guys for those travelling to australia as pr take note of these,
Here are the important things to do as soon as possible after arriving in Australia.
- 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.
You may find the contact details of the ATO here:
https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/about-us/contact-us/phone-us/
- 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.
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 you may wish to consider, as Medicare does not provide for all services.
Examples: Medicare does not cover dental care, most optical care or ambulance services.The table below provides contact details for Medicare Australia
You may find the contact details of Medicare here:
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/contact-us/phone-us
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.
Further information on banking is available, please see:
http://www.bankers.asn.au/smarter-banking/default.html
https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/can/moving-to-australia.html
http://movingtoaustralia.anz.com/global/en/why-open-a-bank-account/benefits/
- Register with Centrelink
Centrelink is a government agency which delivers a range of services to the community.
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.
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.
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.
You may contact Centrelink here:
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/dhs/centrelink
- Register for English Classes
Communicating in English is very important and the key to your successful settlement.
English languages courses for new arrivals in Australia are provided under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). As a new resident, you may be entitled to receive free English language tuition of up to 510 hours. Register as soon as possible or you could lose your entitlement.
To know more about AMEP, please see:
http://www.education.gov.au/amep
- Enrol Your Children in School
Under Australian law, children must generally attend school from the ages of five to 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible.
The government provides free education in public schools (students holding temporary visas may be required to pay full school fees). Many students also attend private schools operated by some churches and other groups, but these students are required to pay fees for these schools.
Further information:
https://education.gov.au/
http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/StudyAssist/
- Apply for a Driver's Licence
Drivers’ licences are issued by state and territory governments and usually require applicants to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test and an eyesight test. A person cannot drive without a valid licence.
Holders of permanent resident visas are allowed to drive in Australia for the first three months after arrival, provided they have a current driver’s licence from another country in English (or with an official translation).
After this period, they need to have an appropriate Australian driver’s licence.
PLEASE NOTE:
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, in most states and territories you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival.
In Tasmania, the three month period begins from when you are granted your permanent residency visa, not from when you arrive in Australia. If you were granted a permanent visa 3 months or more before your arrival in Australia you will have to apply for an Australian licence before you can drive in that state.
Important contact details:
• Life threatening emergency (fire, police, ambulance) – Telephone: 000
• Translating and Interpreting Service National (TIS National) – Telephone: 131 450
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) – Telephone 131 881
• Australian Government website portal – www.australia.gov.au.
• The ‘Living in Australia’ web pages – www.immi.gov.au/living–in–australia/index.htm.
• The ‘Beginning a Life in Australia’ booklets – www.immi.gov.au/living–in–australia/settle–in–australia/beginning–life/index.htm.