We are moving to Australia from the USA...Anyone from there? I have so many questions!!?

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Skye

2. Also, if we choose to live in the city...will I need to buy a car..or are most things within walking or biking distance.

It really depends on where you choose to live. The rail network in brisbane is actually pretty good. Check out qr.com.au when you get a little closer and you can see the rail stations. Buses are a little less reliable however have a more flexible infrastructure. Parking in most brisbane suburbs is ample, with the majority of houses having off street parking.

3. If he is sponsored on a 457 Visa...am I able to work over there? Are jobs hard to find?

Jobs are not hard to find. Retail jobs and hospitality jobs always have an abundance of positions. try seek.com.au or mycareer.com.au for more job listings closer to the date.

4. How is the housing...we like small places..just me and my hubby so a small place is fine....What is the cost average?

To rent or buy? Renting in Brisbane has become more expensive, however in comparison to other cities isnt too bad.

5. Is there alot of crime?

Really depends on the area. Most places are pretty good. I live in the outer northern suburbs of brisbane, apparently in not such a great area and I have never ever been broken into or attacked.

7. Will my laptop work there...I mean will i be able to charge it or do I need a special adaptor...what about internet is offered in many places? High Speed?

You will need an adapter. Internet is good and high speed. Offered by a multitude of companies. Try Telstra and Optus - They are the main telephone suppliers and are most likely to give you a good deal for bundling your home phone, internet and mobiles.

- Email me if you have any more questions! :)

- Useful sites:

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/suburbs

This site is GREAT check out the suburbs section they have info on the different suburbs, what the real estate and crime levels are like, whats around.

translink.com.au

This site is the public transport site for the region.

bom.gov.au

This site is up to date weather for australia. Gives a radar and warnings for storms and stuff. An essential website! Especially in Brisbane where we have the most spectacular summer storms.

EDIT: Don't forget to try vegemite and tim tams while your here. :)

Kaya B

1. It would be better for you to leave some money you can access electronically in the US to pay bills etc. If you need to top up your US account you can transfer money from Australia to the US bank easily enough.

2. It depends on your lifestyle and where you live, whether you can survive without a car. I would suggest you probably want a car to explore Brisbane and surrounding areas.

3. You will be able to work on a 457 visa. Try www.seek.com.au for an idea of number of jobs in your field.

4. The cost depends dramatically on whether you want to live. If you want to live in central Brisbane you will probably be paying as a minimum $400 pw for something decent. Have a look at www.realestate.com.au.

5. Brisbane is a fairly safe city, however like all cities there are some areas to avoid at night.

6. Sorry no idea about poker - however I think there are loads of responses to that.

7. We have high(ish) speed internet available in Australia. Internet connections can be by either ADSL, ISDN, Cable, Satellite or Wireless technologies. There are loads of internet providers and you will just have to shop around when you get here. To charge your laptop you will need to get an adaptor for Australian power points. We use a Type I 2 or 3 pin plug.

shazza

Hi I have answered your questions below:

1. All my bills are from the U.S.A..he will be getting paid in AU money..so how do I pay them over there?
I would suggest a credit card facility ,with a bank that has a branch in Australia or direct debit from an account which you can have your husbands salary paid to.

2. Also, if we choose to live in the city...will I need to buy a car..or are most things within walking or biking distance.
Answer: Not in Queensland the cities by Comparison to US cities are very small so you could get by without a car but you would soon be very bored also our public transport system is pretty ordinary as most families have a car.

