Relocating is fun , stressful and exciting all rolled into one.

On one hand its very sad to leave family and friends but on the other it gives the individual a chance to shrug off the old and maybe reinvent themselves!

Whether it’s exploring a new career or enterprise ….a fresh start can do wonders for you.

You can start again and explore different  opportunities in a new country.

Relocating to a new place also gives you a chance to throw yourself into a new community and get involved.

A great way to do this is to volunteer!

As it is National Volunteer Week here in Australia I thought I would write about some of the opportunities open to new families arriving in Sydney.

After you have been here for a few months and feel settled you might decide get more involved in the community.

The very nature of Australia creates some unique volunteer opportunities.

The following organizations in particular  are very much part of the community and I would like to give them a well deserved plug and mention.

The Rural Fire Service ( RFS)which has 70,000 members in NSW ; The State Emergency Service ( SES) with10,000 volunteers in NSW and Surf Life Saving Australia which has 160,000 members across Australia.

These services really do come into their own in times of crisis.

In a personal way I support the first two as my son (20) belongs to both.

He gives alot of  his time and was recently  seconded up to flooded Queensland with the SES .

Hes doing a great job and I am proud of him……….

I wash the overalls!

It’s a very unique way to get involved  in Australian life and help others in need.

Check them out , they would love to have new members (men and women)

You may decide these organizations are not for you but when you move to Australia you will discover they are held in high regard.

Support them by buying a raffle ticket if they are fundraising or give them a pat on the back for being such great volunteers!

Of course these are not the only ways you can become involved…

There are plenty of ordinary , everyday  opportunities to help out in your child’s school , in the canteen, the library or in the classroom .

If your child gets involved in  a local sports team offer to support the club by coaching ,fundraising etc

Your child’s school will have a PandC (PTA)

Try to go along to the meetings its a great way to find out about the school in more depth.

Volunteer to work on their Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser!!

Hospitals and Animal Welfare groups on The Northern Beaches would also love some of your time .

Moving to a new country is pretty challenging and you really need to make an effort to get involved.

You need to make new friends and so you cannot afford to be shy I’m afraid!

Take the bull by the horns!

Northern Beaches Know -How would really love you to share your volunteer experiences .

Are there any SES ,RFS  people out there?

Are you exploring the idea of volunteering ?

If so please share so others can read about the possibilities open to them!

This new book is a different ….. we’ve created a picture book with photographs  to illustrate each item we have listed  from A to Z and the text has been kept to a minimum

I have worked with Sarah to create a book that will help children who relocate to The Northern Beaches Sydney or anywhere else in Australia become familiar with new words or ways of doing things.

Everyone agrees relocating is a challenge …….there is a lot of uncertainty when you move……  literally outside of your comfort zone.

Relocating with a family in tow means you have to find a home quickly.

If you throw a school zone into the equation it can sometimes be abit tricky.

Home v School

On arriving on Sydney’s Northern Shores you are likely to be staying in short term accomodation

Some of the best sites to find short term lets are ;

http://www.rentahome.com.au

http://www.stayz.com.au

http://www.worldapartments.com.au

http://www.apartmentservice.com.au

Finding a school and a home are both intertwined ……..its like the chicken and the egg as I’ve said on many occasions.

If you are looking for a State or Catholic school it is very likely you will have to consider school’s zones.

If you are thinking of private schools your house hunting will be easier and your only concern will be transport into school.

You will be free to look at various locations and properties.

For those families who have already selected  a Public school I strongly suggest you try to get your short term rental in the school’s area or zone.

It shows good faith and a commitment to that school.

This will mean your kids can enroll pretty much straight away after all the paperwork has been done. This is good for their routine and gets them out your hair!

You are then free to start a serious search for a property in the school zone

If you have not yet found a school get into short term accomodation as soon as you arrive.

You will then be able to tour schools and select one.

If you are not in the school zone it is likely you will have to wait until you find your home before the children can start school.

This can mean the children are with you all the time when you are house hunting or getting to grips with settling in.

