starting a life in aust..

sheep · October 2011

ask klang sa mnga nsa australia na...if you rent a house or shared acco. ba...ksama nba ang mga kaldero or kitchen utensile dyan?how about yung bigas?may kilo kilo bang pinagbibili? yung mode of tranportation mo especially if you are in the province or regional area? kelangan ba nmay sasakyan or mag commute klang sa bus to your workplace....>?

TotoyOZresident · October 2011

ask klang sa mnga nsa australia na...if you rent a house or shared acco. ba...ksama nba ang mga kaldero or kitchen utensile dyan?how about yung bigas?may kilo kilo bang pinagbibili? yung mode of tranportation mo especially if you are in the province or regional area? kelangan ba nmay sasakyan or mag commute klang sa bus to your workplace....>?

pag sinabi fully furnished kasama furniture like bed sofa, kitchen utensil fridge, range kaldero plato baso ito ang madalas pag room for rent ang kukunin mo hanapin mo lagi fully furnished. syempre puede ka naman bumili ng plato kutsara tinidor at baso mo. sa grocery naman may tinge tinge dun may digital scale kahit isang pirasong sibuyas, bawang kamatis puede bumili about sa bigas may mabibili ka na 1 kilo 2 kilos up to half sako ng long grain small grain or jasmin rice at iba pang klase ng bigas from Thailand and other asian countries. sa tanspo naman pagweekdays ang every 30 minutes dumadaan ng bus but sometimes 15 minutes dipende sa lugar. pagweekend pahirapan you need to wait 1 hour bago dumating ang bus dipende din pala yan kung sa city or regional. necessity ang kotse kailangan mo talaga magkaroon kasi pag may pupuntahan ka na importante or mag grogroceries. di ka makakilos ng husto pag wala kang sasakyan. mag apply ka muna ng driver licence bago ka bumili ng kotse. good condition naman ang mga second hand car dito at puedeng up to 4 years to pay. goodluck.

sheep · October 2011

thank you sir,,,may idea npo ako.....how-ever yung hong car bka hindi pa po ako makabili kasi 475 visa ko and i think di pa pwede mag apply ng car unless kung pr holder na...

OzPinoy · November 2011

@sheep may friend ako na 475 visa na nakabile ng car cash.. ako din same status balak ko din buy pagdating ko next month.. pls confirm po mga bossing na matagal na sa Oz... tnx

sheep · November 2011

actually may nabasa akong site na kailangan pag driver license kailangan pr status kna...but i will research for that,,and may kilala akong sa australia 457 nakabili ng kotse pero sa probinsiya yun at malayo sa city pag pumunta ka sa kanila ilang acres ng sorgum ang daanan mo so walang sisita sguro doon pag ok ang driver license mo hjow-ever ewan klang sa mga city...but d pa ko cguro i will research for that...

Davidx23 · November 2011

Hi, just sharing my inputs here in Brissy:
-When you rent within the CBD area, all units are fully furnished. Kahit bumili ka ng property (apartment/condo) naka-furnish na sya. Bihira kang makakakita ng property sa CBD na hindi furnished. May kaldero, kawali, utensils, lahat kumpleto. Sa mga suburb, you need to buy furnitures in ikea or some furniture store sa valley.
-You can buy rice in some local grocery store like woolsworth, coles, IGA in 1 kilogram quantities, 3, 5 or 10kgs. I usually buy my rice at the filipino store or chinese stores kasi mas malapit yung aroma nya sa mga pinas brand rice. I don't like yung sun brand na rice bec. it stinks after 1 day (mainit dito), pero pag yung mga thai rice sa filipino and chinese store - they are still ok after 2 days.
-Regional areas dito in QLD like Cairns and Rockhampton have bus services. There's also a train connecting these provinces to Brisbane kung gusto mung mag-travel interstate. Pero nowadays parang mas mura pang mag-travel via air.
-You don't need a PR status to apply for a driver's license. Pero mahigpit ang requirements dito. For countries like the Phils that don't have a special agreement with Aus regarding driving licenses, you will need to take a student test at your local "LTO", then after getting a student driver's license, you will then need to obtain 50 or 55 hrs logged driving to upgrade your student to a non-pro license.
-You can buy a car here even without a license, if you have the cash. You can buy pretty much everything if you have cash.

sheep · November 2011

tHANK YOU sir david foryour comment,ask klang po...what do you mean by logged driving ..?
do i have to drive under the supervision of a professional drivers license? if so,where i can find a professional driver to supervise me...?

Davidx23 · November 2011

No prob.
Kahit sinong kakilala mu na may lisensya pwedeng mag-supervise sau at pumirma ng logbook mu stating na nka x amount of supervised driving hours. pero unahin mu munang mag-driving school para talagang pro ang mag-turo bago ka makisuyo sa friend mu para i-supervise yung driving mu. pag wla driving school ka, they charge an average of 55 per hour.

ana_anastacio · November 2011

additional question: how much naman po ang rent ng apartment? or if one would buy an apartment or condo unit magkano din po? how about po schooling? may idea po ba kayo how much per year ang equivalent ng HS natin jan sa Aus? thank you po.

