Welcome to Australia

Welcome to Australia A comprehensive guide to relocating to Australia

Australia Overview  Main Language: English  Currency: AUD  Landmass: 7,741,220 Km  Population: 25,500,000  Capital: Canberra  Weather: Australia's climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north. (Australia‘s seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is Summer; March to May is Autumn; June to August is Winter; and September to November is Spring)  Culture: The main thing to note across AU is that there is not much bureaucracy and hierarchy, and joking is common in personal as well as professional settings. This may be an adjustment for some cultures. What is Australia like? English is the official language and the currency used is AUD (Australian Dollars). Many cities are very diverse, with different cultures and languages across the board. Use of English is needed for day-to-day activities. Australia’s climate varies greatly throughout the 8 states and territories. There are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north. Seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is Summer; March to May is Autumn; June to August is Winter and September to November is Spring. Australia tends to be liberal – laws are in place to allow people to follow their religion and sexual preference of choice. With a land mass close to 7.7 million square kilometers, Australia is the world's sixth largest country and is divided into three separate time zones. The country phone code is +61.  AEST (UTC + 10:00) – QLD; NSW; VIC; TAS; ACT  ACST (UTC + 9:30) – SA; NT; Broken Hill (NSW)  AWST (UTC + 8:00) – WA Daylight savings is not observed in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the first Sunday of October, when clocks are put forward an hour. It ends at 2am (which is 3am Daylight Saving Time) on the first Sunday of April, when clocks are put back one hour. ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

Emergency & Useful Contacts In an emergency, telephone 000 for:  Police  Ambulance  Fire Brigade Calls to 000 (triple zero) are free. Be prepared to say:  Your name  Your location  The telephone number you are calling from  Type of service you need  If you do not speak English, let the operator know what kind of help you need – say “Police”, “Ambulance” or “Fire” – and then speak your language You will be connected to an interpreter, so do not hang up. Pre-Arrival Checklist & Arrival Tips  Passport  Visa  Cash  Credit card  Accommodation booking  Purchase a prepaid SIM card at the Airport or any 7-11 store using your passport. Australia has nine international airports throughout the country that connect with a network of smaller local airports. All the international airports provide access to duty-free shops, currency exchanges, restaurants, and tourist information centers. Ground transportation includes buses, coaches and taxis which will be available to ferry you to your desired location. Car rental agencies and, in some cases, limousine services are also available. Major airports include: Adelaide International Airport and the Domestic Terminal are only 6km away from the city center. The Skylink Airport Shuttle bus links the airport to Adelaide Parklands Rail Terminal and the city center, while local buses also link the airport to the Adelaide suburbs. There are taxi services as well as car rental available and travelling to town by car is approximately 10 mins. Melbourne Airport is located approximately 21 km/13 miles northwest of Melbourne. Travel time from the ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

