Covid-19 and Relocation Services in Australia

If you are likely to be in self-quarantine when you arrive in Australia, do not worry we can still assist you with relocation services. During this awful time we have been delivering virtual relocation services including virtual orientation, virtual home search and virtual settling -in. We have assisted with relocation services in Australia including everything from orientation through to home search, car purchase through to childcare placement and all virtually! We have also assisted with virtual departure services before a move to Australia. Whether you are moving to Melbourne, relocating to Sydney or moving to any of our Australian cities ask us how we can assist you. We are always happy to discuss our services and in these difficult times we all have more time for having a chat!

Repatriation Services for Returning Employees

When expatriates take on an overseas assignment they are generally well supported in every aspect however, a number of repatriating employees report feeling undervalued on their return as they struggle to put together their lives in a now somewhat unfamiliar environment. While their household goods are still in transit across the sea many repatriates are left to find a new home and schools or childcare for their children in a market that they previously may not have navigated through before they left, all whilst one parent may be at work or trying to work from ‘home’ and another looking for employment. Throw into the mix all the challenges which have been brought about by Covid-19 and you have a very stressful situation.

What can companies do to make sure that their returning expatriates feel valued? Provide support. As a relocation company we see companies support their employees and families navigate a repatriation like they would an overseas assignment and then those who choose view an employees repatriation as an opportunity to show self-sufficiency! The value of an employee rich in overseas experience should not be forgotten and it is often the case that the lack of support from the company can often be the trigger to move to another employer taking and in turn taking their experience with them.

Keeping the repatriating employees informed.

We believe it is important to keep in touch with the repatriating employee and family to understand their concerns and to be very clear about what they will face on arrival in their country of origin. Will they need to self-quarantine or, will the government put them into accommodation for 14 days? Do they understand the limits of what they can do and where, if anywhere, they can go. Do they understand the limitations in regards to arriving into one state and moving to the next? Are they going to be able to visit family and friends? Our relocation consultants offer the employee and their family that level of support in guiding them through this process and ensuring they are stayed informed of any updates and changes throughout their arrival.

Support during quarantine

After the frantic activity associated with any repatriation the thought of 14 days in a confined space sometimes with young children can be demoralising. This is the time to offer some structure to the employee and family.  As well as gradually reintroducing the employee to what is happening within the workplace this can also be a time for supporting spouses with career counselling if they are looking for work opportunities. It is also a great time for our relocation consultants to discuss strategies for immersion into the local community and to work through any unfamiliar environments that come with repatriating expatriates having to reinvent their lives. If the family have no house to return to this is a time that we can begin that process of finding a home by conducting consultations and working virtually with the employee. Discussions regarding schools, children’s childcare or activities for all members of the family can also take place at this time to keep everyone on track and excited for the task ahead of them.

During this difficult time Elite Woodhams Relocation is happy to speak to companies about making sure they are adequately supporting repatriating employees.

Departure Services and Repatriation Services

In these very difficult times we find ourselves in we are helping those who are needing to leave Australia or return from overseas back to Australia in a hurry. People need to just get on a plane and that sometimes means leaving things behind. Our consultants are actually taking charge of what needs to be sent overseas or, in Australia, sometimes interstate; what needs to be donated and what needs to be dispensed with. We are there for the house clean, the walk through if it is a rental property, to help with finalising everything for property handover and  make lives simpler in difficult times. Let us know if this can help you or one of your employees.

At the other end if you need a home and are in self quarantine we can assist virtually. We visit the homes and our client’s are with us on the end of the phone.

Kathy Nunn

Non-Executive Director