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Getting started in Australia - Moving to Australia

Getting started in Australia

ANZ has a wealth of experience in helping customers who immigrate to Australia, and we understand the need for timely and practical service. Read on to find some of the different ways we can help you.

On arrival

 

Activating your bank account in Australia

Within six weeks of arrival you will need to activate your pre-opened Australian ANZ bank account, which you can do by visiting any ANZ branch. You will need to take your passport with you for identification purposes.

We recommend this is one of the first things you do. Before you leave we can provide you with the address of a branch near to where you’ll be staying. While activating your account, the ANZ branch in Australia can also arrange access to internet and phone banking. An ANZ Access Card will be mailed to you within five business days.

With your everyday banking needs taken care of, the door is open for you to access our wide range of financial solutions to suit your needs.

Transferring money from the Unites Arab Emirates

Once your ANZ account is set up, it is time to consider your international money transfer from the United Arab Emirates - with ANZ it is easy and convenient.

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Applying for an Australian Tax File Number

Anyone who receives income in Australia requires an Australian Tax File Number (TFN). Telephone the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on 
13 28 61 to have an application form sent to you, or apply over the internet by visiting the Australian Taxation Office website. Your ANZ bank account can be used to receive any tax funds from the ATO. You should consider advising ANZ of your TFN, because without it, ANZ are required to deduct tax at the higher personal tax rate plus the Medicare levy on interest paid on any ANZ accounts.

 

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Medicare and private health insurance

Medicare is an Australian government-owned health insurance scheme that covers payment of pre-arranged amounts for different medical services in the public health system. The level of Medicare cover you are eligible for will depend on whether you have a permanent or temporary visa.

The Australian Government has a reciprocal agreement that provides citizens of certain countries (currently the United Kingdom, Malta, Finland, Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Ireland) with restricted access to Medicare. If you are visiting Australia from these countries, you are generally covered for emergency treatment only in a public hospital.

To enrol for Medicare you will need to visit a Medicare office taking along your passport and other travel documents. You can find out more about the coverage offered to overseas citizens by visiting the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website and following the links to overseas visitors, or by calling their 24 hour answering service on 02 6289 9853. To contact Medicare call 13 20 11 or visit the Medicare website. 

There are also a number of private health insurers in Australia offering specific cover for those coming from overseas and providing cover for private hospitals and other services including dental insurance. The Department of Health and Ageing publishes a website listing these insurers. More information can also be found at the Australian Government Private Health website.

 

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Registering with Centrelink

Centrelink is an Australian Government agency that provides a range of services including job searching, childcare and social security benefits, such as unemployment payments, pensions and family assistance packages. It also oversees international pension payments. To contact Centrelink call the international line on 0800 1695 865. Visit Centrelink's website to find out more about how to register with Centrelink and to see if you or your family may be eligible for any services. You can use your ANZ bank account to directly deposit any funds paid to you from Centrelink.

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Looking for employment in Australia

Most available jobs are now listed through online recruitment agencies. The websites of these companies also provide useful information on preparing resumes, interview techniques and some offer background information on the companies that are hiring. Below are some of the main websites where jobs are advertised.

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Renting or buying a home

If you intend to rent a home in Australia you will require a bond and proof of address. By activating your ANZ bank account as soon as you arrive, you can organise for your ANZ Access Card to be sent to you within five business days. You may be able to use this as proof of your address.

Rents vary significantly from one Australian state to another with prices inevitably increasing the closer you are to city centres. You can search for rental properties online at the websites listed below prior to contacting real estate agents in the areas where you intend to live.

The same websites listed below can be used to locate houses for sale throughout Australia. They include maps of the areas and information about suburbs including proximity to transport, schooling and other amenities.

If you are planning to buy a house in Australia, ANZ can help you save for a deposit. There are a number of different solutions to meet your saving needs from competitive interest bank accounts to a range of managed fund options.

When you’re ready to buy, ANZ has a wide variety of award winning home loans. To find out more visit our page on buying a property in Australia.

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Schools and childcare

The Australian system includes Government operated schools (which in most instances only take children living within a certain radius of the school), independent schools run on a private basis, and schools run by the Catholic Church, some of which accept non-Catholic students.

The Government schools are either free or subject to low fees. Independent school fees range from about $6,000 per year in the junior years, (usually from the age of five) to around $20,000 a year at Year 12 (usually age 17 or 18). Catholic school fees fall somewhere in between. If you are considering a private school education, ANZ can help you save for your children’s education with a range of different solutions.

If your children are not yet of school age, Australia offers a range of local government and privately run childcare centres, community based day-care or the option for a private nanny. Costs are partly subsidised by the Federal Government.

Children attending Australian childcare and schools are expected to provide evidence of immunisation against a range of diseases listed in the Australian Immunisation Schedule. You can find the requirements on the Medicare website.

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Applying for a driver's licence

A permanent-resident visa holder with a current driver’s licence from another country is permitted to drive for the first three months after arrival. After three months, you will need to hold the appropriate driver’s licence for the state where you are living. In Australia, drivers’ licences are issued by state and territory governments. Depending on the state or territory, you should contact one of the following:

State / Territory Organisation
New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Victoria Vicroads
Queensland Queensland Transport
South Australia Transport SA
Western Australia WA Department for Planning and Infrastructure
Tasmania Tasmania Transport
Australian Capital Territory Rego ACT
Northern Territory Northern Territory Transport Group

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Buying a car

If you decide to purchase a vehicle once you arrive in Australia, ANZ can help you with the process of buying a car. Visit ANZ Car Loans to review our private car buyer’s guide, which can help you calculate how much you have available to spend and gives you some useful tips on what to consider when purchasing a vehicle.

As well as dedicated car magazines featuring independent tests and reviews, and newspapers with weekly car guides, other sources of useful car information include:

Once you have chosen your vehicle, you can apply for a car loan by calling ANZ Car Loans on 13 22 07.

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