New Life in Australia
Karen Bleakley
The New Life in Australia podcast is here to inspire you to follow your dreams of relocating across the world.
Host Karen Bleakley (Founder of SmartStepstoAustralia.com) moved to Australia with her family and, although it was life-changing, it wasn’t without its challenges.
This podcast is about making the relocation and resettlement process easier for you, so you can enjoy this exciting adventure.
Listen in as special guests share professional secrets and tips, learn from people who’ve made the move, and discover businesses that can help you realise your dreams. It’s all about ending the isolation, showing you what’s possible and sharing realistic expectations about starting a new life Down Under.
Tune in for inspiration, tips and actionable advice to kickstart your journey so you can create the life you've always wanted.
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Top 10 New Life in Australia Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best New Life in Australia episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to New Life in Australia for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite New Life in Australia episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
#11 Christmas gifting when you move to Australia
New Life in Australia
11/08/23 • 18 min
It’s really difficult for your family to know what things are going to work for your new life in Australia and what is practical to give you as a Christmas gift for your final Christmas before you move. Help them out by giving them some ideas!
Welcome to episode 11 of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about considerations around Christmas gifting when you’re moving to Australia. Topics covered include:
- What things can you add to your Christmas list for your final year in your home country that will be useful for your new life in Australia?
- What experience gifts can people give to you?
- How to manage Christmas gifting with family after you’ve moved to Australia.
Additional resources
(This list contains affiliate links and sponsored content links)
- Find out about Christmas in July
- Learn more about celebrating Christmas in Australia
- Read this article about Christmas gifts for your final year in your home country
- Read this article about why flowers are a special gift to send to someone living overseas
- Order Christmas flowers – or even a Christmas tree! – to be sent within Australia from Floraly (an ethical and sustainable flower company)
- Check out this guide to ordering gift hampers in Australia
- Find out about ordering online experience gifts
- Send cards online with Moonpig
- Visit Experience Oz
- Visit Adrenaline
- Visit Red Balloon
For the full show notes and transcript, visit https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-11 here
If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts! All positive reviews would be really appreciated!
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#24 Bucket list experiences: Choosing your Whitsunday Island cruise
New Life in Australia
11/13/24 • 12 min
It's important to consider what you want from your Whitsunday Island cruise!
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this solo episode, Karen talks about one of the best travel experiences in Australia - taking a cruise in the Whitsunday Islands! It can feel very overwhelming to choose a cruise as there are so many to choose from from day cruises to overnight and multiday cruises. Karen breaks down some of the things to consider:
- How to decide what it is you want from a cruise
- What are your priorities for your Whitsunday cruise
- Who is going on your cruise - cruises for couples and cruises for families
- Choosing a provider for the trip and what to look for
- What to pack on your Whitsunday island cruise
Additional resources
This list contains affiliate links
- See the Sealink Whitsunday Island cruise that we took on Get Your Guide
- Read all about our Whitsunday Island day trip here
- Find out about our Airlie Beach road trip from Brisbane
- Read my review of the Big 4 Adventure Whitsundays resort
- Check out more Whitsunday cruise options on Get Your Guide
Find the full show notes and transcript at www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-24
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#25 Wealth planning for a successful new life in Australia with Hoxton Wealth
New Life in Australia
11/20/24 • 22 min
Just do it! [Moving to Australia] has been the best decision I've ever made...Nothing has to be permanent so if you don't like it you can always go back.
With thanks to Hoxton Wealth for sponsoring this episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to expat Emma Norton Selzer who is Head of Australia for Hoxton Wealth. In the episode we cover:
- How to be in a stable financial position for your retirement after relocating
- Ways you can maximise your superannuation
- How the Hoxton Wealth app can give you an overview of your financial situation
- When to consider transferring your pension to Australia
- When to begin your international financial planning - before you move or after you've arrived in Australia?
- Why it's important to just 'do it' and give your new life a go!
Additional resources
- Connect with Emma Norton Selzer on LinkedIn
- Find Hoxton Wealth in the Move to Australia Directory
- Find out about upcoming events, seminars and webinars on Hoxton Wealth
- Visit MoneySmart.gov.au
Find the AI-generated show notes over at SmartStepstoAustralia.com/episode-25
#21 Visa pathways: Navigating your move to Australia with True Blue Migration Services
New Life in Australia
10/23/24 • 44 min
We are trying to make the visa journey as stress-free as possible for our clients.
With thanks to True Blue Migration Services for sponsoring this episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to Joy and Maryanne from True Blue Migration Services all about visas for Australia.
We cover:
- Who are True Blue Migration Services
- Best first steps for somebody considering moving to Australia
- What does the future hold for migration?
- The best and fastest visas to come to Australia on
- Options for over 45s
- Options for parents wanting to move over to their kids
- Working holiday visas and transitioning to a permanent visa
- And all things visas!
Additional resources
- You'll find True Blue Migration Service and their free eligibility form in the Move to Australia Directory here
- Visit True Blue Migration Services' website
- Listen to episode 12 about Chris who moved to Australia on a parent visa
The full show notes and transcript can be found at https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-21
#27 Buying your home in Queensland the smart way with Buyers Collective
New Life in Australia
12/04/24 • 45 min
What is your priority when you're moving here? Is it the schools? Is it a house or an apartment? Do you love the ocean do you love the countryside? What are your must-haves?
With thanks to Buyers Collective for sponsoring this episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast:
In this episode, Karen talks to Dianne from Buyers Collective. In the episode, we cover:
- Dianne's journey from renovating and flipping homes into becoming a buyer's agent and setting up Buyers Collective.
- What is the process of buying a home in this area?
- How a buyer's agent can help you find your dream home.
- What the lifestyle is like in South East Queensland down to Byron Bay in New South Wales.
