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 "Here is another 'incomplete' list of information and services you should require to set up your new life. This should cover all the things you would require to achieve some sense of normality in your new country." - Mark |
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| medical | drivers license | insurance | education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| our thoughts | what are your options | further info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medical Aids Private health coverage is recommended to bridge the gap between Medicare and access to non-emergency health services (including dental care, which is expensive in comparison to the RSA). Australian Private Health insurance can be expensive for overseas visitors (who even with health coverage receive access to limited services). Once you become a resident, you can choose the best solution for your specific requirements. The smaller, less popular medical aids will customize their packages to your requirements, thus costing you less. Private medical aid is optional, but with ever increasing levies imposed on people who don't have private medical aid, the choice is no longer financial. Private medical aid is a must to bypass waiting lists of up to 2 years for state (free) hospital treatment. Unfortunately the state hospitals have been making unwanted headlines with their "poor" service of late. 
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IMAN Medibank Private GMHBA HBA MBF Manchester Unity Australian Unity Medicare We have listed most of your options above, but it is worth your time to do some research before deciding. For a more complete list of all the private medical aids and where they are available, click here. This link will also tell you which medical aids recognize alternative medicine. Cost: Expect to pay approximately $100-200 per month depending on your choices. Medicare Australian residents whose income exceeds a certain limit (this means just about everyone) must contribute 1.5% of salary to a national health scheme “Medicare”, regardless of whether they access the services. But if you don't access the service, you can claim the contribution back at the end of the tax year. For temporary residents, access to medical services under Medicare is limited to emergency needs only. That is, general practitioner consultation fee and emergency hospital cover in the case of an accident. It does not cover elective surgery and dentistry costs. When choosing a doctor, make sure that you go to a doctor that Bulk Bills – this means you just show your Medicare card & you are not charged for the consultation (if you go to a non bulk billing doctor, you will have to pay & claim it back) |
www.aushealth.com www.medibank.com.au www.gmhba.com.au www.hba.com.au www.mbf.com.au www.manchesterunity.com.au www.australianunity.com.au www.hic.gov.au - follow Medicare link To get a better understanding of Australian Health Cover, visit the website of one of Australia’s largest Health Insurance providers listed above. This will give you the exact cost of health coverage.
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Driver's license It definitely is a good idea to redo (yep, redo) your drivers license ASAP. You don't need to be a resident or citizen to qualify. The pros for this are: - you have an acceptable means of identification that fits into your wallet - until you open your mouth, you will be deemed Australian and thus avoid some potential discrimination - when propositioning the banks for a loan, you are increasing your chances by indicating that you are making a permanent move to Oz. The cons are: - you immediately risk your measly allocation of points for any serious driving offence - it costs you a yearly subscription - you can't bullshit your way out of a fine
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Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) for NSW An indication of fees (in NSW): Handbooks (including Road Users' Handbook, Motorcycle Riders' Handbook, etc.) $26 (inc. GST) Driver Knowledge Test $32 each attempt Driving Test $39 (inc. GST) each attempt Riding Test $39 (inc. GST) each attempt NSW Licence Fees: Learner's $16 Provisional P1 $39 Provisional P2 $62 Silver & National Heavy Vehicle Driver licence (Magenta) $39 for 1 year, $94 for 3 years 5 year (Gold or Magenta) No Traffic Police Before you get too excited reading this, let me explain. Australia don't distinguish between normal and traffic police. Any policeman or woman can apply both civil and traffic laws. |
www.rta.nsw.gov.au Carl just reminded me that you can download the learner's handbook in PDF format and do an online test with sample questions from the RTA website. |
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Insurance There are several players in the insurance market, the biggest are listed. Match the services and costs before making a decision, and negotiate the best deal for your requirements. Combine your various types of insurance cover to qualify for discounts. You will need motor insurance if you want to own a car, so combine it with household insurance. Also make sure that you get a 'no claims' letter from your RSA insurance company to qualify for further discounts. Motor: Expect to pay approximately $1000 per year for insuring a motorcar worth approx $40,000. It is calculated on the normal parameters of where you live and what you drive. Life insurance: This is cheap in Oz (unlike RSA where life is cheap). Speak to a broker.
