Daughter heading to Aus
Discussion
Mattt said:
Medicare is the Aussie NHS, slightly different but not sure what pommygranite is going on about.
Not all costs are covered - you can't walk into a gp's for treatment and walk out without paying although part are subsidised. Ambulances aren't free etc. I might be wrong but she won't even have a Medicare card so all costs are on her.Medicare can help when eligible bits not NHS free.
This is the link to what the NHS / Medicare reciprocal agreement allows.
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/...
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/...
silverthorn2151 said:
What's the best thing for her to do mobile phone wise?
The wife and I arrived a month ago and went around all the mobile shops to find the best deal.Something they do here which is different is that your credit expires at the end of a set period. In the UK on O2 I used to put 30 pound credit on and it lasted 6 months or more. Here its wiped out at the end of 30 days.
We found vodaphone to have the best pre-pay rate to the UK by a mile. I think its a 0.70c connection fee then a maximum charge of a dollar - That's on a $20 top-up on their international plan. This is the plan my wife is on.
I have one for $30 per top-up which gets me 500mb data but that's only of use on a smart phone. Incidentally we've found Skype via the mobile network is crap - much better via broadband.
Every McDonalds has free Wi-Fi just like the UK but here no password is required. Just connect and open a browser window.
Pommygranite said:
Not all costs are covered - you can't walk into a gp's for treatment and walk out without paying although part are subsidised. Ambulances aren't free etc. I might be wrong but she won't even have a Medicare card so all costs are on her.
Medicare can help when eligible bits not NHS free.
GP cost me $70, of which $35 was refunded straight away by Medicare.Medicare can help when eligible bits not NHS free.
Didn't realise Ambulance wasn't covered, but I have BUPA Platinum which covers me for everything but isn't cheap ($250/month).
Pommygranite said:
I'd go the other way - get unlocked cheap pre-paid when she gets here as the vast majority of calls/text she'll make will be to other numbers here in oz and get an international calling card for calls home.
DON'T use roaming here - there is no $ limit to the billing of it here unlike EU so data charges are horrific.
Flip it round - if someone were going to the UK what would you do?
Oh, travel insurance -get it and get it good. Theres no NHS here so that ambulance call out - $500-1000. Just for theambulance. That or sign up for a cheap medical insurance when she gets here - google medibank/hbf/bupa.
Regarding phones, get the iPhone unlocked before she goes (£15-£25 depending on current uk provider) and get a payg sim here in aus. Telstra have by far the best coverage (and 4G!) and it's very cheap indeed - $50 buys $1,000 per month credit and 1gb data and the credit can be used for calls to the UK at 89cents a minute..DON'T use roaming here - there is no $ limit to the billing of it here unlike EU so data charges are horrific.
Flip it round - if someone were going to the UK what would you do?
Oh, travel insurance -get it and get it good. Theres no NHS here so that ambulance call out - $500-1000. Just for theambulance. That or sign up for a cheap medical insurance when she gets here - google medibank/hbf/bupa.
Other than that, it's extremely easy to get on here, summer is coming, happy days and she'll have a great time
silverthorn2151 said:
This is all brilliant stuff people and exactly what I was hoping for.
I'm trying not to interfere too much as part of the adventure is her doing all this for herself but I wanted the knolwedge to guide with a degree of confidence.
She has a return ticket (or will have). I have already spoken to her about an exit or escape route if things don't go right. They are getting tickets through Trailfinders adn I understand that although the return flight home is booked for a date in late August it can be changed for a fixed fee of £100.
To be honest though I console myself that if there is some sort of disaster I can go and get her or at least get her home somehow.
We have already spoken about the skype thing. Casting her adrift just isn't going to happen so we will be speaking with her regularly. She is leaving her iphone here (and I'm apparantly paying the blessed contract while she is away!!)as her provider were less than helpful. I rather presume she would get a pay as you go phone over there and we'll work out a way of texting to trigger a skype call.
We have various friends and contacts in the areas they plan heading to awho are all happy to act as emergency contacts, which as a parent is a considerable comfort.
