitment capital of Australia and most head offices of the leading companies are based here. High earning potential in the capital will provide you with a superb ground-ing in the industry, where career prospects are absolutely superb.
Sports in Australia are very popular and most major sports are widely available for participation and spectatorship. In many ways Australia seems to be the sports and outdoor activity capital of the world. The various climates available around Australia throughout the year enable a wide range of activities all year around.
Surfing is the obvious sport associated with Australia, and if you’re brave enough (or owner of a wetsuit) you can enjoy this sport all year around – Sydney beaches both North and South cater to the novice surfer and surfing courses & lessons are on offer throughout the year:
See http://www.letsgosurfing.com.au/ for further information.
What can Melbourne offer you? Australians also love their ‘footy’. Each weekend during the colder months, thousands of Australians descend on football stadiums around the country to support their teams. A serious ritual, this process involves proudly wearing team colours, barracking for favourite players, and engaging in enthusiastic cheering at every opportunity.
The country has four major football codes, each represented by a professional league at an elite level:
• Australian Football League (AFL) • Australian Rugby Union (ARU) • National Rugby League (NRL) • Football Federation Australia (FFA)
Shopping in the heart of Sydney is a pleasure compared to the haggling in South East Asia and hustle and the bustle of other cosmopolitan cities. Most of the large department stores and shopping centres are within a few blocks of each other and if it's raining you can make your way around under cover using the intricate system of malls, arcades, interconnected depart-ment stores, tunnels and overhead walkways that link four blocks of local and international outlets.
Shops are generally open from 9-5pm Monday through Saturday (with the exception of Thursday when most stores will open until 9pm), some stores in the city will open on a Sunday but hours vary so it's best to call up and check.
At the southern end of Pitt Street Mall you will find Centrepoint which houses over 130 specialty stores and forms the foyer to the 305 metre high AMP tower. Other shopping areas in or close to Pitt Street Mall include the Glasshouse and the MLC Centre which are linked to one another via a covered overpass. Sydney's market scene provides shoppers with an earthy alternative to the more glitzy retail outlets in the CBD. With the exception of Paddy's Markets, all of Sydney's markets are outdoors making a visit to one of the school or church grounds that host the markets a nice way to spend a sunny Sunday, or not. See http://www.discoversydney.com.au/things/markets.html for more information on markets around Sydney.
In each Australian state and territory the word ‘football’ has a different meaning. For those living in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, football usually refers to Australian Rules Football. In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland, it could mean rugby league or rugby union. The word ‘soccer’ equates to the National Soccer League for all of Australia. If you happen to be moving to Australia in the next few years and you are a soccer fan you’ll be happy to know that the country is one of the favourites to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Sport
Shopping
The Queen Victoria Building was a purpose built shopping centre opened in
1898 celebrating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Centre now houses a superb collection of 190 designer label and specialty stores and excellent eateries. The QVB occupies a full block along George Street between Town Hall and Market Street.
The Strand Arcade is a more hip and groovy version of the QVB. The Strand
was opened in 1892 and was almost destroyed by fire in 1976. The resident shopkeepers restored the building which now houses some of Australia's top designer labels, jewelers, boutiques and beauty salons.
Skygarden is located in the Centre of Sydney´s business & shopping district
between Pitt Street Mall & Castlereagh Street – Here you can shop, eat or relax in a beautiful, stylish environment. The centre is open 7 days.
There are great pubs, jazz haunts, rock venues and nightclubs in most quarters of the city - from Darling Harbour to Kings Cross, Oxford Street and The Rocks.
One of the most novel things you can do while you're in Sydney is to have a drink at Minus 5°, the very cool new vodka ice lounge near the Opera House at East Circular Quay. Everything at Minus 5° is made completely from ice - the whole room, the bar itself, tables, chairs, stools - even the curtains. Dining atop Sydney Tower has long been a must for canny visitors to Sydney and the 360 BAR AND DINING takes dining to a whole new level. If you've only got one night in Sydney, this is the place to go. Situated over 80 storeys above the city centre, the stylish revolving venue takes guests on a panoramic journey around Sydney.
Note: Americans will be sorry to learn that, unlike in the States, free refills of coffee are rare in Australian restaurants and cafes. Sip slowly.
