BCL: Moving to Brisbane Australia

Moving to Brisbane & Australia

We invite you to browse the pages of BCL to find a wide variety of information related to your needs and interests and to subscribe to the free BCL newsletter.

On this page we have grouped links to information of particular interest to people planning to move to Brisbane.

Entry Visas etc

Australian Immigration
- Fact Sheets
- Information for migrants and refugees
- Information for -
  - Workers for professionals and other skilled workers seeking work or business in Australia
  - Migrants People moving permanently to Australia or returning from overseas
  - Visitors Tourists, working holiday makers, people visiting family or friends, or visiting for business or an event
  - Students People studying or seeking study, training, or skills development in Australia. Education agents and providers
  - Employers Employers who sponsor skilled people to work in Australia
  - Applications & Forms Online and printable applications, information forms and booklets
  - Humanitarian Information for people seeking assistance under the refugee and humanitarian programme
Australian Customs Service
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
includes info on taking your cat, dog or other animals into or out of Australia
Medicare Information Kit for new arrivals translated into 19 languages. This website contains important information about Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, Australian Organ Donor Register and Family Assistance Office. Find out about your entitlements to Medicare, how to get a Medicare card, how to enrol your children on the Immunisation Register, how to become an organ donor etc.
Queensland Government - moving to Queensland includes lots of info and links about local regulations like driving, health etc.

Housing and Accommodation

Most Brisbane houses are on their own block of land. Semi-detached houses are rare and are called duplexes. Most modern homes are single story, with brick walls and a tiled roof. Many older homes are timber (weatherboard) and there are still many traditional "Queenslanders" in older suburbs. Backyard pools are common and by law must be fenced to prevent drowning accidents. Townhouses are becoming more common.

Flats and apartment blocks are common in the inner city suburbs. Check the BCL real estate listings to get an indication about prices. You could also try the rental property listings to get an idea about costs. Most expect 4 weeks rent as bond. The Residential Tenancies Authority regulates rental agreements and bonds.

Many people who work or study in Brisbane commute from surrounding areas including Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Caboolture, Ipswich and Logan.

Check the BCL Accommodation Guide for hotels, apartments, motels and other accommodation. Bed & Breakfasts can offer a lot of extra services and local knowledge when you first arrive. Many offer reduced rates for weekly or monthly bookings and can arrange transport from the airport.
Browse homes for sale and rental properties in the Brisbane region

Employment and Work

You must have the appropriate visa to work in Australia. See

MyCareer.com.au - Find jobs the quick & easy way - search by salary and find out what you're worth.
BCL employment page has links to agencies and information.
Check award wages using Fair Work.

Education - Schools and Study

School fees vary from approx $1500 per year for Catholic and smaller private schools to $6-8,000+ for the bigger private schools. Most don't have their fees on their web pages. State-run schools are free (with expenses) but if you are not an Australian resident, there is often a charge. Details on this should be available from Education Queensland. In our opinion, both state and private schools range from poor to excellent.

The BCL education section has more information about schools and education in Brisbane and links to state and private schools, colleges and universities.

Cost of Living

You will find links to Grocery stores on the BCL Shopping (Food) page to get some idea of grocery prices there.

The Universal Currency Converter will tell you how Australian dollars compare to your own currency.

Contacts

Moving to a new city or country can be difficult without support. These contacts may be of use to you. Advice offered on newsgroups and mailing lists may not be reliable. Please seek professional advice when needed.

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