KOPI IS GOING TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA THIS WEEK!

KOPI IS GOING TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA THIS WEEK!

Hi everyone, if you are in Melbourne why not go to this event?

Event: Get Lost Maze
Location: Queensbridge Square, Southbank, Melbourne
Date & Time: Friday 27th April (7am-9pm) and Saturday 28th April (9am-6pm)
Admission: Entry is free 

Read more here:

http://www.helpkopigooverseas.com/

Negotiating your Salary and work hours

Negotiating your Salary and work hours

After getting a job, most of us will be wondering what our pay and work hours like. Some will just jump in to sign the contract.. after all the pay in the contract is much higher than our previous pay in Singapore.. But before you do anything .. please wait!!!! Read this article first!.

 In Australia, there are 2 kinds of "job contracts", Individual contracts or Award/Enterprise agreement.. which on are you on?

Individual Contract

It may be an "individual contract" e.g. your pay is confidential to you only. You can negotiate your own pay and terms of contract like working hours or other benefits.

For individual contract it maybe more flexible, you should be able to negotiate your own salary, whether you want to salary sacrifice your pay to buy a car, for your house mortgage, RDOs etc..

For those of you who are not too sure on the negotiation process, joining a union may help as they have experienced people who can help you look through your contract before you sign it.


Award or Enterprise agreement

It maybe part of a award or enterprise agreement, where someone / or some group (Usually a union) has already negotiated your pay and benefits on behalf of you. Your pay and benefits will be exactly the same as the person doing the same job as you are.

When you accept a job in this category, means you accept the terms of your enterprise agreement. You can search award or enterprise agreements at Fair Work Australia website http://www.fwa.gov.au/
Unions:

Award / enterprise agreement are non negotiable with no extra claim while in force unless provisioned, you will be unable to vary any terms or conditions while the award/enterprise agreement is in force.

Usually they are in force for a period of 2 years where the next round of negotiation with the employer commence. You will be able to nominate a representative, which is usually your union to negotiate on your
behalf.

Sometimes there maybe a dispute with the employer on the negotiation process over pay and conditions. Then there's the usual stop work meetings, strikes, etc that you see on tv quite often..

For professionals, there's Apesma, they can help you if you are a member
http://www.apesma.com.au/

For tradies
Go thru the website and find the union that is most relevant to your job.
http://www.unionsaustralia.com.au


Working Hours
Typically 38 hours week,
Some jobs has flexible starting and ending time, just check or arrange with your boss
Some company may pay overtime or penalty rates, please check with your employer

Benefits
In NSW, everyone is entiled to 2 months long service leave after working for the same employer for 10 years.
Some jobs usually award/enterprise agreement usually provision for a "RDO" or rotating day off once or twice a month.

Will it rain in my area today?

Will it rain in my area today?

It's rainy season in now Sydney once again .. and one way the locals check the if rain is coming is by checking the radar.. a sample of the picture is as below..

It is an animated image that tells you approximately where the rain are heading.. from this page we can see mid/moderate rain along the coast of NSW between Sydney and Newcastle..

Link to the radar is here:
http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/radar/


Of coz you have the regular weather update on the news, papers etc..

Catching Public Transport in Sydney

Catching Public Transport in Sydney

The website for public transport info in NSW is here:
http://www.131500.com.au

Type of public transport
Most commonly used are Bus/Trains/Ferry although there are others like tram and monorail as well.

Tickets
Most common tickets

Bus: 

Single trips for irregular users 
(usually @ non peak hours, Buy direct from bus drivers, drivers give change, sometimes if at peak hours, bus drivers dont sell tickets to fasten boarding time, in this case, buy from authorised bus ticket resellers)

Multi trip bus tickets
Called Travel 10, please check prices from the link above, valid for 10 trips. Depending on how far you are travelling on a bus. The ticket above is a travel 10 for 1-2 sections.

Tickets do not have an expiry date and is valid for 10 trips

Buy from authorised resellers, e,.g. newsagent. just ask for "travel 10s"

Train

System map:

Tickets:

Single trips for irregular users 
Buy at train station.Either vending machine or buy from the ticketing counter.
Avaliable in Single trip or Return. Buy a "Return" ticket if you are going somewhere and coming back to the same station on the same day

Tip: Buy a return ticket after 9am and you will save in paying "off peak" fares

Weekly train tickets "weeklies"
Called weeklies, valid for 7 days although 14 days are available for double the price. Valid for 7 days between your 2 nominated stations

Tip: Buy a weekly after 3pm, it's valid on that day and 7 days thereafter.


Ferry
Seldom take ferry, but for major jetty like circular quay, either buy tickets from vending machines or ticket counter.

If boarding from smaller jetty, buy from the conductor after boarding the ferry.


