Moving to Australia – Moving to Newcastle
Newcastle is a beautiful place to live when considering moving to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia. The city is located about 100 miles outside of Sydney in New South Wales on the southern bank of the Hunter River. Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populous area in New South Wales, with Sydney being the most populated.
Jobs in Newcastle
Newcastle is well-known for its coal industry. Currently, Newcastle is the largest coal exporting harbor in the world. Newcastle also has a small shipbuilding industry, which employs a good amount of people.
The University of Newcastle is one of the largest employers in the Newcastle area. The Hunter New England Area Service is another big employer.
Weather
The weather in Newcastle is very mild. The coldest months are June, July and August, when the average temperatures may dip down into the 40s during the evening. The highs are typically in the 60s during the day. The warmest months are December, January and February, when the daytime temperatures reach the high 70s, or higher, on average, and are still in the high 60s at night.
When choosing what clothing to pack in your IntlMOVE Australia shipment along with your household goods, try to bring clothes for warm and chilly weather. You probably won’t need a parka, but definitely pack sweaters, long sleeve shirts and jackets.
Things to Do in Newcastle
If theater is a passion of yours, you will love Newcastle. Victoria Theatre is the oldest purpose-built theater in the country.
Newcastle also has an established visual art scene. There are a number of commercial and private galleries. The Newcastle Art Gallery is the largest art gallery in the metropolitan area and has a beautiful collection of contemporary and historical art.
Live music is a favorite pastime of people living in and visiting Newcastle. There is a popular underground music scene and a colorful youth music culture.
People in Newcastle are a festive bunch, so there are plenty of festivals and events put on throughout the year. Some of the festivals you will want to attend include: the Newcastle Regional Show, the Mattara Festival and the Shoot Out 24-hour Filmmaking Festival.
The Newcastle Jazz Festival is three day event held in August. Australians flock from all areas of the country to perform or attend the festival. This is Not Art is another festival, which is held in October. This is one of the largest art festivals in Australia.
Popular sports from Newcastle include: rugby, soccer (football), cricket, horse racing, ice hockey and netball. The ice hockey team is the Newcastle North Stars. The Newcastle Knights is the rugby team that plays at Ausgrid Stadium. The Newcastle United Jets is the soccer, or football, team that also plays at Ausgrid Stadium.
If you love the water, you will love Newcastle. Newcastle has many beaches, where you can have fun in the sun. Surfing is very popular in Newcastle, and the city even hosts Surfest.
Famous People from Newcastle
Yahoo Serious, made famous by his movie Young Einstein, hails from Newcastle. Silverchair, the popular band, also comes from this area of Australia.
Moving to Newcastle will be a decision you won’t regret. When you are planning on moving to Australia, contact IntlMOVE Australia to ship your household goods to Newcastle.
Moving to Australia – Business Dinner Etiquette
When moving to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia, you should learn the local business customs to fit in and make a great impression. Although Australia is typically relaxed, it is better to know the basics to avoid any social faux pas.
Business Attire
Business suits are the norm in most companies, but like the United States, many companies have taken on a business casual approach to office attire.
Handshakes and Greetings
Handshakes are quick and firm and used as a form of introduction or greeting. Women are typically expected to extend their hand to a man. Women do not always shake other women’s hands.
Although it is a sign of respect to call a person by their last name when first meeting, most business relationships are on a first name basis. Avoid introducing yourself with your professional title, which can come off as arrogant. That said, it is also not a good idea to hype your company.
“G’day mate,” is a greeting reserved for Australians. Don’t try to use it. Just be yourself and you will be well received.
Table Etiquette
The guest of honor should be placed at the head of the table. Other important guests will be seated directly to the left of the honored guest, and then to the right. When a couple is hosting a dinner, both hosts will take a seat at opposite ends of the table. However, this is only reserved for formal dinners.
When dishes are being shared, always pass the dish to your left. Do not use your own set of utensils to serve yourself food.
When eating, your knife remains in your right hand and your fork will stay placed in the left hand. Try not to switch the utensils between hands while eating. When you are finished, place your utensils in a parallel position on the upper right side of your plate.