Bryann · November 2011

Yeah curious as well how much na ang rent ng apartment, in Sydney din sana. Not necessarily sa CBD area, kahit sa mga suburbs na medyo malayo okay lang like Blacktown, para madami pinoy. Way back early 2000s, around 170-250 weekly ata rent. Ngayon kaya magkano.

Davidx23 · November 2011

Sa brisbane, rent is 350-500/week for a 1 br unit - that's within 5km within the city. Almost the same if within 10km pero you might get a 2 br unit for 400+/week.

Sa sydney alam ko lang is chatswood area kasi nandun yung friend ko dati ang rate for 2 br unit is 450-500/week, 6mos contract, plus increases for renewal. May napanuod akong program sa tv na may nagpaparent ng bedspace sa CBD for 150/week pero parang pinas style yung tipong sa isang kwarto apat (or more) kayong magsiksikan. Ginawa pa ngang room yung terrace ng condo para mas maraming kita yung landlord.

Davidx23 · November 2011

@ana_anastacio
Average prices of condo/apartment unit in brisbane cheapest is 230K for studio, 1 br unit is 265K-450K and up. 2Br unit 500K to milion+.

No idea sa education system ng HS. Alam ko lang 1 subject will cost you 2K plus sa mga sikat na university. Kung open university (internet learning) around 1K-1.5K isang subject.

mimaahk · November 2011

@Davidx23 usually ba nag-iincrease ang rent dyan for renewal? like after 6mths contract pede na ulit mag-increase si landlord kung magrenew ka?

Davidx23 · November 2011

Yes, usually nag iincrease yung rent namin for $10/week pero kung nag-cut ang interest rates like today, wlang increase sa price ng rent or pag ok yung landlord tapos at inaalagaan mu yung property nya (malinis at maayos during inspection) hindi nya iincreasan yung rent mu pag nag-renew ka.

tootzkie · November 2011

ask ko lang po if Oz govt. is accepting International Driving license. I think it's better for newly arrived immigrant to hold this international license so that he/she can drive immediately while on transition period.

Davidx23 · November 2011

Depende siguro sa state na pupuntahan mu, pero i think if your on a working 457 visa you are given a month or two to drive with your international driving license unti you are required to obtain a local driving license. But if you're on an immigrant visa, i think, you are required to have a local driving license.

Or you can obtain an indian driving license and present it dept of transprt and main roads dito sa qld, and ma-isyuhan ka na ng local driving license (no test required, isa sa mga loopholes ng law, hehe).

ana_anastacio · November 2011

@Davidx23

thank you po sa reply. meron po ba kayong idea living in Albury? okay po ba sya? pang-family ba ang lugar? how about po sa cost of living? may idea po ba kayo? thanks thanks.

Davidx23 · November 2011

^No idea sa Albury except for epicenter sya ng sydney, adelaide and melbourne triangle. Well you can say na pang-family yung lugar kasi maliit lang yung community 80K ata yung population, i think a bit laid back gaya dito sa QLD.

Cost of living is almost the same with the rest of Aus. You can check out woolies or coles for a basic understanding kung magkano ang mga grocery items:
www.woolworths.com.au
www.coles.com.au

Rent is cheaper kasi maliit lng yung population, look at these websites for rental prices/property prices:
http://albury.gumtree.com.au --> gumtree is the craigslist of australia
www.realestate.com.au

Internet is probably a bit expensive, check tpg or dodo if they service the area. If not telstra.

Transport - there should be bus services.

Sa Albury ka ba? Kailan ang lipad mu? Be prepare for a very hot summer kasi ngaun pa lang ramdam na dito sa qld yung init, mas mainit pa pagdating ng dec-apr period.

ana_anastacio · November 2011

@Davidx23

thanks thanks for the swift reply. very helpful lahat ng info mo.

actually, wala pa kaming flight even visa di pa nagaasikaso. an opportunity showed up and we are just weighing our options. wala naman kaming info re life in AUS or even sa Albury, kaya eto nagre-research ako para mas makatulong sa pagdedecide if we want it. syempre this is a life changing decision kaya medyo talgang need malaman namin as much as we can.

personally, sa tingin mo, how much dapat ang net salary for a family of 5? syempre if possible living comfortably sana. no idea kasi talaga ako regarding salaries and syempre yung cost of living. then 3 kids pa ang magaaral jan. please help naman ulit.

sa QLD ka pala. how was it so far? okay naman? matagal ka na jan? single ka ba or you have your family there?

thanks thanks po talaga sa help.

Davidx23 · November 2011

Well, depende yan sa goals mu. Kung priority mu is career, sweldo and entertainment go for sydney and melbourne. If you want balance, relax, a bit laid back environment go for qld (brissy, gold coast or cairns which is a tourist spot kasi maraming beach resort). Kung sweldo naman and maximum savings go for those mining towns in Western Australia or Rockhampton and Mount Isa in QLD, medyo patay nga lang ang entertainment.

