Relocating from Australia at short notice

smileyface · Post by **smileyface** » Sun, 25 Oct 2009 1:08 pm

Hi all. We currently live in Australia and my husband has just been offered a role in Singapore. We will be moving in 2 and a bit months. I am wondering if anyone who has moved from Australia took their electrical appliances (TV, fridge, toasters, microwave, washing machine, DVD player etc) and whether these worked fine? Also, we have a 5 and 7 year old. We have been recommended the Australian International School - is it easy to get into. Any other comments re your experiences with the AIS will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

mrshamilton · Post by **mrshamilton** » Mon, 26 Oct 2009 8:25 am

hi there
we leave from melbourne in a month so we're in the same boat. Electrical current is the same, you'll just need to get your plugs rewired (and might want to get a surge protector to cover your stereo/tv/pc for the thunderstorms!) We're relocating with GRACE and apparently we get a guy who comes around to replace our plugs as part of the service...

textex · Post by **textex** » Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:37 am

Hi, do bring all your electricals if the company is paying for the relocation, that's what we did anyway. We've also taken along some Aussie extension cords if you didn't want to change all the plug points. If the stuff breaks then buy local, most of the brands are the same in this region.

AISS is a nice school, most Aussie families tend to send their kids there as they teach the Australian syllabus and if you know you will only be in Singapore for a few short years. Placement shouldn't be a problem, do check with the school office to get the necessary paperwork done before coming down. Fees will be like sending your kids to a private school.

Cheers
Tex.

singersfornow · Post by **singersfornow** » Mon, 26 Oct 2009 4:15 pm

You cannot go past AISS for a 5 and a 7 year old. I have been there 5 years and since the new Junior School has opened and the new Principal has started the school has been amazing. It really is wirth a look.

smileyface · Post by **smileyface** » Mon, 26 Oct 2009 5:00 pm

smileyface wrote:Hi all. We currently live in Australia and my husband has just been offered a role in Singapore. We will be moving in 2 and a bit months. I am wondering if anyone who has moved from Australia took their electrical appliances (TV, fridge, toasters, microwave, washing machine, DVD player etc) and whether these worked fine? Also, we have a 5 and 7 year old. We have been recommended the Australian International School - is it easy to get into. Any other comments re your experiences with the AIS will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Thank you everyone for your responses - we have found them to be very useful and reassuring.

Brenstar · Post by **Brenstar** » Tue, 03 Nov 2009 4:51 pm

My boyfriend and I just moved here from Adelaide with one months notice. So I know how you feel. Almost every apartment comes with a fridge and washing machine. Dryers aren't a norm but I'm finding in my search that the newer places have the washer dryer combos.

harry138 · Post by **harry138** » Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:42 pm

smileyface wrote:Hi all. We currently live in Australia and my husband has just been offered a role in Singapore. We will be moving in 2 and a bit months. I am wondering if anyone who has moved from Australia took their electrical appliances (TV, fridge, toasters, microwave, washing machine, DVD player etc) and whether these worked fine? Also, we have a 5 and 7 year old. We have been recommended the Australian International School - is it easy to get into. Any other comments re your experiences with the AIS will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Hi Smiley Face

The Australian School is at Lorong Chuan (name of road) . There are a number of condos within walking distance from the Aust School.
A Shopping Mall (Serangoon Central) is now under construction and is due to be completed in 4th quarter 2010. but it is about 2-3 kilometers from the school. However, it is accessible by Mass Rapid Train (MRT).
There are a number of Government-built Apartments around the Serangoon Central MRT Stationn where rental is cheaper than condominium (without facilities though). The MRT Station "HUB" can connect you to many parts of Singapore.

HC
Singapore

Leone and John · Post by **Leone and John** » Wed, 18 Nov 2009 1:51 pm

I have been here 3 years .... I brought over some of the furniture, but with hindsight realise I should have left it behind as most apartments are fully furnished .

The LL get a better tax free rate if they lease with furniture. If it is unfurnished, there is always a fridge and washer. Thats what they usually mean when the addy says "part furnished".

You can bring any electrical goods in, we never bothered with changing any plugs... totally unnecessary. Go to the local store and buy the adaptor for under a dollar!!

I keep at least a dozen here - mainly for guests and their hairdryers / laptops / chargers etc.

We did bring one of those George Forum Grillers, brand new .... lasted 3 mths due to the humidity .... some items are not made for this climate.

If your company is paying - good luck to you - bring what you want then, just make sure there is a clause in your contract that they will pay for you to return to Australia too. So many get over here and then they have to pay their own way back.... looking at $15,000 +++ to go back with a container as well as fares.

When you are here, make sure you have a clause in your lease that is a "diplomatic clause' allows you to get out of the 2 years lease if the job is no longer available to you.

You will enjoy your time here ..... it is a lovely country and very safe for you to bring up the children... so much to see and do on such a small island.

Public transport is a breeze and you don't even need to have a car ... cannot imagine being without a car in Australia.

You will also love the tax savings compared to Australia ... will make you start to think why would you want to go back there and pay 50% of your salary to the Government!!!

remember to keep an open mind..... there are a few cultural differences and barriers you may need to overcome.... but everyone here is helpful.

anyway, travel safe and ENJOY.

smileyface · Post by **smileyface** » Sun, 22 Nov 2009 2:37 pm

Hi all - thank you all for your very useful suggestions. We plan to be in Singapore in early-mid Jan and your insights have certainly made it easier for us to plan the move. We really appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts. Cheers !

aussiePT · Post by **aussiePT** » Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:24 am

blued3838 · Post by **blued3838** » Tue, 05 Jan 2010 5:33 pm

Hi All,

I am a local Singaporean who has lived in Aust for several years before coming back here to work.

Once you are here, try connecting with the ANZA Singapore which is an organisation that is specially set up to get Aussies and Kiwis in Singapore connected with one another.

Google ''ANZA Singapore'' for their details.

Also, places where most Aussies hang out would be The Tanglin Mall I reckon cos whenever I go there, I feel like I'm in Aust and not in Singapore.

Other places where there are quite a number of expats would be the Great World City Shopping Centre.

All The Best Guys!

blued3838 · Post by **blued3838** » Tue, 05 Jan 2010 5:44 pm

Oh and a word of caution, but nothing to worry about, is that when you first arrive in Singapore, dont take it personally when you meet or encounter people who are always in a hurry and do not give way to you while walking, entering/exiting the trains, driving, entering/exiting the lifts and perhaps rush for empty seats at the food courts.

I know how you guys feel as I have lived in Aust and know the importance of being sensitive to the surroundings.

When I came back to Singapore after living in Aust for several years, I too, could not tolerate some of the behavious of my fellow Singaporeans.

They may appear rude at times, but do not take it personally, those types of behaviours are not a personal rude attack on you but a general rushy or hurry sort of culture we got here.

Of course, on the other hand, there will be nice people who you will meet in Singapore too. And it's safer to go out at night over here although try to watch your handbags or other valuables while in crowds, pickpockets might be around. This word of caution applies to locals as well.

Overall, I would say the difference in cultures between Aust and Spore is, when you get to know the people in Singapore, ie, know them well or as friends, they tend to be nicer, but strangers treat strangers without much sensitivity here. Hope you guys know what I mean.

Anyway, happy re-locating.

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Wed, 06 Jan 2010 4:13 pm

Hey if you guys need a good moving firm, we used Move Management Australia (I've posted about them before so it's not an ad!) - very good, very professional, and heaps cheaper than the alternatives.

HTH, Mr. P

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