When you are not using utensils, keep your elbows off the table. Try to keep your hands folded in your lap.
Dinner Reservations
When choosing a high-end or exclusive restaurant, you will need to make reservations. Make sure you confirm your reservations the day before your arrival.
Other Business Dinner Tips
Always be on time. Australians value punctuality.
Australians avoid talking business over a nice dinner. Keep the topic of conversation light and friendly unless they bring up business matters. However, business can be discussed over lunch. It is best just to follow the Australians’ cues.
When it is time to pay the bill, the person who invited the guests should always get the bill. However, guests should make an offer to pay. Leave a tip for your server. Appropriate tips are between 10 and 15 percent.
If you are invited to a dinner party, you should bring a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates or another appropriate gift.
When the people you are with are taking turns buying rounds of drinks, don’t skip your turn.
Lunch is typically served around noon. Afternoon tea, which includes a light snack, is served around 4 p.m. When you are invited for tea between 6 and 8 p.m., this is considered an evening meal. Supper is a late night snack.
When moving to Australia, you will get the hang of things pretty quickly. Etiquette is very similar to the United States with a few slight differences. When you are ready to start your new job or business venture in Australia, contact IntlMOVE Australia for shipping your household goods from the U.S. to Australia.
Moving to Australia – Public Transportation in Melbourne
When you are planning on moving to Melbourne, Australia, you will be pleased to know that the city has a very sophisticated public transportation system. If you are shipping your car to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia will take care of the details. The freeway network is well-developed and is actually the largest in any Australian city. Getting wherever you need to go will be a breeze.
If you are relying on public transportation when you arrive in Australia, you will be able to get around town very easily. To use the public transportation system, you will need to obtain information on the Metlink network and purchase tickets using the Metcard ticketing system. With this, you can use most bus, tram and railway services.
IntlMOVE Australia has put together a basic guide to prepare you for moving to Melbourne and using the public transportation.
Tram
Melbourne, Australia has the world’s largest tram network. There are about 245 kilometers of track. The tram system includes: 500 trams, 28 routes and two light-rail routes. The trams run extensively in the city and the inner suburbs. There are over 1,800 stops on the system.
Busses
There are more than 300 bus routes in Melbourne to take you to where you need to go. If you like to go out on the weekends, there is a Nightrider system that operates on Friday and Saturday night so you don’t have to worry about driving. When traveling by air for work or pleasure, you can take the Skybus Super Shuttle to the airport so you don’t have to worry about parking at the airport.
Railway
The metro railway is very convenient if you live outside of the downtown area. There are 16 lines that make up this service. You can easily travel into the downtown area for work or other activities. There are trains available within the city as well. If you want to travel to other major cities or states within Australia, the extensive train system also facilitates interstate travel.
Taxi
Taxis and private cars are more expensive than public transportation but are a fantastic option if you are in a hurry.
Air Travel
There are two major airports in Melbourne. The Melbourne airport located in Tullamarine, is a major international airport, and is actually the second busiest airport in Australia. More than 30 airlines operate out of this airport. Avalon Airport mostly services domestic flights, but is also located near Melbourne for your convenience.
Bikes/ Walking
Melbourne’s warm climate makes it perfect for walking or riding a bike for transportation purposes. There is even a bike sharing program, so you can rent bicycles to get around the city.
When moving to Melbourne, Australia, you can have the security in knowing it is very easy to get around the city with public transportation. However, roughly 90 percent of local travel is still made by private vehicle. So, if you are shipping your car to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia can add your car in your shipment of household goods from the U.S. to Australia. IntlMOVE Australia will provide you with a free online international shipping quote.
Moving to Australia – Holidays in Australia
When you are moving to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia, you will need to know the different holidays that are celebrated. These holidays will affect the days you have of work and your interactions with your friends, families and coworkers. Holidays often provide a reason to celebrate, so it will be nice to have more reasons to enjoy a festive occasion.
In Australia, many Christian holidays are widely celebrated and recognized as public holidays. Almost 65 percent of the population is Christian. Roughly 20 percent of Australian residents declare no religion and the remainder of the population practice other religions. IntlMOVE Australia has put together some information for you on public holidays.