For more information on Sydney's restaurants browse through Australia Travel Search's Sydney Restaurant Directory.
Sydney is a great place to try Modern Australian, or "Mod Oz," cuisine, which has been applauded by chefs and food critics around the world. Modern Australian cuisine emphasizes fresh ingredients and a creative blend of European styles with Asian influences. (Some foodies complain that some restaurants use the label "Modern Australian" as an excuse to serve skimpy
portions -- like one lamb chop atop a tiny mound of mashed potatoes sprinkled with curry sauce.) At its best, Modern Australian food is world-class, but you'll probably have to go to the best of Sydney's restaurants to see what the scene is all about.
Australians think American-style coffee tastes like ditch water and favor a range of Italian-style coffee creations. Ask for a latte if you just want coffee with milk. "Bottomless" cups of coffee are rare in Australia. By the way, in Australia, the first course is called the entree and the second course the main.
Pubs, clubs & Nightlife
Restaurants & cafes
What's the Restaurant Surcharge?--Some Australian
restaurants charge surcharges on public holidays and Sundays. Typically this can amount to an extra $2.00 to up to $6.00 or more per person. Restaurants argue that it's difficult to get staff to work on these days, so they need to provide a cash incentive not to call in with a hangover from the previous night.
Something Fishy--If you like fresh seafood at cheap prices,
then saunter down to the Sydney Fishmarket, on the corner of Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont. The major retailers here sell sashimi at the cheapest prices in Sydney. If you prefer your seafood cooked, then stay for lunch at one of the eateries scattered along the boardwalk and inside the main building. You can also call the Fishline (tel. 02/9552 2180) for information on special events such as seafood
cooking classes.
A Great Place for Picnic Grub -- If you're looking for something to take
with you on a harbour cruise or on a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can't go wrong with Quay Deli, E5 Alfred St., next to the
pharmacy under the Circular Quay CityRail station, facing the road (tel. 02/9241 3571). You'll find all sorts of goodies, including gourmet
sandwiches and takeout foods such as olives, Greek dishes, pasta, salads, meat pies, and the best English-style custard tarts around. Everything is fresh and tasty. Lunch items go for $1.80 to $4.50. It's open Monday through Friday from 5am to 6:45pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm. No credit cards.
Cafe Culture -- Debate rages over which cafe serves the best coffee in
Sydney, which has the best atmosphere, and which has the tastiest snacks. The main cafe scenes center on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst, Stanley Street in East Sydney, and King Street in Newtown. Other places,
including Balmoral Beach on the North Shore, Bondi Beach, and Paddington, all have their own favored hangouts.
What to Know about BYO -- Most moderate and
inexpen-sive restaurants in Sydney are BYO, as in "bring your own"
bottle, though some places also have extensive wine and beer lists. More moderately priced restaurants are introduc-ing corkage fees, which mean you pay anywhere from $2.00 to $4.00 per person for the privilege of the waiter opening your bottle of wine. Very expensive restaurants discourage BYO.
Sydney's cheaper eateries congregate in inner-city areas such as along King Street in Newtown, Crown Street in Darlinghurst, and Glebe Point Road in Glebe. There are also inexpensive joints scattered among the more upscale restaurants in Kings Cross and along trendy Oxford Street. Smoking is banned in all Sydney restaurants, except if you're eating at a sidewalk table.
Within Sydney city itself, places of interest and things to do are plentiful, such as spending a few hours climbing the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Another great place to go is Circular Quay, the hub of Sydney Harbour and the main ferry arrival and departure point. It is a great place to wander around on a warm day, taking in the sights of the harbour, the street performers and the Opera House.
A short walk south from Circular Quay will lead you to The Rocks. This is the oldest part of Sydney and in this charming and relaxed atmosphere you will find cafes, restaurants and galleries. Every weekend there is a market with stalls offering interesting and quality products, many with an ‘Australiana’ feel.
Darling Harbour, where the Sydney Aquarium is located, is another area providing many restaurants and eateries in a relaxed yet stylish environment.
Away from the Harbour, but still in the city there are loads of areas to discover. Kings Cross, Paddington and Darlinghurst are all fantastic areas for people watching. Scattered around Sydney city you will also find great markets, gardens, shopping, places to eat and great entertainment.
