Moving to Australia
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20565
Printed Date: 08 July 2025 at 7:54am
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Topic: Moving to Australia
Posted By: MissCandice
Subject: Moving to Australia
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 12:59pm
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We are planning on moving to Australia in August next year.
Doesn anyone know how it works, do we have to apply for residency? Can we just go there and work? Are we entitled to assistance like the WFF we have here? Anybody done it, moved across the ditch? What are some things we need to know? Does anyone know how medical and dental works over there? TIA ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Replies:
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:07pm
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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. ------------- 
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:08pm
What do you mean by points? Thanks for the reply.. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
ooEvaoo wrote:Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:13pm
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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 ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:20pm
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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 - 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. -------------
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:23pm
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Oh cool. The ANZ website says you can open a bank accoun t from here and deposit money into it and then when you arrive over there you just take your passport and they will let you withdraw your money. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:27pm
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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. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:34pm
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You aren't entitiled to any goverment assistance (wff etc) till you have been there 12 months. Got a friend with 5 kids who moved over about a year ago or so. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:34pm
| http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/qual_how_ftba.htm - Centrelink has a page about whether you're entitled to the Family Tax Benefit...it appears there's no 2 year stand down if you're a NZ citizen? But I don't know this for a fact. |
Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:36pm
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It is totally not worth sending money to an Australian account from here - it costs you $25 EACH time you do plus a $12 receiving charge.
Also you have to do a minimum $100+$25 charge every time you do it. So it works out very costly. If your wanting to set up an account for Australia, your best to set up a savings account here that you cant touch and call it Australia or whatever. ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:37pm
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You can get an acommodation supplement, or something like that if you have children. You can't go on any kind of benefit unless you are an Auzzie citizen. -------------
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Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:45pm
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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. -------------
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 1:46pm
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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. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 2:07pm
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Anybody done it, moved across the ditch? What are some things we need to know?
Yep we did it just over 2 years ago now and were moving back to NZ in January. When you come over bring your ID, someone said you need 100 points. This is correct. Your passport usually has the most weighting of about 70 points but each place has different weighting system. You will need a TFN (tax file number) its the IRD number eqillivant. You can apply for this online, well we did when we came over. Does anyone know how medical and dental works over there? There is a govt scheme called Medicare. You get a percentage of your medical costs reimbursed to you, i.e. if seeing your GP costs you $50 you get about $30 back. Its instead of subsidising Dr's directly. Dental is NOT covered by medicare. In regards to Health insurance you definitely need it!!! Most policies have a 12 month pregnancy stand down period. Dental is usually covered with most basic health isnurance policies. There are so may policies and so many providers you will need to do your research. Good luck ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 2:09pm
QLD licence law recently changed and you now have to show the P plate on your car. P plates is the same as a restricted licence in NZ. ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 2:22pm
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When did that happen Rianna?? I was last over there in 2004 and my cousin didn't need them on her car. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 2:33pm
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okay there is this website thats good for people thinking of moving over there - it covers almost everything
http://www.movingtoaussie.com/ - Moving to Australia Should help answer a few questions ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 4:37pm
geez it seems rather differcult to move to oz!
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 5:47pm
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Its not that hard, just being organised is the main thing. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 9:56pm
Err, Beck going off the top of my head it was end of last year or start of this year. They have 2 P's here now, a red one and a green one. Im not too sure how long you have each as we've never needed to go through it because we hold a full NZ licence we just paid for a QLD licence, had a photo taken and away we went  ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 9:59pm
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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. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 10:20pm
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Yep you'll be sweet on your NZ licence. Its only if your here for 3 months or longer you need to change to a QLD.
How long are you here on holidays for?? ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 10:22pm
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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. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 01 September 2008 at 10:26pm
Nice. Now is a great time to come, as you know. The weather is getting nicer  ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:32am
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My friends moved there in June last year and it wasnt hard at all, as someone said its just about being organised and knowing what you need to do. I know she got some sort of benefit for staying home with the kids straight away and they also got money for there house (they give you 10k or something for first home owners) and they had only been there 6 months at that stage.
