Moving to Australia
Things to consider when relocating
If you are successful in gaining a position with Woolworths Limited in Australia, there are some things you will need to think about when making your move. We will provide you with information that will assist you in making your move easier. Here are some things to consider:
Bank Accounts
The 2 Australian banks that have specialist migrant departments which can help with establishment of credit ratings are:
- Commonwealth Bank – www.commbank.com.au
- Westpac – www.westpac.com.au
Getting A Driver’s Licence
In some states of Australia as a 457 visa holder, you can drive or ride with your current overseas licence. It is our recommendation however that you obtain an Australian Drivers licence within 3 months of arriving in Australia.
Healthcare
Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system designed to provide eligible Australian residents with affordable, accessible and high-quality health care. Permanent residents will have full access to Medicare while 457 visa holders will not have full access.
Woolworths Limited has an arrangement with MBF Healthcare which provides discounted arrangements for Woolworths Limited employees. Additionally, you will need to think about insuring your health and well-being while you are in transit and before arriving at your new home in Australia.
To find out more about Medicare go to www.medicare.com.au.
Tax File Number
To receive an income in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN). Income includes salary from a job, payments from the government, and money earned from investments including interest on savings accounts.
For more information go to: www.ato.gov.au
Accommodation
Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you're likely to make after moving to Australia. It can also be one of the best long-term investments if you get it right. For these reasons, we recommend you rent a property on arrival in Australia so that if you do later decide to purchase a property, you can be certain that the property you are buying is the right one in terms of price, location, value, size and lifestyle.
Schooling (where applicable)
Permanent residents are entitled to put their children through the Australian school system without penalty however non-residents are required to pay a fee per child per year for schooling. For university level, you will be charged full international student fees.
To find out more, go to: www.immi.gov.au
Woolworths Limited Support
In addition, Woolworths Limited will provide some direct assistance to help you relocate and settle into your new country, home and job. Some of this support includes:
- Business Sponsorship if required
- Relocation support including:
- contribution towards relocation expenses
- a week’s paid leave on arrival to settle yourself and your family
- relocation consultant services
- allocation of a Woolworths Limited relocation buddy