BIGMOVE VICTORIA 2023

liling · January 2023

Just got PR granted end of last year.

1. Medicare
- Just wondering po how you applied through Medicare and how long it took for your card to arrive? Applied online pero no response at yung file automatically nag-password protect. I'm a bit worried na baka di nareceive yung application ko.

2. Private Health Insurance/Dental
- Kapag po may balak ako pagawa na dental work such as Invisalign/Braces, di po ito covered ng Medicare, diba? Would it be wise po to go for a private health insurance for this, and does anyone know the process?

Thank you so much and God bless x

athelene · January 2023

@liling said:
Just got PR granted end of last year.

2. Private Health Insurance/Dental
- Kapag po may balak ako pagawa na dental work such as Invisalign/Braces, di po ito covered ng Medicare, diba? Would it be wise po to go for a private health insurance for this, and does anyone know the process?

Thank you so much and God bless x

Congrats on your PR!

Dental check-up and cleaning fall under General Dental, while Invisalign and braces fall under Orthodontics, so you'll need to get Extras health insurance for those. You'll have to shop around for health insurance depending on the level of cover you need, and you'll typically have to serve a 12-month waiting period before you can use the benefits for Orthodontics. For General Dental, usually 2-month waiting period siya, but sometimes there would be promos that they will waive the waiting period for General Dental.

How private health insurance works is that you have to sign-up/register for Extras health insurance cover. The premium you pay will depend on your profile and the level of cover you need. The cheaper/lower premiums may only have 60% claim back percentage (meaning the insurance company will only pay for up to 60% of the service fee), while higher premiums mean you can have 75% or even 90% claim back percentage. For example, if the dentist charges $ 300 for a dental filling, and your Extras cover has 75% claim back percentage, the insurance company will pay for the $ 225, and you will have a gap payment of $ 75 ($ 300 - $ 225 = $ 75).

You should also check which services the insurance will cover. Some will only cover General Dental and Optical, but not Major Dental (crowns/bridges) or Chiropractic/Remedial Massages.

There is also the concept of annual limits, wherein the insurance company will only pay up to a certain amount of benefits every year (which resets every January 1). Extras cover with lower premiums generally have a low annual limit (which is good if you've got great teeth/health in general and you just need minimal treatments). Covers with higher premiums have a high or zero annual limit; this is ideal if you plan to get a lot of things done within the year. In my case, I paid for a high level of cover to get the zero annual limit for General Dental, and so far nasulit ko yung premium because I had a lot of dental fillings done in 2022.

EeOZ · January 2023

@preciouspillow said:
First-time renting could be hard pero workable naman kaya don't be discouraged. I booked 3-4 viewings on the same day, viewing lasted only for 5mins at tatambay lang ako sa city just to wait for the other viewings kaya sobrang pagod tlaga. Kaya i have given up my city dreams and sa suburb nlag tumira. haha

Renting via FB Group - I tried this one and kamuntik na kong ma scam. We had exchanged personal details and when I asked for a viewing they refused for a seem to be a valid reason and say deposit my payment in her lawyer's account. Thinking it is Australia and not prone to manloloko I almost gave in. But when I told my sister about it she says NO you have to deposit your bond on RTBA (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). There are a lot of legit rentals on Facebook groups but don't lower your guard. Transact wisely.

Prices (Just my observation/experience March 2022) - Higher rental prices, smaller areas and sobrang competitive ng rentals sa city. Viewing palang madami na kacompetensya usually around 5-10 people per viewing. If you are okay living in small areas I would say the price is reasonable because looking at the transpo pricey din talaga like full day is $9.2, for a week is $48 considering you will travel daily, I think magkakaroon ka ng around $100 sa budget na pwedeng mapunta sa rental when you choose to live in city than suburb.
Basically ito yung naobserve kong prices 1BR (city) = 2BR(near train) = 3BR(10-15mins drive from the train). Note 10-15mins is not walkable unlike in the Philippines.
Additionally, mas lesser ang kacompetensya/higher chance of approval sa outer suburb than as city.

