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      Guide to Schools in Australia: Everything you need to know about state schools and private schools in Australia

      1 Feb, 2021 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration, New Life Maker

      If you’re moving to Australia with kids, the chances are you’ve got concerns about what schools are like in Australia. You want your kids to have an amazing education and the Australian education system is very different to other countries in so many... Read More
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      Beginner’s guide: How to move to Australia

      31 Jul, 2020 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration

      “How do I move to Australia?” is the question that I get asked the most often so I decided to write a detailed post that will help you find out everything you need to know about how to move your life to the other side of the world so you can work and live... Read More
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      Moving to Australia? Here’s a stress-free way to declutter and get organised in just four months

      17 Apr, 2018 | Action Taker, Migration

      For me, one of the most daunting parts of moving to Australia was moving all of our stuff. We’d lived in our house for ten years so had a lot of junk, we had three kids under five who had (and still have!) a lot of

      Read More
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      10 mistakes you need to avoid when moving to Australia (and 5 things you should do instead)

      20 Mar, 2018 | Action Taker, Migration

      Deciding to move your life to the other side of the world is HUGE. It’s overwhelming, stressful, happy, sad and exciting all rolled into one. There is so much to do, from deciding whether to take your pet with you to completing the English language test, from... Read More
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      PTE vs IELTS for Australian immigration: Which English language test is easier?

      3 Mar, 2018 | Action Taker, Migration

      The aim of this post is to help you decide which Australia English language test to do for your Australian visa while also providing you with resources that will make your revision for the English proficiency test easier. Specifically, it sets out the PTE vs IELTS for... Read More
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      What types of people thrive after moving to Australia, and are you one of them?

      16 Mar, 2017 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration, New Life Maker

      I’ve met lots of migrants while living and travelling in Australia. Many people love their new home, but there are a few who don’t. Some people decide to go back to the UK because they miss it too much. I’ve come to realise there are certain... Read More
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      The truth behind Smart Steps to Australia

      20 Feb, 2017 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration, New Life Maker

      I started Smart Steps to Australia to provide a resource for families who are considering moving to Australia. Initially, I thought about writing a couple of books on the subject but I knew that wouldn’t really offer the level of support I wanted to give –... Read More
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      Read my entire back catalogue of Australia and New Zealand magazine articles

      27 Jan, 2017 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Discover Australia, Migration, New Life Maker

      I’ve been writing articles and features for Australia and New Zealand magazine in the UK since I came back from our backpacking trip in 2009. I’d been an avid reader of the magazine for so many years, it was so exciting to finally be able to write for them... Read More
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      Who will help you achieve your emigration dreams?

      17 Nov, 2016 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration, New Life Maker

      I started my Move to Australia Facebook group up quietly for a very good reason. I wanted everyone in the group to get to know one another slowly – a bit like when you arrive at a party one at a time and are introduced to everyone who arrived before you. I... Read More
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      Expert interview: Veronika Hurbis – Migration Agent at Sort Out My Visa

      3 Aug, 2016 | Action Taker, Migration

      Have you been agonising over whether you really need to use a migration agent? Or have you been busy Googling: ‘migration agent reviews’ and ‘top Australia immigration consultants’ to help you find the best migration agent to help you immigrate... Read More
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      About Karen Bleakley, Founder of Smart Steps to Australia

      5 Jul, 2016 | Action Taker, Migration

      Hi there! I guess if you’re reading this then you’re considering moving your family to Australia. It’s a huge move, I won’t lie. For me, the move has been life-changing, inspiring and exciting. Life’s what you make it, regardless of where... Read More
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      Welcome to Smart Steps to Australia