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AAMI GIO NRMA Allianz QBE RACV (like the AA) For Home, Household & Motor insurance, start by comparing the above options. Home: Don't take a chance by not insuring yourself against theft. No country is free of petty crime...a story for another day. Life insurance is cheap in Oz. Speak to a broker.
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www.aami.com.au www.gio.com.au www.nrma.com.au www.fai.com.au www.qbe.com.au www.racv.com.au What to consider when insuring - your Home: fido.asic.gov.au - your Car: fido.asic.gov.au |
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| pre-school | schools | tafe | university | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pre-School A child can enter a Government pre-school at the start of the school year if they turn four before July 31 of that year. Pre-schools offer an education program which caters for each child's individual stage of development. The program includes activities to develop literacy, numeracy, physical, social, and emotional skills. Click here for more info. |
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Schools We don't have children yet, but have enough friends with kids to know at least something of schools. For starters, the public schools in Oz are good. The private schools are arguably better, but cost more than an arm and a leg (anywhere from $10k per child per year upwards). There is a raging ongoing debate about the benefits and merits of of public versus private. You will most probably be zoned for a particular school by virtue of where you live, but this is not necessarily strictly enforced. Click here for more information on schools, and a directory of schools by state.
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TAFE 'TAFE' stands for Technical And Further Education. TAFE courses are designed for all individuals seeking industry relevant, leading edge skills that can help get them into the workplace faster, upgrade their existing skills, or prepare them for further study. Click here for a list of the Australian TAFEs by State. |
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University Universities (or "Uni" as it is known locally) are plentiful and good. You have arrived in a country that prides itself on its education systems and its ability to invest in the future by educating its youth.
Click here for a list of the Australian Universities by State.
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| electricity | water | telephone | internet connection | pay tv | postal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| our thoughts | what are your options | further info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Electricity
Unlike RSA where Eskom dominate the market, electricity in Oz is privatised so there are a range of providers. The biggest supplier in NSW is Energy Australia. Electricity in Sydney is 240 volt. Electrical appliances which do not conform may require voltage adaptors/ transformers plus outlets to accommodate 3 pin plugs. You may be required to lodge a refundable bond ($100) when establishing an electricity account for the first time. Electricity bills are sent quarterly. You can avoid the deposit by paying by direct debit.
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Energy Australia AGL Powercor Australia (Vic) Origin Energy Ergon Energy Energex TIP: Don't make the mistake we did: Even though the power is usually already switched on when you rent a house or apartment, the onus is on you to contract directly with an energy supplier. |
www.energy.com.au www.agl.com.au electricity-gas-australia.com www.ergon.com.au www.energex.com.au |
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Water The quality of Sydney Water is very good and is supplied by the Water Board. Fluoride is added at the source. Water accounts are paid by the owner of rented accommodation. However, excess water charges may be passed on by the owner, to the tenant.
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Sydney currently has a range of water restrictions which govern car washing, garden irrigation and other outdoor water usages. It is a good idea to check to see what water restrictions are in force once you have moved into your property. |
www.sydneywater.com.au Sydney
catchment authority |
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Telephone The telephone connection is provided by the semi-government provider, Telstra. Handsets (usually supplied in rented accommodations) can be purchased from Telstra or from Telecommunications stores. Customers have the choice of a number of service providers for STD (standard) and ISD (international) call services. Opening a phone account for the first time may involve the payment of a bond which is refundable.
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Telstra Optus TIP: It is well worth exploring the alternative service providers for overseas & long distance calls. Whilst Telstra provides the line you can choose to have some or all of your services through another provider. But be aware of the fine print and as always "you get what you pay for" - thus if it is cheap, there is a reason and it may be quality of service.
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www.telstra.com.au www.optus.com.au
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Internet Connectivity Although Telstra Big Pond Cable have great advertising on TV, their service is rather ...mmm (can't seem to find a substitution for the multiple swear words I had in my arsenal). But this is only our experience...take it with a pinch of salt. A good alternative is Optus, but they are not always available in your area.