Further away form the city you will find some great beaches. To the south of the city there are Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Clovelly beaches. Even further south you will find great beaches around the area of Cronulla. To the north of Sydney city, and a short ferry ride away, you will find areas such as Manly. Manly is a fantastic place with an almost ‘holiday’ atmosphere. It’s got great beaches and plenty of places to eat, drink and be entertained.
The Blue Mountains, an area of breathtaking and stunning natural beauty is a must see. The Blue Mountains are located approxi-mately an hour west of Sydney. Apart from taking in the scenery, there are ample activities to keep you busy. Walks, rock climbing, horse riding, day spas, pampering, weekend retreats, cycling and fishing to name a few.
Of course, there is so much more to discover in New South Wales and Australia. The whole Eastern Coast offers magnificent beaches and some great towns. Driving is a fantastic way to make the most of the spectacular natural beauty Australia has to offer. In addition, flying can be an inexpensive and efficient way of travelling interstate. There are a few low cost carriers constantly offering specials and deals.
For more information on any of the above, see
Also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, Sydney Airport is located in the suburb of Mascot. It is the major airport serving Sydney, and is a major hub for Qantas. It is the world's oldest continually operated commercial airport, and the busiest commercial airport in Australia, handling in excess of 30 million passengers per year.
To and from the suburbs Train is the best value and easiest way
to travel between Sydney’s suburban stations and the airport. Tickets can be purchased to all Sydney stations from the Interna-tional and Domestic rail stations. Simply catch the train from the International or Domestic stations to Central station and change for all suburban services.
Travel between Terminals Passengers can also transfer between
terminals for a cost of $5.00
Sydney Airport is approximately 8km from the centre and is easily accessible by all modes of transport including car, train, taxi or bus
Transport from the airport
Sydney Buses have a timetable service between Bondi Junction and Burwood which includes the T1 International and T3 Domestic Terminals in the route. Clearly marked bus stops are located on the arrivals level of each of these terminals.
Bus
You'll find all the major car rental desks located on the arrivals level at both terminals including Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Budget. The cost of hiring a medium size car for a week in Sydney is approximately $350 - $400. www.avis.com.au Phone: 13 63 33 www.hertz.com.au Phone: 13 30 39 www.europcar.com.au Phone: 1300 13 13 90 www.budget.com.au Phone: 13 27 27 www.thrifty.com.au Phone: 1300 36 72 27 Car Rental
Sydney’s network of public transport includes, trains, buses and ferries. The system is extensive and inexpensive. Driving is uncomplicated in the suburbs, but it is advisable not to drive in the city as it is a maze of one way streets and parking is limited. Taking a taxi or using the underground city centre loop is a much easier way of getting around the city.
Travel cards are available for public transport: e.g.My MultiDay Pass (Bus, Ferry & Train) $20
Train www.cityrail.info
Bus Information www.sydneybuses.info
Ferry www.sydneyferries.info
Taxi Numbers
Sydney City Taxis (02) 8803-3923 Yellow Cabs of Sydney (02) 9020-2244
Public Transport in Sydney Train
Taxis – each terminal has is own sheltered taxi rank
Approximate taxi costs:
Sydney Airport to: Sydney City $30.00 North Sydney $40.00 Manly $55.00 Parramatta $45.00 Liverpool $50.00 Cronulla $35.00
The International rail station is located at the northern end of the terminal and is accessible from the arrivals level. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the journey into the city takes only 13 minutes. The international and domestic rail stations link directly to the City Circle which means most city destinations are within a short walk of stations.
Accommodation in Sydney can be expensive. The prices in Sydney are overall, the most expensive in the country. Despite this, Sydney living offers a fantastic lifestyle and the prices are indicative of location, weather and facilities.
In Australia, estate agents are referred to as real estate agents. Like the UK, Australia presents a number of choices when it comes to real estate agents. The majority of agents have shop fronts in most suburbs as well as the CBD. The internet is a great source of information with a number of sites providing efficient accommo-dation searches. www.domain.com.au www.realestate.com.au www.firstnational.com.au www.ljh.com.au Where to live
Sydney’s suburbs are divided into East, South East, Inner West, West, Northern Beaches and the North Shore. Each suburb has its advantages and where you wish to live will depend on individual priorities. Most properties come unfurnished.
