And that’s not even to mention the costs involved. Factor in the cost of visas, shipping, travel and money transfer – and you’re looking at a significant sum. If you’re starting a new life, we’re confident that you’ll be looking to keep these costs as low as possible. Of course, the less you spend on the process of moving itself, the more you’ll have to spend once you get there. Think your new home, furnishings, sun hats and sun cream!

One significant way that you can save money on your moving costs is to think carefully about the method you use for transferring your money. An international money transfer can still be a tricky and expensive thing to do – and so it’s important to give it a fair bit of thought. It may not be the most glamorous aspect of your relocation, but it’s certainly a crucial one.

There are a few factors at play when you transfer money overseas. Once you’ve opened a bank account in Australia, it’s sadly not possible to do a simple online transfer between your current account and the new one. Instead, you’ll have to use a specialist service to do it for you.

Do a little bit of research, and you’ll likely find that your current banking provider does offer such a service. Do a little bit more research, and you’ll likely find that it’s more expensive than other specialist service providers. High street banks often charge high commission rates on overseas transfers of this kind, coupled with poor exchange rates. A bad exchange rate can make the difference between you being flush after your move and being strapped for cash; so it’s hugely important to make sure that you get the best rate possible.

Our advice is to browse the offerings of online service providers. Providers of this kind often offer much better exchange rates and great bonuses. They tend to charge much less expensive rates of commission than their high street counterparts – along with benefits for those who transfer money often. Of course, do ensure that a provider is reputable before submitting funds to them.

Pay attention to the important if boring issue of international money transfer and we guarantee that you’ll be much better placed to enjoy your new life down under. Good luck in Oz!

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The letter was written as an article for the Australian Herald Sun newspaper as U2 performed their 360 degrees World Tour in the Land Down Under and, given the singer’s vast amount of fans and influence, has the potential to send millions more people packing up and moving to Australia.

The piece opened in typical Bono-speak and set the tone for the whole letter: “Surely it’s alchemy that has turned this often-parched continent into the most fertile country on the planet. Fertile lands, fertile minds. People full of fun and mischief, up-front, no-nonsense except the nonsense we enjoy and with a point of view like no one else’s, not even us who speak, like you, some bastard version of the King’s English.”

He continued on in dramatic praise of the land and never looked back: “For me a love affair began in 1984, when U2 arrived in Sydney with some new songs: Pride (In the Name of Love), and The Unforgettable Fire. Our band – like countless Irish before us – landed here, fell over in awe. But unlike countless Irish before us, we had no calluses on our hands, unless you count the kinds that come from guitar strings and drumsticks…We got to skip the hard work and head straight for falling in love with the place.”

The singer also noted that, as in any emotional relationship, there were hard times too: “Romances have ups and downs and we have not always been our best selves here. In Sydney in 1993, the Zoo TV show was a low point in our long career: the only time one of us didn’t turn up for a concert. Adam Clayton probably hasn’t forgiven himself until this tour. Australia forgave us that and other indulgences. Among them my sanctimony.”

However, he goes on to talk about the profound effect the country had on him and his band mates and how they shared some of the most emotional times of their lives together in Australia: “Our shows in Australia in 2006 were, likewise, emotional outpourings. My father had died; Edge’s daughter, Sian, was extremely ill. The contradiction of broadcasting such intimacies on giant screens still amazes me – talk about bleeding on your audience…But the blood and guts, the rawness of emotion, the joy of release – Australians never fear these things. You relish them.”

Of course, Bono being the well know political activist that he is, also had praise in this regard for the magnificent country: “The political landscape of this vast country I cannot claim to understand, but I’m glad that in a place that loves to argue every point, there’s total agreement on the commitment to fight extreme poverty wherever it resides.”

The conclusion was equally heart felt: “This is who you are. The decency of a nation in an indecent world. It would appear a campaigning Irish rock star is the last thing you need around here.”     

While Bono is just one man and praise of Australia has been in no short supply in recent years, the impact of his adulation cannot be overstated. U2 is one of the most well known and respected bands in the world and when they applaud a country, its people and all that it stands for, we should not be surprised if the moving to Australia phenomenon is about to get yet another large boost.

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There are many reasons for this but the biggest is probably that the price of an automobile in the country is often not what was originally negotiated. This is because there is a tax on the purchase price of the car that you are not informed about until after the purchase.

In addition, people are often just not familiar enough with the process so we will try to clarify some of the confusion.

Just as all over the world, cars can be bought both new and used in Australia. It is highly advisable to price around the various dealers and there are many organizations that can assist. For example, the Australian RAC will inspect any car you are interested in and the Motor Dealers Compensation Fund will protect you in any purchase of a used car as long as it’s from a licensed dealer.

Warranties will vary depending on the age/mileage/etc. of the car but three month / 5,000 km warranties for newer cars without tons of wear and tear on them are standard.

