I'm off to Australia very, very soon and I have not a clue what I need to bring with me. The uni said that they'll ship some stuff for me, which is good. However, what do I take over with me initially. I'll be flying poverty class - does that mean I'll have one suitcase? Or one suitcase and hand luggage? What do I put in it? Will I need new plugs? I'm completely at a loss, there is a genuine reason for this that you can PM me about for clarification if needed.
So, if you were in my shoes, what would you pack, etc? I'd be really grateful for any wisdom or advice!

You should be allowed to take one suitcase and hand luggage for free, although some airlines have started charging for the suitcase.

Take a week's worth of underwear, a pair of shorts, a spare pair of trousers and 2 t-shirts and a shirt (at a guess you may need something posh). Bring all your standard toiletries and maybe a travel towel (you can pick one up for about £10 at Blacks or SportsDirect). Photocopy all your main documents (incl. passport) and keep these copies away from the originals - suitcase/handluggage. I'd also have a good £100-£150 worth of AUD to hand in case you need it. Lastly, I would recommend a map of the place you're going and a compass - comes in mightly handy when you're learning a new city/lost.

That's advice.

As for wisdom, I have seen this message in both a bus station in Krabi, Thailand (pictured) and in a resturant in Bratislava, Solvakia. Each time I took a photo (although this one is not mine) and made it the background to my phone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rollerboogie/32974836/

Get some scales for weighing luggage and be clear about your airline's rules on luggage as this is the time when you want to carry as much as you can. I've moved country a couple of times and it is tricky. Ship your books, any furniture, kitchen stuff - use this as a time to clear out unwanted things but don't be too ruthless. It takes a while for your shipped stuff to arrive, normally just about the time when the novelty has worn off and homesickness kicks in, so it can be really nice to find some reminders of home in your boxes. You might want to go on expat websites and find out what products people really miss and if shippable stick some supplies in.
For the luggage that comes with you, think through where you will be living at first eg do you need to pack 1 set of bedding and towels, and then your daily routine. What do you need to wear for work and at home? What do you need to make sure is on your laptop / memory stick to ensure that you can start work? Any medication needed? What do you like doing outside work - what can you pack to allow you to continue those things in Australia? And pack a few little things that will make you feel at home - photos etc. It might feel like a waste of space but the feel-good factor on arrival is amazing. Ask expat forums about electrical goods - what is worth taking and what is better to buy cheaply there. And then documents - make sure you have certificates, ID documents, details of bank stuff etc. It's amazing what you will need.
Don't forget to tell the inland revenue you're leaving - you'll probably be due a tax rebate. Ditto council tax, utilities, give notice to your landlord etc. It's that stuff that I always nearly forgot to do!

Agree with checking with your airline re baggage allowance - many have moved from weight toa per piece allowance. Even still there is usually a maximum weight per piece. In my day there was a max weight of 52kg per piece. Also depending on your airline there might be a special baggage allowance for those emigrating. Again in my airline days which was eh, ahem quite a while ago, we had a special excess baggage allowance for those emigrating. I used to be very flexible about it but I imagine nowadays it all has to be predone. I had a quick check and both BA and QF have some sort of baggage allowance - might be worth checking further. Def organise anything like this before you arrive at the airport as the operational staff have very limited discretion about these things. In my day...

My son who has recently returned after a year abroad advises to check out what shops there are in the area you'll be living in. He had to furnish an unfurnished apartment and says he wasted a lot of time and ultimately money trying to figure out where to buy a bed etc.

Hey Wally, this sounds like good news - an academic post in Oz? I can't offer advice on the plugs etcetera, but I do wish you luck my friend. Congratulations, I'm glad you've kept going.

Hi PG forumites! Firstly, I'd like to thank you all a lot for the invaluable advice, which I have read repeatedly to the point that I am now sure I can recite each post. I feel a lot more comfortable about the process of moving now, which is a relief. Secondly, sorry for the delay in thanking you - I'm still actually working for my current employer to ensure I can tie up projects for them and not leave them in the lurch.

Based on a suggestion made by another member of this forum, I will shortly start a new thread that recounts my experiences of getting a job in Oz and the actual procedures, costs and experiences I went through in obtaining clearance to begin work there. I'll then proceed to keep it updated, with accounts of what it is like to live there (costs, social life) and operate as a lecturer (what's the academic system like? work/life balance?). Of course, I realise that for a number of you international, metropolitan, Caffe Americano-supping jet-setters, this may be small beans. :-) Still, I live in hope that there are some small-town, hill dwelling creatures like me, who have only ever been to Wales and Scotland once or twice, and wonder what it is like to go truly 'continental'. If it's like Home-And-Away, it'll truly make my day...if it's like Crocodile Dundee, I'll be consoling myself with cups of hot tea.
In all seriousness, I hope that in some way it might prove helpful and informative for those of you considering your options post-PhD. After all, I'm likely to make a lot of errors (I already have!) that we can mutually learn from (up)

Hi Walminski- some practical advice on plugs (I live in Australia): take most of your electrical goodies if you can, all those kinds of things are generally a fair bit more expensive over here. I recommend taking a uk powerboard or two as well, then you can plug everything in with far fewer plug adaptors. You can buy the adaptors most easily in the airport while you're waiting to board your plane. I hope it all goes well, I'm sure it will!