Australia So Much to See
Electoral Roll and voting: Persons with no fixed address must enrol in the Division in which they were last entitled to enrolment.
If they have not previously been entitled to enrolment they can enrol for the division in which their next of kin is enrolled, or,
if there is no next of kin, the division in which they were born. See Enrolling to vote with no fixed address.
It is wise
to be enrolled at the address of your relative that you are using as your address for vehicle licensing, just so that no questions
are asked about multiple addresses.
Some travellers have been successful when requesting their names temporarily removed from the electoral roll whilst travelling. However voting whilst touring is usually not difficult; either by absentee vote, early vote (available at a few selected polling stations), absentee vote (not suitable for state elections unless at a certain electoral offices in other states) or by postal vote. If your movements and/or remote location prevent any of these in the time frame, a phone call to the electoral office prior to the election explaining why you will be unable to vote can save a fine being levied for failure to vote. For all about options for voting see here
Centrelink If you are relying on a Centrelink benefit or pension you need to check that long term travel is permitted when on your benefit. Reporting requirements can be done on line, by fax, at Centrelink offices or from the many Centrelink agencies in community resource centres across the country. Retaining the one address and having renewed cards posted to you by your relative keeps it simple and avoids the risk of mail going astray when changing your address frequently with Centrelink. Some people are eligible for rent assistance when staying for a period of time at a caravan park. Ensure Centrelink has not changed your address to this venue when you move on. Renewal application forms if required can be forward to you with your mail, downloaded from the internet (but not all forms can be downloaded) or picked up from Centrelink offices or agencies. See Centrelink
Seniors
Cards As these are administered by each state, the conditions specify you must be a permanent resident of that state. When outside
of the state for long periods, you may no longer be eligible for the card. Card holders are required to notify the department
issuing that card of any changes to eligibility. See Government Seniors Card
Commercial mail forwarding agencies will post your mail as requested, or many can be contracted to open your mail, scan and email copies to you. Some can even provide a street address for you to use when necessary, eg when a post office box is not sufficient. However this address is not a suitable option for use as a garaging address for vehicle licence and insurance purposes.
The early explorers needed mail, whereas with internet and mobile telephones communication for us is much easier. Much of the
exploration of central
Prior to the overland railway, Chambers Pillar was a significant landmark in the desert for travellers. Messages were sometimes left at the base of the pillar. Early travellers carved their names into the soft sandstone of the pillar, including John Ross, the leader of the exploring party for the Overland Telegraph Line construction and his second in command Alfred Giles.
Be sure you insurer or broker is aware of your plans. If your house is rented out or left vacant, variations to the policy may
be needed, and extra charges may apply.
Insurance for your rig will centre on garaging address, which again is not at all suitable for the permanent traveller. It is also wise to use the same address for insurance and registration purposes. Again, using the address of your trusted family member may be the only practical option. Make sure there will be no nasty surprises if you have a claim, by discussing your situation with your insurer when setting up your policies for the nomadic lifestyle. A broker may be more helpful to you than going direct to an insurance company, and will find the company most suited to your needs. Not all will insure a vehicle when there is no real home address. Contents cover may also be limited while you are in a mobile home. Keep your insurer informed of any events which otherwise may give them cause to decline a claim, such as notifying if you get any traffic infringement tickets. Ensure your fully loaded rig complies with the weight limits for the trailer and for the towing vehicle.
There are many people choosing to have no other home than their caravan, camper or motor home. What happens about licensing
their vehicle or their voting obligations?
Full time on the road? How to cope with no fixed address. Insurance matters. This page contains trip planning articles and advice about these areas.
Vehicle registrations, annual inspections and driver’s licences: Your vehicle and trailer need to be registered in the state
where you reside; hence once again you will need to use the address of your relative. With registration payments being made
on line, paying from another state is easy. If licence stickers are sent, they will go to the registered address (being your
family member, friend or mail forwarding agency) ready to be forwarded to a post office where you plan to collect mail.
Vehicle licence stickers are no longer used in
See Licensing websites for driver's licences.
Note the wisdom in having both your tow vehicle and caravan registered in the same state, using the same garaging address with this example from RMS New South Wales Interstate vehicles kept or garaged in NSW
Family: How will you cope with being away from family, particularly small grandchildren, if you have been living close to them? Communicating
with older children and grandchildren can be easy by email, telephone or webcam. Not being there to see the tiny one’s first
steps, birthdays, or school awards may be difficult for some grandparents. Having grand children growing up and only seeing
you occasionally as a virtual stranger may also be difficult to handle. Some people may be taking a major role in caring for
ageing parents and/or their affairs. These can all seriously curtail the dream of being a carefree nomad. However you
can always fly back to family occasionally, either at times they need you or you need to see them, and this should be budgeted for.
Health: Those touring full time are amongst the fittest senior citizens we meet. Long walks and climbs to see lookouts,
waterfalls and other features are being taken by elderly tourists with a fitness that puts me to shame. Walking sticks become
hiking sticks on long and difficult climbs. Paunches from years of sitting in an office soon flatten and energy returns.
It often takes a life threatening situation before many make the step to fulfill their life long dream of taking to the road. Some are travelling against the odds or with great medical needs. Sometimes flights back to the city for treatment or visits
to their specialists are essential. Some arrange to have regular treatments at hospitals on the way around, requiring far more
structured touring, but they are still living their dream.