Tickets for multiple modes of transports e.g. Bus/train/ferry good for unlimited rides

• Day tripper - Valid for the whole day on many public transport in Sydney - ~about $20. 
• My multi tickets - e.g. mymulti1, mymulti2, mymulti3, Valid for 7 days on many public transport in the area that you have chosen.
• Family tickets only valid on Sundays, ~$2.50 for each travelling adult if travelling as family

Again please check link above for the real prices.

Catching a train at night

When travelling at night, you will notice that the train is very empty, the best and safest way is to travel on the train carriage next to the guard.

The guard is usually located in the middle of a 8 train carriage or in the last carriage if the train is a 4 train carriage.

You can also identify where are the possible locations on a train station platform where the train guard's carriage is likely to stop by looking out for the "Night safe area" words painted in blue on the platform next to the yellow line or the blue light on the train carriage.

If trains are not operating at night, nightride buses are available.

Train time table:

As for copy of the train timetable the next time you buy a train ticket from the ticketing counter.

Extra fees for using Airport Train station and certain stations on the airport line

If boarding a train from the airport, additional fee applies as the train stations are privately operated.
http://www.airportlink.com.au/price.php


Safety advises:

Here's some safety tips and advise from the mata mata:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/106950/personal_safety_tips.pdf


Please feel free to ask any questions

First few things to do after arrival in Australia

First few things to do after arrival in Australia

Please try to do all these within the first week, all these are for potential nsw residents although people who intend to live other states may get some hints and tips from here too.

The first few things to do upon arrival in Australia is to create your identity in the Australian Society. This is for persons with PR only, those on work/student visa, you are not eligible for some stuffs. Check with your co or sch.

If you have the following documents handy, they are usually very useful

• Your Singapore Passport with your PR label (if no label on your passport, produce your PR approval letter)
• Your Singapore Driver's licence
• Your Singapore Bank ATM Card  or Credit Card (Name must be exactly the same as the Passport, if not the same dun be violent hor when they reject you!) 

Please try to arrange these within the first week. the following are not in order:

1. Get your teng ki:

For people like ah tan who who can't live without a "ang teng kee" this is your teng ki in Australia la!

How to get driving licence in NSW read this link.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/

for other states find the transport agency of your state.
Reminder to google or go to the link and explore yourself ah, dun say you eyes got sai  stamp  didn't see the link ah.

For People with SG licence, if i remember correctly, if you get all your required documentation correct, fill in the correct form and pay the fee ~$150 for 5 years, you can get your licence printed on the spot for you.
Again the price you check yourself in the link above ah, you can pay 1 yr or 3 yr or 5 year but pay 5yr more wu hua..

If no SG licence, then suggest to you is either to take the Theory test and get your "L" plate licence and use as your teng ki or get this (there is a fee, check this)
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/photocard.html


2. Get a Medicare Card


To get free Medical care, you will need to register with medicare http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/,
You will need to provide documentations etc passport etc..  check the link for more  details. they will give you a green card  you will need to bring to the doctor clinic.

When you get ur medicare approved, you will usually get a print out of your medicare number, use that till they post you the card.

Card is usually green but some ppl get issued blue card for some reasons (i know why but explain this later if necessary)

Most clinic are usually free if you have the medicare card but some clinic will still charge you even though you have this card!

So tip here is to look for "Bulk Billing", some clinic do bulk billing for All patients, some clinics do bulk billing for Children only . So check carefully ah.. if no bulk billing available in the clinic that you go.. you will need to pay.

Its best to check with the clinic whether they "bulk bill" when you call them up to make appointment.. most clinics in Australia need appointment, but there's some "walk in also welcome!"

Recommended to call up to make appointment first coz if you call up before you leave your house, you get to see the doc faster!!


3. Get a bank account
The bank requires 100 points identifications to open a bank account for most Australia residents, however as you are a recent /newly arrived migrant, you may not be able to produce this 100 points documents, so there is waiver for you.

Please speak with the bank. This waiver is only available to people who arrived less than 1 or 2 mths.. differnet bank different so better get this sorted within 1st week of your arrival. exact period of waiver please check with the bank yourself.

Best bank to get are those with full service and branches and yet no fees.

Currently we recommend NAB, coz it got no fees but please feel free to choose your own bank for your own individual needs.

The following are some links of the banks: of coz they are more la. just goolge.
http://www.anz.com.au/personal/
http://www.nab.com.au/
http://www.westpac.com.au/
http://www.commbank.com.au/
http://www.rabodirect.com.au/
http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/
http://www.boq.com.au/

Some online only bank give high interest rates they are good but they got no physical bank branch, can't deposit cash. But try to get at least your daily bank account to be some bank that has branch readily available in your state, so that you can easily access to your cash by just queueing up at the counter.

