1. Get a Local ID. Australia does not have any national registration identification, so one of the most important IDs is a driving licence. At the very least, start off with a Photo ID, as this will help you with all your applications moving forward. One similarity across the island is the number of IDs required for a certain task to be accomplished. There are primary and secondary identifications needed when you apply for a National Police Clearance and you can use your driving licence as one of the allowed identifications. A lot of online course providers also accept a driver’s licence as a form of ID and as proof of your residency in that state/territory. To learn more on obtaining a Local ID in your state/territory, please head over to Get A Local ID. For more information on applying for your National Police Clearance, learn more at Australia Post - Police Checks.
2. Apply for Healthcare. Australia’s public health care system is known as Medicare. They have to be one of the slowest departments you will ever come across in your lifetime. As of December 2023, their wait times to get a Medicare card are 2-3 months. In the interim, they do not provide any information by mail or online, so you are sitting in the dark hoping someone will look at your application soon and get back to you. Therefore, it is extremely important to stay on top of your application and to follow up monthly, once submitted.
Please note the following:
a. Your temporary Medicare Card is valid for one year from the Date You Submitted Your Application on ImmiAccount. However, you cannot use Medicare until your application is processed and you are issued a card number. So, if the wait times are 2-3 months, you technically only have public health cover for 9-10 months.
b. You must follow up on your application. If you have ommitted an attachment or if they require more information, they do NOT inform you. The onus is on the applicant to follow up. The easiest way is to call Medicare at 132011 (number to call within Australia).
c. If you have waited the required 6-8 weeks after submitting your application, they will "hopefully" process your application over the phone. Please be polite no matter how long the delays are. This process requires being patient.
d. Your temporary Medicare card may or may not be automatically renewed. Please call Medicare 1-2 months before your card is due to expire to have it renewed or follow up on the status of being issued a new card.
Hopefully this has pushed you into applying for Medicare as soon as you submit your immigration application. For more information, see Apply For Healthcare. Also read our research post on Private Healthcare.
3. Learn English. If you haven’t already, join a local course and watch English tv stations or English movies and tv shows, instead of channels in your native language. Work on your accent! Learn more about free courses available online and in person at Learn English.
4. Find A Job. We have created a comprehensive column at Find A Job, listing job boards, as well as niche sites to support careers in specific industries. We have also shared AI resources to generate resumes and cover letters, as well as free sites with resume and cover letter samples. This post is continually expanding and we will continue to add links and job boards to support your career search.
5. Upskill for Free. The Australian Government has partnered with state governments to offer fee-free vocational and subsidized courses. Training will run till 2026 with 120+ training courses 100% free, whilst a range of qualifications being offered at lower fees, and others being capped at $400 for eligible students, and $1,200 for non-concession students. As long as you hold an eligible visa, you are able to take advantage of these free and reduced fee courses. Please see Upskill for Free to learn more. We have also shared the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) on the above post, as this will allow you to understand the course structures better and compare the qualifications on a global scale.
6. Join local clubs and professional associations.
a. Getting a gym membership will help you develop a routine and assimilate with other Australians, and immigrants, such as yourself. It is a great way to meet people and make friends. Please do make it a routine to go to the gym.
b. Joining professional associations will allow you to network and meet people with similar interests. This will help with your career and you will enjoy your time in Australia and not miss home (as much).
If you can think of anything else we should include on this list, please do email us at support@immigratingtoaustralia.com. If we have helped you in any way, kindly Donate a Cup of Coffee to help with the long nights. If you have donated, thank you kindly for supporting migrants in their journey.
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