Wish we'd done it to be honest but when I were a lad the only option was a trip round europe on a train! Wasn't prepared to give up my 1275gt for that though!
my first car was a 1275 GT, put a 1380 race engine and MG Metro seats!! loved that car, 18 years on and I still remember the registration GRO 936T lolI'm trying not to interfere too much as part of the adventure is her doing all this for herself but I wanted the knolwedge to guide with a degree of confidence.
She has a return ticket (or will have). I have already spoken to her about an exit or escape route if things don't go right. They are getting tickets through Trailfinders adn I understand that although the return flight home is booked for a date in late August it can be changed for a fixed fee of £100.
To be honest though I console myself that if there is some sort of disaster I can go and get her or at least get her home somehow.
We have already spoken about the skype thing. Casting her adrift just isn't going to happen so we will be speaking with her regularly. She is leaving her iphone here (and I'm apparantly paying the blessed contract while she is away!!)as her provider were less than helpful. I rather presume she would get a pay as you go phone over there and we'll work out a way of texting to trigger a skype call.
We have various friends and contacts in the areas they plan heading to awho are all happy to act as emergency contacts, which as a parent is a considerable comfort.
Wish we'd done it to be honest but when I were a lad the only option was a trip round europe on a train! Wasn't prepared to give up my 1275gt for that though!
my advice is to bring the iphone but get it unlocked. put in an australian sim card for texting etc, then she can go to one of the hundreds of places with free Wifi and skype you from her phone - will save her a fortune in internet cafe bills
there is a free type system here which is pretty much the same as the NHS, they have a recipricol agreement with the UK NHS, the NHS treats Aussies for free and vice versa. it is for emergencies only as far as I am aware, if its just a general doctors visit then the usual fee's have to be paid.
Well, we are gradually getting things sorted.
She is going to buy a payg phone when there. She will have a netbook to Skype and an iPod touch to facetime and use for wi-fi.
I am going to get her some insurance but not decided which type yet.
What advice is there about taking and getting access to money? I have asked her but not convinced that they know what is best.
Sorry for all the questions but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone.
She is going to buy a payg phone when there. She will have a netbook to Skype and an iPod touch to facetime and use for wi-fi.
I am going to get her some insurance but not decided which type yet.
What advice is there about taking and getting access to money? I have asked her but not convinced that they know what is best.
Sorry for all the questions but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone.
silverthorn2151 said:
Well, we are gradually getting things sorted.
She is going to buy a payg phone when there. She will have a netbook to Skype and an iPod touch to facetime and use for wi-fi.
I am going to get her some insurance but not decided which type yet.
What advice is there about taking and getting access to money? I have asked her but not convinced that they know what is best.
Sorry for all the questions but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone.
she can set up a NAB (National Australia Bank) account before even setting foot outside the UK, upon arrival in Australia she shows her passport and then she has an account. She can transfer money prior using the supplied details so that upon arrival the cash is there in the bank and she doesnt have to carry lots with her. You can also just then transfer money as and when she needs it. There is a small cost each time but its worth it and totally safe, I have been doing it for three years now. NAB also dont have any charges whatsover (overdrawn / over limit/ late payment etc)She is going to buy a payg phone when there. She will have a netbook to Skype and an iPod touch to facetime and use for wi-fi.
I am going to get her some insurance but not decided which type yet.
What advice is there about taking and getting access to money? I have asked her but not convinced that they know what is best.
Sorry for all the questions but I feel a bit out of my comfort zone.
transfer initially took three days but now (as both UK and Oz account verified) it takes 24 hours.
james280779 said:
there is a free type system here which is pretty much the same as the NHS, they have a recipricol agreement with the UK NHS, the NHS treats Aussies for free and vice versa. it is for emergencies only as far as I am aware, if its just a general doctors visit then the usual fee's have to be paid.
This is correct, emergency fully covered by reciprocal treatment, all other costs are payable at point of treatment. Plus there's no max on medication costs like in the uk! Ambulances in WA cost $800, no ifs, no buts, and that's a good reason for insurance on its own! Regarding money transfers, defo open an Ozzie account before travel, we opened an account with the commonwealth bank prior to arriving here, just visit there web site, NAB bank here in oz own the Yorkshire bank in the uk, maybe worth looking at, but they did take a long time to open an account, so we didn't use them.