city to the airport is about 20 to 30 minutes. Metered taxis are available. SkyBus, a private bus service goes directly to and from Southern Cross Station in the city, with connecting service to local hotels. It is available on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. Major international car rental agencies are available, as well as local agencies that may offer lower rates. Perth Airport is located approximately 12 km/7 miles from downtown Perth. International flights arrive and depart from a separate terminal from domestic flights. The terminals are located about 10 km/6 miles apart, with airport buses providing transportation between the two. The best way to get to the city of Perth is by taxi. Drivers customarily ask passengers to pay the fare in advance; tipping is not required but appreciated. There is also an Airport-City bus available through major hotels that is more cost effective than a taxi, but it will take longer. Major car rental agencies are available and are preferable if you will be travelling in the area or staying for several days. Sydney Airport is approximately 9 km/6 miles south of downtown Sydney, travelling time at approximately 15 to 30 minutes. There are three terminals: T1 for international flights, T2 for domestic flights, and T3 for Qantas Airline domestic flights. Passengers may travel between terminals using the T-Bus Service, AirportLink, or shuttle services that are available from some carriers. The quickest way to get from the airport to the center of the city and surrounding suburbs is to use the AirportLink rail system, which has stations at all three airport terminals. Trains leave every 10 minutes and the trip to Sydney's city center takes less than 15 minutes. Buses or coaches are available to take passengers from airline terminals to downtown Sydney, hotels, motels, and guesthouses. NSW Transport – provides information of bus services to various destinations in the city. Airport Express buses are available from the international and domestic airport terminals and operate seven days a week from early morning to late evening. Housing - What You Need to Know Extremely competitive market. Expect a high number of applicants when applying and a very fast process. Properties are generally let within 1 week of advertising. Properties must be viewed in person prior to applying. Most properties can be found on https://www.realestate.com.au/rent. SIRVA BGRS’s Destination Consultants have good relations with agencies, they will check in on unlisted properties once they have a clear idea on what you are looking for. Viewings are public and open to multiple parties (group viewings). Private viewings are difficult to arrange and may be cancelled if there is only one registered party. Apply immediately after viewing if you are keen on the property. Most applications must be submitted via https://www.1link.com.au/ . SIRVA Destination consultant will discuss this process ahead of the viewings to ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

have the application ready when viewings start. Payment of the bond, advance rent and the signing of the lease is expected within 48 hours of offer from the agency. The offer will generally be made within 48 hours of viewing the property. Room for negotiation is small and can compromise the effectiveness of an application. Realestate.com.au  Type in your preferred location(s), property type, bedrooms and minimum/maximum weekly rental to see what’s available.  Click on the property type to see more details and photos, as well as book in viewings. Medical services by doctors, specialists and other health professionals Documents required for application Your identification: Come prepared with photo identification (driver’s license or passport), Medicare card, birth certificate, car registration or healthcare card. Professional/personal references: Provide names and contact details of references who will give positive recommendations. SIRVA BGRS can provide a letter of support in lieu of relevant rental references in AU. Don’t hesitate to approach your consultant.  Copies of recent rent receipts/rates notices  A tenancy or rental ledger that shows your ability to pay rent regularly and on time  Copies of previous utility accounts  Bank statements and pay slips to show proof of income  Pay slips could come from your employer or a Centrelink income statement The Lease Process and What to Expect Identify Housing Needs Your local relocation consultant will source for properties based on your home search criteria Viewings/Inspection Your local relocation consultant will arrange and accompany you for viewings Offer Submit applications after viewing. Payment of Bond (security deposit) of 4 weeks and an advance of the first month's rent to the Landlord required within 24-48 hours of offer. Signing of Contract Review, negotiate and sign the formal contract, the Tenancy Agreement (TA). ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

Application of utilities and telecom facilities Utilities and internet/cable TV can be applied with the assistance of your local relocation consultant. Handover Collection of keys/access cards from the agency on the day of the lease start date. A condition report will be provided and returned within the time frame specified by the agency. Please note: The condition report will be utilized upon termination of the lease to check for damages. Please note any marks, stains, drips or damages on the original ingoing condition report. Need Furniture? Purchase Furniture There are many furniture options in Australia, both in-store and online. Here are some recommended sites:  IKEA  Fantastic Furniture  Brosa  Temple & Webster  Zest Living Furniture Rental Furniture rental options available, you just need to complete a checklist to receive items at home  Argus Furniture Rentals  Living Edge  Pabs Rental Furniture ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

