Making friends in Australia: why it’s hard, and what actually works
Australians are friendly. Getting past friendly to actual friends is harder. Here is why, and what actually works.
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Australia’s seasons: four on the calendar, six (or two) on Country
Christmas in summer is just the start. Australia has the four calendar seasons, a tropical wet and dry, and First Nations calendars with six seasons or more. Here is how to read the year.
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Aussie slang survival guide: what people actually say
Nobody says crikey at work. Here is the slang you will actually hear in your first months, what it means, and the few phrases that are really about manners.
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Medicare and private health insurance, simply explained
Public, private, bulk billed, gap fee, extras. How Australian healthcare works, what it costs, and the one cover that catches new arrivals out: the ambulance.
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Superannuation explained for new arrivals
On top of your pay, your employer puts money aside for your retirement. Here is how super works, how to choose a fund, and what happens to it if you leave Australia.
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Australian visas explained in plain English
Subclass numbers, invitations, nominations, bridging visas. The system makes sense once you see how it fits together. Here is the map, without the jargon.
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How renting works in Australia (and how to win a rental with no local history)
No local rental history, no local references, thirty people at the inspection. Here is how renting works, and what actually gets you the keys.
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First month in Australia: what to set up, in the right order
Week one to week four: the setup jobs that save you tax, money and stress later, in the order that makes sense.
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Your first 72 hours in Australia
The flight is over. Here is what to sort now, what can wait, and the one thing people pay for that should be free.
