New Life in Australia
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 p...
#33 Rent, buy, invest - Your Australian property journey with Minihan Group Australia
“If I wouldn’t live in it or invest in it myself, I wouldn’t recommend it to any of my clients either.”
With thanks to Minihan Group Australia for sponsoring this episode.
In this episode, Karen chats to Janice Minihan from Minihan Group Australia. Janice is a licensed real estate agent in both Queensland and the UK who supports clients across the full spectrum of the property journey - from finding your first rental when you arrive in Brisbane, to helping you buy your first home or build your property investment portfolio to set up your f...
#32 Moving your pet to Australia with Transfur Animals
"We know pets are part of the family, and we want the journey to be as stress-free for them as it is for you."
In this episode, I chat to Andy Simons, owner and director of Transfur Animals, a UK-based pet shipping company specialising in relocating cats and dogs to Australia.
We cover everything you need to know about moving your pet to Australia, including timeframes, costs, crate requirements, quarantine, travel conditions and how to ensure your pet is physically and emotionally ready for the journey.
Andy also shares some important advice about...
#31 Deciding where to live in Australia
"No place is absolutely perfect, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work towards building your dream lifestyle."
Trying to decide where to live in Australia? Whether you’re choosing between Brisbane and Perth, city or regional, beachside or bush, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you find the perfect place for your new life Down Under.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this solo episode, Karen shares her own story of choosing where to move in Australia and walks you through the questions you need to ask...
#30 How much do you really need for your move to Australia...and is it worth it?
"You can always make more money… but you can never replace the time."
Wondering how much it really costs to move to Australia? This episode is a must-listen if you’re starting to plan your relocation and want to avoid hidden surprises. From visa fees and shipping to car seats and pantry staples, I walk you through the major expenses involved in relocating and setting up your new life Down Under.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this solo episode, Karen shares the essential costs to consider when planning your move...
#29 How to move to Australia - Your step-by-sep guide
"Try to approach it from a position of opportunities and be creative — think about ways you can make yourself eligible if you aren’t currently eligible for a visa."
Thinking about moving to Australia, but don’t know where to start? This episode is your practical roadmap to help you go from “can I move?” to “I’ve got my visa!” It’s a comprehensive overview of the key stages you’ll need to work through if you want to make your dream life in Australia a reality.
In this solo episode, Karen shares the six essential steps...
#28 Christmas Down Under: Festive tips to make the most of Christmas in Australia
"I know it can be a bit weird to adapt to if you're moving from a country where it's normally cold and chilly and snowy over the Christmas period. But it is different and if you embrace those differences, then I think you will come to love it too!"
With thanks to Tonya Davidson from Davidson Property Advocates, Chris Noone from Carly Car Subscription, Fiona Mayers from True Blue Migration Services and Dianne Horton from Buyers Collective for sharing their festive tips in the episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
...#27 Buying your home in Queensland the smart way with Buyers Collective
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 ar...#26 The flexibility of car subscriptions for new arrivals with Carly Car Subscription
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 fo...#25 Wealth planning for a successful new life in Australia with Hoxton Wealth
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 relocatingWays you can maximise your superannuationHow the Hoxton We...#24 Bucket list experiences: Choosing your Whitsunday Island cruise
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 cruiseWhat are your priorities for y...#23 Living a life of no regrets
We were going to live our lives to the fullest. Even if it meant making mistakes along the way. Even if it meant trying to figure things out as we went along.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this solo episode, Karen talks about the topic of living a life of no regret. The episode covers:
The story that inspired this podcast topic.Tips to shift your mindset and move towards living a life of no regrets.Reframing the experience of moving to Australia - look for opportunities and se...#22 Buying a home in Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula with Davidson Property Advocates
I believe everybody needs representation at the table.
With thanks to Davidson Property Advocates for sponsoring this episode.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to Tonya Davidson from Davidson Property Advocates.
We cover:
Additional resources
You'll find Davidson Property Advocates Move to Australia Directo...#21 Visa pathways: Navigating your move to Australia with True Blue Migration Services
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:
#20 Plan your financial future in Australia with bdhSterling
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 AustraliaPlanning your long-term financial goalsThinking about your retirement plansWhat stage should you consider your financial plansTax returns and international pensionsIf you’ve moved to Australia from the UK, is it worth topping up the U...#19 Moving to Perth with E-Sterling Services
Perth is so family-friendly. Everything is built for families...the parks, the beaches, everything is centred around families.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks to Charles who runs E-Sterling Services, a relocation agency that helps you move to Perth in Western Australia. In the episode, we discuss:
What is Perth like as a cityWhich are the best suburbsThe things a relocation can help you withThings to do in PerthChoosing schools in your new cityAnd so much more!If you're heading to Perth, you're goi...