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The big players: Telstra Big Pond Cable Optus A list of ALL the ISPs There are approximately 1100 service providers in Australia. Need advice on choosing an ISP? Click here. |
www.telstra.com.au www.optus.com.au www.cynosure.com.au |
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Foxtel/Cable TV Your replacement for DSTV, but without the quality of picture. Hopefully sometime during 2004 they will upgrade to a digital signal. You currently have 2 options: cable or satellite. Foxtel have very cleverly packaged their material so that you end up paying more for anything other than vanilla flavour.
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You can subscribe to Foxtel either directly through Foxtel or via Telstra. The only advantage of subscribing through Telstra is the discount they offer on having multiple services through them (3 of home phone, cable, mobile, and Foxtel gives you a 10% discount on your total bill). |
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Postal The Australian postal service “Australia Post” is a government run, highly efficient postal service. Postal deliveries are made daily Monday to Friday for ordinary mail. Large parcels can be collected and sent from the Post Offices in most suburbs.
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Costs The current cost of local mail is 45 cents. Mail to South Africa costs $1, while to Europe and North American Countries cost from $1 to $2 dollars. |
www.auspost.com.au Australian Air Express www.aae.com.au |
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| misconceptions | recruitment companies | who to work for | salary brackets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| our thoughts | what are your options | further info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Popular Misconceptions Australians are lazy - they are everything but lazy. People work hard and long hours (9-12 hour days) in a very competitive job market to keep their jobs. Dismissals are unceremonious and sometimes fickle. Because the economy is thriving, there is work for everyone. Unemployment is very low, approx 3-4%, but remember it is a census of Aussie citizens who generally have good education and training, know the right people and are on the 'preferred list'. People look down on tradesmen ("tradies") and "unskilled" labour. The middle class is well established in Oz. Added to this, there is a very real and negative connotation to "tall poppies" by the average Australian.
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If you work for someone, work the hard and long hours if you want to keep your job. Australian employers like ex-South Africans because we have a reputation of going the extra mile. But this can obviously also be a negative as it is difficult to impress an employer when they are already "expecting" hard work. Don't get too flustered if you ever get "retrenched". It has happened to a good many of our friends and it is not necessarily an indication of your abilities, rather of the economy and the adopted American culture of 'easy come easy go'. Some useful tips and things to consider (by Mark) |
Starting your own company? Read this first. I quite like the following quote by Isak Dinesen: "The cure for anything is saltwater: sweat, tears or the sea." |
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Recruitment Companies We can only talk of IT with some authority - 2003 is a cut throat market. The power has passed back to the employer. Literally hundreds of people apply for a single job, all well qualified and most with Australian experience and residency. The best advice we can give you is to go to the recruitment companies' websites, see what format they want your CV in and APPLY it to your CV. The easiest way to see the latest listings, is register with a job search engine and have them email you the positions as they are advertised. Don't get disheartened - you can expect your CV to be passed over several times before you get noticed. The recruiters use a search engine to scan CVs for key words, so make sure that you include the key words in your CV.
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Job Search engines Seek Executive My Career Careerjet Employment agencies Hamilton James & Bruce TMP/Hudson Global Resources Tanner Menzies - Sydney People Connect Australia Candle Recruitment Help to create a CV (Resume) Nine MSN |
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Who to work for Depending on how averse to risk you are, I would say the same rules apply as did in SA. If you are the cautious type, try and secure a permanent position with an Australian corporate. The less cautious could consider a career with a international corporate - but always remember that they begin their downsizing with their foreign employees first. If you like living on the edge, then any of the multitude of contracting companies should do you well. So what are your options? Australia's best employers 2003: Flight Centre and Cisco Systems Named Australia's Overall "Best Employers" in 2003 Study. In a difficult year for many employers, Flight Centre and IT giant Cisco Systems have emerged as the winners of the 2003 "Best Employers to Work for in Australia" study. Conducted by Hewitt Associates (NYSE:HEW), a global HR outsourcing and consulting firm, in conjunction with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and AFR BOSS magazine. Over 160 companies participated in this year's study representing a complete cross-section of Australian corporate life: large and small organizations both publicly listed and privately owned from a wide variety of industry groupings.
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Best Employer
2006/7
Best Employer 2004 Best Employer 2003 Source: Hewitt Associates |
In November 2000, The Australian arm of Hewlett Associates, the global management consultancy firm that helps compile a list of best companies to work for in the US, also joined forces with The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the University of NSW’s Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) to produce a list of the 25 Best Employers in Australia. High-tech companies featured predominantly in the list, with subsidiaries of two of the US’s most popular computer makers topping the Australian list. Apple came in first in the under-1,000 employees sector and Hewlett-Packard (HP) in the over-1,000. Source: www.cfoweb.com.au Downloads available: - PDF doc 2001 results - PDF doc 2003 results Also see: - Hewitt Associates 2004 survey |
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Salary brackets So what can you expect to be paid? Good question. It naturally depends on many factors, but here is a guide to some of the industry standards as reported in the annual Hays Personnel Salary Survey for 2003. What makes this report extremely useful, is that it compares the median salaries for the major cities in Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide) and New Zealand (Auckland). To the right and below is an example of Sydney's median salaries for a variety of positions in various industries. Each Industry sector heading is a link to the full report on the specific industry detailing a complete list of positions for each sector. You will require Adobe Reader to read these documents. 
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You can also get the detailed salary survey reports from the source: www.careerone.com.au
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| public | new cars | second hand | drivers license | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Public transport Before you consider buying a car, consider the fact that you are moving to a 1st world country with a very good public transport infrastructure. Driving yourself On a temporary visa, you can continue to use your home country’s drivers’ licence. If you incur any traffic infringements, you will be required to prove your non-resident status to the traffic authorities.
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Options Your options include cabs (ala US style except they are mostly white here), trains, buses and the underground (in certain cities). Most of the big cities are coastal, so ferries and water taxis are also included as options. Did you know? Unlike RSA, you have to fill up your own car, check oil & water, etc in Oz. There is only one attendant per petrol station and he/she mans the till. Note your petrol pump number to tell the attendant which is your bill when paying. |
Public transport info for: Sydney's transport infoline: www.131500.com.au Perth: www.transperth.wa.gov.au Queensland: www.transinfo.qld.gov.au Melbourne: www.custard.net.au/melbtrans Northern Territory: www.ipe.nt.gov.au |
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New Cars Motor Vehicles So public transport is not for you? Well 4x4's are cheap... relative to luxury cars when compared to SA. They are deemed 'working vehicles' and thus have escaped the luxury car tax. The local motor brand is a Holden, which takes you about a year to get used to. It is relatively well priced as it does not attract import duty. Holden rebrand some of the Eastern models to compliment their range - e.g. Opel Astra = Holden Vectra. Because of the East's proximity and various trade agreements, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Indonesian made cars are well priced. This has made the Toyota Land cruiser & Prado and the Nissan Patrol affordable and popular choices. The Aussies love their big motored cars - a V6 seems to be the standard size engine. Combine this with their "everything US" love affair, and you will find that US built cars surprisingly affordable. If you like 4x4's, consider the new Jeep Cherokee. Unlike RSA, the German (and other European cars) are at the top end of the expensive list.
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Petrol price varies from supplier to supplier, from day to day, from suburb to suburb, and from city to city. There is a "price cycle" = Wednesday the price jumps to its highest levels for the week, and remains high till the end of the weekend, then falls back to its cheapest on Monday and Tuesday. See the RAC's website to find the lowest petrol price in your area - simply type in your postcode. Alternatively MotorMouth also helps you find the cheapest petrol. Most motorways (aka "freeways" in RSA) are tolled and parking in cities (especially Sydney) is extremely expensive and scarce. Expect to pay around $2 for 30min in Sydney and up to $60 per day for parking garages. Tolls can be paid via ETag - a little contraption that looks like an air-freshener that is fixed to your front window. All this means is that you don't need to keep change handy each time you pass through a toll gate. They generally don't accept credit cards, and it has happened to us that you get to a toll without cash - a bit embarrassing. Did you know? A "traffic light" dictates right of way at an intersection, not a "robot". Most of the taxis actually run on a gas and/or petrol engine combination. So "gas" is not short for "gasoline", but is actual gas. |
The local brand: www.holden.com.au Equivalent of SA's Autotrader: www.cartrader.com.au For the toll gadget: www.expresstag.com.au TIP: |
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Second hand cars Motor Vehicles can be purchased either from a dealer or privately. Both dealers and individuals advertise in either the local papers or the Trading Post. Comprehensive insurance This covers you and your property in an accident in which you were at fault. It is not compulsory, but is highly recommended. Third Party insurance This is compulsory, and is referred to as a Green Slip. This must be taken out before you register a vehicle. It costs about $400 for the year, and is available from the main insurance companies such as NRMA or GIO etc. If your car is over 3 years old you will also need a Pink Slip (roadworthy certificate) which is obtained from a service station. It costs about $18 for the inspection. Registration costs are an additional cost ($250+) and can only be taken out at the Roads and Traffic Authority after you have a Green slip (and Pink slip if required).
