Finding a rental apartment /house:

The first thing that you probably worry about when you are thinking of moving to Brisbane is finding an accommodation. Finding the right kind of accommodation in a good neighbourhood can be the key to a wonderful stay. There are a number of websites where you can find lists of properties available for rent, such as:

https://www.realestate.com.au/rent

http://www.domain.com.au/home?mode=rent

The rent is charged on a weekly basis here in Australia hence the rent mentioned in the listings is per week. Once you find a property that matches your requirement, you can contact the owner or the estate agent/agency and arrange for an inspection and then submit an application for renting the property. If your application is successful, you will have to sign a contract of 6 months or 1 year which can usually be extended. You may be required to pay a few weeks rent in advance and typically 2-4 weeks of rent as a security deposit/bond which will be returned to you when you end your contract and vacate the house in a satisfactory condition. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is a state government statutory body that provides tenancy information, bond management, dispute resolution, investigation, policy and education services. Make sure that the rental agreement is as per the RTA guidelines and that the bond is lodged with the RTA. For more information please go through:
https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/Renting

Key points to remember

– Please try to find out information about the neighborhood as well as the estate agent/agency beforehand.
– Inspect the property carefully. Make sure the property as well as the facilities are in a satisfactory condition and are as mentioned in advertisement. Insist on having a contractual agreement and the bond being lodged with the RTA.
– Do not transfer money to any private account/individual before you have inspected the property.

Schooling and Education:

Schooling in Queensland starts with a preparatory or Prep Year followed by 12 years of primary and secondary school. Kids can be enrolled to a kindergarten (Kindy) for 1-1.5 years before they start their Prep.
The Brisbane schools follow a catchment area system to ensure that every Queensland student from Prep to Year 12 is able to enroll at their local state school. Your local state school (primary or secondary) is the school which is closest to your home. You can still apply for enrolment at a state school outside of your catchment area, but enrolment is not guaranteed and you will be placed on a waiting list. You can find your local school in the link provided below, using your home address or enter a school’s name to see if your home is within its catchment area.

http://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/maps/edmap/

More information and contact details of specific schools can be found at:

https://schoolsdirectory.eq.edu.au/search

Groceries

Supermarkets provide the solution to most of our daily needs. The most popular supermarket chains in Australia are Coles and Woolworths (also called Woollies). Apart from these there are also other supermarket chains like IGA or convenience stores like Night Owl or 7Eleven.

For other regular needs you can consider a visit to K-Mart which is a chain of discount stores that include merchandise such as home entertainment goods, sporting goods, toys, kitchenware, small appliances, storage & home organization, stationery, books, furniture, garden supplies, automotive equipment, lighting, hardware, luggage, cosmetics, clothing and footwear.

For other household stuff like furniture etc., the easiest option is IKEA. Although the store is located slightly far from the city, you can always order online and get stuff delivered to your place. Bunnings is another DIY store if you like to build stuff yourselves.

If you are looking for used stuff, you can also look on Gumtree. We would advise you to be extra careful and be absolutely sure of the quality as well as the value of the items before buying stuff from any individuals or entities.

Indian groceries

There are a number of Indian groceries in and around Brisbane where you will be able to find almost everything that any Maharashtrian would find absolutely necessary for survival. The list includes special Indian veggies like Methi, Bhendi, Dudhi, Dodka, Karla, Kadipatta and common groceries like gahu peeth, rice, grams and pulses, spices (readymade branded masala like Pav-bhaji Masala, Garam Masala, Chole Masala as well as individual items like Hing, Mohri, Dhana, Jeera etc), Pickles etc. Most of the typical Indian kitchen utensils like Pressure cooker, Patela, Kadhai, Polpat-Latna etc are also available here. However, they are slightly expensive and may or may not be readily available. Hence, we would advise you to bring most of them along with you from India. In case of pressure cookers, it is always wise to get a couple of spare valves and gaskets. There are many Indian stores but here is a list of a few:

Indian grocery stores: Brisbane
Indian grocery stores: Gold Coast
Indian grocery stores: Sunshine Coast

Transportation

Brisbane city has an excellent network of Buses, Railways, and Ferries that you can use to move around the city. The entire public transportation network is managed by TRANSLink. While travelling by Bus and Ferries, you can buy paper tickets onboard (except a few bus services that are prepaid).

You can also buy tickets from ticket offices or fare machines located on major busway or train stations. A go-card is TransLink’s electronic ticket to fast, easy and convenient travel. You can use it to travel on all TransLink bus, train (including Airtrain), ferry and tram services. Traveling with a go-card is always cheaper than buying a paper ticket. If you are a student, you may also be eligible for a concession card. For more information on the use, top-up and concessions for seniors and students on a go-card please visit here.

One thing to keep in mind is that Brisbane is spread out over a large area. Hence, when looking at distances between two places (eg: between work and home or university and home) do not rely on Google maps completely. Places that may seem pretty close by on maps may actually be 15-20 kms away. A 30-40 min bus ride might actually take you to the outskirts of the city. Also, traffic delays may significantly change your travel time during peak time.

Buying a Car

Car is the most convenient mode of transport in Brisbane. Given the expanse of the city and the presence of umerous motorways, arterial roads and bypasses, travelling by car may reduce your travel time by up to 50% as compared to travelling by public transport. Also, the general traffic discipline and quality of roads make driving relatively safe and stress free. If you are planning to buy a brand new car, there are several car dealerships in Brisbane which may be more than happy to assist you. For an extra detail about the rules and procedures or precautions you need to take before buying a new vehicle please refer to:

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/buying/rules/new/index.html

In case you are planning on buying a used car, the easiest way to look for cheap second hand cars is:

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-automotive/brisbane/c9299l3005721

http://www.carsales.com.au/

These websites provide listings from licensed motor dealers as well as private sellers. Buying from a licensed motor dealer can be more expensive than a private sale, but it is the safest way to buy a used vehicle. When you buy a vehicle privately (directly from the previous owner) you will need to take extra care. If you are buying a car privately you should conduct a search and check that there is no money owing on the car. By searching the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) you can find out if the car you are planning to buy has any outstanding debt attached to it. If you buy a car that is subject to a security interest, you are risking that the secured party (e.g. the bank) will repossess it. It may also provide details if the vehicle has previously been written-off or if the vehicle is reported stolen. Check if the owner has serviced the car regularly and has maintained a logbook of the servicing. It is a good idea to have a mechanic inspect the car before you finalize the deal. Once you have bought the vehicle from the dealer or the individual, you have 14 days to transfer the registration to your name. More details of the registration transfer process can be found at:

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/transfer/rego/index.html

Driving in Australia:

Depending on the type of your visa, your Indian or any other overseas driving license may or may not be valid in Queensland. Please check the rules and regulations before you start driving around:

http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/index.html

Driving in Australia may be very different to driving elsewhere in the world (especially India). Road safety is considered to be of paramount importance and traffic rules, regulations and signs are strictly followed. Fines are very high if you are caught violating a traffic regulation. More information on Road safety:

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/index.html

More information on Queensland Road rules:

https://publications.qld.gov.au/en/dataset/your-keys-to-driving-in-queensland

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Queensland-Road-Rules.aspx