Public Holidays in Australia
New Years Day
Similar to the United States, New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1. Enjoy celebrations on December 31 as you count down to the New Year. There are many parties going on everywhere and in many cities, there are fireworks to celebrate the day.
Australia Day
January 26 is Australia Day. This day commemorates the date in 1788 when 11 ships from England, the First Fleet, arrived in Australia to start a new colony. To celebrate this day, there are Australian Day Honours, citizenship ceremonies and Australian of the Year Awards. Locally, you will find concerts, ceremonies and other forms of family entertainment, such as carnivals.
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday, also celebrated by many in the United States, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. This holiday is celebrated towards the end of March or April. It is different every year.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is a public holiday in Australia, which means many people have it off of work. It is celebrated the day after Easter Sunday.
ANZAC Day
ANZAC, which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, recognizes all of those who have served and died during a time of war or conflict on April 25.
Christmas Day
Christmas is a Christian celebration that takes place on December 31. When Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is typically declared a public holiday.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is December 26. Although it was originally a day when wealthy people would give to the poor, this day is typically spent shopping at all the after-Christmas sales. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, Monday is declared a holiday. When if falls on a Sunday, Tuesday is declared a public holiday.
Other Holidays and Celebrations in Australia
Each state and territory may have special days, festivals or holidays that are celebrated. The Queen’s Birthday on June 8 is recognized everywhere in Australia, except Western Australia. Labour Day is celebrated throughout Australia, but varies by state. The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia all celebrate it the first Monday in October. The second Monday in March is when the people in Victoria and Tasmania celebrate Labour Day. In Western Australia, it is celebrated the first Monday in March. Queensland and the Northern Territory celebrate Labour Day the first Monday in May.
Moving to Australia is a very exciting time in your life, so let IntlMOVE Australia help make the international move stress free. When you are moving to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia will take care of everything when shipping your household goods from the U.S. to Australia.
Moving to Perth, Australia and Public Transportation
Perth, Australia is a beautiful city filled with culture, beauty and wonderful people. There are lots of fun things to do in Perth. IntlMOVE Australia will ship your household goods and other personal effects from the U.S. to Australia when you land your dream job in Perth.
IntlMOVE Australia can provide the services you need when shipping your car to Australia. However, you may decide to leave you car at home. In this case, IntlMOVE Australia has put together some information on the transportation in Perth.
Driving
If you are shipping your car to Australia with the rest of your household goods, you will be pleased to know it is pretty easy to get around Perth and the surrounding areas. There are three freeways and nine highways located throughout the metropolitan area.
Transperth
Transperth is the main public transportation provided in Perth, Australia. The company operates busses, trains and ferries, so you can get around the city. If you need to travel outside of the Perth metropolitan area, there are services to rural areas through Transwa.
Taking the bus in Perth is easy. The bus routes can take you throughout the city limits and the greater Perth metropolitan area. There is also a suburban rail with five main rail lines. Many of the busses provide transportation to the rail stations. There are 69 rail stations and 15 bus stations in the Perth metropolitan area.
There is a Free Transit Zone (FTZ) in Perth, where you can ride the Transperth busses and trains at no cost. To ride the bus for free, you must board and depart within the free zone’s boundaries. Full details are available on the Transperth website.
Transperth offers many useful services to its customers. The TravelEasy service provides customers with many services, such as email updates if there are planned disruptions in services. If you use Google transit in the U.S., you can also use this service in Perth. Google Maps has icons on its maps to show you where there are bus, train and ferry stops. It also tells you the next scheduled departures from those locations. This is perfect for use with your smart phone. Speaking of smart phones, the 136213.MOBI is a service that provides transportation information to your phone.
Traveling in Australia by Rail
When you want to leave the Perth metropolitan area and travel to other parts of Australia, such as Sydney, Adelaide or Kalgoorlie, you can take the Indian Pacific Passenger Rail.
