Moving to Brisbane

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is well serviced with a range of publications that provide extensive information about what to do and see and how to settle here.

I am pleased to be able to say that the majority of information that has been published is of good quality, particularly government resources.

However, I would hasten to add that it is important to collect your information from a variety of sources – as some information is published with a particular agenda in mind (for instance, to encourage you to migrate here). Be prudent in your approach and confirm the reliability of information before making any final decisions.

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1. Moving to Brisbane Queensland websites and publications

The Australian Government’s Welcome to Queensland Kit is an online booklet of information for settling in Queensland (also available in other languages). Study in Australia is an Australian Government website for international students.

Queensland Government – Moving to Queensland is a comprehensive resource for domestic and international arrivals.

Queensland Government Migration ia a comprehensive resource from the State Development Department of the Queensland Government (with a business focus) and provides information for people considering migrating to Queensland. There is also a Business Migration to Queensland section.

City of Brisbane is the local council for Brisbane and this website is very comprehensive. The Migrant and Refugee Welcome Kit that they produce is also worth downloading.

Our Brisbane is an amazing resource well worth exploring.

The Charles Sturt University Guide to Australia has links to quite a lot of different Queensland information. The Wikipedia Online Directory of Brisbane is also informative.

Your Sea Change (or Tree Change) is an interesting website offering various information on moving to a regional area of Australia with some useful articles on the decision making process of moving.

2. Local information

To find local information, when you type in a search query into your internet search engine, include the words

Queensland or Australian or Brisbane
Association or Institute or Group or Body or Society

Universities in Australia specialise in different fields of knowledge and you may be able to approach a particular department for some local information. You can find a list of all Australian universities at The Good Guides.

There are many international associations, chambers of commerce, business groups/networks that are ‘country specific.’ Have a look at the White PagesTelephone Book (printed directory in all residences and also available from your local Australia Post Office) and look for the name of the country that you are interested in – for instance British / Britain / United Kingdom as well as the same country name after the word ‘Australia’ or ‘Australian.’

So for instance, you can find the ‘Australian British Chamber of Commerce’ and contact them direct. These groups are most likely to be able to refer you to other social/expatriate/ethnic/migrant type groups that can provide further information and advice specific to other newcomers like you.

The other categories you may like to research in the Yellow Pages Telephone Book or True Local are:

ethnic clubs – or social/general clubs
societies – general
newspapers – look for specialist publications, for instance the ‘Chinese Newspaper’
magazines and periodicals – contact relevant publishers and find out where you can purchase a copy
associations and organisations
relocation service providers (charge a fee but may save you time and money)

3. Government information

Make sure you find the relevant Federal (Australian) Government Department related to your areas of interest – connect to these via a key word search at theAustralian Government Directory or the General Australian Government Portal.

The Culture and Recreation Portal has a ‘Bluey Search’ to help you find specific cultural information and the National Library of Australia, the State Library of Queensland

You can also source information from the Queensland State GovernmentDepartment related to your areas of interest or use the Queensland Government Departments Directory.

You need to source information in your local community via the relevant Local Government Council related to where you are living (and you can also do this for the area where you are working) through the Local Government Association of Queensland.

This website allows you to search for the local council using your suburb name and postcode. You can contact them for a ‘New Residents Kit’ and/or their local ‘Community Information Booklet.’ If you are planning to start a business, there are many resources and networks they can connect you to. Make a time to visit your local council too – you pay for this resource through either council rates or rental payments on the property you live or work in.

4. Ask questions

When you have spent enough time in front of your computer, the other option is to ask questions – talk to your neighbours, work colleagues and people that you meet and ask them where they find information. They may also be able to help you directly with an answer to your questions. In Australia, it is perfectly acceptable to ask questions and seek information.

You may also like to consider paying for some professional advice – like a home buyer’s agent or a relocation service provider, just as you would for any other activity that could be improved with expert advice (like an accountant, doctor or dentist). Some people save cents and waste dollars (and a lot of time) by thinking they can do everything themselves.

5. Radio, Television, Print and Online Broadcasters

For general information, you may find it useful to listen to the radio, watch television and read daily or weekly newspapers. You can source details of these resources in the Yellow Pages Telephone Book or True Local website. In particular, if you speak a language other than English, find out what programs and publications are available in your first language.

Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has many ethno-specific radio and television programs and information. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is an essential site to visit – you can spend days looking at relevant information.

The Major Queensland Daily Newspaper is the Courier Mail.

The Major Australian Daily Newspapers are The Australian (general news) and The Financial Review (financial newspaper with a good section AFR Boss). Business Review Weekly (BRW) and Smart Company are print and online business publications.

The free local community newspaper delivered to your letterbox is produced byQuest Newspapers.

6. Tourism and general information

Queensland Holidays (official tourism website for Queensland with downloadable guides)

Tourism Queensland (trade and media website for tourism in Queensland)

Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development (foster a fair and dynamic marketplace and encourage responsible practices and sustainable growth in the tourism, wine, liquor and hospitality industries in Queensland)

Meet in Brisbane (Convention Bureau Brisbane Marketing)

Brisbane Marketing (produces official visitor’s guide for Brisbane)

Invest Brisbane (official inward investment agency for the city of Brisbane)

Commerce Queensland (Queensland’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Parks and Forests (great walks of Queensland)

Brisbane City Life (Another resource with a lot of links, event listings etc – somewhat commercial in nature)