- What do house prices look like in the area.
- What to look for in a home in this region? What to be aware of (bush fires, floods, insurance risks)?
- Is now still a good time to buy?
Additional resources
- Find Buyers Collective in the Move to Australia Directory
- Book a Discovery call with Dianne from Buyers Collective
- Email Diane for her First Steps to Buying a Property Guide: [email protected]
Get the full notes and transcript at SmartStepstoAustralia.com/episode-27
#17 Bucket list experiences: The unforgettable experience of whale watching
New Life in Australia
09/25/24 • 17 min
Whale watching really is one of the most incredible experiences in Australia!
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about the amazing experience of going whale watching in Australia. The episode covers:
- Will you get seasick and how to prepare
- What to pack for your day trip
- The importance of sunscreen
- Can you swim with whales?
- What level of ticket to buy
- and more
Additional resources
- Read the blog post: Everything you need to know about whale watching
- (Affiliate link) Check out whale-watching experiences on Experience Oz
With thanks to Brisbane Whale Watching for hosting me on my recent whale-watching cruise from Redcliffe.
Find the show notes and transcript for episode 17 over on SmartStepstoAustralia
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#10 Australia is expensive: True or false
New Life in Australia
11/01/23 • 20 min
I see a lot of people in forums giving their list of outgoings, but one person's outgoings is so different to another person's outgoings. So I just wanted give you a different perspective on things...The truth of the matter is that you don't know the context of the figures that people are sharing online.
Welcome to episode 10 of the New Life in Australia
This episode covers the different perspectives around whether Australia is more expensive or not and gives you some things to consider when comparing costs.
Karen talks about:
- The shifting exchange rates and how this makes it difficult to compare like for like
- House prices
- Food shopping
- Salaries (and how your income will change over time)
- Lifestyle choices and values
- Energy bills and solar
- Disposable income
- Letting go of your old currency and thinking in Aussie dollars
- All that really matters when it comes to affordability
Additional resources
- Search for house prices on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au
- How much money do you need to move to Australia?
- What is the cost of living in Brisbane
- Save money on your move to Australia by exploring some of the special offers in the Move to Australia Directory
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-10
If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts! All positive reviews are really appreciated!
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#8 What to expect from Halloween in Australia
New Life in Australia
10/18/23 • 15 min
It might be your first experience of things feeling opposite here in Australia. It was our first real experience of celebrating something that we were used to celebrating in cold weather in the UK while it was really hot weather in spring in Queensland. It’s a strange experience getting used to events being hot and sunny rather than being freezing cold!
Welcome to episode 8 of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about what to expect from Halloween in Austraila. The show covers:
- How does trick or treating work in Australia?
- What are sweets known as in Australia?
- Where to get Halloween costumes in Australia
- What sort of events you can enjoy in Halloween Down Under
- How to avoid Halloween in Australia if you don’t want trick or treaters knocking on your door
Additional resources
- Find out more about Halloween in Australia in this blog post
- Share what you’re up to to celebrate Halloween in Australia by tagging Karen at @smartstepstoaus on Instagram and Facebook
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-eight
If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts! All positive reviews would be really appreciated!
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#7 Stretch your arrival budget by housesitting in Australia
New Life in Australia
10/11/23 • 20 min
We had access to a car and a 4-bedroom home with pool for three and a half months. We reckon we saved $25 to $27,000 by housesitting in those first few months...We didn't have to pay any bills or anything like that. So basically, apart from putting petrol in the car and paying for our phone access, there was nothing else.
Welcome to episode seven of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen chats with Tracy Collins from Tracy's Travels in Time and host of the UK Travel Planning Podcast and the Global Travel Planning Podcast all about her experience housesitting.
The episode we talk about
- How Tracy began house-sitting
- How Tracy and Doug saved $25-27k on their arrival to Australia by organising a 3-month house sit which came with a car and bills
- How Tracy still regularly house sits in Australia and around the world
- How to craft a winning profile on the house-sitting website
Additional resources
- Feeling inspired and keen to try housesitting for yourself? Find out more here in this blog post
- Listen to episode #3 where Tracy talked about moving to Mackay and then relocating to Brisbane.
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-seven/
If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts! All positive reviews would be really appreciated!
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
#20 Plan your financial future in Australia with bdhSterling
New Life in Australia
10/16/24 • 25 min
You need to plan ahead and know how your assets will be treated in Australia. You need to have a financial plan!
With thanks to bdhSterling for sponsoring this episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to Simon Harvey, Group Managing Directory of bdhSterling. We discuss:
- Moving your pension to Australia
- Planning your long-term financial goals
- Thinking about your retirement plans
- What stage should you consider your financial plans
- Tax returns and international pensions
- If you’ve moved to Australia from the UK, is it worth topping up the UK state pension?
There is a lot to think about when it comes to moving your finances to Australia. This episode is a great starting point to begin thinking about your financial future.
Resources
- Find bdhSterling in the Move to Australia Directory
- Visit bdhSterling.com and book a free one-hour initial consultation
- Find out about making voluntary contributions to the UK state pension
Find the full show notes and the transcript here.
If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts!
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FAQ
How many episodes does New Life in Australia have?
New Life in Australia currently has 29 episodes available.
What topics does New Life in Australia cover?
The podcast is about Expat, Australia, Places & Travel, Society & Culture, Personal Journals, Podcasts and Australian.
What is the most popular episode on New Life in Australia?
The episode title '#13 Tips for planning your Australian holiday' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on New Life in Australia?
The average episode length on New Life in Australia is 22 minutes.
How often are episodes of New Life in Australia released?
Episodes of New Life in Australia are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of New Life in Australia?
The first episode of New Life in Australia was released on Sep 13, 2023.
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