First Month in Australia

The ultimate guide to getting settled in Australia within

your first month

Living Simply Australia

About
This Guide
In this guide you'll find everything you need to know
about navigating your first month in Australia. From
buying a local phone number and finding transportation,
to opening a bank account, renting a house, grocery
shopping, and applying for jobs. I've got you covered.
Welcome to Australia! Whether you're here
for work, study, or simply to explore this So whether you're here for a temporary visit or planning
beautiful country, I'm thrilled you are here! I to make Australia your new home, this guide will be your
understand that the first month in a new go-to resource for getting started. I'm excited to share
country can be both exciting and this journey with you and hope you enjoy your time in this
overwhelming. That's why I've put together wonderful country.
this free e-book to help you settle in smoothly
and comfortably. Best,
Martina, creator of Living Simply Australia
Step 1: Get an You can get an Aussie SIM CARD or E-SIM at any telco

Australian Phone
store at the airport. There're different service providers to
choose from, with the main ones being: Vodafone, Optus,
Telstra. Remember that you may need to present your

Number
Passport and Visa at the time of purchasing a phone
plan.

Each provider offers different plans and packages. This is

how it works:

- Phone + SIM card: if you need a new phone

- SIM card only: if you already have a phone
- Pre-paid plan: only pay and recharge for what you need
- Post-paid plan: pay a fixed amount each month (most
service providers are no longer offering lock-in contracts.
As such, they might increase prices month-to-month - so
highly recommend comparing all plans and choosing the
one that suits you best!)

Living Simply Australia

Step 2: Take Using public transport in Australia is a convenient and
cost-effective way to get around, whether you're

Public Transport commuting to work or exploring new places. However, if

you're new to the country, it can be overwhelming to
navigate the different modes of transport and ticketing
systems.

First things first, it's important to understand that

depending on where you are, you may have access to
buses, trains, trams, ferries, city bicycles or scooters.

Each Australian state has its own Public Transport

Card, so it's essential to familiarise yourself with this
before you start using them.

Living Simply Australia

Top Up Your Public Transport fares start at $9 AUD per day (return).

Card & Fares You can get a PT card and top it up at any train station,
convenience store, or online! It's worth noting that many
Australian states have also introduced Contactless
Payments, meaning that you can pay for your trip tapping on
the reader with your credit card (or mobile phone) directly.

PT Cards by Australian States:

- Victoria: Myki
- NSW: Opal / Contactless payments
- Queensland: GoCard
- Perth: SmartRider
- South Australia: MetroCard
- Tasmania: GreenCard
- Canberra: MyWay
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Touch on &
Touch off (or Tap Something you need to be aware of, is that in order to use
public transport in Australia you usually 'touch on' and

on & Tap off)

'touch off'. This is how you validate your ticket before and
after boarding - because failure to do so may result in a
hefty fine!

Touch on: When entering the train or ferry station, or when

hopping on the bus/tram

Touch off: When leaving the train or ferry station, or when

getting off the bus/tram

Just place your card on the card reader, and you're ready
to go!

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Different Modes
of Transport

Bus Ferry Train Tram

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Different Modes
of Transport City bikes or scooters are an amazing way to get around
the city or to commute to work if you live close to the CBD.

However, if you need to travel longer distances whether it

is to go on a day trip or to move houses or furniture, you
have the option of hiring a car for the day or the hour.

Some of the most popular Car Hire companies include

GoGet or Uber Carshare (previously known as Car
NextDoor).

Finally, it's worth noting that some cities offer discounted

City Bikes Car Hire fares for students, seniors, or regular commuters. Be sure
or Scooters to check if you're eligible for any concessions, and don't
forget to bring your ID or concession card with you when
you travel.
Living Simply Australia
Step 3: Open a Once you arrive in Australia, it will be important for you to

Bank Account
open a bank account to keep your savings safe, and to get
a debit card (so you can easily pay for things). The banking
system in Australia is pretty straightforward and easy, and
most major banks today allow you to open a bank account
online (even before you travel to Australia).

Some of the major banks in Australia include:

- Commonwealth Bank
- NAB
- ANZ
- Westpac

It's worth researching the different options (even beyond

these banks) to find the bank that offers the features and
benefits that matter most to you.

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What you'll need Once you've chosen your bank, you'll need to provide
some basic personal information to open your account.

to open a bank This typically includes:

account - Your Name

- Passport (original)
- Visa
- Tax File Number (TFN)
- Australian Address
- Student ID / Enrolment Letter
- Any other identification documents the bank may need
(check their site!)