Education in Australia Types of schools in Australia School Options Curriculum Tuition (AUD) Eligibility Requirements Private Schools Australian with British Estimated at $25,000 - Class sizes are smaller. If influences $40,000/annum for tuition only. there is no space in the year the child will either go For international expats there is on a wait list or the usually an international fee in application rejected. addition to base tuition Catholic, Anglican Australian Estimated at $4,500 - and Church of $20,000/annum for tuition. England May be an international fee for expatriates. Public School Australian Rough estimation at Long-term lease/home $1,500/annum. purchase required within the catchment zone of the Varies by school. Low fees in school to apply. comparison. Fast Facts & Red For public schooling, we must have secured a lease before applying to schools. The Flags consultant working with you will take this into account when looking at potential properties. Schools almost always conduct their curriculum in English. Some schools offer additional ESL support. If children don’t have much English this is good to know ahead of the search. Public schools can vary greatly in caliber. Where possible it’s always best to engage a consultant to get their advice on the best options and linked in with a property in the best location. We are seeing less movement at present, with the Covid-19 restrictions. This is making wait times on private schools longer and can be difficult to secure enrolment. Important!  Public school enrollment requires a lease to be secured before enrolment.  Schools close for the Australian Summer period which is from December to January. There is little to no activity during that time. Enrolment will gradually pick up from end of January until February.  If private schools are fully subscribed, new students will need to be on the waitlist until a placement opens up. This process can’t be fast-tracked.  In Australia, children must attend school from five years of age until they finish Year 10. After Year 10, they must participate in full-time education, training or employment or a combination of these activities (at least 25 hours per week) until they finish Year 12 or reach 17 years of age. ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

If lockdown is implemented, children with parents at home will be required to participate in online learning.  All government and government-aided schools follow the same curriculum outlined by Australian and State Government.  The school system consists of 4 terms and runs from February to December. Foreign students must have a valid Australian visa to apply and attend a local school.  All immunization and health records will be required to be translated into English for submission and will need to be verified by a local General Practitioner (GP) upon arrival and prior to school admission.  Government and government-aided schools are free for all students to attend. Pre-schools/Kindergarten Children who are not old enough to go to school can be cared for through formal childcare services while their parents go to work, attend training or study. There are many types of full-time and part-time childcare services available for young children. Suitable childcare places can be difficult to find, and it is recommended that you investigate options well before they are needed. Childcare options include childcare or day care centers, and family day care where children are looked after by another parent along with their own family. Children can also attend preschools or kindergartens that prepare children for school. You can call the National Child Care Access Hotline to find out more about:  Childcare services in your area  Types of childcare available and possible vacancies  Government help with the cost of care  Services for special needs children  Services for children from various cultural backgrounds National childcare information services: Child Care Access Hotline 8.00 am – 9.00 pm, Monday to Friday 1800 670 305 www.mychild.gov.au My Child 13 36 84 www.mychild.gov.au ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

There are also playgroups, where parents and their young children get together for the children to play and for the parents to make friendships and share information. To find the location of a playgroup near you: Playgroup Australia 1800 171 882 https://playgroupaustralia.org.au/ Schools with SEN/Additional Support There are some local schools which provide learning support. They are operated by the Australian Education Department. Information and schooling options can be found in the links below. If your child does not speak English, please clarify with your local consultant, so they can research and investigate further for you.  Australian Capital Territory  New South Wales  Northern Territory  Queensland  South Australia  Tasmania  Victoria  Western Australia Other information:  Schools offer their own curriculum.  School calendar is from February to December.  Admissions to international schools with SEN / Additional Support is limited and specific information and documents will be required. Please consult with SIRVA BGRS’s local Destination Consultant as soon as possible.  Annual school fees vary based on the needs of a student and the school. Other than tuition fee, schools may require Enrolment Fee, Annual Capital Levy, Debenture, and other miscellaneous fees. ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.

Activities for Children and Families In Australia, it is not difficult to find activity centers. Australians tend to enjoy getting out and about in their free time. Each state is full of activities to experience and areas for you and your family to explore. Please check below lists for your reference:  Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)  New South Wales (Sydney)  Northern Territory (Darwin)  Queensland (Brisbane)  South Australia (Adelaide)  Tasmania  Victoria (Melbourne)  Western Australia (Perth) ©2022 SIRVA BGRS Worldwide, Inc. Confidential and Proprietary.