Start CD > Arrived in the Goulburn Murray Region > On Arrival

On Arrival Information

Step two

You will need to contact most of the following agencies and authorities on your arrival, as they will be required for your living requirements and employment requirements.

You should aim to complete each of the following steps within the first two weeks of arrival :

1. Open a Bank Accounts

In order to open a bank account, you are required to provide 100 points of identification to the bank. For an example of the points required, go to :

http://www.national.com.au/Business_Solutions/0,,49834,00.html

If you open a bank account within your first six weeks of arrival, most banks will only require your passport and visa to open a bank account. After six weeks, they may require further identification.

Most employers will require that you have a bank account so that they can pay your salary/wages earned directly into the bank account.

There are many different bank accounts and finance packages available, and you should research these options to work out which package would best suit your financial needs.

You should advise your bank of your Tax File Number (see below) to avoid paying the highest tax rate on any interest earned.

2. Apply for a Tax file number

On arrival, you will need to apply for a tax file number with the Australian Taxation Office. A tax file number is required by employers, and all wages, salaries, interest on investments or bank accounts and so on are taxable income.

For further information on how to apply for a tax file number, go to www.ato.gov.au/individuals, or call :

Australian Taxation Office 13 2861

3. Connect essential services :

For connections, please contact the following agencies :

Gas

Origin Energy 13 2114

Telephone (one of the following)

Telstra 13 2200
Optus 13 3345
AAPT 13 8888

Electricity

Origin Energy 13 2461

Water

Goulburn Valley Water 5832 0400
For domestic water only

Goulburn Murray Water 5833 5500
For rural water supply

You will need to consider each of the telecommunications providers as to which company can best meet your landline (home telephone) mobile and/or internet needs. This may be confusing at times but you should complete your research as the savings on your telephone bills may be significant.

Equally, you should do some research on which utilities company (gas, electricity) can provide you with the best package for your home services.

Making telephone calls:

From most land lines (home telephone numbers) any telephone numbers that begin with the numbers 1800 are free. You will be charged if you call these numbers from a pay phone or from your mobile.

Most other telephone numbers, such as numbers beginning with “13” are charged at the cost of a local call, more if dialled from a mobile or cell phone.

If you are dialling an Australian number from overseas, dial the Australian prefix “61” then the Area Code (without the “0” for example, (03) would just be “3”) and then the telephone number that you wish to call.

If you are dialling a local number you do not need to dial the Area Code. If you are dialling a STD or number around Australia, then you will be required to use the Area code.

If you are dialling from a mobile or cell phone, you will be charged at mobiles rates.

Telstra White Pages and Yellow Pages directory

On arrival, you should request a phone book, by telephoning Telstra on

1800 810211

The White pages contains alphabetical listings of all telephone numbers and addresses in your region that are available for public use. Some residents chose to have a silent telephone number, in which case their telephone number is not listed in the White Pages.

For a listing of business and services by category, rather than alphabetical listing, go to the Yellow Pages, at the back of the directory. Use the Index to find the relevant listing, and then go to the page you are directed to for contact details for the business or service.

These directories are updated yearly, and you should receive one at your home in the following year.

4. Register with Medicare

Medicare is an Australian government health scheme. Medicare is not private health insurance.

You should register with Medicare soon after arrival. Depending on your visa, you may be eligible for assistance with medical services.

Medicare has a welcome kit that is translated into many community languages. You should follow this link for information in other languages :

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/our_services/choose_your_language.htm

Medicare has a customer service facility that you can contact on 132011

5. Register with Centrelink

You should contact Centrelink to see if you are eligible for any payments whilst if you are unemployed. You should also check to see if you are eligible for family payments for your children. You may be entitled to a Health Care Card which entitles you and your family to reduce medical prescriptions and other transport benefits.

Centrelink has a website that has information in community languages. For information in other languages in relation to Centrelink services, please click on the following link:

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/languages/index.htm

6. Enrol your children in school

If you have school aged children (refer to education) then you should arrange for your children to be enrolled in school, if you have not already.

7. Get a drivers’ licence

Overseas drivers - licences
The need to change your overseas driver licence to a Victorian driver licence depends on whether your stay in Victoria is permanent or temporary.

If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas licence (provided it is a current licence) for an indefinite period provided:

• your overseas licence is in English (or you have an English translation), or you have an International Driving Permit.

If you are in Victoria on a permanent visa, you can drive on your overseas licence for only three months from the date you entered Victoria or from the time a permanent visa was issued to you. If you want to continue to drive in Victoria after that time you must apply for a Victorian driver licence.

New Zealand residents who hold a current licence are treated as interstate drivers.

Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a Victorian driver licence.

Test Requirements
To obtain a Victorian driver licence you need to make an appointment to undertake a road law knowledge test, hazard perception test (HPT) eyesight test and a driving assessment (except as noted below) at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. You must complete and pass the road law knowledge test and hazard perception test before you attempt the driving assessment.

If you hold a driver licence from one of the following countries you are not required to undertake any tests provided your overseas licence is current or not expired by more than five years.

Austria, Japan, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Netherlands (Holland), Croatia, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Finland, Singapore, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland, UK, Italy, USA

Make an appointment for your test
To make an appointment:

• call VicRoads on ( 13 11 71 (Mon-Sat 8.30am - 5.00pm). You can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Bankcard); or
• visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre (Mon-Thu 8.30am - 4.30pm; Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm (excluding Melton)). You can pay by cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card.

You can book the driving test and knowledge tests for separate days if you wish.

If payment is not made over the phone, the payment must be finalised within seven days or the appointment will be cancelled. Payment can be made by cheque or in person at the VicRoads Customer Service Centre where your appointment is scheduled.

Source : www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Contact your local VicRoads office on 5832 0900 or visit the website for more information in relation to licensing at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

For more information on Driving in Victoria, click on this link

8. Arrange private health insurance

If you are not entitled to the Australian government Medicare health scheme, you should aim to arrange private health insurance for you and/or your family within two weeks of your arrival. You will need to shop around each insurance provider to see what level of cover is suitable for you and/or your family. Some private health insurance providers are listed below :

Australian Unity 132 939
HBA 131 243
Manchester Unity 131 372
MBF 132 623
Medibank Private 132 331