      3 Jul, 2016 | Action Taker, Decision Maker, Migration, New Life Maker

      Thanks for popping by. I just wanted to say a quick ‘hello’ and welcome you to my new website – Smart Steps to Australia. At the moment you’ll see some areas are still in development – if you subscribe to my email list I’ll keep you... Read More
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      With family Christmas money, we bought passes to @ With family Christmas money, we bought passes to @australiazoo. Theme parks with rides aren’t really our thing so we’ve had Australia Zoo passes for five out of our six years in Australia (we had a break last year to have #CurrumbinWildlifeSanctuary passes which we also loved and will definitely buy again but Australia Zoo is closer to us and we’ve missed it!).
The kids never get bored of going. It’s such a huge attraction - there is always something new to see. On our most recent trip, just over a week ago, we decided to go and find all of the dinosaurs 🦖 and oversized crocs 🐊 for some pics.
We saw lots of animals, spent time in the waterpark and on the jumping pillow and the kids ate all of the lollies 🍬 (which is what they call all sweets in Australia!) from the pick and mix place - these three love all of it.
I don’t take for granted that we can still go out to attractions like this. I really appreciate every moment of it.
I’m so determined that I’m going to win their annual Toyota Hilux and @jaycoaustralia camper giveaway this year too. It has my name all over it!
What is your family’s favourite attraction?
#Australiazoo #sunshinecoast #visitsunshinecoast #visitbrisbane #thisisqueensland #familytravel #familyfun #zootime
      The last few days of our school summer hols are be The last few days of our school summer hols are being spent with this guy 🐶. I can’t wait til he’s had all of his injections and can come with us on our usual adventures. For now though, we’ve been having fun in the garden. I sooo want a beach day! 🏖 #puppyfun #puppiesofinstagram #chihuahua #chihuahuasofinstagram
      I just hit publish on my ultimate beach packing li I just hit publish on my ultimate beach packing list 🏖.
It’s the culmination of 6.5 years of beach visits ☀️ since we moved to Australia 🇦🇺 and I finally feel like I’ve nailed the ultimate list of must-have beach gear 😍 (I take my beach visits very seriously! 🏝😎 🌊)
You can download my beach packing checklist in the post too.
Find it at smartstepstoaustralia.com.
What are you beach essentials?
#beachdays #beachfun #familytime #familytravel #hitthebeach #beachgear #beachaccessories #sunscreen #beachshade #beachwagon #beachchairs #beachlife
      Good job this guy is cute as I haven’t slept for Good job this guy is cute as I haven’t slept for more than six hours a night since we picked him up! 😴 🐶
Now as I’m trying to label hundreds of items of school stationery ready for the new term and he is sitting with me trying to eat all of the pens and pencils!
#dogsofinstagram #puppy #chihuahua #monkey #newterm
      Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight?! Oh #Ma Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight?! Oh #Marmite, how I’ve missed you! It hasn’t been available with my online food shop for months and months and I ran out ages ago. Hubby finally went in and found me two jars. ❤️
OMG I’ve missed it! Vegemite just isn’t the same (I actually can’t bring myself to eat #Vegemite as the texture is just so weird!)
If you’re living abroad too, what foods from home do you miss the most?
Can you usually get hold of it in the shops?
      I’ve been a bit quiet on social media and this i I’ve been a bit quiet on social media and this is why...I have a new baby! No, not a real baby, a long haired chihuahua baby called Enzo. 🐶
It all happened very fast and the lockdown in Brisbane for the last three days meant we collected him earlier than planned and it was very rushed. We still haven’t got the poor boy a bed or any bowls yet, and the collar and harness I bought weren’t tiny enough so this week we need to hit the shops for some XXS sizes now that Brisbane is open again!
Oh my gosh, I’d forgotten what it was like to have a baby - luckily he sleeps through but wakes at 6am on the dot every day. And he likes me to lay on the floor by his crate while he goes to bed at night (just like our daughter used to with her cot!) This boy is going to be spoilt rotten!
We are all absolutely smitten. We always planned on getting a dog when we got settled - it is like the final piece of the puzzle.
#newpuppy #puppiesofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #chihuahua
      This morning while my littlest was at a friend’s This morning while my littlest was at a friend’s birthday party 🥳 , I had a planning session for 2021 at the beach 🏝 🌊.
It’s something I do at least once a year. I go to my fav beach cafe (#SeaSaltandVineCafe at  #ScarboroughBeach) and get everything out of my head and down on paper!
I’ve mapped out how I want SmartStepstoAustralia.com and my #MigrationMastermind membership community to look and thought carefully about what I can create to support and inspire my readers and community. And I’ve made a good dent in completing my @leonie_dawson business #GoalGetterWorkbook.
Gosh it feels good to get my ideas out and start to turn them into a roadmap! Still lots of organising to do now to break it down into mini projects (once a project manager, always a project manager!) but this brain dump and dreaming session is step one on the way to making next year amazing (despite what is going on everywhere)!
How do you plan your year? Do you set goals? Do you spend time dreaming about what you want your life to look like? Do you use a planner or goal workbook? I’d love to hear!
#planning #goalsetting #getorganised #2021planning #businessplanning #dreambusiness #2021 #beachtime #metime #dreaming #spacefordreaming #dreambig #moretonbay
      Christmas Day in Australia = spending the entire d Christmas Day in Australia = spending the entire day in and out of the pool. This gang loved their masks and snorkels we got from local dive company (and our good friends!) @aquaventures_kidsscuba. They hardly took them off all day! 🏊‍♀️ 💧 💦  We even went for a night swim with them! #kidsthatscuba #waterbabies #snorkelling #scubakids #swimming #poolfun
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