Section 1 | "Getting to the UK"
Choose an Option
Family Considerations
Included In this Section
Schools
ACTION: Contact the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) at Post with education enquiries. The CLO can assist with securing a school for your child.
Educational requirements for dependant children will depend on whether the child is accompanying the member / employee at post, or remaining in Australia.
Members are eligible for education assistance if they meet all of these conditions.
a. They are on a long-term overseas posting
b. They have a dependant child over 3 years old
c. The child is attending a pre-school, or
d. The child is in full-time primary, secondary or tertiary education.
To Consider
Early Education Fee Assistance
Members may be entitled to reimbursement of a portion of childcare costs if the following conditions are met:
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Child is under 3 years old
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Attends a centre-based facility providing early childhood education. (excludes alternative care types, such as an au pair or nanny, in-home care, family day care or playgroups).
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Both the member and spouse/partner are undertaking activity hours (i.e. working or studying).
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Maximum 10 hours per day per child.
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Maximum 5 days per week (when member and partner are both in activity hours).
Initial Steps to Schooling Checklist:
▢ Review the relevant policy in PACMAN Chapter 15, Part 6.
▢ Begin contact with the Community Liaison Officer London (CLO-L).
▢ Discuss schooling options with existing personnel at post with school age children.
▢ Research available schools, considering location to home and work.
▢ Enrol children in benchmark or selected school.
▢ Arrange for post to assist with payment of enrolment, tuition and bus drop off services if applicable.
NOTE: School uniform, and other associated costs such as school lunches are not supported by Post, this may factor into your decision making while choosing a UK school. Also, Grants / Scholarships may be lost – contact your school for details.
Please refer to the Living in the UK Section for further information about schools
Health Insurance
ADF
Joint Health Service continues coverage through military health in the UK.
APS / Civilian
Private Health Insurance can be suspended (for periods of 2-24 months through most providers), check with yours to make sure so you don’t have to pay for a service you aren’t using.
Wills
NOTE: It is vital all Defence personnel proceeding on an overseas posting have a valid will lodged with the appropriate authority. Wills are drafted for the Australian State where you reside.
What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document with instructions for who you want to inherit your estate, care for your children, and be the executor of your estate when you pass away.
To Consider
If you are a member of the ADF you are entitled to a free Will service but the process of engaging with your individual Legal Teams may be different.
Pets
Relocation of pets to and from an overseas posting location is provided under PACMAN Chapter 14, Part 3.
Will you take your pet(s) with you to the UK?
You may be entitled to reimbursement of pet transportation costs of up to AUD 652 each way. The maximum reimbursement entitlement is AUD 1,304 for all pets. Check that your pet will be permitted re-entry into Australia at the end of your posting. Refer to the Leaving the UK Section for more information on bringing pets back to Australia.
Eligible costs for reimbursement:
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Commercial transportation and associated boarding.
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Any veterinary fees for the sedation of a pet during transport.
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Any fees and charges in relation to quarantine.
Ineligible costs for reimbursement:
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Items bought for the transportation or boarding of pets.
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The transportation and boarding of any animal that the member or dependant owns primarily for economic or business purposes.
Send copies of your receipts to your OAT Case Manager to claim the pet relocation assistance.
Leaving your pet(s) in Australia?
You may wish to consider long term boarding or leaving pet(s) with a trusted relative or friend.
To Consider
Some posting places in the UK are very difficult with a pet. Some places do not allow pets and in others accommodation can be difficult to find to meet the requirements of a pet.
The cost of transporting pets to and from the UK can be substantial – investigate the amounts involved prior to making a decision!
When your cat or dog leaves Australia it immediately loses its Australian health status. This means you might not be able to bring it back to Australia at short notice.
Only cats and dogs are permitted to return to Australia under strict import conditions. Refer to the Leaving the UK Section for advice on bringing pets back into Australia.
Phone Numbers
ACTION: Decide what to do with your Australian mobile phone number
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You may be charged expensive daily rates in the UK to use your Australian Mobile.
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Check roaming costs with your provider before you leave AUS.
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You may be able to pause your Australian mobile phone contract for a short period, continue paying your monthly plan or disconnect your service (if your plan allows you to).
Refer to the Living in the UK Section for advice on obtaining a UK SIM card
Subscription Services
All main subscription services including: Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus will work while overseas as long as you are able to log in. If you wish to access the UK catalogues however, you will have to create a new account once you're in the UK.
