A day-by-day guide to your first week in Melbourne: SIM cards, Myki, TFN, OSHC, bank accounts, and finding your feet.
The first week is overwhelming. Here is exactly what to do and when, so nothing important gets missed.
When you land at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine): Get an Australian SIM card before leaving the airport. Vodafone, Optus, and Telstra all have booths in the international arrivals terminal (after customs, before you exit). A $30 Vodafone prepaid SIM with 30GB is usually fine for your first month. Get a Myki card — available at 7-Eleven stores, most train stations, and the Melbourne Airport Link station. Load $20–30 to start. If you're taking the Skybus to the city, it costs $22 one-way; departs every 10–30 minutes from outside international arrivals. Taxis and rideshares are also available but cost $50–80 to the CBD. Your one job today: get to your accommodation safely, unpack, eat something, and sleep. You don't need to do anything else today.
Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) online at the ATO website (ato.gov.au). You'll need your passport details and Australian address. It takes approximately 28 days to arrive — apply as soon as you have an address. You cannot legally work without a TFN (employers can withhold 47% tax if you don't have one). Register your OSHC — check your policy documentation for the registration link. Medibank, Bupa, and Allianz are the main providers. You need to be registered before your first doctor visit. Find your nearest bulk-billing GP. 'Bulk billing' means Medicare pays the full amount and you pay nothing. Search 'bulk billing GP near [your suburb]' — HotDoc is a good app for finding and booking GPs. Check your university enrolment — log in to the student portal and confirm your subjects are enrolled correctly.
If you didn't open a bank account before arriving, do it now. CommBank, ANZ, and NAB all have branches in Melbourne CBD and most major suburbs. Bring your passport, visa grant letter, and proof of address (a lease agreement or university letter). Open a Myki Pass if you'll travel daily — a 28-day pass for zones 1+2 is around $175, significantly cheaper than paying per trip at $4.60–$10.60 per day. Explore your suburb: find the nearest Aldi or IGA, locate a laundromat if your accommodation doesn't have laundry, find the nearest post office. Buy any essential household items you need from Kmart, Big W, or Target.
Attend any university orientation events — these are genuinely worth going to, not just for information but for meeting other new students. Find your campus buildings, library, and student services office. Set up your university email and VPN if required. If your university has a student union or international student association, join — these often have cheap or free social events, legal advice, and welfare support. Look into cheap grocery shopping: Asian grocery stores in your area (Carlton has several, as do Springvale, Footscray, and Box Hill) are significantly cheaper for rice, noodles, vegetables, and spices than Coles or Woolworths.
The ATO takes approximately 28 days to issue a TFN. If you wait until you have a job lined up to apply, you'll be working for weeks without one, and employers must withhold tax at the highest rate (47%). Apply on Day 2 or 3, as soon as you have an Australian address.
Many students sign 12-month leases for accommodation they found online before arriving — before they've seen the suburb, the commute, or the housemates. If possible, book short-term accommodation (Airbnb, student hostel, or your university's temporary housing) for your first 2–3 weeks, then search for permanent accommodation once you know the city better.
Your OSHC is likely already paid (it's usually bundled with tuition), but you may need to activate or register it. Check your welcome email from your insurer. If your OSHC isn't activated and you see a doctor, you may not be able to claim and will pay out of pocket.