For the viewing - realestate.com.au is a good site. pero kung gusto mo tlagang mauna. pumunta ka mismo sa agent's website like raywhite, obrien, barry plant and etc. May mga exclusive preview sila na sa members lang muna available before nila ipost sa public like realestateau and domain. Libre naman mag sign up ma floflood ka lang ng emails. haha.

Mauuna vs moving with family - It really depends on your preferences. But to put it logically, if you have 6months worth of living expenses to spend ($15,000-20,000), then you have the luxury of bringing your family with you. If not, don't be scared, ask for help, you'll be surprised there are a lot of kababayans willing to help you. It's hard to be alone but it is harder to see your whole family under stress and pressure.

Sa tingin ko factors that affect the rentals are.
Rental history
Pets
Kids
Subleasing
What we did? bid $10 higher than the published rate.

Requirements na hinigi samin
Bank Statement
Employment contract since wala pa kaming payslip
IDs, Visa grant
Reference
Payment - 1month + bond(equivalent to 1 mo rental)
about you

Hope this helps.

Hi! Thank you for sharing!
Ask ko lang, about sa RTBA, sa lahat ba ito ng nagpaparent? Paano po yung mga Room for rent na kasama nyo ung owner, like for example Pinoy owner nagpaparent ng 1 room sa house nila, under RTBA pa din po ba ito?

preciouspillow · January 2023

@EeOZ said:

@preciouspillow said:
First-time renting could be hard pero workable naman kaya don't be discouraged. I booked 3-4 viewings on the same day, viewing lasted only for 5mins at tatambay lang ako sa city just to wait for the other viewings kaya sobrang pagod tlaga. Kaya i have given up my city dreams and sa suburb nlag tumira. haha

Renting via FB Group - I tried this one and kamuntik na kong ma scam. We had exchanged personal details and when I asked for a viewing they refused for a seem to be a valid reason and say deposit my payment in her lawyer's account. Thinking it is Australia and not prone to manloloko I almost gave in. But when I told my sister about it she says NO you have to deposit your bond on RTBA (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). There are a lot of legit rentals on Facebook groups but don't lower your guard. Transact wisely.

Prices (Just my observation/experience March 2022) - Higher rental prices, smaller areas and sobrang competitive ng rentals sa city. Viewing palang madami na kacompetensya usually around 5-10 people per viewing. If you are okay living in small areas I would say the price is reasonable because looking at the transpo pricey din talaga like full day is $9.2, for a week is $48 considering you will travel daily, I think magkakaroon ka ng around $100 sa budget na pwedeng mapunta sa rental when you choose to live in city than suburb.
Basically ito yung naobserve kong prices 1BR (city) = 2BR(near train) = 3BR(10-15mins drive from the train). Note 10-15mins is not walkable unlike in the Philippines.
Additionally, mas lesser ang kacompetensya/higher chance of approval sa outer suburb than as city.

For the viewing - realestate.com.au is a good site. pero kung gusto mo tlagang mauna. pumunta ka mismo sa agent's website like raywhite, obrien, barry plant and etc. May mga exclusive preview sila na sa members lang muna available before nila ipost sa public like realestateau and domain. Libre naman mag sign up ma floflood ka lang ng emails. haha.

Mauuna vs moving with family - It really depends on your preferences. But to put it logically, if you have 6months worth of living expenses to spend ($15,000-20,000), then you have the luxury of bringing your family with you. If not, don't be scared, ask for help, you'll be surprised there are a lot of kababayans willing to help you. It's hard to be alone but it is harder to see your whole family under stress and pressure.

Sa tingin ko factors that affect the rentals are.
Rental history
Pets
Kids
Subleasing
What we did? bid $10 higher than the published rate.

Requirements na hinigi samin
Bank Statement
Employment contract since wala pa kaming payslip
IDs, Visa grant
Reference
Payment - 1month + bond(equivalent to 1 mo rental)
about you

Hope this helps.