#18 Sending your luggage to Australia with Send My Bag
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...#17 Bucket list experiences: The unforgettable experience of whale watching
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 prepareWhat to pack for your day tripThe importance of sunscreenCan you swim with whales?What level of ticket to buyand moreAdditional resources
Read the blog post: Everything you need to know about whale watching(Affiliate link) Check out whale-watching experiences on Experience Oz...#16 What is your 'why'?
When you connect with your 'why' it helps you overcome challenges. It gives you a reason to keep going even when things are difficult and get challenging.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about identifying your 'why'. Why do you want to move to Australia?
When you know why you are moving, it helps you stay connected to your dream and really helps you enjoy the journey so much more.
Karen shares some of her 'whys' in the episode to help you get...
#15 Losing someone when you live on the other side of the world
We thought we had more time but things changed very quickly. Information changes fast and sometimes you just need to trust your gut and travel back without all of the facts.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about her experience of losing her dad earlier this year.
This episode covers tips to help you prepare for when the worst happens. Remember, you aren't alone with this - it's something that everybody who moves abroad will go through at one point.
The episode al...
Season Two Teaser Trailer for the New Life in Australia podcast
The New Life in Australia is back! With new episodes dropping every Thursday, you can expect more inspiration for creating your new life in Australia.
The first episode of season two drops on Thursday 12th September 2024!
Discover past episodes here.
Support the show
#14 Embracing Christmas in Australia
It is just the most perfect time to start some new Christmas traditions for yourself. Your traditions from your home country probably came from family traditions. You do things in the way that everyone else in the family has always done them, and you’re following that process. But when you get here, you’re free to create your own brand new traditions…you can celebrate Christmas your way.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen talks about how she has embraced Christmas in the sun. This includes:
Getti...#13 Tips for planning your Australian holiday
When you get out there and explore, it really just reminds you why you moved. So, especially if you’ve been feeling a bit homesick, there’s nothing more exhilarating and exciting than pulling into a really beautiful new beach and remembering that you actually get to live here! Whenever I think to myself, I’m so lucky to live here, it’s so beautiful, I remind myself I’m not lucky. I just took action and did the hard thing, and this is the reward that we get.
Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast
#12 Moving on a parent visa and setting up a stand up paddle boarding business
We live in central Queensland, it's the Sunshine State. You know, it's very rare that we don't see the sun. It's warm. Even in wintertime for us, it was warm. And you know, paddle boarding - it's low impact. It's a good all round sport for any age group, any level of fitness. And it's great, not just for body fitness, but for the mind and the soul as well. Whether you participate in the sport for well-being, mindfulness or fitness, there's something there for everybody.
Welcome to episode 12 of the New Life in Australia podcast<...
#11 Christmas gifting when you move to Australia
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 countr...#10 Australia is expensive: True or false
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:
#9 Six tips for living with Australia's extreme conditions
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
#8 What to expect from Halloween in Australia
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 trea...#7 Stretch your arrival budget by housesitting in Australia
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 t...
#6 How to avoid making expensive mistakes when choosing migration services
It breaks my heart every time I receive a message from somebody who has lost money because the migration company they chose blocked them, went under or didn't even exist in the first place! It's really expensive to set up a new life over here, and you really want to make sure that the services you are booking and paying for are going to deliver the value that you need because it just would be awful to pay the money out and then lose that money and not get the service that you were expecting.
Welcome...
#5 11 tips to stay sun safe in Australia
Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. It's essential to respect the sun and begin with healthy habits from day one.
Welcome to episode five of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this episode, Karen is sharing 11 tips to stay sun safe in Australia. Being safe in the sun is something you need to build into your life from the day you arrive. If you're moving with kids, get them into these habits from the day you arrive too and it all becomes second nature very quickly.
#4 9 Practical ways to overcome homesickness
When you leave all of your friends and family behind, it's totally natural and normal to feel homesick! You can still love where you live and enjoy the adventure while missing what you've left behind - both of those feelings can exist together.
Welcome to episode four of the New Life in Australia podcast
In this week's episode, Karen is talking all about homesickness and ways to shift those feelings. It's not about avoiding feeling that way, it's about doing things to move your energy and attention as what you focus on grows.
#3 Moving to Australia...and moving again
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 d...#1 Introduction to the New Life in Australia podcast
Did you know that Karen spent eight months backpacking searching for the world's best beaches, or that one of her favourite things about living in Queensland is never having to de-ice the car?
Welcome to the first episode of the New Life in Australia podcast!
In this introductory episode, you'll learn:
Who is Karen Bleakley and what inspired this podcastWhat to expect from the New Life in Australia podcastA few fun facts about Karen Bleakley so you can get to know your hostFor the full show notes and transcript, visit: https://www.sm...
#2 Moving to Australia: The decision making process
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 ge...
