The unglamorous admin that turns a visa into a life — in order.
The flight was the easy part. Your first month in Australia is a chain of small bureaucratic victories, and the order matters — several systems depend on each other. Here's the sequence thousands of new arrivals wish someone had handed them at the airport.
Grab a prepaid SIM/eSIM at the airport or any supermarket ($2–30 to start). The big three networks: Telstra (best rural coverage), Optus and Vodafone (cheaper, city-focused). You'll need a working Australian number for almost every registration that follows.
The big four — CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ — all let you open an account online before arrival and verify with your passport at a branch after landing. Within six weeks of arrival, a passport alone is usually enough ID; after that, the "100 points" identification system makes it harder, so don't delay. Digital banks (Up, ING) are popular for fee-free daily use once you have your footing.
Do this the day you have an address: apply online at the ATO (ato.gov.au) in ten minutes. Without a TFN, employers must tax you at the top marginal rate. It arrives by post within 28 days; you can start work while waiting. It's free — ignore any site charging for "TFN assistance".
Permanent residents, most partner-visa applicants and citizens of reciprocal-health-agreement countries (UK, NZ, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Slovenia) can enrol at a Services Australia centre or online. Temporary workers and students generally can't — keep your OSHC/OVHC insurance current; it's a visa condition for students.
One login (my.gov.au) links the ATO, Medicare and Centrelink. Do it once, early; every later interaction with Australian government happens here.
Rules are state-based: most temporary visa holders can drive on an overseas English-language licence (or with IDP) indefinitely; permanent residents typically have 3–6 months to convert to a local licence. Some countries' licences swap without testing; others require the knowledge and practical tests. Check your state's transport authority (e.g. Service NSW, VicRoads).
Australia's rental market is competitive, and the sequence is standard: search realestate.com.au and Domain → inspect (in person or video) → apply with ID, proof of income/funds and references. New arrivals lack local references — counter with bank statements, an employment contract, and offering rent slightly in advance. Expect a bond of four weeks' rent (lodged with the state bond authority, not the agent's pocket — this protects you) plus two weeks in advance. Many start with a furnished share room via Flatmates.com.au while hunting; it also solves the address-for-registrations chicken-and-egg.
Utilities: electricity/gas connect in a day or two (compare on the government's Energy Made Easy site); NBN internet takes up to two weeks — order early.