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Prices Average price for a small car is about A$8,000 to A$15,000. The Aussies' AA The motoring association for NSW is the NRMA. It is wise to have a mechanical inspection on any second-hand car purchased. This costs $125 for NRMA members or $145 for non members. Membership costs from $46 (not including GST) annually with a $86 (not including GST) joining fee in the first year. Membership entitles you to free roadside assistance. Outstanding debt If buying a vehicle privately it may be worthwhile getting a certificate from REVs (Register of Encumbered Vehicles) which guarantees the vehicle has no financing on it and will therefore not be repossessed. Their telephone number is (02) 9600 0022. |
Equivalent of SA's Autotrader: www.cartrader.com.au Determine exactly what you should be paying for a second hand car, where petrol is cheapest, and lots more: www.rac.com.au |
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| Aussie Terminology | banks | home loans | exchange rates | what things cost | tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| our thoughts | what are your options | further info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EFTPOS
EFTPOS stands for "Electronic Funds Transfer Point Of Sale". EFTPOS simply transfers the value approved by you from your selected account, into the account held by the Merchant (business). You can use your Cashcard or VISA to access your Cheque, Savings or Credit Card account to pay for goods and services, even withdraw cash at some locations (see Cash Out). Your PIN is used to authorise transactions on your Cheque and Savings accounts, and your signature is used to authorise transactions from your VISA account for VISA transactions. Eg. a restaurant/ shop that accepts EFTPOS as a form of payment draws money directly from a diners/shoppers debit account rather than charging the meal to a credit company. Some restaurants do not accept EFTPOS as a form of payment, so if you intend to use this facility you need to ensure the restaurant is able to meet your request. Cash out Like in the UK, you can "withdraw" money from a teller when paying with a debit, cheque or savings card. The teller will ask you if you would like 'cash out' before completing the transaction. Terminology of Methods used to pay accounts Easypay Allows you to pay by direct debit weekly, fortnightly, monthly or on the due date of your account. To pay your account using Easypay, you need to authorise your product or service supplier to debit your bank, credit union or building society account. BPAY® Allows you to pay your account by transferring funds from your bank account to the suppliers. You can either do this via the Internet or by contacting your bank, credit union or building society. By phone using your credit card. Voice prompts and voice recognition will allow you to speak the commands instead of keying them in with the phone keypad.
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Banks Banks, like in SA, are a dime a dozen. Depending on individuals at specific branches, they all offer more or less the same services and rates. But do shop around and compare what they offer. Banking hours Normally 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am to 5pm on Friday. Most banks have Automatic Teller Machines, which enable 24 hour fund access. Debit cards Debit cards can also be used like credit cards in stores displaying an EFTPOS symbol. Online banking is highly recommended, but check what service fees may be applicable - they vary between banks and packages. Opening a bank account To open a bank account you will need to take along your passport and your tax file number. You will need proof of the date of your arrival in Australia (your passport will suffice). If you leave this for longer than 6 weeks after your arrival, the process becomes more complex with further ID required - so do it when you arrive. Also note that it may be difficult to get a credit card during the first 6 months, and the credit limit is generally low. TIP: Initially keep your overseas cards active (and the means to pay for them) This is really helps to bridge the gap until your banking is sorted. Of the banks listed (to the right), Commonwealth offer tailored solutions for people moving to Australia. Have a look.