Sometimes coz sometimes shit happens and you may need to withdraw cash over the atm limit. then you will have a problem with online only bank.

Please give your bank your TFN so that they will not withhold your interest for taxation purpose

4. Get a Tax file number
Need this for your job, and your bank account. I got this years ago, queued up at the ATO and got on the spot. now i think can get it online. please check this website:
http://www.ato.gov.au/

5. Register yourself with Centerlink 

You will be able to get access to some resources to help you to find a job, such as using free telephone, free computer with internet etc . Different centerlink offer different services i think ..
Check the link below or just turn up at a centerlink near u when u arrive
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/home/index.htm

All comments good or bad are welcome!

2012 Easter Weekend Plans Part 3

"Sydney Royal Easter Show" is the biggest event in Sydney for every Easter, that any Sydney visitors should not miss if you have not been to one before. In fact, I was told that (needs public vertification) it is the BIGGEST show in australia.


I took this photo from the train station Advertisement board. Apparently, $36 includes return train ride from Sydney Olympic Park where the show is held.
Anyone who is interested should do some homework from this website Sydney Easter show in detail.

For the knowledge, there is "Royal" shows in various state in Australia, the dates are different.
Royal shows in Australia

For Adelaide that would be in 1st week of September, if anyone is interested, i can get discounted tickets for the Adelaide royal show, that is if you are in Adelaide.

For Perth, I have not been to one yet, it is towards the end of september and 1st week of october. Here's the link perth royal show

I never been to Melbourne 'Royal' show, although i resided in melbourne for couple of years. But I would prefer to go moomba festival melbourne, that is celebrated every Labour day long weekend of each summer at Yarra river right outside the city. Simply because, it is FOC. I am that cheap. :D

If some kind souls can provide me some easter show pictures, please share with me, i will placed it up in this page.

2012 Easter Weekend Plans Part 2

Easter was last weekend and I HAD A AWESOME time. Many Thanks to people to help my easter trip a memorable one. It did not really go as what i had planned in mind >>
http://singaporeclubau.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/2012-easter-weekend-plans-part-1.html
Nevertheless I will share some of the things one could do for the next easter 2013 as well as the things i had done during easter holidays.

6th April Easter Friday

I arrived in Sydney 9am from adelaide. To make matter worse, my old aliment was back to haunt me since 1st April. I was very close to cancelling my trip, but on the 3rd April, i decide, fug it, since i can manage to limp my way to work, there is nothing to stop me from visiting my friends in sydney. So very kind Merlion offer me a ride from Kingsford airport to Marsfield.

I waited for his car at Public Pick up in T2.It is a area consists of 52 parking spaces offering 10 minutes free pick-up time. Vehicles that stay beyond the free 10 minutes, or park in a car park area outside the designated Public Pick-up area, pay normal parking rates.


Users can refer to below link for further information on dropping off and picking up in kingsford Airport in Sydney.
dropping off and picking up in Kingsford
Soon i saw a glimpse of merlion, sturdy old car and i jumped in! She is a really sturdy old ger -- one of the old classic we used to see in our japanese manga

Anyhow, after i dropped my bags at my friend's room, we headed to Macquarie shopping centre for brunch at 'Thai Break". It is not a Chat Thai branch. Food there taste quite OK for a thai eatery. price is along 12-15Aud for a dish with large serve of rice. In general, 2 girls can share 1 dish. I have yet to try out all their menu BUT i can assure you, their tom yam soup is just 4/10. Not spicy nor sour, no strong aroma as well.

After brunch, i parted my ways with Merlion, and agree that we will go uncle phil's house on Easter Saturday for Dinner, i will elaborate that in next part.

Sydney Opera House
This was the 4th time i was in sydney, but never once i set foot near the Opera House.
1st time, i was too stuffed at work that i didnt really managed to do much homework to figure out the transport system in sydney prior my x'mas break.
2nd time, it was for work, simply had no time to explore.
3rd time, it was still for work but i flew in with mum 1 day on sun, still i was so stuffed with work that i STILL did not managed to figure out how to make my way to the Opera House although i managed to squeeze some time to travel into city.
So hence, the 4th time, i had my frd to bring me there, and i learn to figure out sydney transport system. It was easier than reading on the brouchure, at least for me.

We arrive at Waynard Station, change trains into Platform 5/6 that travels to Circular quay Station. Upon exiting the station, on our way to the opera house, there is a lot of ferry terminal one can ride to visit serveral places, which i did not really pay attention to.

BUT there is a ferry ride to Luna Park, $30, but Luna Park entry is free. It will be interesting for family to bring kids on their first ferry ride and travel to Luna park. The children's dream and paradise.



That pretty much conclude my first day in sydney for Easter.