3. If he is sponsored on a 457 Visa...am I able to work over there? Are jobs hard to find?
Answer: Yes you can please see following website http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm

4. How is the housing...we like small places..just me and my hubby so a small place is fine....What is the cost average?
Answer:To rent and apartment or Unit as we call them $200 per week and up ,for a house it is $250 per week up ,these would be very bas accomodation and not in the best of areas it really depends on where you will live,please refer to the following website for further information
www.domain.com.au

5. Is there alot of crime?
Answer: Once again it depends where you live ,but by US standards I would say no

6. I play poker...here in the States...on a regular basis..do they have Casino's with Texas Hold'em? Is online poker legal?
Answer: we have some casino's but not many ,Jupiters the main one has texas Holdem http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/conrad_jupiters.html
also ther are plenty of online games as well

7. Will my laptop work there...I mean will i be able to charge it or do I need a special adaptor...what about internet is offered in many places? High Speed?Answer: You may need to speak to a professional about this ,but most areas have internet as to High speed you would need to consider where you live

I have so many more questions...but not enough space...any and ALL information from anyone in the area..will be greatly apprciated

Answer: If you wish to email me I would be glad to respond to further questions.

PuppyPrince

Just to add a little info: I bought a Game Boy for my daughter in the US because it was cheaper than in Aus, but when I got back here, I found that because the American power supply is so weak (120W), I had to buy something called a "step down transformer" to charge it, which filtered down the Australian 220/240 wattage. (That cost $60, which wiped out my cost savings!) Otherwise the Game Boy would have fried, apparently.

I suppose it will be the same with your laptop, so do please take advice from an electronics expert before charging it with just a simple plug adaptor.

I don't recommend you buy a step down transformer in the US and bring it with you, by the way, as the darn things weigh a ton! If you find you do need one once you get here, head for your nearest Dick Smith - even small towns will have one and I should think Brisbane has several.

And by the way, I've only been to Brissy once but it was lovely and the people are very friendly :) Good luck with your move, just keep an open mind, don't expect things to be exactly the way they are back home, and you're going to love Australia.

kay_enteepee

Wow that's a lot of questions. I can answer a few for you at least. If you choose to live in the city in QLD you have quite a few major cities to choose from with the main being Brisbane. It's a beautiful, clean city with gorgeous beaches, a thriving tourist trade and lots of small apartment style accommodation that you should be able to get quite cheaply as many are only used for renting in the summer. If you live in the CBD you can get by without a car. The public transport isn't as good in Brisbane as in Melbourne or Sydney but it's certainly manageable.
Texas Hold'em is becoming more and more popular in Australia with many clubs and casinos hosting the game and there are certainly online legal gambling sites as well.
You will need an adaptor plug for your electrical appliances, but high speed wireless internet is easily accesible.
You'll love Australia once you get here. It has the most perfect weather and beaches and great, friendly locals.

Elizabeth

Many people have already given you wonderful answers.

I'll just add a couple of things that you may not already know.
We don't tip anyone for anything unless we receive really exceptional service.
Australia has very strict gun laws. Very, very few of us have hand guns or rifles in our homes.

Power Flower

OK - I'll give it a shot:
1. Pay your USA bills via credit card, or leave enough money in the States and pay by direct debit. You'll still be able to use online banking.
2. You caaaaaaaaannnn live without a car depending where you are. Getting to work and back will be fine, but if you want to do things on the weekend you'll be stranded. Check out www.tradingpost.com.au to get idea of car prices.
3. You'll probably have to get a temporary work visa... not sure, best to check with immigration. Depends what sort of work you do as to whether or not you'll find work easily.
4. www.domain.com.au will give you an excellent idea of rental prices, just select rent and then the area you're heading to.
5. No.
6. Poker has become huge in australia and is a regular feature at a lot of pubs now. http://www.playapl.com/playpoker/events.aspx This is the Australian Poker League website.... I'm sure there'll be a game to wherever you are!
7. Yes your laptop will work - an adaptor should be easy enough to get in an electronics store. Speed varies - I'm in a NSW country town at the moment and the speed is faster than in Brisbane because there's a big university and small population!

Hope this helps!

Dangerous

You so lucky! I want go to Australia! SO so lucky! I want go see kangaroo! And lie on beach. And smile at sun. And drink fruitty umbrella drink. So, so, lucky.