Cycling
There are extensive bike paths located throughout Perth. Commuting by bike is very popular because of the warm year-round weather in Australia. Many of the bike paths in Perth run along the highways, freeways and rail lines. Cycling a very fun, and inexpensive, way to get around the city.
Airport
Perth Airport is the main domestic and international airport in Perth. A smaller airport, Jandakot Airport is used for smaller flights.
When moving to Perth, Australia, contact IntlMOVE Australia for all of your international shipping needs. IntlMOVE Australia will help you ship everything you need overseas to get settled in your new home.
Moving to Sydney, Australia for College
When moving to Australia for college, let IntlMOVE Australia ship all of your household good so you can easily make Australia your new home. IntlMOVE Australia has put together information to help make moving to Sydney, Australia for school an easy transition.
Student Visas in Australia
The Australian Department of Immigrations and Citizenship (DIAC) is the government organization that can provide you with everything you need to obtain a visa. There are two types of visas you will want to research when moving to Australia for college.
The student visa allows you to attend school in Australia and even gives you access to the subsidized student healthcare program. With this visa, you can pply to work part-time.
There is another visa available to individuals under the age of 30 who want to move to Australia. This visa allows you to work and live in Australia and is relatively easy to obtain. However, this visa is only good for two years.
List of Universities in Australia
When moving to Sydney, Australia for college, you can choose from among a variety of top-performing schools.
Macquarie University
This university is one of Australia’s leading research universities. Although there are many areas of study, Macquarie University is ranked as the top school in Australia for environmental and ecological research. This university has received awards and top rankings from prestigious organizations. Whether you are an undergraduate student studying liberal arts or applying for one of the coveted spots in the medical program, you will receive a high caliber education from this university.
The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university that consistently ranks as one of the top three universities in Australia. It is the oldest university in Australia and has a large student population. There are over 32,000 undergraduate students and almost 17,000 graduate students. There are 16 schools that offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
The University of Western Sydney
The University of Western Sydney (UWS) is spread over multiple campuses throughout the suburbs of Western Sydney. This university offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. This university recently opened a medical school, so the program and degree offerings are diverse.
The University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales is located in Kensington, which is a suburb just outside of Sydney. This university is well-known for its research focus. The university has only been around since 1949, but it is one of Australia’s top research and teaching institution. This school is the first choice for most of the top performing students in Australia. There are about 46,000 students in total attending this university.
The University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is the only university in Sydney’s Central Business District (CDB). The university’s goal is to become a world leader in technology education. To reach this goal, the University of Technology Sydney focuses on research and a vibrant learning environment. There are more than 30,000 students enrolled at this university.
Moving to Sydney, Australia to attend college is a wise decision. Sydney has some of the best universities in the world and is a desirable place to live. IntlMOVE Australia will ship your household goods from the U.S. to Australia when you are ready to start your scholastic career in the “land down under.”
Marine Insurance Coverage and Moving to Australia
When shipping your household goods from the U.S. to Australia, you want to make sure they are safe and secure. IntlMOVE Australia will professionally pack, ship and deliver your household good to your new home in Australia.
Most people moving to Australia also choose to purchase additional marine insurance to protect their household goods. IntlMOVE Australia is not an insurance provider, but we can help you secure marine insurance to help facilitate a stress free move.
Be assured that IntlMOVE Australia will handle all of your household goods with the utmost care. However, it’s important to safeguard your household goods from theft, loss or damage. Your household goods are not being shipped across town. They are being shipped across the world. They will be packed, loaded into a truck, shipped on vessel overseas, pass through customs and finally be transported to your new home in Australia.
Due to the nature of an international move, your household goods will pass through many hands and experience obstacles along the way. Although the majority of household goods arrive at their destination in the same condition as when they were packed, accidents do occur. This is why marine insurance is available.
Marine Insurance
Marine insurance protects your household goods while they are in transit overseas. This insurance covers loss, theft, damage and catastrophe at sea.
When you choose to purchase marine insurance, you must put together a declared value form. This form lists all the items that you are insuring. The cost of the insurance is based on the monetary value placed on the household goods you are shipping. When you are placing vales on household goods and personal effects, you should list the amount of money it will take to replace the item in Australia. Some items are more expensive in Australia than in the United States because of import costs. You want to make sure you are getting enough money to replace the items that needs to be replaced. This list is completely separate than the list you need to prepare for customs.
