JackoFam Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Well done. You have done well settling so quickly. Canberra is on our shortlist so am enjoying your impressions 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips Posted February 15, 2016 Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Welldone BrendanH, hopefully we will all have your luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 On 15/02/2016 at 10:56 PM, Chips said: Welldone BrendanH, hopefully we will all have your luck. Thanks Chips, one thing is that you seem to be able to help luck along by writing a new cover letter for each position after researching the company and highlighting where your skills match what they are asking for. I think I spent about three hours on each application and then I spent more time brushing up on those skills online before the interview In an environment like this you have to maximize every chance you get. Also, my Friday interview which I felt didn't go well resulted in me moving to the next round. 3 from 3 Considering I normally struggle a bit with interviews I am very happy with the outcome. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 As of Monday I am officially a productive member of the Australian economy. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Wow, that is wonderful news, I sincerely hope that you will be very happy in your new job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Awesome news BrendanH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Well one!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunnyskies Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 6 hours ago, BrendanH said: As of Monday I am officially a productive member of the Australian economy. Congrats!! Now you get to complain about how much tax you pay and how it is spent (tongue firmly in cheek). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 @BrendanH when you arrive on Monday, you will be given your tax form to complete and you will be asked which superannuation fund you wish to belong to. With regard to the superannuation fund, you cannot go wrong, in my opinion, by choosing Australian Super. I have been with them since arriving here, and once the laws changed and you were able to choose your fund, hubby moved across to them as well. We have always had a positive return from them on an annual basis. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks @Mara I have been reading up about Supers and a lot of people suggest going with an industry fund which typically has lower charges which adds up to a lot of money after 30 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 So glad about that... I am sure you will find Australian Super to be excellent. Also a heads up, it is far cheaper to take out life and related insurance through the superfund than privately. Say you find that the cost of life insurance for you is $75 per week, then you can always ask you employer to deduct $100 from your wages each week so that it does not impact on your super. The reason for the extra is to allow for the tax that the super will deduct. Your employer will deduct the $100 before they calculate your tax. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Well done My advice is to take a coffee mug for your first day so that there's no awkward kitchen politics - doesn't always happen but having your own mug will help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 So if anyone out there has even the slightest interest in military history then they must go to the National War Memorial here in Canberra. It is truly staggering to see the richness and variety of the displays. As a massive aviation buff seeing the iron cross that was cut from the wing of The Red Baron's aircraft was just mind blowing. I won't even talk about the restored ME262 or last surviving ME109 in wartime markings. We were there for 3 hours without even seeing the WW2 wing and we barely scratched the surface of what we did see. Just, wow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OubaasDik Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 So, you've jumped into a job in SPITE of me getting you a dodgy supper at a club ... I mean no runs, no Montezuma's revenge? Congratulations. I am NOT sure about the 262 - the War museum in SA had a really nice night fighter with IIRC Nachtmusiek radar antennae ... totally unique. It also had a couple of Me109s - one had been scraped up off the ground in Merrie Olde Englande. They also had a really nice FW190 Now, what I would love to see is the Do335 Pfeil - fastest piston engined fighter in the world. Although there's lots of Japanese stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggit Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Congrats on getting a job so quickly, Brendan, that must be a load off! All the best, I'm sure it's going to go well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) @OubaasDik I never did get the chance to go to the SA War Museum. Sounds like I missed out. As for the meal you treated me and my family to - that was the first time we'd eaten out so I am surprised the sight of us tucking in like a pack of wolves hasn't left you with severe psychological scarring @doggit thanks, you didn't waste much time either. Edited February 21, 2016 by BrendanH 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Wow, you know that you have arrived in the first world when you visit your first Ikea. It is both horrifying and incredibly cool at the same time. It is the pinnacle of consumerism excess while being so darn convenient and affordable. I am so very conflicted right now 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 LOL Still have to go ourselves. Making me oh so curious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYLC Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 I ADORE Ikea - it is the caravan of furniture and perfect for the kid and/or migration stage. I love the fact that I can change my couch covers for new ones whenever needed without having to find a specialist to do it. Everything fits together and there are more if I suddenly decide I need more. The kids toys are considered so good for fine motor skills etc that the occupational therapist we went to had them in her play area. There are so many other things to love too. Kids play area, bottomless coffee in the cafe, really cheap meals etc etc. During Easter / Christmas they have free craft for kids too. Actually Bunnings also has free craft for kids and workshops for adults in store almost every Saturday. I must Google the schedule again... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toitjie Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Welcome to Canberra Brendan...you have achieved an enormous amount of things in such a short time, well done. Im happy that you found a job so quickly. we were lucky with rentals, we applied for 3 while still in South Africa and got 2. My secret weapon was to submit the application, then about 3 character references of people who'se properties I managed (only unofficially while they were overseas, and one is my brother) but it helps. then I wrote a nice letter saying we were home owners in SA, and know how hard it can be having tenants who do not look after the place. I included pics of our SA house to show we maintained the garden well etc). I also included a cute pic of Lucy the Scottie, and wrote a little about her and that she is not a dog from hell. with all that who could say no? with jobs, it took me 4 months to get a job, so that was hard. with regards to centrelink...their offices in Gungahlin is pretty good, queues are handled efficiently and quickly. I hope you settle in well, if you need anything, advice or otherwise, please let me know. I live in the Northside...which as touchy subjects go, is definitely one of them 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellfish Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 14 hours ago, BrendanH said: It is both horrifying and incredibly cool at the same time. It is the pinnacle of consumerism excess while being so darn convenient and affordable. Nicely summed up. Some of them (or possibly all of them) have free children playcentres. Dump the kids for an hour and shop in relative peace then have a $3 breakfast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted February 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 @Toitjie - Thanks for thr kind words. So I learned something incredibly useful today. It started yesterday when we took a road trip down to Batemans Bay to explore. A large chunk of our trip was on the pass down the misty mountains. All was well until we started seeing that each corner had its own yellow speed limit sign. Not knowing better we stuck to the limits even though it all seemed a bit absurd. This morning while talking to a collegue I was informed that the yellow signs are *suggested* limits. No wonder the people behind us were cursing so much. Anyhoo, the more you know... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted March 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Just found a white tailed spider in my house. F'it - I didn't want to sleep tonight anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 I have found and killed a few of those myself Brendan. Infact I was just at the library today and I was just about to sit down on one of the bean bag chairs when this Huge white tailed spider came scurrying from underneath it. According to a recent documentary I watched white tails have a very bad rep and the so called ulcerations that some people experience cannot be attributed to tho spider. They tested about 1400 people with bites and not one became ulcerated. Anyway just to be on the safe side I would kill them. Lol wait til you see a huntsman. They are the only ones I like. Got one in the garden my son named it Harold. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrendanH Posted March 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 @emmayenkanna Yep. Oddly enough in South Africa I never minded snakes and spiders and I don't like killing them at all. I still need to come to terms with the Australian ecosystem I guess. It seems a bit toothier and more venomous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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