Moving To Australia

1. You will have to pay both sales and custom taxes for anything you bring over the AU$ 400 worth of personal items.

2. Get an inspection certificate for your pets and attach a microchip to your pet’s collar before flying to Australia.

3. Get a list of Australian national holidays and avoid initiating shipping, moving or transactions on these days.

4. Contact the Australian Housing Department  for emergency housing assistance if you’re unable to find a place to say.

5. Call Job Services Australia at 13 6268 for help locating a suitable job if you’re not able to locate one by  yourself.

6. You can carry cash when to move to Australia; even though you have to declare it, you won’t be taxed at customs.

7. Full time wages in Australia average around A$68,791; average wages differ for men and women in Australia so be sure to check.

8. The percentage of income tax you pay depends on your earnings. For the average earning of A$68,791, 30% IT is levied.

9. The average price of a home in Australia varies depending on the region; a home that costs A$387,000 in Adelaide will cost you A$550,000 in Sydney.

Living In Australia

10. Enroll in Medicare a week after you arrive in Australia for the documents you need to carry and other relevant info.

11. If you open a bank account within 30 days, your driver’s license, passport and visa will be sufficient documentation. If you delay, you will be asked to provide TFN and proof of address as well.

12. Register with Centrelink to avail of a range of social security services. You can get help with cultural adjustments, looking for work and so on, along with social security payments.

13. Contact the Health Undertaking Service at 1800 811 334 to know where you can get your medical checkups and followups done.

14. Obtain a driver’s license before your first three months are over; your home country’s driver’s license is not valid after this period. Note that in Tasmania and Western Australia, you can drive with your home country’s license till 3 months after you get your permanent residency visa.

15. The Australian emergency number is 000 for the Fire Brigade, the Police and Ambulatory services.

16. Contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to avail settlement services. These services are designed to help to facilitate your migration.

17. Sign rental leases for short periods only; if you break the agreement, you will have to pay damages to landlord.

18. Make sure your landlord lodges your rental deposit with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. This is for your security.

19. Check with your bank if you’re eligible for the ‘First Home Owner Grant’ from the government when you’re ready to buy a home.

20. If you’re unable to support your kids with your job, contact the Family Assistance Office (13 6150) for Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunization Allowance.

21. If your income is low, find out from Centrelink if you’re eligible for concessions to key services.

Working In Australia

22. Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) before you start working in Australia, from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.

23. You need to work for two years on a permanent visa to claim government benefits other than Medicare support and family tax benefits.

24. If you are an international employee on a temporary working visa in Australia, you can claim a fringe benefit tax from the ATO through your employer.

25. To become eligible for the government’s Age Pension, you must work in Australia on a permanent residentship for 10 years.

26. If your home country has a social-security agreement with Australia, you can avail government benefits and state pension from them for the time you work in Australia.

27. Employers are required to deposit 9% of your income into your superannuation fund. If you plan to work temporarily, you can claim the fund after you leave Australia.

28. Get your skilled trade qualifications recognized by Trades Recognition Australia (1300 360 992) to make job hunting easier

29. To check if your existing qualifications are valid in Australia, contact the National Australian Skills Recognition Information

30. Contact the National Child Care Information Services (1800 670 305) if you need help with child care and babysitting assistance.

Teena writes for extreme gift idea company Adrenaline. If you’re an adrenaline junkie who are looking for some thrilling gifts for men and women then do visit their website. They offer more than 2000 adventure experiences all across World.

Can you remember how you felt when you first visited Thailand?

I have travelled to Thailand many times now and even lived there for a year, so you can bet your last dollar on saying I loved it.  My first time travelling to Thailand left me wanting more.  It was a really fun and exciting adventure and out of all the countries I visited, I wanted to return to Thailand the most. Thailand is busy, chaotic, fun, exciting and at a glance free.

What do you mean by free?