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Adelaide Bank ANZ Bank BankWest Bendigo Bank Citibank Commonwealth Bank Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank AG ING Macquarie Bank Metway Bank National Australia Bank Overseas Union Bank Reserve Bank of Australia St George Bank SunCorp United Overseas Bank Westpac ...and Investec have recently opened in Oz. The big four (comparing to Nedbank, Standard, United, etc) are ANZ, Commonwealth, St George and Westpac. Investments We have found that for the best interest rate on a redraw facility, deposit your money with ING. For some good investment and general financial info, have a look at Money Manager: moneymanager.smh.com.au FINANCIAL CALCULATORS - St George Bank - Commonwealth Bank Budgeting and saving - saving term calculator (how long?) - target deposit amount calculator (how much?) Your home - home loan calculator - home loan selector |
www.adelaidebank.com.au www.anz.com www.bankwest.com.au www.benbank.com.au www.citibank.com.au www.commbank.com.au www.db.com www.aus.deuba.com www.ing.com.au www.macquarie.com.au www.metway.com.au www.national.com.au www.oub.com.sg www.rba.gov.au www.stgeorge.com.au www.suncorp.com.au www.uob.com.sg www.westpac.com.au www.investec.com |
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Exchange rate The Australian currency (AUD) has a floating exchange rate. For details of the latest exchange rate refer to one of the calculators.
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Calculators - Commonwealth bank - Oanda.com - xe.net - Convert Aus$ to Rands (includes performance graphs) |
www.commbank.com.au www.oanda.com www.xe.com www.yahoo.com |
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| food | eating out | motor cars | entertainment | clothes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| our thoughts | what are your options | further info | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Groceries Very reasonable if you stick to the basics. Prices change on a daily basis (here they go up and down, not just up). Biltong, boerie, rusks, aromat, pronutro, Simba chips, etc, etc are available here - unfortunately at a bit of a premium. Our weekly grocery bill (for 2 people) averages at about $150 for the basics. The industry has only four large players, Woolworths, Coles Myer, Franklins (Pick 'n Pay) and Davids. The first three are all national chains (but Franklins are not in WA). Davids is the largest wholesaler, also not operating in WA. On a national basis, the two largest chains control over 60% of the market, the three largest over 75%, and the four largest over 94%.
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The big food chains - Woolworths (Safeway in Vic) - Coles - Franklins ...with a vast array of smaller businesses catering to the multi culture in Oz. The US Kmart (comparative to Dions in RSA) will also give you an indication of product prices. South African products You will be amazed to find a wide variety of South African products available in Australia. Below are some online shops that will deliver to your door: - Satooz - Springbok Foods |
www.woolworths.com.au www.coles.com.au www.franklins.com.au www.kmart.com.au Trading Hours |
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Eating Out Restaurants abound, ranging from fast food to sit down ('lardy') for all tastes. Even Nandos made it to Oz. Something new to the SA'ns is "BYO" = Bring Your Own (referring to alcohol, as most restaurants in the low to medium price range don't have liquor licenses). Wine prices range from $6 for plonk to $50 for very good wine. Prices obviously vary greatly, but as a ball park: - a reasonable Thai or curry dish will cost you $12-16 - a rump steak $18-30 - a Dominos pizza $10-16 - a pasta dish $14-20 - a desert $8-15 - a beer $4-5 (draft) - a glass of vino $4-5 - a coffee $3-4.50 (for a flat white = standard coffee)
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We have found that Sydney is a restaurant-lover's Mecca, with every whim and craving catered for in abundance. Most other big cities fair reasonably well in comparison, but Sydney definitely leads the way with Melbourne a close second. Guides: - De Groot's guide to the best restaurants of Oz www.bestrestaurants.com.au - finest restaurants in Sydney epicurean-kitchen.com.au - accessible restaurants in Sydney www.accessibility.com.au |
The takeaways: www.dominos.com.au www.nandos.com.au www.mcdonalds.com.au |
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Entertainment Movies are expensive only if you convert to Rands, approx $10-15 per ticket in Sydney depending on where and when you go. Tuesdays are discounted to $5 per ticket at most cinemas. There are a couple of independent (different brands of privately owned) cinemas. Shows and Theatre Australia is completely flooded with great artists and musicians touring the country. At any one time, there are usually 5-10 international bands touring here.
