I salute all the Nlanders in the house. I have decided to provide some info that will help those who have just got their visas and are planning on coming over.
these are the basic things you will need.
1. A new mindset... Australia is a very good place but with very different set of laws for everything.
2. Come with enough money for your house rent (rent for one room with other facilities shared is btw $150-220 weekly depending on where you are staying) , a car(a car is a necessity here) and other basic necessities.
3. learn to drive and come with a proper drivers license- go to road safety and do the right thing, it will save you years of seeking a drivers permit here.
4. Food is cheap here except for people who are adamant on eating Nigerian food, cos african food is expensive here. 16 cubes of knorr na $5. All that Gari you take for granted is gold here. N500 goat meat is $12 here.
5. Dont bring too much clothes and shoes, clothes here depends on the weather and you have good bargains all over and for shoes it will shock you to see them walking bare feet most of the time. dem no send you at all. When you get to the airport, get a lebara line for enough talk time to those back in naija. for $29.90 about N4k monthly, you have 3 hrs talk time to naija and 2GB, and unlimited talk time within australia, optus and Telstra are good as well but dont give enough talk time to Naija.
6. For guys, buy a clipper and start learning how to shave your hair. For ladies buy wigs and learn how to do basic weaving for yourself, it will save you cash in your first few months.
7. Get all the practical skills you can use before coming
8. The first jobs you will do here will be MENIAL JOBS, except you have a job offer from Nigeria. get ready to get a white card for those who intend to work in basic construction sites or do an aged care or disability course to get into the system quickly with an aged care job. other jobs will be cleaning, working in warehouses etc. the basic pay for a cleaner here is about $17-23.40 per hour. So dont expect that to pay your fees.
9. If you can pursue the PR route, thats the best way to come to Australia.
You will be better prepared with this information. Australia is one of the best countries in the World... I can say that again and again.
my two cents...

Ive read and re read this thread... thank you to all who have by their posts and answers encouraged me to pursue the Australian dream... i will start immediately and keep the house posted on my progress. looking forward to australia soon.

God bless