After arrival

       

What to do as Permanent Resident soon after arrival? This can be a confusing question in the new environment. With our services, your settlement should be as smooth as possible.

You will be accommodated and transported around by our delegate and/or by an immigration office employee. In the first 2 weeks after your arrival to Australia he/she will assist you among other things with the following:

Contact Office of Consumer and Business Affairs, Residential Tenancies Authority etc.
The relevant institution in each state provides useful and relevant information about renting a private house or apartment. If you want to buy a home for the first time in Australia you may be eligible for a Commonwealth First Home Buyers Grant.

Apply for a Tax File.
Everyone who receives any income in Australia needs a Tax File Number. Application forms are available from the Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink personally or you can register over the internet.

Register with Medicare.
You may be eligible to gain immediate access to free health care services, free hospital care and subsidised medicines.

Open a bank account.
People in Australia usually keep their money in a bank, credit union or building society. Bankcards and credit cards are used widely.

Register with Centrelink.
This government agency provides assistance with looking for work, accessing relevant courses, family payments - Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Youth Allowance, Austudy etc.

Register with English classes.
English language courses for new immigrants are provided under the Adult Migrant English Program. You may be entitled to receive free of up to 510 hours of English language tuition.

Enrol your children at school.
Children between the ages of 6 and 15 must attend school. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible. They will enjoy it. Children ussualy continue until they are 17 or 18 years old, in preparation for university. Other students attend VET Vocational Education and Training or TAFE Technical and Further Education courses. Preschools are available for all 4 to 5 year old children. Newly arrived children who do not speak English can enrol in English Language Schools and Centres which provide intensive English programs designed for children.

Driving licence in Australia.
You are allowed (permanent resident) to drive with your current driver's licence for your first three months after arrival. After that, if you want to drive, you need the appropriate Australian driver's licence. Conditions to get one, vary from one Australian state to another. If you hold a current driver's licence from another eligible country, you usually need to pass only a theoretical knowledge test. If you do not hold a current driver's licence from another eligible country, you usually need to pass a theoretical knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an eyesight test.