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Main cinemas: Hoyts Orpheum in Sydney Fox Studios in Sydney Chauvel Cinemas Dendy Cinemas (Art house) Valhalla Cinemas in Sydney Greater Union Lumiere in Melbourne Belgrave Cinema IMAX Australia Events White Hat Tours lists all events per state on their website, or you can log onto Ticketek's website (equivalent to SA's Computicket). |
www.hoyts.com.au www.orpheum.com.au www.foxstudios.com.au www.chauvelcinema.com.au www.dendy.com.au www.valhallacinemas.com.au www.greaterunion.com.au www.lumiere.com.au www.belgravecinema.com.au www.imax.com.au www.whitehat.com.au www.ticketek.com.au The Arts |
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Clothes Buy your clothes in RSA during your visits back home, else expect to pay quite a bit 'extra' for branded clothing. Expensive: All the international designers' ranges are available here. David Jones is one of the more exclusive shops. Cheap: Lowes here is equivalent to Mr Price back home, where 'cheap' clothing still exists.
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The following is a very rough guide: - T-shirts $25-50 - Formal shirts $100-200 - Long pants $150-200 - Shorts $50-100 - Shoes $80-200 |
www.lowes.com.au David Jones is not only Australia's oldest department store, but the oldest department store in the world still trading under its original name. www.davidjones.com.au |
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Income tax Tax is high in Oz, but the money is put to good use - you actually benefit directly from paying tax. Strange hey? Income tax is levied exclusively from the Federal Government (as opposed to the State Governments in each State or Territory of Australia). The financial year is from the 1st July until the 30th of June. Tax File Number (TFN) When you arrive in Australia, you need to obtain a Tax File Number. This can be done at your nearest tax office. Call the Australian Taxation Office on 13 2861 for your nearest or visit the White Pages. They are typically in major shopping centres. To get a TFN, you will need your passport & visa and other relevant docs such as Birth and Marriage Certificates. You should also obtain a TFN for your partner irrespective of whether they intend to work or not.
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Under Australian taxation legislation, there are a number of tax benefits that individuals on a temporary visa are entitled to through the Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) process. You will need to specifically structure your salary to maximize the benefits - Read more. Consult a tax consultant or an accountant ASAP to make the most of the benefits available to you. Most will provide an initial consultation free and then you can decide whether you need them to complete the return or you feel confident to do it yourself. Make sure they understand or are qualified to work with the intricacies of "temp visa" tax. The onus is on the individual to claim back what the government has taxed. |
Additional info: - Income tax - LAFHA & salary packaging - Tips for completing tax return The Australian Tax Office: www.ato.gov.au Australian Tax Handbook: www.atp-online.com.au Tax Institute of Australia:
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A new legal system Don't assume to know the law here or how it is applied. You are in a new country and although there are a lot of commonalities with South Africa, it is a different legal system. Protect yourself Compared to SA, insurance is cheaper here. And with a society that likes to pervert the law with trivial lawsuits, protect yourself. Legal liability is a must for any business concern, and will cost you about $200pa for $20m insurance. Insurance Enquiries and Complaints (IEC) hears disputes about the refusal to pay a claim concerning these types of general insurance: - home insurance - motor vehicle insurance (not compulsory third party insurance) - sickness and accident insurance - consumer credit insurance - travel insurance - some types of small business, domestic and other insurance. It is possible for the insurer to consent to having other types of insurance disputes heard by the IEC. Phone the IEC on 1 300 363 683 for details.
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Speak to a lawyer (solicitor) about your rights and obligations before signing anything that may have big financial or legal implications. Obviously all the big insurance companies like AAMI and NRMA, but you can shop around for the likes of Terri Scheer for better deals. You as a citizen and a consumer, are protected by extensive laws in Oz. It pays to know your rights. ASIC, a government body, is just one of many policing the Oz market. The Courts The High Court of Australia: www.hcourt.gov.au The Federal Court of Australia: www.fedcourt.gov.au Family Court of Australia: www.familycourt.gov.au Administrative Appeals Tribunal: www.aat.gov.au |
www.aami.com.au www.nrma.com.au www.terrischeer.com.au For more insurance links, see insurance section above. News for investors and consumers: www.fido.asic.gov.au The Courts continued Supreme Court of NSW: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au Supreme Court of Victoria: www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au Supreme Court of Queensland: www.courts.qld.gov.au Supreme Court of Tasmania: www.courts.tas.gov.au ACT Magistrates Courts: www.courts.act.gov.au
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