We are looking at going over Feb next year. Nuttymama is heading over there this month I think it is.... Do you know where you would be moving to...which area? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 12:42pm
You don't have to become a citizen, you get automatic residency after 2 years of living there. My family have been there since '99, Mum and my sister took up citizenship in '05 coz you have to be a citizen to get Austudy (Student Loans) and Claire was starting uni, and Mum did it just so she could vote seeing as she'd been there so long. Dad is still not an Aus citizen, one brother was born there so is an automatic citizen and the other can't get Aus citizenship as he has a NZ criminal record. Also, you can only drive on your NZ license there for 3 mths, any longer than that and you have to have a license for the state you are living in. The same goes if you move interstate. I have no idea about Centrelink stuff, it was my understanding that the 2 year stand down applied to ALL assistance but others have said there are some things that are exempt. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 9:49pm
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I think getting the licence is easy too....you just go into thier AA equivalent and apply...my friends inlaws moved over last week and it was teh first thing they did, easy as.
If anyone wants specific details I can ask my friend since she has done it all recently....just PM me your questions. |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:07pm
Its usually done through the state govt's. In QLD its the Dept of Transport and there are branches everywhere in Brisbane/QLD to get your licence changed over. Yep Emma is right about getting residency after 2 years. Its granted automatically, you dont need to apply. You only need to apply if you want a Special Resident Visa and/or Citizenship for voting and social security (aka Centrelink). ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:16pm
| where in oz are you Rianna? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:16pm
In NSW you have to sit a written test to get your licence if you already have a full NZ licence. I failed it twice  ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:33pm
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Good one Emma ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
, 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.Posted By: Zina
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 10:48pm
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We have just moved back to NZ after living in Melbourne for the last few years. Please feel free to PM me if you want to ask any other questions.
As far as moving over you don't need a VISA or anything. As long as you are a NZ citizen you can live and work overthere no problem. As far as WFF families you have to be living in Australia for a certain period of time (2 years?) before you can recieve any benefit. You might want to check out the centre link website. When you get there you will need to get a TFN (Tax File Number) which is like a IRD number. Please note you can start work before you get your number processed but it doesn't take that long to get. A couple of weeks I think? They have a system called Medicare that anyone can apply for. Its a healthcare subsidy. You will have to pay for your prescription or doctor bill in full and then take you receipt to a Medicare centre to recieve your money back. Kind of a long drawn out process but that is the way its done. Please remember that you will be making ALOT more money than you are making here so at the end of the day even though your day to day cost may increase your income will increase too. To give you an example I was making $35K more doing the same job in Australia and I had no experience. If you are working you can pretty much claim everything back in your tax return. Its not like the joke of a tax return we have in NZ. DH and I got $7000 back recently for the last financial year and we only worked half the financial year due to coming back to NZ in December. You can go to an Accountant (it'll cost you about $100) and they'll get money back for your travel expenses and clothes (keep receipts for everything) etc. If you are making more that $50K you'll need to have health insurance. Otherwise you will get taxed at a higher bracket. I guess its just to encourage people to get health insurance. You should have it anyway. Oh and most of all stock up on Grainwaves, nestle reduced cream and onion soup (for dip), protex soap, nestle scorched almonds, mellowpuffs, pinky bars, girl guide biscuits and pineapple lumps. (Just thinking about everything I had to stock up on whenever we came home )
Oh and most importantly. If you are looking for a similar forum I can reccomend a great one. |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 02 September 2008 at 11:03pm
Brisbane ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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Posted By: aussiegirl
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 8:54am
I used to get money back every financial year from my tax return. 
------------- Mum to Hayley **30.6.08
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 4:23pm
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AnnC that was perfect. Thanks so much, that link had everything i needed. Right to the inciest little thing.
Thanks everyone. Im excited now :) ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 6:15pm
Where in Aus are you moving to? I'm an Adelaide girl originally but I live in Auckland now because I married a kiwi (seemed like a good idea at the time  ).
The only health insurance scheme which has less than 12 months wait on pregnancy care is Latrobe; with them it's 9 months. You have to call them and sign up before you get pregnant, and if you do that you're covered. They're not that expensive either, I used to be with them and was very happy. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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