Eastern inner city suburbs include Darlinghurst, Kings Cross, Paddington, Double Bay and Vaucluse and provide an area close to the city filled with bars, discos, restaurants, cafes and boutiques. In Paddington and Darlinghurst studio flats start around $350 per week. For a one bedroom flat you will pay around $400 and two bedroom flats start at $500 per week.
A little further south, but still only around a 10 minute taxi ride to the CBD, you will find suburbs like Alexandria. Here, you can rent modern two bedroom apartments with a secure car parking space for $650 - $800 per week. Often, these modern apartment complexes will have swimming pools and gyms within the complex.
The Eastern Suburbs is the name of the region to the direct east
and south-east of inner Sydney, Australia. The Eastern Suburbs includes all suburbs within Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick. The Eastern Suburbs are generally considered to be affluent, although suburbs in the southern part of Randwick City tend to be working class or middle class. The Eastern Suburbs contain many of Sydney's beaches such as the world famous Bondi Beach, Bronte and Coogee. Accommodation closer to Bondi Beach is quite expensive. In terms of accommodation, you don’t really seem to get a lot for your money, however, the close proximity to the beach is definitely a benefit. Studio flats in this area start at around $350 and a one bedroom flat at around $450. Bondi and the surrounding areas are popular with English backpackers and tourists.
The prices above generally reflect most of the inner city suburbs and generally, property is rented unfurnished. House or flat share can be a great way to meet people, save money and also has the added benefit of often being offered fully furnished. Prices for sharing in the inner eastern suburb start at around $170 per week.
The Inner West of Sydney is an area which encompasses the inner-city suburbs of Sydney located immediately adjacent to, and west of the central business district. Not a precise geographical region, this area includes some suburbs of the City of Sydney and area such as Leichhardt, Annandale, Marrickville, Ashfield, and Canada Bay.
The Hills District is an informal term for the north-western suburbs of Sydney. It is so called because of its geographical location, and the fact that several of its suburbs have the term 'Hills' in their names, such as Pennant Hills, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills and Winston Hills. This is an area of relatively affluent households and is popular with British ex-pat families.
The North Shore is one of most affluent areas of Sydney and is located just North of Sydney harbour. It includes suburbs such as Lane Cove and Chatswood. You can get a two bedroom flat for around $450 per week but at the same time, if sharing, you can rent a really nice 3 bedroom detached house for $750 per week. The exclusive residential area of Mosman is located in the Lower North Shore area.
The Northern Beaches of Sydney is an area which encompasses the northern suburbs of Sydney located near the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This area extends north of the entrance of Sydney Harbour and east of Middle Harbour to the entrance of Broken Bay. The Northern Beaches district includes the areas of Manly, Warringah, and Pittwater.
Manly can be pricey but offers a fantastic, relaxed lifestyle with both a bay beach and a surf beach within 10 minutes walk of each other and access to the city by ferry. A two bedroom flat costs around $500 - $600 per week.
As with most places, the further you move away from the city, the more affordable accommodation becomes and you will get more for your money living in the outer suburbs. As mentioned earlier, Sydney’s public transport system services the suburbs and within an hours commute to the CBD, living in the outer west, eg. Penrith, or further south on the coast, eg Cronulla are options worth consid-ering. For $450 - $500 per week in Cronulla, you will get a good quality, three bedroom house or apartment within 10 kilometres of the beach.
If you wish to rent furniture whilst in Australia, there are a number of companies that provide this service, although it can end up quite costly.
www.radio-rentals.com.au www.rentacentre.com.au www.valiant.com.au
NB: The above costs are indicative only and may differ from area to area within the nominated city. Customarily, rental markets fluctuate 10% - 30% within a Local Area Network and increase approximately 5% - 10% annually. Figures are accurate as at August 2007
For further information on the cost of living in this city, please email [email protected]
Initially, it is recommended that on arriving in Australia you rent. Some of the benefits of renting are that you can rent places fully furnished, you don’t get tied down to one place too soon and it allows you the opportunity of doing more research into where it is you would like to live and/or invest.