Money transfers are easy, but don't use the banks direct, they rape you on the exchange rate, we use HiFX. They use commercial rates do with the oz dollar being. Strong at the mo, I'd suggest this kind if route. Better in your pocket than the banks!!!!!!!
Money transfers are easy, but don't use the banks direct, they rape you on the exchange rate, we use HiFX. They use commercial rates do with the oz dollar being. Strong at the mo, I'd suggest this kind if route. Better in your pocket than the banks!!!!!!!
^^absolutely, the sun in Perth is brutal re bank accounts I use westpac (mainly because of their banking app but also because of their helpful London branch) and they do just as above...probably makes no difference as long as you use one of the big four..and yes, avoid the transfer charges! 
Oi! 
Under 3 weeks to go now and I think all the ducks are lined up.
She has bank account opened, luggage purchased, dentist visited, party arranged. Got her first Australian Dollars as well. I thought the money you saw on 'Neighbours' was pretend....turns out it's all pretend!! Who'd a thought it.
Anyway, just travel insurance to sort out. And tissues for SWMBO at Heathrow.
We dropped our youngest at Uni on Bournemouth and on the way home she cried from there until 20 miles up the M3! I predict weeping all the way back round the M25 from Heathrow to Chingford!
Under 3 weeks to go now and I think all the ducks are lined up.
She has bank account opened, luggage purchased, dentist visited, party arranged. Got her first Australian Dollars as well. I thought the money you saw on 'Neighbours' was pretend....turns out it's all pretend!! Who'd a thought it.
Anyway, just travel insurance to sort out. And tissues for SWMBO at Heathrow.
We dropped our youngest at Uni on Bournemouth and on the way home she cried from there until 20 miles up the M3! I predict weeping all the way back round the M25 from Heathrow to Chingford!
Well, thought I'd bump this thread as she has been in Perth now since late November.
She looked as the first couple of months as a holiday and she has now got a job in a coffee shop which she loves.
The 3 girls she went with are turning a bit strange. Rather insular and not seeming to want to do much other than mix with boys at the hostel. Anyway, they may move on without my daughter. She doesn't seem worried about that and gets on better now with some others from the hostel. I'm pretty relaxed about this but SWMBO is a little hissy about it.
All in all Perth sounds like a great place to start this sort of trip.
She looked as the first couple of months as a holiday and she has now got a job in a coffee shop which she loves.
The 3 girls she went with are turning a bit strange. Rather insular and not seeming to want to do much other than mix with boys at the hostel. Anyway, they may move on without my daughter. She doesn't seem worried about that and gets on better now with some others from the hostel. I'm pretty relaxed about this but SWMBO is a little hissy about it.
All in all Perth sounds like a great place to start this sort of trip.
silverthorn2151 said:
Well, thought I'd bump this thread as she has been in Perth now since late November.
She looked as the first couple of months as a holiday and she has now got a job in a coffee shop which she loves.
The 3 girls she went with are turning a bit strange. Rather insular and not seeming to want to do much other than mix with boys at the hostel. Anyway, they may move on without my daughter. She doesn't seem worried about that and gets on better now with some others from the hostel. I'm pretty relaxed about this but SWMBO is a little hissy about it.
All in all Perth sounds like a great place to start this sort of trip.
I shouldn't worry too much, my daughter worked in St Lucia for four or five months a few years ago. She started off sharing a home with a person who turned out to be a complete arse from the start so she ended up moving in with some new friends after about four weeks and never looked back.She looked as the first couple of months as a holiday and she has now got a job in a coffee shop which she loves.
The 3 girls she went with are turning a bit strange. Rather insular and not seeming to want to do much other than mix with boys at the hostel. Anyway, they may move on without my daughter. She doesn't seem worried about that and gets on better now with some others from the hostel. I'm pretty relaxed about this but SWMBO is a little hissy about it.
All in all Perth sounds like a great place to start this sort of trip.
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