Need advise? Melbourne or Brisbane

Hi folks. It's my first post and I am looking for some advise.

We just got our medical completed and expect to see our permanent resident visas come in soon. At this point it sounds like we have to be in Australia within the year (no exceptions). Is this true. ie you have to enter Australia within 1 year of doing your medicals?

In addition we are a young family (2 adults + 1 kid), my spouse is in the finance/auditing line and I am in the general marketing line. We can't decide between making our move to Brisbane or Melbourne and are currently from Toronto. We have passed the party scene and enjoy the outdoors a lot but am not sure of what the job prospects are in both cities for both of us and the cost of living in general. We have a lot of distant family in Melbourne and none in Brisbane but am not sure whether this will make a difference.

I also hear you have to give up your CDN drivers license if you drive more than 3mts on your International drivers permit.

Your feedback is appreciated.

1. Find out where the jobs are
Why dont you contact recruitment agents in the field to find out the lay of the land for i.e finance jobs. Hit seek.com.au , mycareer.com.au, careerone.com.au
Dont expect to get placed before arriving but you should get advise.

2. General living costs and affordability
Brisbane if the most popular destination for skilled migrants and has been for the past few years. This has been down to a book in construction which like everywhere will be a little slower. Housing would still be more affordable than melbourne.

3. 1 year entry
You do have to enter within 1 year but you can enter and skip out again.

4. banking
you can get a bank account open before leaving for Oz on traveltoworks site. they handle bank accounts for expats.

Thanks. I knew about seek.com.au but not the others. Will check them out. The traveltoworks site's a good idea and I'll get the account opened up.

Would you know if you have to give up your CDN drivers license after 3mts or can you still hold on to it?

I've lived in Australia for almost 2 years and I still have a valid BC driver's licence. You can hold as many driver's licences as you like, you only get into restrictions if you've had any of your licence's suspended or revoked from anywhere.

-- 11 Aug 2009 --

Oh, I should point out that you won't be able to drive in Australia on your CND DL after 3 months if you're getting PR (they just give you enough time to get your stuff together and get an Aussie one) but you can keep your Canadian one and use it as long as it's valid whenever you are in Canada, or traveling abroad in countries that accept it. Mine was going to expire last year but I renewed it when I went home for a visit.

Thanks ChaR. When you applied for car insurance in australia did you have to get a letter from your insurance company in canada stating the years you were insured with no faults etc and present it to your car insurance company in australia.

I did have to get a copy of my driving record, it was really easy to get I just rang up and they faxed it to me, but that will depend on the province you're from I think.

Thanks a bunch.

On a side note is there any additional advise that you can offer...ie when you got to Australia were there time where you said 'shucks if I have only known I would have......"

Appreciate an feedback in advance.

Good luck with your move. I've been living in Australia for 8 years now and am officially getting sworn in as an Aussie Citizen this month. My husband and I have lived in Brisbane for 6 years now and love it!

Justsplit is right about housing affordability between Brisbane and Melbourne. However, I think job prospects in your fields are better down south. As for the driver's license- it is dead easy to get. Download the booklet from the whichever state's website and read it. Then all you have to do is write the multiple- guess test.

The only thing I can really say is be prepared for everything to cost A LOT more than what you are used to: cars, food, petrol, rent, insurance etc. Get a medicare card straight away and then get private health cover- MBF or Medibank private are very popular.

Some other odds and sods:

Depending on how old your child is daycare is near impossible to find and expensive. Public schooling is good depending on which area you decide to settle in. Again contact the relevant education department in that state.

Have you considered what you are going to do with your RRSP? You will need to consider this in advance.

Don't bother bringing any electrical goods and the associated 'transformers' with you. It'll be easier and less expensive to buy new ones once you're here. Bring your computer tower (provided you can switch to 240V) if you're really keen to keep your programs and data. You can easily buy cords etc here at Dick Smith.

Take a couple days off halfway through your trip over. Either Honolulu or Fiji. It'll help with your jet lag - it will knock you for six.

Speaking of 'six', read up on the rules of cricket. The sooner the better mate! Most importantly always note that playing a game for five days with a draw is more than acceptable in any gentleman's sport.

Declare everything and I mean EVERYTHING at customs. Food, lollies, anything organic like wood, stuffed animals, scented satches (potpourri), Swiss bank accounts (just kidding) etc. They will scan your bags regardless. Better safe than sorry. Customs are really good if you are up front and honest.

It's well worth it. All the best.

Thanks kuroca. Appreciate the feedback.

Did briefly think about our RRSPs but resigned myself to the fact that if I tried to take it out I would have to give 25-30% to the govt. Are there options/alternatives anyone is aware of?

Can you educate me on the need for private healthcare? I ask as if you have public medicare card why would you need private healthcare? Again I am assuming the healthcare system is similar to the canadian health care where in most cases you have to use the public system and your company covers you for private coverage (dental, medications, some procedures etc).

I wish I had gotten a criminal record check from Canada prior to moving here... it's way easier to do it from within Canada and some jobs will want that here. Depends what you do of course, and you might already have yours done if you've gone through the visa process, but just something I found to be a pain in the bum when I had to do it from here.

Also there are tons of products and stuff from the US/Canada that you can't buy in Oz (lots you can as well, of course) so if you have any favorite soaps/shampoos/vitamins or any of that sort of thing (checking of course that none of the ingredients are prohibited and what not) stock up and bring some with you. It's just creature comforts that aren't THAT important but it always bugs me that I can't get my favorite soap here.