Moving to Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, 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.
You may like to bookmark this page (Ctrl + D) so that you can easily return here.
1. Moving to Sydney New South Wales websites and publications
The Australian Government’s Welcome to New South Wales Kit is an online booklet of information for settling in New South Wales (also available in other languages). Study in Australia is an Australian Government website for international students.
The Department of State and Regional Development provides information on living in New South Wales, relocating your business and regional profiles of New South Wales.
Welcome to Sydney includes a free downloadable guide and links to lots of resources.
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.
Charles Sturt University has a Guide to Australia and the Wikipedia Online Directory of Sydney is also very informative.
2. Local information
To find local information, when you type in a search query into your internet search engine, include the words
- New South Wales or Australian or Sydney
- 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 New South Wales
You can also source information from the New South Wales State GovernmentDepartment related to your areas of interest or use the New South Wales Government 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 New South Wales Department of Local Government.
This website allows you to search for the local council using the alphabetical listing. 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 New South Wales Daily Newspapers include The Sydney Morning Herald(broadsheet newspaper), the Daily Telegraph (tabloid newspaper) and mX(weekday commuter afternoon paper).
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.
Free local community newspapers delivered to your letterbox include the Fairfax Community Network Newspapers and News Limited’s Cumberland and Courier Newspapers.
6. Tourism and general information
Sydney Australia (tourism and business resource produced by the state government Department of State and Regional Development)
Visit New South Wales (mostly tourist style but a lot of good information and downloadable guides from the state government Department of State and Regional Development)
Discover New South Wales (separates information by location and includes Sydney)
Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (helps bring large events and conventions to Sydney and Regional New South Wales)
New South Wales Business Chamber (employer group with resources for businesses)
Walking Sydney Harbour (New South Wales Government Planning Department project outlining various walks around the harbour)
Sydney City Life (Another resource with a lot of links, event listings etc)
Links on this Moving to Sydney page
AFR Boss
http://www.afrboss.com
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
http://www.abc.net.au
Australian Government
http://www.gov.au
Australian Government Directory
http://www.directory.gov.au
Australian Government Portal
http://www.australia.gov.au
Australia Post
http://www.auspost.com.au
Business Review Weekly (BRW)
http://www.brw.com.au
Charles Sturt University Guide to Australia
http://www.csu.edu.au/australia/nsw.htm
City of Sydney
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Culture and Recreation Portal
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au
Daily Telegraph
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Department of State and Regional Development Living in New South Wales
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/investment/living/
Department of State and Regional Development Regional Profiles
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/investment/regional/
Department of State and Regional Development Relocating your business
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/business/relocating/
Discover New South Wales
http://www.discovernswaustralia.com
Fairfax Community Network Newspapers
http://www.fcnonline.com.au/fcnnsw.asp?pcode=fcn
New South Wales Government Moving House Life Event
http://www.nsw.gov.au/moving.asp
National Library of Australia
http://www.nla.gov.au
News Limited’s Cumberland and Courier Newspapers
http://www.newsspace.com.au/communitynews/cumberland
New South Wales Business Chamber
http://www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au
New South Wales Department of Local Government
http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
New South Wales Government Directory
http://www.directory.nsw.gov.au
Smart Company
http://www.smartcompany.com.au
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
http://www.sbs.com.au
State Library of New South Wales
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au
Sydney Australia
http://www.sydneyaustralia.com
Sydney City Life
http://www.bcl.com.au/sydney/
Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://www.scvb.com.au
The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au
The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.com.au
The Financial Review
http://www.afr.com
The Good Guides
http://www.thegoodguides.com.au
True Local
http://www.truelocal.com.au
New South Wales State Government
http://www.nsw.gov.au
Study in Australia
http://studyinaustralia.gov.au
Visit New South Wales
http://www.visitnsw.com.au
Walking Sydney Harbour
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/harbour/walking.asp
Welcome to New South Wales Kit
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/beginning-life/booklets/english.htm
Welcome to Sydney
http://www.welcometosydney.com
White Pages
http://www.whitepages.com.au
Wikipedia Online Directory of Sydney
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney
Yellow Pages
http://www.yellowpages.com.au
Your Sea Change (or Tree Change)
http://www.yourseachange.com