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Thai Welfare Association recommends that Thai migrants would consider do the following things as soon as possible.
1. Apply for a Tax File Number
2. Enrol in Medicare and/or private health insurance
3. Open a bank account
4. Register with Centrelink
5. Register for English classes
6. Enrol your children in school
7. Get a driver's licence
A. Apply for a Tax File Number
Do this first. Everyone who receives any income in Australia needs a Tax File Number. Income includes wages or salary from a job, money earned from investments, and government payments.
Application forms are available from Centrelink or the Australian Taxation Office ATO) which is listed in the White Pages telephone directory, or you can ring ATO and ask for an application form to be sent to you.
Australian Taxation Office 13 2861
B. Enrol in Medicare and/or private health insurance
The Australian Government provides help with medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. You may be eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and programs such as free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines.
To enrol in Medicare, you should wait approximately 10 working days after your arrival in Australia and then go to a Medicare office, listed in the telephone book, with your passport or travel documents. If all enrolment requirements are met, you will be advised of your Medicare card number and your card will be posted to you about three weeks later.
Medicare has a ‘Welcome Kit' which is translated into twelve different languages. It explains Medicare and other government health services and the eligibility requirements for benefits and payments. Remember to ask for it when you visit a Medicare office.
Medicare 13 2011
C. Open a bank account
People in Australia usually keep their money in a bank, building society or credit union. Australians use bank cards and credit cards for many purposes.
It is advisable to open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need additional identification to open an account, and you may have difficulty if you don't have any documents. Advise your bank of your Tax File Number to avoid higher rates of taxation on interest earned.
D. Register with Centrelink
Help with job seeking, social security payments and other assistance are provided through the government agency called Centrelink. Newly arrived residents can register with Centrelink to get help with looking for work, having overseas skills recognised, and accessing relevant courses. Centrelink also has an application form for Tax File Numbers and can assist you to lodge your application with the Tax Office, so that access to any payments is not delayed.
If you have children, you are likely to be eligible for government-funded family assistance payments to help with the cost of raising them.
E. Register for English classes
Communicating in English is very important and the key to your successful settlement.
English language courses for new arrivals in Australia are provided under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). As a new resident, you may be entitled to receive free English language tuition of up to 510 hours. Register as soon as possible or you could lose your entitlement!
F. Enrol your children at school
Under Australian law, children must attend school. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible.
G. Get a driver's licence
If you have a driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three months after becoming an Australian resident. After that, if you want to drive, you will need to have the appropriate Australian driver's licence. To get one, you usually need to pass a knowledge test, a practical test, and an eyesight test.
Contact:
Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Customer Service Centre Tel: 13 2213
Note that there are strict traffic and drink driving laws in Australia, which you must obey. | 