Types of Insurance
Limited coverage and all-risk insurance are available. Limited coverage is the basic insurance you can take out to protect your personal belongings. This type of insurance has limited coverage, as its name suggests. All risk insurance covers damages, theft of loss incurred while being shipped overseas. However, this insurance option is only available when your household goods have been professionally packed. IntlMOVE Australia can supply the professional packing service. After choosing a marine insurance provider, read through all the fine print and ask questions to understand what is covered and what is not covered.
When you are ready to take the big step of moving to Australia, visit the IntlMOVE Australia website for the following information:
Moving to Australia and Forwarding your Mail
When moving to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia, you might be wondering how you get your U.S. mail overseas. Unlike a domestic move, it is not as easy as filling out a change of address form at the post office. The United States Postal Service does not forward your mail overseas, so you have to look of other options.
IntlMOVE Australia has put together some tips to help with shipping your mail to Australia.
Change Address
Contact friends, family and business associates to let them know you will be moving to Australia. As soon as you have your new address, give it to the people who need it so they can send your mail to the right place.
You can also contact any companies that send you mail on a regular basis. However, not all companies are willing to send international mail because of the cost and hassle.
Online Mail
Some companies, such as credit cards, offer online billing as an alternative to paper bills. Contact the companies who regularly send bills to determine if online billing is an option. If so, sign up for online statements so you no longer have to worry about shipping these mail pieces to Australia.
Family and Friends
Ask friends and family who are remaining in the United States if you can have your mail forwarded to their houses. If they are willing, they can sort through your mail, throw out unneeded items and ship important mail to Australia. However, this might be a hassle for those close to you, so look into other options if you are making a permanent or long-term move.
Mail Forwarding Services
If you do not want to ask friends and family to sort through your U.S. mail, there are companies that specifically take care of this international relocation need. Mail forwarding services make it easy to get your mail in Australia. Depending on the service, you can determine when and how often you would like your mail shipped to Australia. You may only want your mail sent every two weeks or once a month, so you can decide how often you need to receive personal mail.
You will be provided with a P.O. Box address in the United States, so you can forward all of your mail to this new address. Different services offer different options. Companies will scan each piece of mail that comes in, so you can review whether or not you want to have it shipped to Australia or thrown out. Online access will allow you see the status of your mail, which makes it easy to control. Some other mail forwarding services package all your mail together and ship everything to you, even the junk mail. The mail forwarding service will handle the customs paperwork.
To get started, you will want to visit the United States Postal Service to fill out a special form for international forwarding. Contact your mail forwarding company of choice. There are several fees you need to add to your budget, such as set-up fees, monthly fees, shipping charges and customs fees.
Moving to Australia is the beginning of a very exciting and rewarding journey. Contact IntlMOVE Australia for your free quote for shipping your household goods and personal effects to Australia.
Moving to Australia and Getting a Work Visa
Securing a job and shipping your household goods to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia is an exciting journey. People who wish to move to Australia will need to get the correct work visas to secure gainful employment.
IntlMOVE Australia has put together some basic information on work visas for your information. However, you should always check with your local embassy or consulate to get the most up-to-date information.
Australian immigration is much easier for people under the age of 30. However, if you have a unique set of professional skills, immigration to Australia is still possible. There are a variety of different visas available for people who are moving from the United States to Australia. Speaking with the local embassy will help you determine your eligibility for the different visas available. If you are moving to Australia as an investor or to start a business, there are visas for your particular needs. There are also visas available for skilled workers who want to move to Australia, but they can be difficult to obtain. There are also sponsored visas available to people moving to Australia that have already secured employment overseas.
Independent Visas
The distinguished talent visa category allows for permanent resident status. After two years of living in Australia with this visa, you can apply for Australian citizenship. If you are under 18 years of age or over 55, you must show that you are financially independent and that you will provide an exceptional benefit to the country. This visa is reserved for people with a specific talent in their field, such as a professional sports player.