House hunting

Competition for the best properties in this area can be fierce , there are plenty of people looking . Most properties will be advertised online at these sites

http://www.realestate.com.au

http://www.domain.com.au

http://www.homehound.com.au                                         

Also try to get hold of local community newspers. They are available on -line.

The Mosman Daily

The North Shore Times

The Manly Daily

Open viewings are likely to be on Wednesdays and Saturdays at pre- arranged times….. these times will be advertised in local papers and on-line.

You aren’t given alot of time to view a property (around 20 minutes)

I suggest drawing up a list of all property open times and getting a car with Sat Nav!

Relocation services such as NBKH will often get advance e mails from Real Estate agents listing properties that come up …they are also more likely to get into properties before an open  house viewing .

Because of this it can be worthwhile working alongside someone such as myself.

Whenever you attend an open house there are likely to be others there too .

If you like the property ask for an application form and register your interest with the Real Estate Representative.

You can also submit an application on- line to the properties on the realestate websites

Before you go to a viewing have all the necessary paperwork ready in a package. I recommend the following

• Proof of  current employment with salary
• References from a bank stating you have an account with them
• A letter from your old bank to say you have had a mortgage and that re payments have been received in a timely manner
• A letter from your previous landlord stating that you have paid rent on time
• Two character references from a professional.

Get copies of these  papers to take along with the original to give to the Agent so that you can get your application in quickly.

Remember you are trying to stand out from the rest of the competition so anything you can do to reassure the Agent ( and ultimately the owner of the property) that you and your family are upstanding citizens is a plus!

When inspecting a property here are the things you may like to look for in a rental home.

It can be helpful to draw up a check list and take it with you.

Some things are more common than others. some may not be important to your family or you may have others to add  Please let me know if you feel I’ve left any out.

I have put them in my order of importance… yours of course may be different

• Check to see if you need to buy a fridge and a washing machine ( you usually will have to)
• heating ( a gas socket/tap in the wall or reverse cycle air conditioning)
• dishwasher
• Blinds or curtains
• Fly screens in GOOD condition
• good ceiling fans
• washing line outside
• internet connection
• air conditioning
• built in wardrobes
• storage
• tv socket
• cable TV
• alarm
• Check to see if there has been a recent pest inspection.
• Ask who is reponsible for garden/ pool mantainance

If your garden has a pool check the following

• it conforms to safety standards with pool fencing
• there are pool tools supplied for cleaning
• there is a “creepy crawly” cleaning device
• pumps/heaters are in good working order

Remember you may not get the first property you view but persistence pays off.

Don’t let that Real Estate Agent forget you!

Some areas on the Beaches are harder to find places than others .

Finally ……..when you have found a place you can relax a little , wait for your pocessions to arrive… and start making a new home!

I’d love to hear your stories about viewing properties

Was it smooth sailing for you or more difficult than you anticipated?

Do you have any tips or advice for families house hunting!

Do you recommend finding a school or a house first?

How do you anticipate dealing with school zones?

Contact Northern Beaches Know-How to help you find your new home!

Did you know?

I bet a lot of Australians don’t realise that 457 visa holders moving to NSW Australia are required to pay for Public schools and that the money is required up front before children are eligible to attend school.

Yes ….a Topical Blog today as we read about this subject in The Sydney Morning Herald  with the NSW Government announcing there will be no change to the fees charged to Temporary Resident Visa holders ( TRV ) for Public schools.

Many of us were hoping that they might be scrapped in the initiative by the Government to attract high end migrants to NSW.

So where do 457 visa holders stand if they want to enrol in a Public School and what should they do to start the process?

To Begin with….

Firstly I recommend that you visit 3 to 4 schools in the area you might like to live.       

If you are not sure whether you would like Private , Faith or Public schools try to visit a mixture.

NBKH can organise this easily for you and make all the necessary arrangements to see a member of the Senior Executive at the school and have a look around.

This is something you could consider organising if you were coming over for a recci/visit before you moved .

As a 457 visa holder you are  required to attend your local public school.

Therefore you need to think very carefully about where you want to live.

Each school will have a catchment /zone /area that they service.

As many of the Schools on the Northern Beaches are becoming increasingly full they are enforcing this rule strictly.

