How Do Things Work In Australia?

Accommodation  
Healthcare 
Getting a bank account 
Mobile Phones 
Tax and Superannuation 
Insurance 
Useful telephone numbers

Accommodation

The best option for when you arrive in Australia is to rent somewhere to live whilst you settling in to your new life and your new role.  If you then decide to stay in Australia you can comfortably make a decision about buying a property. 

In the meantime, when looking for somewhere to live, you will need to make sure you take in to account things such as; distance from work and amenities, local transport, weekly cost, type of accommodation and whether the property is furnished or not.

• Depending on your circumstances monthly rent will generally vary from $800 - 2,000 per month
• You will be asked to put one month's rent down as a deposit in most cases, which will be returned once you leave depending on the condition of the property
• Inhabitants must pay utility bills such as gas and electricity in addition to rent and deposit
• The most common lease terms are for 6 months or 1-2 years, with the opportunity of a notice period (usually one rental month) written into the contract

The best place to find information on renting properties is in on real estate websites for example www.domain.com.au or www.realestate.com.au.

When you have arrived you will find that most newspapers have a property section in the Saturday edition and sometimes during the week also.

• Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney
• The Age - Melbourne
• The Canberra Times - Canberra
• The Courier Mail - Brisbane
• The West Australian - Perth
• The Adelaide Advertiser - Adelaide

If you would like further assistance in finding suitable accommodation in Australia, we recommend you contact individual real estate agents to discuss your needs and requirements.

Healthcare

Australia has a state healthcare scheme called Medicare.

The Commonwealth Government has signed reciprocal healthcare agreements with Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.  This reciprocal agreement ensures that working travellers are entitled to free emergency medical treatment through Medicare.

Ensure you apply for a Medicare card on arrival - for information on the Medicare scheme please visit www.hic.gov.au.

If you require dental work while residing in Australia you will be required to pay for the treatment personally.

Residents of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Malta and Italy who visit Australia are entitled to:

• Free treatment at a public hospital in-patient or out-patient department
• Medicare benefits for out of hospital medical treatment provided by doctors through private surgeries and Government Health Centres

 

Getting a bank account

It is relatively easy to open a bank account in Australia once you have chosen a provider.  You will need to provide several forms of ID and proof of address such as your rental agreement or utility bills. Each individual bank will inform you of the requirements when applying for an account.

• Major retail banks in Australia include  Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and ANZ 
• Some banks in Australia impose monthly banking charges and additional charges for withdrawals from ATMs outside of your chosen provider therefore it is important that you research each bank to ensure there are no surprises and that it suits your needs.
• As in the UK, all banks have online banking and your salary is paid directly into your account usually on a fortnightly basis.

Mobile phones

• It is easy to get a pre-paid mobile phone in Australia however the handsets can be quite expensive.  If you have a handset already it is often a good idea to get it unlocked and then purchase a pre-paid SIM when you arrive.
• If after settling in you want to get a mobile contract there are a variety of companies who will offer many different packages to suit your needs. The main mobile phone providers in Australia are Telstra, Optus, 3 Mobile, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile.

Tax and Superannuation

In order to work in Australia you must apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) 

• If you do not have a TFN you may be over taxed until you provide one
• The tax year in Australia runs from 1 July through to 30 June
• It is important to be aware that by law each individual in Australia must submit a Tax Return at the end of each tax year.  It is common place for many people to use accountants to assist them through this process for a small fee.
• Any tax paid is redeemable in your home country if you should decide to return.

Further details on the Australian tax system can be found at www.ato.gov.au

Superannuation in Australia is compulsory and operates like a pension scheme:

• Nine per cent of your total salary package is paid into a superannuation fund by your employer
• As with tax, your superannuation is redeemable in your home country should you decide to leave Australia

Insurance

It is important that you buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover all personal belongings and any possible medical needs before you embark on your journey to Australia.  This should cover you for several weeks until you have organised your Medicare cover and/or purchased private health cover.

 

Useful telephone numbers

Emergency Services      000
Directory Assistance      1223
International Enquiries    1225
Yellow Pages                13 2378