There are also Australian laws restricting people on temporary visas from buying property.
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident you can buy property for any purpose, including for your own home, or investment purposes. However a temporary resident must apply for approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board. If the visa has at least 12 months to expiry from the date of the application to the FIRB you will most likely get approval, but subject to a requirement to sell the property if your visa expires, or if you no longer occupy the property, or when you stop living in Australia.
Purchasing Property $1000 $1400 $2200 $2800 $160 $250 $300 $350 $180 $100 $300 $2540 $3030 $3880 $4530 $30480 $36360 $46560 $54360 $300 $300 $300 $100 $100 $100 $180 $180 $180 $800 $800 $800 $800
Deciding whether to ship your household goods to Australia is entirely up to the individual and their situation. The most common form of shipping used is sea freight. The time this takes will vary however it takes around 5-7 weeks from England to Australia.
Alternatively, if you do not want to ship over you furniture etc, but will have more than the allowed baggage weight of the airline, tea chests and cartons of various sizes are available. A standard tea chest is approximately 60cm high, 40cm wide and 50cm deep and will hold up to 40kg. It is worth shopping around to see what is the best deal for you. Be aware that some prices include customs duty etc, and others won’t.
It is also worth noting that if you are travelling to a country with a permanent visa (and sometimes with a temporary visa), the baggage allowance is increased. It is worth discussing your options and allowances with your airline.
Be aware that when making the decision if and what to ship, your goods will probably not arrive for at least a month after you. So therefore, items such as kettles, cutlery, irons etc will already be needed so it may not be necessary to ship them over. Due to different frequencies, foreign televisions will not work in Australia, and some fridge/freezers will not be able to cope with the Australian climate. Most houses and flats in Australia have built in robes making it unneces-sary to ship wardrobes.
PSS International Removals www.pss.uk.com
P&O Ferry Movers www.poferrymasters.com/flash/index.htm Anglo Pacific www.anglopacific.co.uk
Opening a bank account in Australia is much easier than trying to open one in most other places. The Australian banks work on a 100 point system whereby once you have 100 points they will then open up an account for you. The documentation you need is proof of identity and they accept passports, driving licenses (photo), other bank cards, birth certificates, utility bills and generally any card with your name on it. Each document is worth a different amount of points. For example, a passport is worth 70 points and a driver’s license is worth 40. Already you have 110 points. The banks do accept identification form other countries.
Another option is to set up a bank account before you leave. A few of the major banks have this facility. For example, one of the largest banks in Australia is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and they have a Migrant Banking Section in London. An account can be set up for you in Australia through their team in London and they will also transfer money to Australia. Your Australian account is not activated until you visit a nominated branch in Australia and until you transfer funds from elsewhere in the world
HSBC also have branches in Australia and it is possible to set up an Australian account through a branch elsewhere in the world. Any local branch should be able to help you with this.
Your bank card in Australia is referred to as a ‘key card’ and is accepted almost everywhere. Like the chip and pin system, you must enter your pin every time you use your card. Drawing cash is made using the same card as is used for EFTPOS(chip and pin) transactions. NB you may be charged for drawing cash at a dispenser of a competitor bank.
The main banks in Australia are:
Commonwealth Bank www.combank.com.au Migrant section www.combankuk.co.uk Westpac Bank www.westpac.com.au
ANZ Bank www.anz.com
National Australia Bank www.nab.com.au
The postal system in Australia is called Australia Post and there is only one class of postage offered.
If relocating to Australia and you do not have a permanent address, you can either use the ‘poste restante’ system or rent a PO Box. With poste restante, your post office will hold your mail for up to thirty days at no charge. There are special instructions that the person posting the mail must follow which are available on the Australia Post website.
The other option is to set up a post office box. These are located at local branches and cost around $35.00 per year. This must be done in person at your local branch but you can download the forms from the website.
Australia Post www.auspost.com.au
Post
There are a number of different companies to choose from when it comes to telecoms in Australia as the industry is deregulated. The best suggestion is to shop around for the rates and deals that suit your individual need. Australia also has ‘preselect’ option where it is possible for one company to look after the mainte-nance of your phone line etc, but to use a different company for calls simply by dialing a prefix. Calling cards are available everywhere and offer exceptional international rates.