Hi! Thank you for sharing!
Ask ko lang, about sa RTBA, sa lahat ba ito ng nagpaparent? Paano po yung mga Room for rent na kasama nyo ung owner, like for example Pinoy owner nagpaparent ng 1 room sa house nila, under RTBA pa din po ba ito?

RTBA applies when you hold a contract and you need to maintain the property. Kung walang sira yung property upon termination of the lease then you will get your money back. In the case of Pinoy owners renting their spare room, as tingin ko di na dadaan sa RTBA yun.

aag · March 2023

Hello po. Baka naman po meron dito may alam apartment or room for rent in Wangaratta. Thank you

kurtzky · March 2023

ok lang po ba kaya if more than 1 month mag long-term Airbnb? halimbawa lang hindi kagad makahanap ng apartment dahil sa tight competition. and pwede rin bang yung Airbnb address ang gagamitin for example sa opening ng bank account, medicare, etc?

von1xx · March 2023

@kurtzky said:
ok lang po ba kaya if more than 1 month mag long-term Airbnb? halimbawa lang hindi kagad makahanap ng apartment dahil sa tight competition. and pwede rin bang yung Airbnb address ang gagamitin for example sa opening ng bank account, medicare, etc?

yes po depende sa availability ng airbnb na binook nyo, when we moved here sa Aus 2 months yung booking namin sa Airbnb. Sa bank account,medicare,tfn pwede naman po basta ask permission sa host na kung okay lang na may mail na dadating. Opt for email communication preference para sure na walang subsequent mails since temporary lang sa airbnb, you can update the address details when you move to other location.

blacksmith · March 2023

Hello po, preparing and planning po to migrate from manila to Victoria. De facto with baby ako. Ask ko lang po if ever 189 kunin ko and mauna ako sa AU, ano po kaya pwede ko gawin para makuha ko mag-ina ko sa pinas?

hindi po kasi afford pag sabay-sabay kami mag apply

mikelle · April 2023

Hello everyone!

In preparation for our big move probably by early next year, can you give us some tips and list of things to do prior and upon arrival po?

Also, where in Victoria or Melbourne will you recommend for us to move in? My husband and I are both in the construction field so, better po sana yung area kung saan po maraming construction related jobs. Thank you and God bless po.

silverbullet · April 2023

Hello Guys,

Magandang araw sa inyo. Yung mga mag B-Big move dyan next month, meron kaming available 2 rooms sa Albion for rent po.

Tanong nalang rin po about sa Driver’s license ng PH. Nag renew kasi ako ng Driver’s license dito sa Davao tapos ang naibigay na license ay temporary lang kasi naubusan na sila ng PVC(plastic card) , yung license ko ay nasa papel lang. Kung sa Victoria po ako mag papa convert ng license, paano po ang proseso nito since naka temporary/papel na license lang ito. Medyo sumasakit po ang ulo ko dito kasi nag pa rebook kami ng ticket para lang hintayin un PVC na maissuehan den malaman laman namin na nationwide na palang problem ito. 😭😭😭😭

EeOZ · April 2023

@silverbullet said:
Hello Guys,

Magandang araw sa inyo. Yung mga mag B-Big move dyan next month, meron kaming available 2 rooms sa Albion for rent po.

Tanong nalang rin po about sa Driver’s license ng PH. Nag renew kasi ako ng Driver’s license dito sa Davao tapos ang naibigay na license ay temporary lang kasi naubusan na sila ng PVC(plastic card) , yung license ko ay nasa papel lang. Kung sa Victoria po ako mag papa convert ng license, paano po ang proseso nito since naka temporary/papel na license lang ito. Medyo sumasakit po ang ulo ko dito kasi nag pa rebook kami ng ticket para lang hintayin un PVC na maissuehan den malaman laman namin na nationwide na palang problem ito. 😭😭😭😭

mukang bagong problema ito @silverbullet. Try mo po magpost sa FB page ng Pinoys in Melbourne baka may makasagot.