I just arrived in Australia Your first weeks, explained — eight clear steps from documents to community.
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Understand your visa and important documents Your visa sets what you can do — work, study, access to Medicare — and when it expires. Knowing your conditions now prevents nasty surprises later.
Check your visa conditions and expiry date (Home Affairs "Check your visa details" / VEVO). Make digital copies of passport, visa grant notice, and key documents — store them securely. Note the expiry in Walaal’s private expiry reminders. Know which documents are essential to carry versus safe to leave at home. Set a private expiry reminder 2
Set up essential services Four setup items make everything else easier: tax file number, Medicare enrolment, a bank account, and a phone number with data.
Apply for a tax file number (TFN) — free, online, needed for work. Enrol in Medicare at a Services Australia service centre. Open a bank account (bring passport and visa) — ask for a no-monthly-fee option. Get a SIM card / mobile plan — prepaid is fine to start. Step-by-step first setup guide 3
Understand healthcare Medicare makes seeing a doctor free or much cheaper for most residents. Register with a GP clinic early — before you are sick — and know the free 24/7 advice line.
Enrol in Medicare (if eligible) and download the digital card. Find a GP clinic near you and ask if they bulk bill. Save healthdirect’s number: 1800 022 222 — free health advice, any hour. Know the interpreter service: TIS National, 131 450, free. Read the Health & Healthcare guide 4
Find housing Most people start with short-term or shared housing while they learn their area, then apply for rentals with an application kit ready.
Decide area and budget — leave room for bills and transport. Prepare your rental kit: ID, references, proof of income. Inspect in person; apply quickly — good rentals move fast. Lodge your bond with the official state authority, never cash to a person. Housing & Everyday Life guide 5
Set up banking and money basics Separate everyday and savings accounts, learn how tax is taken from your pay, and know the free financial help that exists before you ever need it.
Open everyday and savings accounts. Learn the words: TFN, PAYG, super, payslip, financial year. Write a simple budget: money in, needs, wants, savings. Save the free financial counselling line: 1800 007 007. Money Basics guide 6
Look for study and work opportunities Whether your next step is a job, English classes, or study — starting with a resume and a weekly routine turns hope into progress.
If English is your second language, check free AMEP classes. Build an Australian-style resume (2–3 pages, no photo). Search weekly: official job sites, local boards, and word of mouth. Consider volunteering — it builds references and local connections. Work & Careers guide 7
Find community and support Belonging protects your mental health and opens doors. One library, one club, one volunteering shift — small and regular beats big and rare.
Join your local library — free, immediate, full of events. Check your local council’s community page. Attend one cultural, faith or sports gathering this month. Consider connecting with a volunteer mentor. Community & Support guide 8
Learn about longer-term settlement and citizenship Settlement is a journey with real milestones: goals, permanent pathways, and eventually citizenship for many. Understanding the map early makes each step calmer.
Set your goals in Walaal’s goal tracker — career, study, family. Learn the general citizenship journey and its concepts. Keep your important documents’ expiry dates tracked. Know your rights at work and in housing. Start the Citizenship Journey