Pinoy Survival Guide Downunder

Congratulations, you made at last!!

But the challenge is just beginning kaibigan. I'm making this blog as a guide to those people who recently arrived and for those people who still don't know what to do in AU, since they watch TFC or PinoyTV instead of local channels.

Do the following:
1. Get your drivers license (student permit is good enough) Why? Because every single institution in AU asks for you drivers license as a valid ID, kahit na bibili ka lang ng prepaid SIM card, kukuha ka na package sa Post etc...

Believe me you need this, besides you need to drive in AU unless titira ka sa condo sa CBD.

2. Open a bank account: Syempre nman, pano ka sasahod, ende na uso ang cash sa loob ng maliit na brown envelop. At isa rin identification ito if you don't have a drivers license.

3. Get your medicare card: Para ito sa mga PR Visa holders, I guess this comes with the letter from immigration that you received. Anyway simply dropby to you nearest Medicare branch and fill-up the forms. For 457, Student Visa holders sorry you don't have these privilege yet your option is to get a private health insurance.

4. Logistics: Kahit saan lugar ka mapadpad cyempre alalamin mo kung saan ang Grocery or sari-sari store, Bokita (Chemist ang tawag nila dito), gasoline station (Petrol station ang tawag dito) palengke or wet market for your fish, vegies and other stuff that you dont usually see on grocery stores. Try to find most of them online almost everything is listed online nowadays.

Btw here in OZ merong milkbar (equivalent sa sari-sari store sa Pinas) pero sa mga bagong suburb may mga Coles, Safeway or IGA groceries, may gamot din cla.

5. Cheap china products: I'm sure nagtitipid ka dahil baka maubos agad ang baon mo, so you need to find those items na mas mura, you can find most of them like plastic wares, household items like divisoria items on $2 dollar shops mostly run by vietnamese/chinese traders, usually you can find one in your suburb.

6. Schools: Every suburb here has one, they are usually close to bus routes and if your lucky you might be able to find one very close to where you live. There are 3 types of schools here, public, catholic and grammar schools (private). Public is free, catholic schools range from $600-1200 per year and grammar school would set yo back $5-8k /yr, these fees are for Primary to HS only. University is $7-9K depending on the course and school, they have HECS program here much like of a study now pay later but you have to be an Aussie first. If you have a non Aussie passport then your not eligible.

7. Childcare: If both parents really need to work, then you have this option. We have these table here for your reference:

Source: https://www.careforkids.com.au/articlesv2/article.asp?ID=77

Mabigat pero at least pwede mo iwan ang baby mo sa childcare. Btw you need to be on time hanggang 6PM lng usually ang childcare, after that you will have to pay hefty penalties.

Can you leave the kids at home on their own? NO!! unless they are 18 and above...
Source: https://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/home_alone_-_cyh.html

8: Emergency numbers: Fire, health and safety call 000 (triple zero) ito ang equivalent ng 911 sa US.

9. Health concerns: See your local GP (General Practicioner) or if it's the middle of the night and you need an immediate medical advise call 1300 60 60 24 this is 24/7 service. Madami ang ende nakaka-alam nito kahit mga aussie ende nila alam kung minsan.
Source: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/nurseoncall/about.htm

10. Rent: Usually pag dating mo you need a place to stay minsan nakikitira ka muna sa kaibigan, relatives or even nkilala mo lng sa internet, it is advisable to find a rental place on your own. Mahirap maghanap pero you have to do it otherwise makikisama palagi ka sa may-ari ng bahay at tatanaw ka ng utang na loob habangbuhay.

First step, find the right suburb for you, ask around wag ka na magtanong sa mga puti, usually ayaw nila ksama ang mga migrants, kaya sasabihin sau pangit sa mga suburb na yan etc... Umiwas ka sa mga arabo, itim at mga puti from eastern europe, takaw away sila kung akala mo racist ako edi cge sumama ka sa knila. Kung ako ang tatanungin dun sumama ka sa mga kapwa mo asian at least mas kilala mo ang ugali nila, ang mga nakakausap kong pinoy noon ayaw sumama sa mga kapwa pinoy at ibang asians pero wag ka wala naman sila tropang puti at iniiwasan din sila ng mga puti dahil ende din sila magkaintindihan ng based on language, food, ways, likes etc basically culture clash. Naaawa ako sa kanila, pasosyal na tanga! Pango naman, maiitim, pandak at higit sa lahat ende magaling mag-english, ewan!

