Good one Emma , yeah mum and dad went into the local office on the Sunshine Coast and filled in a form and got their licence sent to them.

Only 2 weeks. Hopefully I can drive my dads car, my mum thinks it is too big to drive - but I love to drive big cars.

Actually now you say red and greeen my mum did tell me about them. I know I can drive over there next week on my NZ full.

BaileyandAstin wrote: geez it seems rather differcult to move to oz!

Its not that hard, just being organised is the main thing.

When did that happen Rianna?? I was last over there in 2004 and my cousin didn't need them on her car.

To be on a Centrelink (the benefit) you have to be an Aus Citizen (something I can do!!!)

Also look at the state websites as they have info about specfics for that states. Eg Qld you don't have your "P" plates on your car but in NSW you do.

These are what you're may be entitled to on arrival (so just by being a NZ citizen permanently living in Australia )..there is no 2 year waiting period on these.

Family tax benefit part A, part B, maternity allowance, child care benefit, carer allowance

Other ones that are exempt from the waiting period are, disability support pension, parenting payement (should you become a single parent after arriving)  special benefit, bereavement allowance, mobility allowance.

Centrelink website has all the info for newly arrived citizens, and tells you whats available.

You can also set it up with Westpac here too I think. I know mum and dad have their banking with them.

You drive on your NZ licence for a year and then you have to get an Oz one.

Also you have to think about moving your stuff over there too. Most places take 6-8 weeks for your stuff to arrive so you need to think about what you are going to do for the time you don't have your furniture.

Certain bits of personal information like your birth certificate, drivers licence, has a points value. If you wanted to open up an australian bank account you need to have accumulated 100 points. So if you have a passport/birth certificate/ that equates to 70 points (its a primary source of identity) if you have a driver licence that equates to 40 points, so then you can open a bank account.

The points system is a way of proving identity. check out  http://www.australia-migration.com/page/Opening_a_Bank_Account_in_Australia/190, it gives a run down of what can be used for points.

Doesn anyone know how it works, do we have to apply for residency? You are entitled to work there as you are NZ citizen, however after 2 years of being there they do ask you to become an Aus resident/citizen

Can we just go there and work? Yes, but first you need to get an Aus IRS (IRD) number first

Are we entitled to assistance like the WFF we have here? Not sure on that sorry

Anybody done it, moved across the ditch? What are some things we need to know? My mum and dad went back a year ago now and they love it (they went home, but had been in NZ for 23 years). They say go over and see where you want to live, just because everyone is going to the gold coast doesn't mean it will be for you.

Does anyone know how medical and dental works over there? You have to have Medicare

If you are a NZr you are automatically elible for residency, if you wanted to become a full blown Aussie citizen I think you can apply after 2 or 3 years. Yup you can go there and work, they do a 3 month probation period which means should they feel your not suitable for the job the can dismiss you, and vice versa...within that first 3 months. Centrelink do a kind of WWF package but since you won't be an Oz citizen on arrival you'll need to look into what you're entitled too. They have a thing called medicare over there which subsidises Drs appts etc if they're registered. You'll need to get health insurance to cover admissions to hospital and some other health services. Also most health insurance won't cover pregnancy (neonatal, c sections i think...stuff like that) for the first year of the policy. Ummmm dental work, unsure about that.

But make sure you have birth certificate, drivers licence, evidence that you've permanently moved to Oz, cos you need to build up points (100 I think) in order to get a medicare card, and get HPs etc over there.