Nurse Kelly

Most of your questions have been answered already. About the bills, do you have a credit card, you can use Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Maestro, Amex, American Express or Bank of America at most ATMs (automatic teller machines) in Queensland. Whether you are able to work am how hard it is to find a job, depends on what type of job you are looking for. If you are looking for a job in IT, media or Sales, yes you will find it very difficult. Jobs in health, education and trades, we are in the middle of a skills shortage and it will be much easier for you to get a job if you can get sponsorship.

jennifer h

I live on The Gold coast 1 hours drive from Brisbane. You'll love it here. I do know some of the clubs over here have texas Hold'em poker one is the workersman club on the GoldCoast but I dn't know where the other places are http://texasholdem.bangrocks.com/ http://texasholdem.bangrocks.com/ but here's some links to look at A one bedroom apartment may be ideal for you to rent . There are some very nice ones here. most have a swimming pool within the complex and I think you would pay about $270 plus for one per week. Crime is everywhere in the world. Hopefully you wont see it here but you will read about it. Just take normal procedures so it's not invited. We are basically a safe country. You will need to bring an adaptor for electrical appliances . You wont need a car as public transport is good but it would be much better if you had one as there is huge amount of places to explore. Sort out your bills with your bank before you come then you can transfer money over when you want. Gosh the exchange rate for going to USA from Australia is not good at the moment

help a baby stole my dingo

you have some great answers there so i wont waste time with answering them for you but i have just moved to brisbane and was at the treasury casino yesterday they have lots of games of texas holdem going on so no worries there i couldnt get on a table so i played carribean stud poker and got a full house straight up and the dealer opened with an ace king yee haw thought i would glout a little well best of luck.

Brutally Honest - SA

i'll only answer # 6, since i absolutely love texas hold'em.

yes, ever since Joe Hachem won the Main Event in 2005, texas hold'em poker has become HUGE here in australia. every day, there will be pubs with Free poker nights. there are tournaments and cash games in the casinos here (from what i know at least, there is definately tournaments and games in Adelaide and Melbourne)

and online poker is legal.

cc_of_0z

1. Just use your credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex etc) to pay your international bills from within Australia. The credit card company will make the currency conversion for you.

2. Depends on the city and if your new home is close to transport. Sydney is well served by trains, ferries and buses. Other cities are not so. You would prob need to get a car for Brisbane, Adelaide and expecially Perth.

3. check with the australian immigration website: www.immi.gov.au

4. Housing all over Australia has been pretty pricey in recent years. The worst places for housing costs would be Sydney and Melbourne.
Check out www.realestate.com.au for the cost of rental and buying homes Australia wide.

5. Crime is relative. Compared to the USA, Australia would be heaven I would imagine. Our cities are smaller and more spread out. You certainly won't see much armed crime going on. Australia has very tough gun control laws. I would suggest using google street view and realestate.com.au to check out the areas you are looking at moving to. Look for signs of graffiti or vandalism and general disrepair. If people are taking pride in their community chances are the crime level isn't that high there. Also check out the local neighbourhood watch group once you arrive. They can tell you what kinds of crimes happen i that locality.

6. Just about every state in Australia has at least one major casino near their capital city. New South Wales has poker machines in just about every Bar and Club. Other states may restrict gambling to just one Casino. I know there is Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast near Brisbane.

7. You will need a power adaptor to convert your laptops power supply unit to Australian power sockets. Other than that they should all work fine. You can get cable, DSL and dialup and satellite internet in Australia. Pretty similar to what you would expect in the US.

miss.a

I dont know any of your complicated questions but im from australia, Tasmania. Where in aus are u moving to?
You will love it.
There is crime, i have just finished working at the director of public prosecutions office. But trust me, no where near as bad as anywhere else in the world. And all the crime that goes on, ive heard of it but never ever seen anything with my own eyes.
Tasie is gorgeous and you should move here =)
Australia is just safe, secure and you have so many more oppertunities here than some other places..
Have fun =)

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