"Creating a vision for your new life begins the moment you start imagining what's possible for you."

In this final episode for 2025, Karen talks about how to intentionally design your life in Australia, whether you’re still planning your move, deep in the admin, or already settled. Moving to Australia is a huge achievement — but building your dream life here goes beyond just making the move.

This episode covers:

• Pausing to evaluate where you are, where you want to go and what matters most to you.
• Using journaling prompts to understand your vision for the life you want to create in Australia.
• Identifying your core values and understanding how they shape your decisions, priorities and actions.
• Identifying the steps to move you towards your vision — whether it’s career, lifestyle, education or family goals.
• Celebrating milestones and recognising the achievements you’ve already accomplished.
• Tools and resources to help map out your next steps.

Additional resources (contains affiliate links)

• Leonie Dawson Planners – Life & Business Workbooks
• Kristina Karlsson – Your Dream Life Starts Here Book and companion Journal
• Listen to the what is your 'why' podcast episode

Journaling prompts

Vision:

• What does a perfect day look like?
• How do I want to feel?
• What matters most to my family’s happiness?
• If anything was possible, what would I want my life look like one year from now? Five years?
• If nothing changes, where might I end up in five years?
• What am I moving toward?
• What is the biggest emotion I want more of next year?

Identity:

• Who do I want to become in this next chapter?
• What parts of myself do I want to leave behind?
• What parts do I want to bring with me — or evolve into?
• If I met the me who is thriving in Australia, what would they tell me about how they got there?

Values:

• What are your top 5 values?
• What are your non-negotiables?
• What do you want to prioritise?

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Buy me a coffee to say thank you here!

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Find the transcript and full show notes at https://smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-48

Find out more about TorFX and get the details of their $100 credit offer for New Life in Australia listeners at https://directory.smartstepstoaustralia.com/places/torfx/

Find all of the migration & relocation services you need in one place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Find out more about TorFX and find the details of their $100 credit offer for New Life in Australia listeners at https://directory.smartstepstoaustralia.com/places/torfx/

Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.

Support the show

“We helped to move just over £300,000 to Australia and were able to achieve an additional $18,000 Australian dollars into her bank over the UK bank she was using. That's huge!”

Moving to Australia is exciting, but it comes with challenges - especially when it comes to transferring your money internationally.

In this episode, Karen chats with Brett from TorFX, an international money transfer specialist, about how to move your money to Australia safely, efficiently and strategically. Whether you’re transferring a large lump sum or smaller regular payments, this episode is packed with insights to help you make the most of your money.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How TorFX helps you move money to Australia or anywhere in the world.
• The differences between using a bank and a specialist FX provider, and why it could save you thousands.
• Common mistakes to avoid when transferring money internationally.
• How to maximise your transfer with tools like forward contracts and rate alerts.
• What documentation and compliance you’ll need to set up your account quickly and safely.
• How to handle regular or smaller transfers once you’re settled in Australia.
• Tips for planning your transfer in advance to make the most of the current exchange rates.
• Brett’s personal advice on making smart, informed decisions when moving your money.
• And so much more.

Get the $100 one-time introductory offer

SmartStepstoAustralia receives a commission if you use the link below and transfer funds, at no extra cost to you. This is not financial advice - always do your own due diligence before using any financial service.

To take advantage of TorFX's offer for New Life in Australia podcast listeners:

Set up your account using this referral link, and log into the TorFX app or online platform.
Complete your international transfer for at least $2,000 (in one or more trades)
You get $100 credited to your TorFX account!
>> Get started here

Additional resources

Visit the Move to Australia Directory to find TorFx's listing

Found the episode helpful?

Buy me a coffee to say thank you here!

If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. All positive reviews would be really appreciated!

Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Find the AI-generated transcript and full show notes at https://smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-47

Find out more about TorFX and find the details of their $100 credit offer for New Life in Australia listeners at https://directory.smartstepstoaustralia.com/places/torfx/

Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.

Support the show

“Is Australia affordable? I think it is definitely more expensive than the UK in many ways but there are areas where life is cheaper, so it's swings and roundabouts as to which one is actually cheaper.”

Welcome to the New Life in Australia podcast

In this episode about the real costs of living in Brisbane in 2025, Karen breaks down everything you need to know to budget confidently for your new life in Brisbane, including.

• Housing costs: Rent, utilities, insurance and more
• Transport & registration: Car registration, fuel, insurance
• Lifestyle expenses: Food shopping, take aways, eating out, clubs, subscriptions and attraction passes
• Other bills & subscriptions: Internet, phone, streaming services, and miscellaneous regular costs
• and so much more.

Additional resources

• Get the Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle
• Related podcasts about costs: Episode 10: Australia is expensive: True or false, Episode 30: How much do you really need for your move to Australia...and is it worth it?
• Podcasts about buying a home: 37 How the Olympics is going to shape Brisbane's property market, 35 Strategies for buying and negotiating property, 33 Rent, buy, invest in Queensland, 27 Buying your home in Queensland the smart way, 22 Buying a home in Melbourne
• Blog post: The cost of living in Brisbane
• Blog posts: Guide to schools in Australia, Choosing a high school in Australia
• Visit the Move to Australia Directory to find buyer's agents, mortgage brokers and more.
• Comparison sites: iSelect, Compare the Market, Finder, Energy Made Easy

Found the episode helpful?

Buy me a coffee to say thank you here!

If you enjoyed listening, don’t forget to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. All positive reviews would be really appreciated!

Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Find the AI-generated transcript and show notes over at https://smartstepstoaustralia.com/episode-46

Find out more about TorFX and find the details of their $100 credit offer for New Life in Australia listeners at https://directory.smartstepstoaustralia.com/places/torfx/

Find all of the migration and relocation services you need in one handy place in the Move to Australia Directory.

Get your Ultimate Emigration Checklist Bundle at MovetoAustraliaToolkit.com.

Support the show