| 1) |
Make another
list! |
| 2) |
Don't panic take your
time and get your bearings, some things in Australia are highly efficent some
are not. |
| 3) |
Get your Tax file
numbers - apply at the Australian Tax
office on their computer terminals as it is quicker then applying using the
paper versions. |
| 4) |
Bank accounts- the
sooner you get your bank account activated the sooner your credit rating
starts! |
| 5) |
Driving licence- even
though your UK driving licence is valid for 3 months in Oz, the sooner you get
an australian one its an Australian form of ID, and can then help with credit
checks etc. You can get a
Drive
safe book from Police stations which is like our Highway code, and is free,
and the exam consists of multiple choice questions. Its worth taking the
online practise
test. |
| 6) |
Mobile- hard to get a
contract if you dont know anyone over here as you will not have any credit
rating. Also bring your own phones as they work here and its a matter of
replacing the sim card. You have two options, pay as you go, which requires no
credit rating, or if you know someone here they can get the contract in there
name, but you pay the bill. |
| 7) |
Police checks- most jobs
require you to have a police check, called National Police Clearence
Certificates. This can be obtained from Police stations and cost
$41 |
| 8) |
Medicare - can only be applied for after 10
days when immigration has entered your details on the computer. You are still
covered in the mean time due to reciprical arrangement with the UK. |
| 9) |
Purchasing a car- ring
around for car insurance as the cost differs greatly from company to company,
as it does in the UK. |
| 10) |
Ringing the UK- buy a
phone card from the post office- a $50 card gives 41 hours of talk time.
|
| 11) |
Get registered with
Centrelink (Social Security) if you
have children. You should qualify for family allowance. |
| 12) |
PO Box (if you are
planning on having one, get it early on so you don’t have to use your
temporary accommodation as an address) |
| 13) |
Get a Flyby card from
Kmart,Coles or Myer - register straight away so you clock up points straight
away. Use the temporary card provided until plastic card arrives. |
