bligs:

You can drive for as long as you like as at now in Queensland but its advisable to get one because its even requirement for some jobs.

bligs:


Since you already have a Canadian PR, why not activate it and after two or three years you can effortlessly move to Australia instead of wasting time and resources for Australian PR?
Even if you are a citizen, school fees for children is not totally free unlike Canada, IT jobs are concentrated in the big cities and you compete with the best to get one, drilling jobs is on the lowest level as Australia is not an oil producing country and the closest occupation to that is in mining sector which is also on the decline.
The good thing is that there's high tendency of making more money in Australia than Canada in as much as you are not lazy and you are flexible to switch occupation in events of what you aspire is not forth coming and also things are relatively expensive than in Canada, weather conditions actually varies across the States, can be extremely cold during winter as well as very hot during summer.

pitman10:




Alright thank you...and also 1 more question please, can I easily get a car with its registration still valid for like $1000

bligs:

Sure but may not be easily and reliable, if you actually want a very good car then you have to raise your bar.

bligs:


Since you already have a Canadian PR, why not activate it and after two or three years you can effortlessly move to Australia instead of wasting time and resources for Australian PR?
Even if you are a citizen, school fees for children is not totally free unlike Canada, IT jobs are concentrated in the big cities and you compete with the best to get one, drilling jobs is on the lowest level as Australia is not an oil producing country and the closest occupation to that is in mining sector which is also on the decline.
The good thing is that there's high tendency of making more money in Australia than Canada in as much as you are not lazy and you are flexible to switch occupation in events of what you aspire is not forth coming and also things are relatively expensive than in Canada, weather conditions actually varies across the States, can be extremely cold during winter as well as very hot during summer.

bellong:


Drilling operations is not restricted to oil prospecting. Drilling is a major part of mining and mineral prospecting. There is healthy demand for drillers in Western Australia and Northern Queensland.

Moving to Australia as a Canadian citizen is not a walk in the park. It is either you follow the skill migration or the work holiday arrangement which has age limit. If they have the resources and can meet up the points, they can go ahead now than later.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.
I wouldnt mind if you can help my migration processing,i have some amount but isnt enough.if its successful will pay back when am.in.

tyosho:
It will be nice if this thread is restricted to info about life in australia.Not questions on how to secure visa or gain admission.

My family and I made use of IOM to secure our travel tickets.We went with emirates and had a stopover in Dubai.Nothing special about the travel experience.We were entitled to 40kg per adult,40kg for a child and 23kg for infant.We also paid for 2 extra bags of 32kg each but i hear prices have gone up so cargoing is cheaper.You can cargo through certain airlines like saa,emirates and etihad.
All in all we had like 12 luggages.
I went with ALL kinds of food stuffs except beans(becos of weavils).With my food items,i put them individually in transparent bags and labelled them.Fish,egusi,dry pepper,garri,amala etc.
Got to melbourne,declared i had food items but was not searched and was allowed to go through.

We opened accts with NAB and commonwealth bank but didnt transfer any money from nigera.We went with some cash and left the remaining in a GT dom acct and transferred from there to our OZzy acct when we arrived.We also opened a dom acct in OZ(commonwealth bank was seamless) for ease of transfer.There might be a cheaper way to transfer funds but this is what we did.

We stayed with family in Northern suburbs initially but got our own place in the Eastern suburbs,somewhere not far from Dandenong.We settled for the East because its quite busy,more factories and industries in these areas.If i dont live in the East,I will go for the North and West in that order.West is cheapest but people say it has a history of crime.I however have friends who have lived in the West over 10years and have never had any incidents.Anyhow,wherever you decide to stay is fine.Just get somewhere close to the train station and mall.

In melbourne,you can use your naija license for 6months.My husband passed his victoria drivers test on first attempt,i havnt tried yet for my drivers license.People say though that it can be quite tough cos i know someone who failed 5times!I was able to start driving within 2months of getting here.Just remember,you drive on the left always.

No ideas on how mortgages work but when choosing a neighborhood,also consider ones with good schools if you have kids.If your kids are still of daycare age(below 5),use careforkids.com.au to compare prices,reviews etc.

Settling in was not bad for me cos i had friends and family here already.My kids settled fine as well.

Upon arrival;
Get a mobile sim(i use lebara)
Apply for TFN(tax file no)
Open a bank account or go and activate the one you opened from Nigeria
Go to centerlink and medicare for registration
Get a travel card(MYki card if in melbourne).

Update your linkedin profile and make it very appealing to recruiters.You can also search for recruiters on Linkedin.