Telstra residential 13 2200 for connection 1800 338 213 business 13 2000 for connection 1800 304 173 www.telstra.com
Optus residential 133 937 business 133 343 www.optus.com.au
Phones
As with most countries, the option for mobile phones is either contract or prepaid. It is possible to buy a SIM card if you have an existing phone that is not network locked. It is possible to go on a payment plan without having credit history in Australia, but to be able to go on a contract including a phone you may need to prove that you will be in Australia for more than 24 months.
You will find mobile phone shops in any designated shopping area/centre and also find information on the web.
www.virginmobile.com.au www.vodafone.com.au www.three.com.au www.orange.net.au www.telstra.com www.optus.com.au
Both dial up and broadband are available in Australia. Telstra and Optus are both internet providers. Shop around for the best deals to suit your needs. Internet cafes are spread throughout the cities.
Mobile phones
The health system in Australia (Medicare: www.medicare.gov.au) is similar to that of the National Health System in the UK in the sense that a percentage of your base earnings (typically 1.5%) are paid to the government as a health levy. Unlike the UK, once registered with Medicare, it is not necessary to register with a doctor. You may make an appointment with any doctor and you are not restricted by the area in which you live. You will be expected to pay a percentage of the cost and most doctors require full payment at time of the consultation and then the individual claims back from Medicare. This is a very easy process as most shopping centres have Medicare branches and the money can be refunded straight into your bank account. You will need to apply for medicare on arrival. It is important to note that Medicare does not cover ambulance rides so if you are not covered on your travel or health insurance it is suggested that you take out ambulance cover. This is very inexpensive and well worth it in case of emergency. Leaflets and forms are available at post offices.
Health Insurance Commission www.hic.gov.au
There are over 50 health and fitness centres listed in the Sydney CBD area alone.
Fitness First www.fitnessfirst.com.au KX Fitness www.kxfitness.com.au Yellow Pages www.yellowpages.com.au
It is a legal requirement that everyone working in Australia has a tax file number. They are available from the Australian Tax Office and can be applied for online. It is advisable to obtain a tax file number as quickly possible so that you do not get taxed at a higher rate. There is no charge or fee associated with applying for a tax file number.
Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au
Tax file number Australian car insurance is similar to many other countries and uses a comparable system to the UK’s ‘no claims’ system but calls it ratings or no claims bonus. When you first get insured you normally start on a rating 5. The longer you have been insured and have no claims, your rating will increase to three, two and then rating one. Although Australian Insurance companies say they do not require your current no claims certificate to insure you, it may be wise to have it just in case. They do not differentiate where you got your licence so you should be able to be insured at the same ‘no claims’ rating that you are currently on.
NSW www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Victoria www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Queensland www.mainroads.qld.gov.au
Western Australia www.dpi.wa.gov.au
South Australia www.transport.sa.gov.au
Tasmania www.transport.tas.gov.au
Northern Territory www.ipe.nt.gov.au
ACT www.urbanservices.act.gov.au
If you are on a temporary visa, you are able to drive indefinitely on your UK license. If you have a permanent visa, as a UK full license holder, you are permitted to drive for up to three months in Austra-lia on your UK license. To be able to drive after this, you must exchange your UK license for an Australian one. This can be done at any of the state Traffic Authorities (RTA). Each State Traffic Authority is governed by state, not federal law.
Internationally recognised as delivering a high quality standard of education, Australian schools and universities provide a great learning environment. The schooling system begins at age five with one year of prep (preparatory). Grades one to six are then completed at primary school, followed by years seven to twelve at high school. Year twelve is equivalent to A levels in the UK.
The three types of schools are state/government (also known as public) schools, and two types of independent schools - systematic schools and private schools. A systematic school is where the school is administered by a central organisation eg a Catholic school. State schools are free, although often a voluntary administration and amenity fee is requested. These are minimal in comparison to private education. If you only have a temporary visa, you may be required to pay full fees for state schools. For states schools, you must live in the catchment area. Private schools, similar to UK public schools, are the most expensive. Annual fees for independent schools range from $2000 to over $20000.
Department of education, science and training
www.dest.gov.au
NSW Government Schools
www.schools.nsw.edu.au
List of Australian Schools