There are also several state government taxes that are to be paid when buying a car in Australia. These include: Registration Transfer Fee, Stamp Duty (total varies depending on price and location of car), Motor Vehicle Tax (annual fee), and Compulsory Third Party Insurance (required insurance in case you injure someone else).

A car that costs more than $57,009 and is purchased from a dealer will also require you to pay a Luxury Car Tax.

As is often the case when immigrating to a new country buying a car is commonly one of the biggest challenges for people moving to Australia. Reading through this list of things to keep in mind and doing your homework before making your purchase should ease the process and allow you to keep your thoughts focused on the other issues of your big move.

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In a shift from the old “get married and when we have children let’s move to the suburbs” approach, people in Australia are trending towards staying in the city with slightly larger apartments and keeping with this arrangement long term. The younger generation apparently has too much of an affinity for city life and are willing to make the financial sacrifices necessary to adjust to the more expensive lifestyle.

Instead of just assuming that the luxuries of suburban life (i.e. bigger homes, larger properties with backyards, relative calm, etc.) are unattainable inside of the big cities, today people are making minor modifications to the types of apartments they seek to maximize city life without sacrificing the “stable” lives they lived growing up in the suburbs.

This news will affect immigrants moving to Australia in a number of ways. For one, it makes it crucial for potential immigrants to be even more versed in Australia’s real estate market. Knowing the trends and being able to anticipate where the market will head with the advent of these trends can bring great benefits. For example, someone moving to Australia with some money put away may now consider buying an apartment in the city as opposed to a house in the suburbs due to demand going up which should keep the value going up.

In addition, if a potential immigrant who is moving to Australia with their family would like to join the trend and settle into an apartment in the city you can gather the information for what type of unit will be able to fill your needs. Some things that families look for when searching for long term apartment solutions in the city include: ground floor apartments to make for easier entry and exit with children, access to laundry services which are not usually common in some apartment buildings, central/walking distance location to desired areas and, if possible, a property that at least has access to some sort of backyard space.

Deciding where to settle when moving to Australia is sometimes as big a challenge as dealing with the actual decision of immigration. Do ample research early on in the process and determine whether city living or suburban life is for you. Once you’ve made that decision you can be ready to move forward and tackle the rest.

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Ms. Gillard made a bold statement explaining that she is behind Australia becoming a republic. However, she made it clear that she only favors the changeover once Queen Elizabeth is no longer in power. Said Ms. Gillard:

“I am obviously a republican. I believe that this nation should be a republic. I also believe that this nation has got a deep affection for Queen Elizabeth. What I would like to see as the prime minister is that we work our way through to an agreement on a republic. But I think the appropriate time for this nation to be a republic will be when we see the monarch change.”

She qualified her statement by saying that she wishes Queen Elizabeth only health and happiness.

In contrast, Mr. Abbott stated that he does not see Australia moving to a republic anytime soon. Said Mr. Abbott:

“While there may very well be further episodes of republicanism in this country, I am far from certain that, at least in our lifetimes, there’s likely to be any significant change.”

While the focus of the result of this debate has been (rightfully) on the current citizens of Australia it is becoming increasingly clear that those considering moving to Australia need to be factored in. The dictionary defines republic as “a  state  in  which  the  supreme  power  rests  in  the  body  of  citizens  entitled  to  vote  and  is  exercised  by  representatives  chosen  directly  or  indirectly  by  them.” The stakes are obviously high. Potential immigrants coming in from other countries are going to be weighing the impact of Australia’s (possibly) new model of government with especially intense scrutiny. Do they want a republic? Do they want things to stay the same? Those moving to Australia are crucial members of the country’s future and the candidates for Prime Minister would do well to heavily consider their wants and desires of future political regimes.

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1)  Australian employers value local experience. Make an effort to get that first job anyway you can, even if it means taking a significant salary cut or even interning.

2)  Its hard to determine foreign work experience. Try and provide as much context as possible surrounding your old job and the skills it required.

3)  Poorly written resumes reflect badly on foreign applicants. Make sure you get your English is checked well before you sent it off.

4)  Australians appear casual often when they are not. Take everything seriously. For instance when they say they just want to “chat” with you it might mean a serious discussion.

5)  Non-verbal cultural cues such as a firm handshake and eye contact are important.

6)  While over 70 percent of Australian businesses are small to medium, big businesses are the most likely to hire foreigners. Small firms struggle to verify skills, have limited resources for training and less patience for the newcomer under pressure.

7)  Foreigners often look at the job relationship as master-servant. In Australia, as in most Western countries, an employment contract is a two-way thing. Understand you have as much to offer as they do and act accordingly. On the positive side new immigrants are less likely to move on than an Australian, they have a great work ethic and less baggage from their background. They also bring new skills not available in Australia, and support the international business.

Good luck!

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