With regards to work,there is always something to do.It might not be want you want initially but there is work.Some people start off working at factories,aged care homes,disability and support centres etc until they eventually get what they want.Some people also end up going into nursing,community welfare,policing etc.But like i said,if you dont mind chopping humble pie to start somewhere earning money with these blue collar jobs,you will be okay.I know people who have houses with money earned from these blue collar professions.
There is dignity of labour here so people dont care what job you do to earn money.

For transportation,if you can afford it,pls plan to buy a car asap(carsales.com.au,gumtreee.com.au).please buy cars with roadworthiness and valid registration(at least 6months).If no car,you can use the metro system until you can afford to get a car here.

For housing,a friend referred us to her agent who leased us an apartment even though we didnt have jobs at the time.She accepted our bank statements as proof of income.We pay just a little below 2k monthly as rent.

Then i also just found out about NRAS housing scheme from a colleague days back.Its for families who fall within a certain income threshold.IF your rent was like 350,you would pay like 260 and the govt will pay the balance.I dont have much info as i dont qualify anymore since hubby and I both work now.But im certain most freshbies would qualify.

With furnishing the house,we went across gumtree.com(for people who were selling their furniture due relocation or other reasons),kmart stores( for kitchen items),bestbuy.com(this is a company that sells new electronics at reduced prices because they have scratches or marks on them;there are plenty stores like that but this is the one i patronised) and ikea stores(for kitchen and beddings)

For people that dont mind as well,in order to save costs,you can patronise Salvos stores(its a charity shop that all kinds of household items in great condition).

To get the best energy providers,internet providers,insurance etc,you can make use of iselect.com.au

During cold weather,you wear jacket and use heater(we paid almost 200 a month for heating during this past winter)

I do most of my shopping at Dandenong Market as food stuffs there is cheaper than everyother place I know.There is also Marmara market at Dandenong(all kinds of food items including shaki,cowleg,cow tongue etc) and an African store not far from the market(cant rememeber the name).At noble park is SUR african shop where i get dry fish,palm oil,egusi and stuff like that.

With departmental stores,woolworths is most expensive and aldi is cheapest.Coles is in between.
I know of only one nigerian restaurant that recently opened in the city and i have never been there before.
There is also another popular naija shop in the West called Fatimoh"s shop

With centerlink link claims,we were paid family tax benefit part A and B,family rebate and child care assistance.This all sumed up to $621 forthnightly for the first 4months,it came down to 550 and then now sits at $89 fortnightly.It reduces with every income increase.
Childcare rates was $113 for two kids initially (5days a week) and now is $370 a week.

We also got a concession card which has now been cancelled since we both have jobs.With the concession card,we paid discounted electricity and waterbills,half price for transportation,free ambulance cover,susbsizied fees if we had done any studies at the time and my first kid who is in kinder got 15hours free of daycare weekly .

With jobs,for me,it was just God.I got a job in the Tier 1 team of an IT company with no technical knowledge whatsover.It was my 3rd video interview and i got the job two months after arrival.I commute 54mins by train to the CBD which is quite a distance by OZ standard.But i dont mind really.I got the job through indeed.com which i prefer to seek.com
There a couple of recruitment agencies i know and i will list as i remember.

Strategy one(blue collar)
Adecco
Hoban
Ozstaff(blue collar)
Randstad
Sharp &carter
Hays
Smaart



cc Bellong,vinsmuft,funkjo,oknee,hordunayo,incemay,abeg you guys should come and add o

Bodacious1:
What is it like as Nigerians living in Melbourne? The weather, accommodation, the people, jobs, social/cultural scene? etc

ignis:


Google is your best friend.

Bodacious1:
This is a lame response. Neither is it very smart.

I'm interested in knowing how life is like for Nigerians [specifically] who currently live in Melbourne. I am assuming this thread has such people, no?

Good advice you obviously need: Read to understand and not produce unhelpful comments.

Bodacious1:
What is it like as Nigerians living in Melbourne? The weather, accommodation, the people, jobs, social/cultural scene? etc

ignis:




Weather , people, social and culture of Australia can be gotten from Google.

ignis:




Weather , people, social and culture of Australia can be gotten from Google.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.please am interested...... I need your help. This my number..08034839609

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.

bellong:


It is a migration agent website. It is for those who want to use an agent. You can Google MARA website to confirm he is registered.

MissyGSam:
Hi My Fellow Australians

Happy New Year!

Is anyone relocating (or planning to relocate) to Sydney? My family and I and happy to host you for a few days till you find your accommodation and generally settle down. In fact you will be welcomed with hot, spicy Jollof and cold orange juice, with the possibility of dodo, and of course all for free.

