A collection of short, personal experiences that Vicky Gray and her family encountered during the first year of their new life Down Under. In addition to entertaining diary entries, inspirational stories from other expats, top tips and vital resources, the book is crammed full of well-researched information on everything you need to know to survive and thrive during your first year in Australia. Inside you will learn:How to get into Australia, step by stepWhat stuff you definitely need to take with youThe ins and outs of taking your petsAll you need to know about banksHow the school system works - from daycare upHow to use the healthcare systemHow to get a job - and pay tax!How to rent or buy propertyWhy it's easy to live in Ozand much moreas Ben Southall, winner of Best Job in the World says: "a superb guide to everything a Pom needs to know about this huge island.'

PRAISE FOR THIS BOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS FOREWORD ... 1 INTRODUCTION ... 3 1: HAVE VISA, WILL TRAVEL ... 5 GETTING INTO THE COUNTRY ... 5 VISA AGENTS ... 9 SCORING THOSE VALUABLE POINTS ... 10 SKILLED OCCUPATIONS LIST (SOL) ... 12 GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION (GSM) ... 12 RESOURCES ... 16 2: ONE SMALL STEP ... 17 NAVIGATING YOUR KNICK-KNACKS ... 20 WHAT NOT TO TAKE... 21 DECLARE OR BEWARE ... 22 RESOURCES ... 26 3: PETS ON PLANES ... 27 CHOOSING A PET SHIPPING COMPANY ... 29 VACCINATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ... 30 QUARANTINE MATTERS ... 31 SO GO ON - HOW MUCH? ... 32 MADE UP YOUR MIND? ... 34 4: GOODBYE BLIGHTY ... 37 BANK CHARGES ... 40 TRANSFERRING MONEY ... 41 5: ENCOUNTERING OZ ... 45 CREATURE ENCOUNTERS ... 48 THE HUMBLE MAGPIE: A WARNING ... 58 FRIENDS FOUND IN THE HOME ... 60 RESOURCES ... 61 6: HOME TO ROOST... 63 BRISBANE BOUND ... 63 RENTING RULES ... 69 RENTING REQUIREMENTS ... 70 WATER RESTRICTIONS ... 74 VACATING YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY ... 75 REAL ESTATE AND RENTING JARGON TRANSLATED ... 76 HOMEBUYING BASICS ... 77 RESOURCES ... 85 7: SHOP 'TIL YOU FLOP ... 87 LET'S TALK SHOP ... 90 WHERE'S THE VAT? ... 92 CLOTHING SIZES ... 93 8: SCHOOL DAZE ... 99 WHERE TO START? ... 99 NAPLAN ... 102 DAY-CARE CENTRES ... 103 STATE SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS ... 105 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ... 107 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ... 107 SCHOOL ADMISSION AGES FOR EACH STATE ... 108 SERIOUSLY STRANGE SCHOOL STUFF ... 110 RESOURCES ... 113 9: WORK FARCE ... 115 FIRST THINGS FIRST ... 119 TAX FILE NUMBER ... 120 CENTRELINK STUFF ... 120 HEALTH CARE CARD ... 121 SUPER ... 122 RESOURCES ... 123 10: IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION ... 125 MEDICARE... 125 BULK BILLING ... 133 DONATING BLOOD ... 134 NEED AN AMBULANCE? CALL THE AMBOS! ... 135 BABY CAPSULES ... 136 RESOURCES ... 138 11: THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT ... 139 FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! ... 142 HEALTH AND FITNESS ... 146 TWISTED TV ... 148 DOWN ON THE BEACH ... 149 BEACH FLAGS AND THEIR MEANINGS ... 150 RSL CLUBS ... 152 GAMBLER'S DELIGHT! ... 152 AUSTRALIA'S FREQUENT FESTIVALS ... 154 BONFIRE NIGHT, NO MORE! ... 155 AUSTRALIA-WIDE EVENTS ... 155 RESOURCES ... 156 12: DRIVING ME CRAZY! ... 157 WATCH OUT FOR PEDESTRIANS ... 157 PERSISTENT PETROL FLUCTUATIONS ... 159 HOW TO PARK A CAR - AUSSIE STYLE! ... 160 BUYING A CAR IN OZ ... 161 TRANSFERRING YOUR NO CLAIMS DISCOUNT ... 163 QUICK TRANSPORT TRANSLATIONS ... 164 RESOURCES ... 165 13: MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS ... 167 UTILITY CALAMITY ... 167 FOOTBALL CRAZY ... 168 HOT PHONE TIP ... 168 LOO WITH A VIEW ... 169 METRIC-MANIA ... 169 POSTING TO THE POMS ... 169 DAYLIGHT CRAVINGS ... 170 PLASTIC FANTASTIC ... 171 WINTER DRAWERS ON ... 172 AUSSIE PRONUNCIATION ... 176 AUSSIE PHRASES ... 176 OTHER DAILY PHRASES ... 177 14: STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH ... 179 MY NIRVANA BY SAM MALLINDER ... 179 AUSTRALIAN HORIZONS BY MARY MORGAN ... 182 URBAN WOMAN BY RAYLENE CLARKE ... 186 AND FINALLY - ... 191 ABOUT VICKY GRAY ... 193 BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 195