Independent skilled work visas are also available and allow people to become permanent residents. You can apply for citizenship after four years. Applicants must have an outstanding educational background and skill set. If you qualify, you can move to Australia to seek employment. There are less restrictions with this visa than sponsored work visas.
A holiday working visa is available for people aged 18 to 30. With this visa, you are free to travel, live and work in Australia for 24 months. Many students prefer this visa to the student visa, so they can work freely while attending school.
Sponsored Visas
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) has to be applied for by employers. This allows highly skilled workers to fill vacancies. The job offered with this type of visa must meet a specific salary level and the job must a full-time position for a minimum of three years. This visa is available for people currently living in Australia or individuals being recruited overseas.
Applying for jobs in regions with low population growth may help you attain a Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa. Employers who legally operate in cities or areas of Australia with low population growth can fill vacancies with highly skilled workers from other countries. Potential employees currently in Australia or being recruited from overseas are eligible for this visa. The job has to offer full-time employment for at least two years and it must meet a minimum salary requirement set forth by Australian immigration.
Finding a job and moving to Australia can take time, but the benefits are plenty. There are so many beautiful places to see, such as Kakadu National Park, and fun things to do in this amazing country. When you have secured your visa and you are moving to Australia, contact IntlMOVE Australia to ship y our household goods from the USA to Australia.
Renting an Apartment in Sydney and Shipping Household Goods to Australia
When moving to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia will ship your household goods overseas if you are renting an unfurnished apartment. Furnished apartments can be expensive. You will likely save money by shipping your household goods to Australia and renting an unfurnished apartment if you are planning on living in Australia for an extended period of time. Having familiar items in your home will also help you while acclimating to your new surroundings in Australia.
Renting Apartments in Sydney, Australia
Leases in Australia are typically six months long, but you can also ask for a one year lease. Rentals in Sydney are more expensive than suburbs. However, getting to Sydney from the suburbs is easy with the well-configured public transportation system.
Finding an Apartment
There are a variety of websites that list available Sydney, Australia rentals. Newspapers are also a great resource for Sydney rentals. Real estate agents can also show you rentals that are not listed on popular websites. Join expat communities online to connect with people who can give you tips and suggestions on locations and rentals.
Tips for Securing a Rental Property
Set your budget and share it with your real estate agent. A good rule of thumb is to put less than 33 percent of your income toward your rental property. Research locations in Sydney that are desirable for your lifestyle. Do you need to be close to schools? Do you need to be close to your job? Do you need to be within walking distance of stores, restaurants or public transportation? If you are shipping your car to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia, make sure there is ample parking in the location that you choose to live.
Make a list of amenities that are important to you and your family. Make sure your rental property in Sydney has enough bedrooms, bathrooms and space. If convenience is important, make sure your new rental property has a washer and dryer hook-ups, sufficient electrical outlets and high-speed internet accessibility.
If possible, view the property before signing the lease. Be prepared to make a quick decision. Good rental properties go very quickly and you will not have a lot of time to make a decision. Do not sign anything until you have fully read and understood the rental agreement. If you have any questions, seek legal advice about your property rental agreement.
Costs Associated with Rentals in Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a very desirable place to live, which is why rents can be expensive. Some renters have even paid 20 percent above the asking price to secure a nice apartment in prime locations.
Rather than listing rental costs by month, rent fees are typically listed by week. When moving into an apartment in Sydney, you will have to pay a deposit equal to four weeks of rent. This deposit, or bond, is returned when you vacate the apartment in the same condition in which it was rented. You will also be expected to pay rent in advance. Expect to pay between two weeks and one month rent prior to moving in to your apartment in Sydney.
Water and electricity are not covered in most rental fees, but are supplied by Sydney Water and Electricity. A deposit, or bond, is also required to get these services. Be aware that many properties do not come with refrigerators, washers and dryers. There are appliance rental companies available if you do not wish to invest in these items.
After you have found the perfect apartment in Sydney, plan on shipping your household goods to Australia. IntlMOVE Australia will provide you with a FREE quote, door-to-door shipping services and unparalleled customer service.