If I have a family of 5 here in brisbane, I think I should be receiving 150K per annum my wife should be receiving more than 100K per annum with a $600/week rent. Pero I think this is a bit exaggerated bec. I'm factoring yung bisyo ko sa IT equipment/gadgets and shopping ni misis. Besides if you have 3 kids, you are entitled to $$$ grant from the gov't. Parang may additional allowance ka to support your family.

Ako lang with my wife, almost 4 yrs na dito sa brissy. Ok naman dito, a bit boring pero it's perfect escape from the stressful life in manila.

Well goodluck, I hope makarating kayo dito sa Aus.

mimaahk · November 2011

@Davidx23 anong field of work nyo ni misis? kahit ba ilang kids may nakukuha talagang $$$ support from the government?

ana_anastacio · November 2011

@Davidx23

actually, yung opportunity talaga is nasa Albury. walang choice sa lugar.

ang taas din pala ng cost of living... anyways, thanks for all the info.. very informative sya and makaktulong talaga sa amin for our decision.

thanks.

Davidx23 · November 2011

I'm not sure kung may limit kung ilang kids. May nakita ko sa news ginagawang scam yan ng mga ibang locals. nagproduce sila ng 5 fake (identity) na kids tapos kumuha sila ng support sa centrelink. May ibang scammers more than 5 pa yung claim nila. May iba nakakalusot may iba nahuhuli.

May iba pang benefits aside dun sa kid allowance, meron din housing assistance ang gov't. kung nasa minimum wage yung family may parang pag-ibig style na pabahay where you can rent at discounted prices.

Kung wla kang work may allowance ka sa centrelink (subject to certain conditions). You can buy computers (core2duo types) and other appliances sa mga auction sites for less than $200 or buy it from ebay or gumtree ganun din. Buy your meat/fish/veggie/fruits sa farmers market is so much cheaper compare sa woolies and coles, effort nga lang, kasi dadayuhin mu pa yung mga lugar, tapos commute ka pa. So plenty of ways to save money.

btw, IT auditor ako and internal auditor si misis.

apc · November 2011

Hi Davidx23, ask ko lang tngkol drivers license sa queensland. Kelangan ko pa ba kumuha ng certification dito sa LTO Philippines to show how many years na yung Philippine drivers license ko? or okay na yung drivers license card na yung ipapakita dyan sa queensland para makakuha ng queensland license? Have a professionhal drivers license here in Phils, kung kukuha ako ng Queensland drivers license, dadaan pa ba ng student/learners permit, P! or P2 license? or deretso na sa open license after passing the exams?

Davidx23 · November 2011

For Queensland license, if you're comfortable driving left hand, familiar ka sa rules dito, and your over 25yrs old, then take the learners exam, after passing practice ka ng konti, then take the practical driving exam after passing diretso ka na sa P2.

LokiJr · November 2011

sir @davidx23, thanks for sharing...may tanong lang po ako tungkol sa rent...sa Sydney area po sana...good idea po bang magstart dun na shared rent muna? Medyo mabigat kasi ang $600/week...kumbaga, shared rent sana ako for 6 months until such a time na settled na at makakagastos na ako

Davidx23 · November 2011

If you're ok na may room mate, sure why not. Yung 2 kong barkada nagrent sila ng 2 bedroom unit sa may chatswood area for 600/week. after 6 mos. nagkanya-kanya na sila. Nakahanap yung friend ko 1km from cbd 1 bedroom 400-450/week (kalimutan ko na kung saang area). Tingin tingin ka lng sa sydney.gumtree.com.au marami kang makikita dun na for rent.

mimaahk · November 2011

For Queensland license, if you're comfortable driving left hand, familiar ka sa rules dito, and your over 25yrs old, then take the learners exam, after passing practice ka ng konti, then take the practical driving exam after passing diretso ka na sa P2.

@Davidx23 baka may idea ka kung roughly around how much ang driving lesson dyan?... and ano po yung P2?

Davidx23 · November 2011

P1, P2 are license levels tapos may mga restrictions per level. For ex.
P1 license restriction is Observe a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h
P2 license restriction is Observe a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h
Pag na-tyempuhan ka ng pulis tapos nag exceed ka sa restriction, may fine/demerit points ka.
You can find these info at: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/gettingalicence/car/provisional_licence.html

Again, check kung saang state ka, kasi may mga difference ang rules per state.

mimaahk · November 2011

@Davidx23 ah parang pro at non-pro sa Pinas... salamat sa link, I'll check

cheers!

LokiJr · November 2011

How about bank accounts po? Required po bang magbukas ng account sa mga tulad ng ANZ, Wespac or Commonwealth or puwede na bang imaintain ko na lang yung accounts sa Pinas tulad ng BPI, BDO?