If you want to get your children into school quickly then make sure you are living in the school area.

This is a dilemma for families moving from Overseas but I suggest you initially look for short term accommodation (say for 5 to 6 weeks) in the school’s catchment .You will then be able to enrol them. NBKH is able to work alongside you to find a suitable property

Once they are in school you will have plenty of time to look for a more permanent dwelling in the school area.

The school will not enrol you without proof of residency in the school area so you will need a lease agreement to show them.

Getting into school…….

Once you have found the school and got your accommodation sorted you can complete the  Public School enrolment form which you can download here. Give this, along with immunisation records and evidence of a lease in the school’s area, to the school.

If you are on a 457 Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) you will also have to complete the Authority to enrol form  download

You will need one form for each child.

This form requires both the parents and the Principal to complete sections .

In order for the Principal to complete their section they must site the children’s passports and see documentation (usually in the form of an electronic approval) that they have indeed been issued with a 457 visa.

Once this is completed the school will send the form (s) into The Department or if you are in Sydney you may take the form directly to

International Students Centre

NSW Department of Education and Communities
827-837 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

You will need to pay upfront before the Department gives the school an Authority to enrol.

This Authority usually takes a couple of days, at the most a week and the school is informed by fax.

To Date the current fees are $110 admin fee for each child plus $4500 per year (Years K to 10) $5500  (Years 11/12)

Make sure you request a receipt to give to your company if they are paying the school fees.

Having paid up your child(ren) may now attend school !

Some things to consider

• You may be able to apply for an exemption but in my experience this is very rare and you will have to prove your income and rental expenses to show you are unable to pay.
• You might want to consider looking into the Catholic School System which has regular fees for everyone and subsequent children after the first will have reduced fees. For the Northern Beaches check out Broken Bay Diocese. For example a local Catholic School’s Diocesan Fees are $1290 a year for the 1st child , 20% less for 2nd ,50% for 3rd and 100% for 4th,5th etc. So if you had three children in the Catholic System it would cost considerably less.Catholic Schools will accept non Catholic Students but parents must be willing to accept the School’s ethos. If you are interested contact the Diocese.Each school can vary in their policies so contact them directly .
• Both The Public School Fees and the Catholic Diocesan Fees do not cover  the additional expenses of school excursions , uniforms, extra curricular classes …these costs are billed separately
• 457 Visa holders are not eligible for free school bus passes nor are they able to assess Gifted and Talented  Opportunity Classes in yrs 5 and 6 nor Selective High Schools.
• New Zealand Passport Holders do not pay fees …so if your child is entitled to one make sure you get it before you arrive.

So lots of things to consider and quite frankly I am embarrassed that the NSW Government is still persisting with this fee.

The Department argues that is a contribution to the total cost of educating a child .

The School, you enrol your child in will only see $90 of that money.

Well thats me and Im off my high horse now!

What do you think?

Northern Beaches Know-How can help you view schools and search for properties …we can orientate you to your new area and make your move go smoothly.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and how you are dealing with Public School Fees.

Please leave your comments

Don’t ask me why but at this time of year I always start to have the same vivid dream..well nightmare really.
It goes something like this..
I am at school and preparing to sit my mock exams ( A levels in my Day!) and I break into a cold sweat thinking that everyone else has studied more than me and that I am doomed to fail. A certain sense of dread begins to creep over and I resolve to work harder…….
This dream or set of dreams revisit me every year at the same time of year without fail.
This is very strange as I am way past school age happily!
I have a theory of sorts and this is it.
I am hard wired as a Northern Hemisphere Gal to think that March is Spring and Summer exams are on their way.
However here on The Northern Beaches Sydney  Australia it is NOT Spring and we are of course entering Autumn/Fall.
Every year certain triggers trick me into thinking  ( just for a moment or two) that I’m going into Spring.                                     
Firstly I’m a Spring Baby born on Mothering Sunday in the UK many moons ago ( conjure  up if you will daffodils and rolling green hills with prancing lambs.)
Secondly Easter is not far behind my Birthday and so many of the colours associated with Easter are springlike yellow, blue and green pastels……
All of the imagery of Easter is about renewal and new life and SPRING.
So when the Bunnies,Eggs and Chicks start to appear on the store shelves here I think it’s Spring.
Simple!

