Hello! I am Janna and a former Au Pair in Australia. For 11 months I called Australia my home and in this article, I will share a few tips with you on what to do after you arrive in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. 

• SIM card
• Bank Account
• Working With Children Check
• Tax File Number
• Transport card

Get a SIM Card

As soon as you arrive in Australia you should get an Australian SIM Card. There are various providers and contracts to choose from and you can buy it practically everywhere. I got mine at the local supermarket. 

I recommend that you start a Google search to see the different providers and the different plans. If you are traveling as an Au Pair, talk to your Host Family and ask them for recommendations. Read through the different offers and then decide what suits you best. The providers offer short-term contracts as well as prepaid plans so I am sure you will find something that works for you. I had a SIM plan from Amaysim, it wasn’t too expensive and I was pretty happy with it.

They often have free wifi in Australia, in the malls or buses but it doesn’t always work so make sure you get a SIM plan with enough mobile data.

Open a Bank Account

Another important step in your first days in Australia is to open a bank account. I had an account at the Westpac Bank, my host mum went to the branch with me to open an account but it was super easy and quick. There was a branch close to where I lived so it was just the easiest way to get an account there. If I had any issues etc. I could just walk there to get help. However, there are many branch stores of the major banks in all Australian cities, so whichever bank you choose, you won’t need to travel far if you want to set up your account in person or need help/information.

Westpac and other banks (like Commonwealth, NAB, or ANZ) all have different account offers especially for international students. At Westpac bank, for example, I didn’t need to pay any fees for my account because I was under 30.

To open the account I just needed to take my passport with me. The woman in the branch also set up my online banking account for me right away, which made everything else afterward very easy. In the app of the bank, I could also easily open a savings account which was super handy, as this really helped me to save some money to travel during my stay in Australia!

Working With Children Check (WWCC)

The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is like a national police check and a requirement for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work in Australia. Each state has its own set of legislation around the WWCC so please inform yourself online, depending on which state you live and work in. As an Au Pair, you are getting paid so there is a fee for the WWCC.

You can easily apply for it online, depending on the state you need to provide some documents to prove your identity. I lived in Sydney, New South Wales, so I can only tell you about the process for this state, but I think it is pretty similar to other states. However, as already mentioned - google “WWCC + your state” and read about the different requirements!

How to apply?

• Fill out the online form (make sure the name you enter matches your identity documents exactly!)
• Go to a Service Center (needs to be done within a certain amount of time) to present your original identity documents and pay the fee

Then you just have to wait until you get the confirmation with the WWCC number via email. They usually say that it can take up to 4 weeks but for me, it was super quick and I got my number on the same day. 

Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)

If you are only working as an Au Pair, you don't need to worry about this, but if you want to start a side job, then it is important to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) in order to pay taxes.

You can easily apply for a TFN online at the Australian Tax Office (ATO) website and it is a free service. 

What do you need?

• Passport
• Contact details (phone number and email address)
• Address in Australia

Once you have completed the application online, you will receive the TFN by post within 28 days. Then you just have to tell your employer your TFN (not your Host Family, but from your part-time job, as you must pay taxes for other jobs than Au Pair).

Buy a transport card

All the major cities have their own public transport card. In Sydney, it’s the Opal card, in Melbourne the Myki, and the Translink card in Brisbane.

You can purchase the public transport cards at many shops and load money onto these cards at any train station, and some bus and tram stops.

In Sydney, you can also just use your bank card but it is a lot cheaper to use the Opal card. It is a tap-on-tap-off system where you really only pay for what you actually traveled, which is pretty handy.

I know it may seem exhausting and time-consuming, but these tasks can be accomplished quickly and easily with a little preparation and the resources provided. If you complete all the important steps mentioned in this article, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a smooth and amazing working holiday experience in Australia!