Ever thought about packing up your life and moving to the other side of the world? I have actually done this before. Twice. I would happily do it again too. Some people think it sounds exciting or brave (or even stupid) to walk away from everything familiar and step out into the unknown of another country. The reasons people move are often as varied as the destinations they move to. For me, it was a big move from my hometown in NSW to a place I had never even been to before – The United Kingdom. My reasons were to do with holidays and career prospects – and I now (after a fews years overseas, and a few years back in Oz) welcome many guests to Caroline Apartments who have their own stories and reasons to be coming to Melbourne, Australia.
This post is not so much about the ‘why’ people relocate, it is about the varied ‘little things’ that people may (or may not) consider when they arrive in a new country. At Caroline Serviced Apartments we get to meet so many guests who have decided to move to Melbourne from overseas. We have helped people set their new life up, and don’t think any question is too silly. We understand how hard and stressful it can be to move, so we do our best to help.
Typical questions that we get asked are:
- How much do local calls cost?
- Which mobile phone supplier is better than the others?
- Is the tap water ok to drink?
- Will my DVDs work in Australian DVD players?
- Is it safe at night in this area?
- Do we need to sort recycling into different bins?
Things that people take for-granted about moving:
- Bank accounts
- Australia has pretty strict quarantine rules for pets – it’ll be a minimum of 30 days before you can welcome your pet into your new home
- School locations compared to where you want (or can afford) to live
- Mobile phone accessibility / set-up
- Where to buy furniture? Or White goods?
- Is it best to rent something fully-furnished or buy/rent furniture?
- Learning to drive on the opposite side of the road
- Learning new/different road rules
- Different currency and getting used to exchange rates
- When are the public holidays? When is it Daylight Savings time?
- Getting a Tax File Number
- Where can we buy baby items?
- Gyms – where and who are the best?
- The shipment of household items may have an arrival date, but sometimes it sits in customs for weeks! Don’t forget this when planning your accommodation!
- Dentists, doctors, beauticians, hairdressers, masseuse, nail technicians, plastic surgeons
I often have to write references to real estate agents about guests who have no permanent address, and are trying to find somewhere to live, or even if they want to join the local library to get access to free internet to help with their research on places to live.
We also work closely with a number of relocation companies who help families get settled in Melbourne. Sometimes our guests are relocating themselves on their own. Sometimes their Company is covering the costs of their relocation. Relocations are a huge industry and we are proudly part of it.
Alison has worked with Caroline Apartments since 2005. Starting out as South Yarra's Resident Assistant Manager, to becoming the opening Property Manager of the new Brighton property, and has recently taken on the role of General Manager of both South Yarra and Brighton. Her enthusiasm and fresh outlook has helped the company branch out through social media marketing to boost brand awareness and show off her fantastic team of staff.
What makes her tick? Ali loves discovering cool bars in Melbourne (due to a serious weakness for creative cocktails); she's also passionate about pole dancing (yep!); prefers pets over babies; and cannot imagine life without having a travel adventure to look forward to! 
Hi Ali
Great discussion topic! Having personally made the move to and from the northern hemisphere a couple of times, sharing the type of tips and tricks above is hugely valuable.
I really think that no matter how much you can plan and research a interstate or international move, the greatest challenge is what happens after you drag your bag in the front and put on the kettle!
Having support for you (and your family) once you arrive, even if its a smiley supportive face, can really make a big impact on how quickly you settle in. Accept any offers of support and local knowledge! Don’t pressure yourself to have everything sorted on day one! Take your time to enjoy your new location!
If you are lucky enough to be settling in Melbourne look up the team at Caroline Serviced Apartments. Each time I visit, I am delighted with how welcoming Ali and the team are.
Myself and my husband have only wonderful memories of our couple of visits to Brighton, and we can’t wait to get back there again soon.
Jayne Clow
Thanks so much for your input Jayne! You’re correct, the welcome you receive when you arrive in a new country can really make you at ease and give you the confidence to ask for help if you need it. We try to always offer that for our guests at Caroline Serviced Apartments, as we know how stressful it can be for people. I remember when I first moved overseas, I was so daunted by the fact that I had just landed in a country where I did not know anyone at all, and it made me realise that seeing a friendly (or familiar) face is something so easily taken for granted.