Free from regulation.  When you first visit Thailand it seems like you are free to do what you please and rules and regulations are easily broken or changed.   For example alcohol isn’t supposed to be sold on the Kings or Queens birthdays but it isn’t uncommon to find people continuing to sell beer but serving them in coffee cups to disguise it.  I also found myself in the middle of a great big fireworks display at a busy junction in Bangkok with a total disregard for safety; thousands of people crowding around standing no further than 5 meters away.  I found myself being hit by pieces of paper and sticks from fireworks and was unable to see them from the smoke, something of which would never happen in the UK as health and safety officials would condemn such an event.  Whilst such disregard of safety is dangerous, it can also be liberating and fun and that is how I felt being in Thailand for the first time, liberated from regulation.

Did your feelings change towards Thailand the more times you visited?

Though I still love Thailand, I love Thailand for different reasons from when I first visited.  My love for the food and love for the people I befriended has grown which are now the main reasons I like to return.  Ironically the things I first liked about Thailand are some of the things I like least about it now.  I learned why having some of the rules and regulations in place can be beneficial and having order in place can help you travel more safely and confidently.

What do you like most about Thailand?

Besides from my friends and the people, whom are typically polite and friendly, I have to say the food.  My palette has changed and I now love most things spicy and fish sauce now smells nice but to most other people doesn’t.  That is because I associate the smell with nice food as it is added to or given as a side condiment to most dishes served in Thailand.

Where do you recommend visiting?

My favourite place is Krabi in the south of Thailand.  I don’t much like the Islands if I am truthful so I stay away from them, but I am not your typical traveller.  I like Krabi as it is quieter and laid back with fewer tourists.  I don’t like travelling to places where you find everywhere is catering to tourists and many of the Islands in my opinion do.  Krabi is less like that, so that is why I like to visit there.

What advice would you give someone travelling to Thailand for the first time?

Travel as many places as you can and don’t stick to the typical tourists haunts; they won’t give you a true flavour of what Thailand is about. Embrace street food and try speaking a little Thai.  Phrases such as “hello”, “thank you”, “How much?”, “That is a little expensive”, “where are the toilets” will go a long way.  Don’t talk about politics or say negative things about the Monarchy.  Lastly just enjoy yourself and don’t expect everything to be the same as back home.

ESTA is the online form that has replaced the older paper visa waiver forms that passengers used to be asked to fill in while on their flight to America. The ESTA is mandatory for all travellers, and official advice is that you should complete it at least 72 hours before you travel as although many people’s application is processed virtually instantly, some people do meet delays in the process.
There is no paper version of this application, and it must be completed online, and although officials suggest 72 hours before travelling, it’s probably best to do it when you’re booking your holiday so that you know it’s done. Every UK traveller – adults and children alike – need to fill this in and receive authorisation to travel. The application costs $14 per person. Do make sure when you do this that you go to the official site as there are some scam sites out there which will try to charge you more to do this.

When you’ve filled in this application online, and received your authorisation, make sure you print out the page with the authorisation number on it as this is your ESTA travel permit number and it is not e-mailed to you.

The ESTA is valid for two years, unless your passport expires sooner in which case it expires at the same time as your passport. When your ESTA expires, you just go back to the application process and re-apply. It is important to make sure that you do have a valid ESTA as without it, it is unlikely that you will even be allowed to board your flight from the UK let alone be allowed into the USA.

Useful Info:
http://blog.netflights.com/2011/02/16/before-you-travel-the-united-states-esta-scheme/
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Never backpack alone

Always backpack in a group and/or with other travellers; there is truth to the adage, “there is safety in numbers”.

Gear and gadgets to keep you safe

In addition to packing the right clothes, food, etc., there are a few items no backpacker should be without. This includes:

• A first aid kid.
• A whistle to alert others in the area/in your party that you are in trouble and need assistance.
• Plenty of clean drinking water; even the clearest of streams can hold bacteria which can make you ill.
• A compass (that you know how to use).
• A topographical map of the area.
• Matches (packed in waterproofing).
• A pocket knife.
• Torch (flashlight)
• A bandana (can serve as a tourniquet if someone is injured).
• Insect repellent.

Also be sure to invest in a good backpack that distributes the weight evenly across your back to help prevent muscle strain.