What is in it for us? Nothing, or should I say the blessings of God.

So why are we doing this? Well, let's just say, it is our own way of giving back and serving God this year. When we arrived a fellow Nigeria we barely knew took us in, accommodated us and feed us for FREE. So yes we are giving back.

Why Should You Trust Us:
Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a convincing answer. As Nigerians I know we know SCAM is real. But I am happy to answer questions to ease your fears.


Family Composition
We live toward Western Sydney
Family of 3
You get a room to yourself.

veryconcluded:
My Journey

My departure experience from Nigerian Airport was as usual, nothing ghen ghen. I had a stop over at Abu Dhabi and Perth, unknown to me Australia is really a big country cos it took me additional six hours from Perth to Sydney. I dare not make such mistake again

My Stopover experience? When I landed at the Abu Dhabi airport, the overzealous airport staff selected me out of the crowd, being the only black and a Nigerian, I knew what this was only a time wasting process started asking silly questions of why I was going to Australia and why I was studying the course I chose. Not even in Australia yet and I am going through all this, despite a valid student's visa.
A little clumsy at Perth Airport with all my goodbye nigeria luggage, cos you had to take a bus from the international to the local airport, thankfully i was able to get the Trolley Cart using the Aud coins I had on me because I had my currency changed at Abu dhabi.
Nothing remarkable at Perth Airport.

* What are the immigration rules to follow?
Do not bring growing seeds, anything that can be cracked like beans, nuts. Instead have them all blended and in air tight white bags.You can google Australia incoming passenger card to get familiar with their forbidden foods. Please declare every thing. I declared my wooden stick (omorogun). Have an address that you will be staying handy and also an Australian phone cos you will be asked to fill this in the form.

* How did you carry all that cash with you?
I had just $4000 us dollars, which was declared .

* Can you open bank account while still in Naija?
I opened a NAB account which I opened online in Nigeria, and they actually sent the welcome letter to my home address in Lagos. I had my handy eftpos card waiting to be picked up at my selected branch when I got to Australia.

* Which State/suburb did you settle in and why?
Just like most people, it is where you know someone that you feel comfortable to settle in. I settled in popular gbogbo ero in Liverpool, Sydney . You find a lot of migrants there

* Driving in Australia? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get Aussie license?
Hmmmm. This one pass me. It took me a long while to get used to be comfortable driving, I used my Nigeria driving for a year then it expired, kept renewing the Nigeria International driver license yearly for 2 years, until I got the permanent residency then I had no choice but to sit for the dreaded driving test, almost had a heart attack in my preparation. I had to go for a crash driving lesson at the rate of 40 dollars per hr for 4 hrs in 2 weeks. Thank God for that, cos that Naija driving would have failed me woefully. I cannot risk the license taken at all.

* Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood, mortgage plans, proximity to work etc.
Levels changed after no more school fees, we had to move to a quiet neighborhood cos it is closer to kids school. There is really no tips, depends on how much you are willing to pay for the accommodation and proximity to school, station/bus stop, and work
Mortgage plan is seriously on the way, tired of the agent peering into your house during the house inspection not to talk of the liability called house rent.

* How easy was it to settle in, with your kids? How did you go about finding the right schools for them? What is their school system like for toddlers (age 5 and below)?
There is pre-school for 4years old
As a parent of little ones , at least a quarter of your income goes to child care. Damn, it was really expensive. Thankfully, we had couple of friends around that sometimes helped to care for our little ones, but remember it is do me I do you and this also comes with a bit of begging and often disappointment.

* Can a mother combine work and taking care of the kids? Easier if the kids are older, not less than 8 years. It is possible but one of the parents will have a flexible shift. Here in Australia, it is not mother thing, it is parent thing.

* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather
Easy, just like nigeria weather most times of the year. Thankfully, I visited a boutique in lagos before coming and got really beautiful clothes because they don't really have nice female outfits aside their jeans and tops, the classy quality ones are ridiculously expensive. Meanwhile you will get them at affordable prices in Nigeria, UK or America.

* How much does your family survive on in a month?
It is an expensive place, you cannot risk not getting a good well job.
By the way, I was scammed when I was new in town. Got employed by a guy but was not paid for my job, at least if he wont pay he will talk - I used the guy as a work reference to get my accommodation and my 2nd job which was a step to greater heights.

Praying for bountiful rain upon the land of Australia and Merry Christmas Everyone.

Cottyekundayo:
anyone in townsville? kindly PM

pitman10:




Ok thank you, I just want something I can start with as a student, something I can just m8ve around with