After being here on and off for twenty years  I still have this problem!
I am fine with Christmas in the summer but this time of year does it to me every time.
So I am resigned to the fact that in March I  will always be a little confused,and will have to remind myself that Spring has not Sprung but rather Winter is on its weary way…………

Do you have moments like this?
How have you adjusted to the calendar change and do you find yourself having to do a quick rethink of what season you are in??

A NEW SERVICE FROM NORTHERN BEACHES KNOW-HOW

A SOCIAL MEETUP/ NETWORKING GROUP  SIX MONTH MEMBERSHIP

For some time now I have been considering providing a service which would create opportunities for newly relocated Spouses to meet up and connect with each other.

A fews week back I read  this article in the BBC News Page and I posted it onto my FB page.

This particular part rang true to me …….

“Whenever you move to a new culture there are a million small things that in and of themselves aren’t a big deal, but when you’re constantly bombarded with them they become one.”

I have certainly had my bad days and periods of feeling quite isolated once the kids had gone to school. Much of that isolation came from leaving friends behind and “starting all over”

So with that in mind I am forming   “The Know” …a group of like minded people who have recently moved into the area and want/ need to meet new people.

The chances are that these people will be Mums but the group is also open to anyone who has relocated and now finds themselves in a new location and would enjoy a regular meet – up session.

Northern Beaches Know-How will organise the location and date of each meet up ( give me your suggestions) and will e mail details well in advance of the event so you can get it into your diary.

Just to keep you on your toes we will move around the Beaches and discover new places and maybe take you out of your “comfort area” !!

This will be a great way for you to explore the Beaches and to share your new found knowledge with the rest of the family.

I would also love to provide a forum for all of you to exchange information and ideas.                 

Together we will become a great source of know- how on The Northern Beaches and Beyond!

 LOVE TO JOIN?

“The Know” is part of the many services Northern Beaches Know-How provides to relocating families.

It costs $95 for a 6 month Membership membership.

The Membership will include…..

An invitation to all our meet-ups

A follow up e mail with useful information related to our discussions

Exculsive membership to a private VIP  ’The Know” members facebook page where you can log in and ask questions or just chat!

If you feel you would like to become part of the this unique group please contact me now!

Pull a seat up at the cafe table and introduce yourselves!!!!

It may be a bit daunting but it sure beats the alternative sometimes !!

Looking forward to hearing from you .

I am often asked by my clients about the nasties that are lying in wait for them as they relocate to the Northern Beaches with their families.

Spiders always come up in the conversation…. closely followed by snakes.

Truthfully these creatures are more scared of you than you should be of them. But we  here in Australia always like to frighten the newcomers into thinking the nasties are lurking …..and.waiting for the right moment to strike..

I can honestly say, hand on my heart, that I have only had a few encounters with our dear little critters.

I do not go seeking them out and therefore they leave me alone……all good

One of the best things you can do is to be prepared and recognise those creatures that really are a danger. By that I mean familiarise yourselves with pictures, and understand the environment you are in.

ie.. if you live near bushland or long grassy areas you are LIKELY to see snakes hiding in logs so leave them be and teach your children to do the same thing.Same goes for spiders!

I decided to take a basic first aid course which covered bites and stings particular to Australia because we took our family camping in National parks.

Its a good idea to keep a reference book of spiders and snakes handy in your home     

I live in Frenchs Forest on the Northern Beaches backing onto the National Park (bush).I have seen redback spiders in my garden and a snake . But I know where the spider’s webs are and I ALWAYS wear a thick pair of gardening gloves.The snake I saw was not venomous and I left it alone.

Its all just common sense really.

Hunstmen spiders cause the most problems to newcomers. They are HUGE and therefore terribly frightening . I have been on the end of some frantic calls from clients who have found them running around in their bathroom. Though they bite they are not dangerous to humans. Once you know that you can catch it ( if you can !) and throw it back into the garden. They do run extremely fast!