Planning your trip

A well-planned trip is a safer trip, so it is important to plan yours properly. This includes finding the right backpacking partners. If you are new to backpacking, ask someone who has experience to join the group. Otherwise, select people who are compatible in terms of hiking speed, distance capabilities, and willingness. Also consider the distance – some people like to pack lighter and go further while others prefer short trips.
Other planning activities include:

• Determine duration, timing, and destination.
• Learn the area (know where you are going) and study topographical maps.
• Check equipment and ensure everything is in good working condition.
• Check clothing to ensure it is in good condition and appropriate for the trip.
• Compare gear with hiking partners and share where possible.
• Determine sleeping points and book hotels/hostels/campgrounds.
• Plan your meals.

Other key advice includes:

• Do not bring a tent that has had food in it (bears will be able to smell it in the material).
• Leave a detailed itinerary with someone who is not going on the trip: route, inventory, sleep points, expected return.
• Log on (if/when possible) and blog or webcam to let friends/family know you are okay.

Consider staying in a hotel

When backpacking, one of your biggest concerns will be where to sleep and the safest place is in a hotel. We realise that for many who are on a tight budget, the idea of staying in a hotel can be a budget killer. But it does not need to be. There are sites online where you can compare cheap hotels in the areal so as part of your planning stage, look for hotel deals along your backpacking route. By choosing to stay in a hotel at least for part of your journey, you are ensuring that you are as safe as possible during periods of rest and sleep.

TEFL has over 25 years of experience in teaching abroad, in the UK and teacher training. The TEFL England team aims to provide high quality training at the best value possible.

On the website, you can find information about online courses and classroom courses, what is taught and how it works, the costs, and which course is right for you. There is a section about TEFL England, and the team involved, and a large section about TEFL jobs giving information about the sort of job doing a TEFL course could lead to. This includes information on Summer camps and schools in England, Scotland, Spain, China and Italy, as well as TEFL jobs in Greece, Korea, China, Japan and the UK.

In the sections about courses in the classroom and courses online, clear information is given about each course, what it costs, and how long it is.

You can request a brochure or teacher starter pack, or contact the team by phone or e-mail to learn more. http://www.teflengland.co.uk/

The website has a great FAQ section which covers many of the questions you might want answering about courses, how to apply, what qualifications you need, and much more, and is laid out in a really easy to use way that makes the website feel very user friendly.

TEFL England is SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) approved, ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Community Council) accredited, and is a member of both IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) and SATEFL (Scottish Association for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language) as well.

There are a few things however that you should bear in mind about your mobile phone and its capabilities, depending on where you are travelling.

Keep your phone and yourself safe
Mobile phones can attract thieves particularly if they’re the newer more expensive models. Make sure you keep yours hidden and out of sight just as you would things like cash and keys. It is best not to store details of your bank account or other important information on there that might help a thief. Keep a copy of your provider’s customer service contact details, your phones serial number and your mobile phone number somewhere separate from your phone, that way, if your phone is stolen, you can call the provider and get it blocked easily.

Dual or tri band
If you are planning on travelling in the US, you need to remember that they work on a tri-band system and most European phones are only dual band, so won’t work there. You can check if your phone is tri-band or dual band by asking your service provider or looking in your manual.

International Roaming
Most phones are capable of international roaming, but this facility is switched off as standard to stop thieves from using stolen phones abroad to run up huge bills. Generally speaking if you are on contract you should be able to talk to your provider and have this facility turned on. If you’re on PAYG however, you may find that your provider won’t offer this feature. Don’t forget also to talk to your provider about the charges as these will be more expensive than they would be at home.

Local Sim Cards
For some countries, or if you’re planning on staying in one country for some time, it can be worth buying a local sim card. Just remove your normal sim, put it somewhere safe, and pop the new one in. (Don’t forget to tell family and friends you are doing this and how to reach you in an emergency!). If you plan on doing this, you will need to make sure that your mobile phone is unlocked and open to all networks.

Changing Networks
When you’re abroad your phone will automatically search for the strongest network that it can so that you get the best signal possible. However, different networks can charge different amounts, so if you know which countries you are going to, it is worth checking in advance which networks are cheapest as it’s possible to manually change networks if you want to do so, and the signal on the cheaper network may not be the strongest, but it may be perfectly adequate.