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.
#26 The flexibility of car subscriptions for new arrivals with Carly Car Subscription
New Life in Australia
11/27/24 • 20 min
Australia is quite different to many other countries and a lot of the makes and models [of cars] are different and the way you use your car is different...
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to Chris Noone, CEO of Carly Car Subscription. In the episode, we cover:
- What is a car subscription and how is it different from a hire car or car loan.
- How often can you change your car when you're on a car subscription?
- Why a car subscription is particularly suitable for someone who is moving to Australia (or for relatives coming out to visit for a few weeks)
- What fees you need to budget with a car subscription.
- How cars are so different in Australia and how this allows you to try before you buy so you can make sure you aren't rushing into the wrong decision (like Karen did!).
Additional resources
- Use discount code: SMART225 to get $225 off your first month's car subscription
- Find Carly Car Subscription in the Move to Australia Directory
- Visit Carly.co
Find the full show notes and transcript at SmartStepstoAustralia.com/episode-26
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
#18 Sending your luggage to Australia with Send My Bag
New Life in Australia
10/02/24 • 33 min
Customers can book as far in advance as they like and lock in the prices for the future... Don't pay an arm and a leg to take things with you!
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
SmartStepstoAustralia is an affiliate partner with Send My Bag and some of the links on this page are affiliate links.
In this episode, Karen talks to Darren from the Partner's Team at Send My Bag. In the interview, we discuss:
- What types of things you can you send to Australia with Send My Bag
- Why might you find it helpful to send a bag or box to Australia and how the service can relieve your stress
- What can't you send to Australia?
- How are bags tracked?
- How does packing and pick up work?
- What if you're travelling and want to arrive before your bag?
- And so much more.
Don't forget to use this link to get 5% off your first order with Send My Bag!
Resources:
- Get 5% off your first order with Send My Bag when you click through THIS DISCOUNT LINK
- Read this blog post about Send My Bag's services
- Find Send My Bag's helpful videos on YouTube
- Read Send My Bag's guide to sending luggage to Australia
Find all of the show notes and the transcript over on SmartStepstoAustralia.com/episode-18
Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.
Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.
#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.
#3 Moving to Australia...and moving again
New Life in Australia
09/13/23 • 34 min
What would happen if you moved across the work to a city in Australia and then discovered it wasn't for you? That's exactly what today's guest experienced...
Welcome to episode three of the New Life in Australia podcast
In today's episode, Karen chats with Tracy Collins from the UK Travel Planning website and podcast to learn all about her move to Mackay in Queensland from the UK, and her resettlement to Brisbane a few months later.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The experience of moving to Australia and then relocating to a different city
- How feeling homesick is normal
- The mindset needed to make a successful move
- Why communication with your partner is so important
- Why your decisions can change in line with what you want - it doesn't need to be forever and nothing is fixed
- How Tracy and Doug plan to spend their future retirement in Australia
- Why Brisbane is the best place to live in Australia according to Tracy!
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-three/
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.
Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.
#9 Six tips for living with Australia's extreme conditions
New Life in Australia
10/25/23 • 15 min
When we first arrived in Australia, we were driving to the shops and we got stuck in a massive hailstorm. It was the biggest one that I've ever experienced.. We weren't on any of the the alert lists, and we weren't prepared for it. It was an absolutely insane hailstorm. I've never seen hailstones as big as that! We were able to take cover quickly, but it spurred me into making more of an effort to find out how to be prepared for next time.
Welcome to episode 9 of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen shares six tips that will help prepare you for Australia's extreme conditions.
The episode covers:
- Karen's early experiences with various storms when she first arrived.
- Why it's important to know how to drain your pool if you have one.
- How to stay up to date with storm and bushfire alerts.
- How to prepare your home for storm season.
- How to make smart choices when it comes to choosing a home to rent or buy.
- A reminder of Australia's emergency number (which is different from the one you know from 'home')
- Staying sun safe and being aware of beach safety.
Additional resources
- Listen to episode #5 - 11 tips to stay sun safe in Australia
- Read the blog post: Living with extreme weather in Australia
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-nine
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.
#2 Moving to Australia: The decision making process
New Life in Australia
09/13/23 • 16 min
Waiting five years to decide whether to move to Australia almost cost Karen and her family the opportunity to move altogether.
Welcome to episode two of the new Life in Australia podcast.
In this episode, you will learn more about Karen's story of moving to Australia and how it took her and her husband five long years to finally make the decision to relocate to Brisbane from Hampshire in the UK (and how this delay almost lost them the opportunity to move!)
You will also learn Karen's five decision-making tactics to help you get focused on making the decision about whether the move to Australia is the right one for you and your family.
If you're on the fence about moving to Australia, this episode will inspire you to get on with making the decision once and for all.
For the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-two
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.
#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.
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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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