When I first arrived in Sydney we had one on our kitchen wall and it was SO big we thought it was a fake spider put there by some kind English friends of ours as a joke…..but then it moved.  

I’m sad to say we annihilated it because we thought it was about to kill us!

Remember Spiders are your friends in the main they eat all those other pesky insects!!!

They are also fascinating to watch when they spin their webs . I like watching the giant orb spiders at this time of year.

With all that said here are the main culprits that might give you grief on the Northern Beaches.

Mosquitoes

Tip out all containers of standing water around your house after it rains .The Ozzy Mozzies love still water to lay their eggs in. Purchase a roll-on insect repellent for each member of your family to take with them on trips out (Aeroguard , Rid and Bushman’s are the  main brands here). Wear long sleeved tops and long trousers at dusk or when you are walking through bushland. Light citronella candles when sitting outside.

Horse Flies

Nasty big flies which bite you hard enough to notice . Once again get out that repellent!

Ticks

Quite prevalent on the Beaches in grass and bushland . Once again repellent and suitable clothing. Once on a human they can start to burrow into your skin and gradually fill with blood this is when you notice them!!!

Useful treatment here .

If you have been gardening or out in the bush check yourselves for ticks.

Ticks can be FATAL to dogs and cats so if you are bringing them over or you plan to acquire one please talk to your vet about suitable preventive medication and during the summer months check your pets everyday for ticks. Follow the instructions on thee tick medication religiously 

If you do remove a tick try to keep it to show a vet or Dr should you become ill. Ticks will often be sent to a lab for analysis .

Leeches

Found mainly in grassland after lots of rain or in areas of rainforest. These latch onto you and once again SUCK your blood. Pretty harmless just yucky ! Common remedy is to sprinkle with salt and they should fall off. Clean wound with antiseptic lotion. Once again repellent and long clothes will help. Take some salt with you if you go out bushwalking and check your socks! 

Spiders

Keep an identification chart on your fridge door. This is a good one 

Teach your children to stay away from all spiders if they are not sure what type they are.

Learn  basic first aid to treat spider bites. Wear gloves when you are gardening.

Bull Ants

These little guys will give you a nasty bite if you are walking around barefoot or gardening round a nest. Some people can have serious allergic reactions so watch out for any usual symptoms …trouble breathing etc. Antihistimines will bring down swelling bites.

Blue Bottle Jellyfish

Found in the sea. When on the beach watch out for warning signs often placed by lifeguards .Last year the area around Manly had a surprising number of them . Do not enter the water if you see bluebottles on the beach or if you see the signs. SIMPLE.

There you go then!

The message is prepare yourselves but don’t panic……

Make a list of contents for your first aid box and keep the following numbers handy on your fridge

If you travel anywhere else in Australia always familiarise yourselves with the local creepys!

TRIPLE ZERO          EMERGENCY CALL Police Ambulance Fire

NSW POISONS INFORMATION NUMBER  13 11 26

Did I miss any nasties?

Have you had a close encounter on the Beaches?

Love to hear about it!!

One mans trash………

Every six months or so somewhere in a Sydney suburb a “Council General Clean Up” is happening……..
On this day residents are allowed to pile their grass verges (called nature strips here) with all manner of rubbish. Some homes will only put out a small neat pile whilst other homeowners will spend the whole day going up and down their driveways piling up their verge until little or no grass can be seen!
In an attempt to be more Green some local Councils on the Beaches are encouraging families to donate or sell (in neighbourhood garage sales) items that actually still have a life…. rather than throwing them into landfill.

But I still see “stuff” in good condition that could certainly be reused.