After opening your account, you'll have your debit card sent
by post.

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Step 4: Get a One important thing to keep in mind is that you'll need a

TFN
Tax File Number (TFN). This is both for opening a bank
account and for work.

This is a unique identifier issued by the Australian Taxation

Office (ATO) that allows you to pay taxes and access
government services.

If you don't have a TFN, you can apply for one online
through the ATO website.

This number is completely confidential, so don't share it

with anyone (only those approved by the ATO)!

Living Simply Australia

Step 5: MyGov
Opening a myGov account in Australia is a crucial step for
accessing and managing government services such as your tax,
Medicare, and Centrelink information.

You'll also need MyGov to lodge your Tax Return. Don't forget to
do this!

To create your account, you'll be asked to provide some basic

personal information such as your name, date of birth, contact
details, and identification documents such as a passport or
driver's license.

You can set up your MyGOV account very easily online. You can
also download their app.

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Step 6: For your first weeks in Australia, booking short-term

Accommodation accommodation such as an Airbnb is your best bet. In the

meantime, you can look for a place to rent.

The best thing about renting short-term first is not only

having peace of mind about having a place to stay once
you arrive in Australia, but your Airbnb landlord or
housemates can also serve as rental references once you
start looking for your own place.

Some examples of where to find accommodation:

- Airbnb: short term

- realestate.com.au / domain.com.au: long term
- flatmates.com.au: share accommodation

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Rent Costs Rent prices in Australia vary from state to state and from
suburb to suburb. The further away from the city, the
cheaper, and the closer to the city the more expensive
rent will be. Other factors include how close to the beach
or public transport you are for example.

On average you can expect to pay (per week):

- Studio (city): $360+ AUD

- 1-bed apartment (city): $400+ AUD
- 2-bed apartment (city): $560+ AUD
- 3-bed house (city): $650+ AUD
- 3-bed house (outer suburbs): $450+ AUD

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Important! There are 8 main things you need to know about renting a
property in Australia:

- Beware of scammers, and never transfer money without having

seen the property first (for long-term rentals or shared housing).
- Most rental contracts go for a minimum of 12 months.
- When you sign your contract, you usually have to pay a bond
(usually this equals 1-month rent).
- Once you receive the property, make sure everything is clean
and tidy and that there's nothing broken. If this is the case, report
it to the real estate agent or landlord.
- There're hefty penalties if you break your lease before the
contract ends.
- Most properties will be inspected by several people. If there's
too much competition and you love the place, you can offer to pay
a bit more money to improve your chances of being chosen.
- Have rental references, bank statements and proof of income
showing that you have enough funds prepared. It's likely you'll be
asked for these by the real estate agency.
Living Simply Australia - Bills are not usually included for long-term rentals.
Step 7: Groceries Grocery shopping in Australia is another important aspect
of your settlement journey.

Firstly, it's important to note that there are several grocery

shopping options in Australia, with each one offering a
range of products and pricing. So it's worth exploring
different options to find the one that suits your needs and
budget.

Here's a useful list:

- Major supermarket chains: Coles, Woolworths

- Independent supermarket chains: IGA
- Discount supermarket chains: Aldi, Costco
- Affordable fresh food: Farmers Markets

Living Simply Australia

Grocery Costs As with everything else, grocery prices in Australia vary
from State to State and from household to household
and lifestyles.

Average grocery bills per week:

- Single household: $185 AUD

- Couple household: $342 AUD
- Family of four: $430 AUD (could be much less
depending on the household)

Living Simply Australia

 Australian
Groceries
Individual households may spend more or less
depending on their circumstances. Additionally, factors
such as dining out, ordering takeaway, and purchasing
non-food items can impact a household's overall
expenditure on groceries.

Living Simply Australia

Step 8: Work Australia has a very low unemployment rate (5% or less), which
means that finding a job is not very hard - especially jobs in
hospitality and retail or farm work for backpackers.

However, if you are looking to land a professional job in your

field, your job search process may get a bit more competitive.
This is why knowing how to prepare your Australian job
application the right way is key if you want to maximise your
chances of landing a job in Australia.

