Living in Australia

Before you arrive in Australia we will work with you to find a property to stay in for your first few months. When you are settled you can decide whether to continue renting or buy a property.

When you arrive there are 6 things you should do as soon as you can. The following section contains information about different aspects of living in Australia.

Things to do when you first arrive in Australia

Below is a list of 6 important things that you should do as soon as possible after arriving in Australia.

1. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)

Do this first. To receive an income in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN). Income includes wages or salary from a job, payments from the government, and money earned from investments including interest on savings accounts.

In Australia, you can telephone the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and have a TFN application form sent to you. Alternatively, you can apply for a TFN over the internet. Telephone 13 2861

2. Register with Medicare

The Australian Government provides help with basic medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. You may be eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and programs. These include free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines.

How to enrol

To enrol in Medicare, you should go into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport or travel documents. There are also many different private health insurance options as Medicare does not provide for other services. Examples: Medicare does not cover dental care, optical care or ambulance services.

Telephone 13 2011

3. Open a Bank Account

In Australia, most income including salary or wages and government benefits are paid directly into a bank account.

You should open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an account.

We can help you open an account before you arrive.

4. Register with Centrelink

Centrelink contributes to the social and economic outcomes set by government by delivering services to assist people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in need.

What Centrelink can help you with

Centrelink can help you find a job, arrange for recognition of your skills and qualifications, and to access certain courses.

Centrelink can also help you with Family Assistance payments to help with the cost of raising children.

What Centrelink can not help you with

As a newly arrived migrant, you are not immediately eligible for social security (unless you are a refugee or humanitarian entrant). You do not have access to the full range of government employment services. If you are a permanent resident, you may be eligible to access some services.

5. Enrol Your Children in School

Under Australian law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible.

6. Apply for a Driver's Licence

If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival. After the first three months, if you want to drive you will need to have the appropriate drivers license. This will usually require you to pass a knowledge test and an eyesight test. In Australia, drivers licences are issued by state and territory governments.

As a client of Southern Cross Settlement Services we can provide you with much more useful information so call now or register on line.