So not surprisingly my children and I actually enjoy “chuck out” day. We love to track down a useful item and we casually mooch around to see what we can find.
I am currently looking for an old hanging chandelier which I can convert into a tasteful outdoor tealight holder (as seen in the “Home and Garden” Magazine March issue 2011) but no luck so far……..
Seems like we are  not the only ones to be out hunting…….
Streets will suddenly have vans trawling up and down.Their owners looking for aluminum items and electrical wire that can be sold and recycled.
Some people are seeking out specific items….like old bikes to repair ….the gardeners come out to salvage old pots and useful pieces of fencing.
This day also seems to bring out large groups of children who will spend the day playing with old broken toys, riding down the driveways on old office chairs and making racing carts from old bits of wood.
Yes “chuck out” is somewhat of an event in my neighbourhood!!
Looking at all this rubbish from another angle is Angela van Boxtel a Manly based artist. Her message to us all is to see how we can reuse lots of these items and give them a second life.
Her work includes many “up cycling” projects and creative public works from your everyday” rubbish”.

She particularly loves old surfboards and has found lots of cool uses for them.

They say you can tell a lot from what people throw out….so here is a list of items that I ALWAYS see in the rubbish piles…….

Old barbecues
Outdoor furniture (broken and well used)
Surfboards and bodyboards (damaged)
Pool toys (noodles etc)

Kids bikes

Broken Pool equipment

Plastic Laundry baskets (broken from being used outside for so long)
Suitcases
Broken fans
Twisted wine racks.
Plasma TV boxes (great for watching sport)

THATS LIVING ON THE BEACHES IN A NUTSHELL!

Meanwhile …….let me know if you see a chandelier!
Northern Beaches Know-How would love to know what you’ve found in the Council Clean Up piles!
Drop us a comment and let us know

Moving with children

So all the entire contents of your house have been packed off in a container and disappeared down the street?

Reality has set in and you’re MOVING and ready to embark together on a new adventure in Australia!

One of the things we all worry about is whether our children will fit in and settle quickly

It can be an anxious time for everyone as well as an exciting one!

So today I have listed my Top 10 Tips for relocating with children. You may find one or two useful in your situation or you may have others to share.

Please do!!

My Top Ten Tips

1. If you are happy and positive about the move then the kids are likely to be also.

Encourage them to be adventurous and let them research alongside you. I always encourage my client”s children to ask me questions.

2. Kids love familiarity and routine and so moving can be hard for them.

Allow them to express their concerns.Work through it as a family.Talk through the Pluses and the Minus’.

Prepare them for the reality of moving but reassure them that they will see their things again!

3. When it’s time to move and pack up don’t be tempted to throw out everything!

Sure moving can be a great time for a declutter but allow your child to select items
to go into a special box to be shipped and opened in your new location.

My children always wrote a message  to themselves and popped it into the box

“By the time I read this I will be ………..

4. Look at the websites of at least four schools with your children.

Talk about things that look the same or different. Make a list of things to look for in schools.

5. Remember it may take a while for your possessions  to arrive so it’s nice to go out

shopping for a few different toys in your new country.

6. Once you arrive encourage your children to stay in touch with friends through social networking
and e mails.

However keep an eye on how long your children spend “talking”
to old friends…..it can create homesickness problems.

In my own family we have tended to cut ties with all but the very best friends and
concentrate on new friendships instead.

7. In your new house get the children’s rooms straight first.

8.  As soon as possible get the children into school..
Check on their progress with the class teacher after about a month.

9. Get into Sports…….
Join the local sports club so that your children meet other children in a team
situation and you will meet other parents

10. Be prepared for reality to set in after about a month after you have moved.

Once the excitement dies down some children ( and adults!!!) can experience  a bit of
an anti-climax.

Forewarned is forearmed . Think about how you are going to deal with this before it happens. Cut everyone some slack and give love and cuddles!                                           

Some children can become unsettled at school during this period.

AND LASTLY….think how much FUN you can have with all those shipping boxes!

I hope some of these tips are useful for you there are many others of course so don’t forget to post!

Northern Beaches Know-How (printables) on schools and choosing a place to live are family friendly and designed to make your move go smoothly.

Click here to go straight to them

All children are encouraged to enter if they want to. There is a spirit of “get in and have a go”                                                     

Here’s why they are so great @ Swimming!

1 Kids learn to swim from an early age and take regular swimming lessons

2 Nippers and surf life saving

3 There’s always a pool nearby.

Great places to learn to swim on the Northern Beaches

Drop me a line!!