Lots of questions - and fortunately there are several shipping companies that have the answers. Make sure your remover is a member of one or more of the following organisations to give you some comfort:

• British Association of Removers (the BAR)
• International Federation of Furniture Removers (FIDI)
• Overseas Moving Network International (OMNI)

In addition, we recommend that you make sure your shipper has a reputable presence in Australia - in other words that they have their own physical presence in Australia or use the same removal agent in Australia on an ongoing basis. Some UK shippers will simply put the delivery of your consignment out to tender amongst shippers in Australia - in our view it doesn't make sense to have the cheapest subcontractor overseeing your personal possessions through the review by Australian Customs, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and delivering them to your home. As in so many areas of life, you tend to get what you pay for.

Most shippers will be keen for your business - Go Matilda recommends Anglo Pacific (please mention us if you make contact with them).

• Anglo Pacific

When your consignment of goods arrives in Australia you can expect it to be inspected by:

• The Australian Customs Service and
• The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

Customs will be inspecting your consignment for items on which duty and/or GST is payable, as well as for prohibited items and goods that are subject to import controls (such as motor vehicles and currency) - expect to complete an Australian Customs Declaration before your goods leave the UK. AQIS provides quarantine inspection services for the arrival of international passengers, cargo, mail, animals and plants or their products into Australia, and inspection and certification for a range of animal and plant products exported from Australia.

A few words about shipping a motor vehicle from the UK to Australia. In general, the cost of shipping, insurance, the GST charge on importation into Australia, and possible additional costs on arrival in Australia ensuring the vehicle meets the licensing authority's rigorous safety and emission levels makes this an uneconomic exercise for all bar what might be termed luxury cars. If you want to know more, contact us, speak to one of the shipping companies mentioned above, and/or download details from Australian Customs by clicking here.

So what not to ship? Televisions and video recorders made for the UK will not work in Australia, because the frequency of the sound signal differs between the two countries - you might be able to tune into a TV station and see a picture, but you won't be able to hear the sound. However, Australian videos will work on a UK player, and so it might be worthwhile taking the video and TV so the children can watch videos without interrupting you!

Also, you should normally forget about taking the fridge (too small - and will probably not be sufficiently durable to cope with the heat), wardrobes (most houses have built in robes), and the cooker (provided with most homes).

Note that Australia works on the same electrical voltage and frequency as the UK so you won't need to adjust the settings on your electrical goods - although you will have to change the plugs or buy lots of adapters!

And finally - from our own experiences we recommend that you start separating the things you are taking with you from those that you aren't several weeks before the container arrives. There's probably more to it than you think!

Bon voyage!

Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia