First few things to do after arrival in Australia

First few things to do after arrival in Australia

Please try to do all these within the first week, all these are for potential nsw residents although people who intend to live other states may get some hints and tips from here too.

The first few things to do upon arrival in Australia is to create your identity in the Australian Society. This is for persons with PR only, those on work/student visa, you are not eligible for some stuffs. Check with your co or sch.

If you have the following documents handy, they are usually very useful

• Your Singapore Passport with your PR label (if no label on your passport, produce your PR approval letter)
• Your Singapore Driver's licence
• Your Singapore Bank ATM Card  or Credit Card (Name must be exactly the same as the Passport, if not the same dun be violent hor when they reject you!) 

Please try to arrange these within the first week. the following are not in order:

1. Get your teng ki:

For people like ah tan who who can't live without a "ang teng kee" this is your teng ki in Australia la!

How to get driving licence in NSW read this link.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/

for other states find the transport agency of your state.
Reminder to google or go to the link and explore yourself ah, dun say you eyes got sai  stamp  didn't see the link ah.

For People with SG licence, if i remember correctly, if you get all your required documentation correct, fill in the correct form and pay the fee ~$150 for 5 years, you can get your licence printed on the spot for you.
Again the price you check yourself in the link above ah, you can pay 1 yr or 3 yr or 5 year but pay 5yr more wu hua..

If no SG licence, then suggest to you is either to take the Theory test and get your "L" plate licence and use as your teng ki or get this (there is a fee, check this)
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/photocard.html


2. Get a Medicare Card


To get free Medical care, you will need to register with medicare http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/,
You will need to provide documentations etc passport etc..  check the link for more  details. they will give you a green card  you will need to bring to the doctor clinic.

When you get ur medicare approved, you will usually get a print out of your medicare number, use that till they post you the card.

Card is usually green but some ppl get issued blue card for some reasons (i know why but explain this later if necessary)

Most clinic are usually free if you have the medicare card but some clinic will still charge you even though you have this card!

So tip here is to look for "Bulk Billing", some clinic do bulk billing for All patients, some clinics do bulk billing for Children only . So check carefully ah.. if no bulk billing available in the clinic that you go.. you will need to pay.

Its best to check with the clinic whether they "bulk bill" when you call them up to make appointment.. most clinics in Australia need appointment, but there's some "walk in also welcome!"

Recommended to call up to make appointment first coz if you call up before you leave your house, you get to see the doc faster!!


3. Get a bank account
The bank requires 100 points identifications to open a bank account for most Australia residents, however as you are a recent /newly arrived migrant, you may not be able to produce this 100 points documents, so there is waiver for you.

Please speak with the bank. This waiver is only available to people who arrived less than 1 or 2 mths.. differnet bank different so better get this sorted within 1st week of your arrival. exact period of waiver please check with the bank yourself.

Best bank to get are those with full service and branches and yet no fees.

Currently we recommend NAB, coz it got no fees but please feel free to choose your own bank for your own individual needs.

The following are some links of the banks: of coz they are more la. just goolge.
http://www.anz.com.au/personal/
http://www.nab.com.au/
http://www.westpac.com.au/
http://www.commbank.com.au/
http://www.rabodirect.com.au/
http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/
http://www.boq.com.au/

Some online only bank give high interest rates they are good but they got no physical bank branch, can't deposit cash. But try to get at least your daily bank account to be some bank that has branch readily available in your state, so that you can easily access to your cash by just queueing up at the counter.

Sometimes coz sometimes shit happens and you may need to withdraw cash over the atm limit. then you will have a problem with online only bank.

Please give your bank your TFN so that they will not withhold your interest for taxation purpose

4. Get a Tax file number
Need this for your job, and your bank account. I got this years ago, queued up at the ATO and got on the spot. now i think can get it online. please check this website:
http://www.ato.gov.au/

5. Register yourself with Centerlink 

You will be able to get access to some resources to help you to find a job, such as using free telephone, free computer with internet etc . Different centerlink offer different services i think ..
Check the link below or just turn up at a centerlink near u when u arrive
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/home/index.htm

All comments good or bad are welcome!