Usually ang rent dito sa Melbourne 300-380/week on average now kung wala ka talaga makuha dahil wala ka work, dahil kadalasan ng bagong dating rejected agad dahil walang work, ang gawin mo makipag-deal ka sa agent, sabihin mo you will pay 3 months in advance to assure them that you can pay, yung isang kilala ko 6 months ang binigay dahil walang makuha at maganda ang lugar so you need to bargain, again talk to the agent personally and let them know that you are a decent person.

11. Pinoy food: Better scout for the pinoy store closest to you, dyan mo makikita ang mga pagkain at sangkap na hanap mo. May mga libreng dyaryo ka pa makkukuha, meron din mga DVD pinoy movies, pero higit sa lahat baka may makilala ka din na magiging daan para magkaroon ka ng work or house/room for rent. Makipag-kwentuhan sa ibang pinoy, tyak may matututunan ka, wag ka masyado maarte na porket pinoy ende mo na kakausapin kse nsa OZ kana, tandaan mo asian looking ka pa din not unless nagpalit ka na ng balat tulad ni MJ, nagkulay ng buhok at nag-suot ng contact lenses.

12. Find Work: Ito na yata ang pinaka mahirap gawin sa OZ, lalo na sa mga professionals na ende nakaranas na maglinis ng sariling bahay. Kaya ko naman nasabi ito dahil halos lahat ng professionals na galing pinas na naging PR dito sa OZ eh dumaan sa odd jobs like, cleaning, factory worker, restaurant help, hospital orderly, driver etc... Pagkatapos nagkaroon sila ng "local" experience then saka sila nagaapply ng trabahong bagay sa kanilang course. Ask around, wag mahiya hingi ng tulong sa iba, magugutom ka at iyong pamilya pag nag-inarte ka pa.

Mag-submit ng CV/Resume sa lahat ng job search engine, at kung mag-aapply ka ng work wag mo isama ang nag VP or Manager ka ng company, tapos ang posisyon na aaplyan mo janitor or clerck eh tyak na ende ka nga matatanggap, ayusin mo ang CV mo para nman medyo katanggap tanggap ka sa papasukan mo.

Tapos kung mag-aaply ka, yung number na nakikita mo tawagan mo, tanungin mo kung pwede ka makuha ng interview, ilan ba ang kailangan nila sa posisyon, kelan nila kailangan, sabihin mo willing ka na mas mababa ang sahod dahil wala ka pa experience etc, be prepared cyempre may script ka din na handa habang nakikipag-usap, mas gusto ng mga advertisers yung taong totoong interesado, wag ka mag-apply lng using email at submit button, personal interaction is always better.

13 Go to Centrelink: Dahil kailangan mong kumain magtungo sa Centrelink office at doon mo malalaman kung ano ang mabibigay na sa iyong tulong lalo na pag wala kang work. Wag mo na asahan ang pagbabasa ng mga articles sa website nila, minsan sa dami ng binabasa mo ende mo maiintindihan lahat, better to talk to Centrelink representative and mag-kwento ka ng buhay mo, be prepared isulat mo ang mga tanong mo, pag naguusap kayo lalabas lahat ng mga options na pwede nila itulong, matino at mababait nman ang karamihan sa Centrelink. Be polite, magpakumbaba, ikaw remember ang nanghihingi ng tulong. May rental assistance, first starters allowance, childcare benefits, family tax benefits A, educational allowance, etc.. It is better explained to you personally.

Eto na muna, pag may naalala pa ako ida-dagdag ko na lang later, enjoy!!
(Kung may mali ako sorry, tao lang promise aayusin ko para masaya tayo lahat...