I felt I must make a note somewhere that Laterals have varied experiences moving over, at times the unit level of support is woefully lacking. On arrival, you may get a few days or weeks to settle in slowly or you may be doing burpees with your company at 0730 PT after your 1^st night. Your unit may arrange a work white fleet vehicle till you get your own or expect you to Uber in at your own expense.

Your host officer might bend over backwards to ensure you are ok or they could be a begrudging host with a hectic workload and you’re their lowest priority.

The point here is you could burn through money put aside for other things on Ubers, hire cars or buying your food at a Seven 11 from lack of preparedness.

You know you are coming; you will have serviced apartment, future residence details and dates to work with. You can figure out how far you will be from work and how to get there. You must take ownership of your initial needs and welfare of those coming with you. Too many Laterals arrive expecting it to be easy, to have help with everything. If you are working/transiting 0700-1700, when you finish, most shops and dealerships are closed.

Plan ahead:

• Make online and phone enquiries about buying or hiring cars where your posting to. Use WISE to make deposits before you travel if needed. You can own a new car the day you arrive and have it delivered to your hotel fully insured by the dealership with defence discounts if you engage early
• Ask your unit host officer or Laterals you know already in the area to get you enough food and essential items to last a few days before picking you up at the airport and taking you to your serviced apartment. This ensures you won’t go hungry or be short on baby milk in an area you don’t know under time pressure and jet lagged. (Transfer money to them through WISE in advance or pay them back asap)
• Get an Airalo E-Sim to cover calls and data until you arrange a new phone contract
• Get details of Laterals in your new unit, use Facebook and similar groups for arrival advice
• Travelling with young kids? Reach out, folk will loan you a buggy or car seat till yours arrive
• Bringing pets? Delay their transit as long as possible with family and friends or arrange early access to your new residence with DHA or pre-pay kennels. Too many Laterals get caught out when their pets arrive, aren’t in their DHA, the hotel won’t allow them to stay and local kennels are full

Be proactive!