Here's a list of the major Australian job search portals:

- Seek
- Indeed
- EthicalJobs
- Linkedin
- University or TAFE job portals
- Company websites

Living Simply Australia

A few tips for It's very likely that the process of finding and applying for a job
in Australia is very different to the one in your home country.

your job search So here's a list of useful tips for when applying for jobs:

process
- Write a 2-page Resume and avoid including personal
information such as your photo, DOB, nationality, ethnicity,
marriage status, age, or gender.
- For most Aussie jobs you'll need to submit a Cover Letter.
This is a one-page letter where you tell the employer your
motivations for applying for that job and why you are the
perfect candidate.
- I always recommend tailoring each job application. This
should be based on the position description and the company
you're applying to.
- Network with Australian recruiters and employers to expand
your professional network
- Be sure to be well-prepared for your job interview.
- If you don't have enough local work experience, volunteer!

Living Simply Australia

Things you may When applying for a job in Australia, you may need the

need for your job

following documents:

- RSA (Responsible for Serving Alcohol Certificate) if working

in hospitality
- Working with Children Check (for jobs working with people
younger than 18 years old)
- White Card (for jobs in construction)
- Driver's licence (for some jobs)
- Valid visa to work in Australia (all jobs)
- Tax File Number (all jobs)
- Choose a Super Fund (for superannuation purposes - this is
when you start employment)
- Bank Account (to get paid)
- Qualification documents (Award Certificate & Transcript)
- Passport

Living Simply Australia

Step 9:
Health insurance is an important consideration for when you move to
Australia, especially if anything happens during your first month here
(touch wood!).

Healthcare As you may know, there are two types of health insurance in
Australia: public and private. Public healthcare is called Medicare,
and is available to all Australian citizens and permanent residents or
people coming from countries with a reciprocal agreement. With
Medicare you can get bulk billed or get partial rebates for GP
(general medicine) consultations, ultrasounds, and it also covers
stays in a public hospital.

If you don't have medicare, then you'll need private health insurance
- which usually covers the same things as Medicare (the difference
is that you pay monthly for it). And in some instances, with private
health insurance you may even have access to more benefits such
as stays at private hospitals, specific treatments, & other extras.

For emergencies call 000.

Living Simply Australia

Step 10: Socials Making friends and expanding your social network when
moving to another country is extremely important for your
wellbeing and mental health. Many of us underestimate this
part of our migration process, and think that making friends is
something that will happen naturally. Unfortunately, this is
usually not the case.

Building friendships especially as adults is a bit harder than

when we were kids, so one really needs to put in the effort and
nurture those friendships.

Again, this is extremely important for your mental health during

your migration journey, because it's very likely that at some
point or the other, you'll start to get homesick. So those new
friends will function as your 'new family'. And even if you don't
get homesick, making friends is also important to develop a
sense of belonging to your new place.

Living Simply Australia

How to Meet Something that can really help you start building those
relationships is to join groups of like-minded people who

People share similar interests and hobbies. This will give you the
opportunity to spend time together and get to know each
other.

Here's a list of a few things you can do and places to join to

meet like-minded people in Australia:

- Meet Up groups
- Sports Clubs or Gyms
- University clubs
- Hobbies (e.g. photography, gardening, painting)
- Mother groups
- Shared houses
- Friends of friends
- Work and Volunteering

Living Simply Australia

Step 11: Check If you're an international student arriving in Australia for the first

Your University time, checking out your university or TAFE institute during your
first week is essential. It's important to get familiar with your
new surroundings, and to know where you need to go for

or TAFE classes, resources, and support.

One of the first things you should do is attend orientation week.

This is a great opportunity to meet other students, learn about
the campus facilities and services, and attend information
sessions about academic expectations and support services.

You should also take the time to explore the campus and
surrounding area. You may want to check out the library,
student union, health services, and campus accommodation
options.

This will help you to feel more comfortable and confident

Living Simply Australia
navigating your new environment.
Explore & Have Australia is a beautiful country and I'm sure you'll love your
stay here. My last tip, before I finish: go out there, explore
and have fun! This country has it all - whether you love the

Fun! beach, mountains, the outdoors, or cultural activities. You

should also try all the amazing food this place has to offer!
It's a multicultural hub offering hundreds of different cuisine
and dietary options for everyone.

Lastly, I hope you find this guide useful, and helps you have
a smooth settlement in this beautiful country. This guide is a
small thank-you gift for showing your ongoing support for
Living Simply Australia.

And if you have any questions please see my website to get

in touch.

Wishing you all the best,

Martina.
Living Simply Australia