Settlement Information

Short term accommodation

When looking to find accommodation in South Australia, there are many options available including short term or house-sharing offerings. The benefit of short-term accommodation is that you give yourself time to work out where you want to live as you familiarise yourself in a new city.

There are websites available, so it is important to do your research to find something that suits your needs and budget. Some suggestions include:

• Flatmates
• Realestate.com.au
• Air BnB

Long term housing

Searching for a rental house or an apartment requires you to consider many factors, for example, choosing a location that you like, that you can afford and that is close to all the amenities that you and your family may require such as schools, hospitals, shops, parks etc.

Renting practicalities

• A tenancy lease agreement will need to be signed by the tenant and the landlord/ agent.
• All tenants will need to pay a tenancy bond or a deposit (usually 4-6 weeks rent) which is lodged with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) by the landlord or an agent.
• This bond is used as financial protection on case the tenant breeched the tenancy agreement. The bond will be returned at the end of the lease period.
• Expect property inspections every 3-6 months, usually undertaken by the agent or landlord.

Rental and sale properties are available through real estate agents or private landlords in South Australia.

Information about private rental options and support, how to secure accommodation and landlord and tenant responsibilities can be found on SA.GOV.AU

To find a potential property, you can start your search at: realestate.com.au or domain.com.au

Both private tenants and landlords are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 that sets out the rights and obligations of both parties, for more details please visit Consumer and Business Services.

If you think you are treated unfavourably or unfairly by an agent/landlord, please contact:

• The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
• Equal Opportunity Commission

Purchasing a property

If you are considering buying a property, be aware of transactional expenses that are in addition to the cost of your property.

Stamp duty is a government tax paid by a property buyer on the purchase of the property. Stamp duty is calculated differently in each Australian State, for information on the stamp duty rate in South Australia please visit Revenue SA.

Different types of visas carry different health insurance requirements, so it’s important to check and understand your visa conditions.

Permanent visa holders are entitled to Medicare, the Australian Government’s health insurance scheme that gives you and your family access to a range of medical services for free or significantly subsidised. To apply for a Medicare card please contact the Australian Government Department of Human Services.

If you are a temporary visa holder, you will not be eligible for Medicare, unless you are from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement. Even minor medical procedures or visits to the doctor can be costly. It is strongly recommended that you take up private health insurance and choose a policy that suits your family’s circumstances, especially within a year of arrival to avoid the lifetime health cover loading levy.

Ambulance services are not free and can be very expensive; you should seriously consider Ambulance cover as a top priority. Some health covers also cover ambulance costs.

You will need to study and compare insurance products from different private health insurance providers and make the choice which best suits your needs and situation. Please make sure you understand what you sign.

Please note that the above is only a reference, for more information please contact health insurance providers or visit privatehealth.gov.au

Find out more about the Australian Government’s reciprocal health care agreement.

For information on health issues and support services visit:

• The SA Health website.
• Healthdirect - or phone the 24/7 hotline on 1800 022 222

Finding a doctor

Find your local clinic and research local doctors/general practitioners (GP) available. To find a local General Practice or pharmacy, including those that are open after hours, visit the Healthdirect service finder or the websites hotdoc.com.au and healthengine.com.au

GP Plus clinics provide general practice services and access to a range of other services for people in the community. This includes a walk-in clinic to see a doctor.

GP Plus Health Care Centres and GP Plus Super Clinics work closely with general practice and other services to better respond to the health needs of local communities. They

Hospitals

SA Health provides eight modern hospitals across metropolitan Adelaide, delivering high quality health care to South Australians. Details of these hospitals are available on the SA Health website under Metropolitan Hospitals.

There are hospitals and health services in rural South Australian who work to provide the best health care solutions available outside of metropolitan region. Details can be found by visiting SA Health website under Country Hospitals with search options to find services available in your local area/town.

In life-threatening or urgent situations dial Triple Zero (000).

This is the emergency number to contact police, fire, and ambulance.

Ambulance

SA Ambulance Service is the primary provider of ambulance services in the state. It provides:

• Emergency ambulance services
• Emergency medical patient care, treatment and transport
• Non-urgent patient care and transport.

Ambulance costs aren’t covered by Medicare, and even if you have private health insurance, your policy may not cover the cost of an ambulance.

SA Ambulance Service offers ambulance cover state-wide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Find out how to apply for ambulance cover on the SA Ambulance Service website or phone 1300 136 272.

Police

The purpose of SA Police (SAPOL) is to:

• Uphold the law
• Preserve the peace
• Prevent crime
• Assist the public in emergency situations
• Coordinate and manage responses to emergencies
• Regulate road use and prevent road accidents.

Find your local police station by visiting the SAPOL website.

Police Assistance Line for non-urgent police assistance is 131 444 Crime Stoppers line is 1800 333 000

Fire

The SA Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) is a fire and rescue service based within metropolitan Adelaide and 16 regional country centres of South Australia.
Learn more by visiting Metropolitan Fire Authority: www.mfs.sa.gov.au

Country Fire Service
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) is a volunteer-based fire and emergency service for outer- metropolitan, regional and rural communities of South Australia. The CFS is the primary provider of bushfire and grass fire firefighting services across the state. Learn more at: www.cfs.sa.gov.au

State Emergency Service
The SA State Emergency Service (SES) is a volunteer-based, extreme weather and flood rescue service for South Australia. Learn more at: www.ses.sa.gov.au
If you require SES assistance in an emergency phone 132 500 for help with:

• Fallen branches or trees on a house or vehicle causing damage
• Flooding
• Storm damage.

Other emergency and safety services

Learn more about services and organisations available for different types of emergency and personal safety situations: sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety

You must pay tax to the Australian Government while you are living here, lodging a tax file return each year. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is responsible for the taxation of individuals and organisations in Australia. The ATO website has a wealth of information for you and also operates shopfronts across Australia for face-to-face interaction.

Tax File Number

You will need to register with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to obtain a tax file number (TFN) shortly after arriving in Australia. A TFN is a unique number issued to individuals or organisations for identification and record keeping purposes. It is necessary to claim government benefits, receive income from an employer and to be eligible for a tertiary education loan, among other things. The fastest way to get a TFN is online.

Online registration is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need your passport details and an Australian address. Application forms are also available from the ATO Publication Ordering Service or by phoning the tax file number Helpline on 13 28 61. You should receive your TFN by mail within 28 days from the day the ATO receives your application.

You will need to provide your TFN to an employer when starting a new job. Be careful who you provide your TFN to as only certain organisations can legally request it.

Register for a Tax File Number.

It is recommended that you open a bank account as soon as possible. Banking records may be useful as a reference when you are looking for rental accommodation, getting a mobile phone and more.

It is highly recommended that you contact different providers and compare their services and charges so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

There are quite a few banking providers in South Australia with language support. Please note that it is possible to change banks at any time if their services no longer meet your needs.

It is advisable to open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. Please contact the bank for further details regarding the additional identification. Update your bank details with your TFN once you receive it.

There are some banks in Adelaide that offer business migrant focused services and language support, please check with the bank branches if you need specific services.

Please note that the below banks are only a reference.

• Commonwealth Bank
• ANZ
• Westpac
• NAB
• Bank SA

All workers in Australia have rights and are protected by law at work.

To find out about South Australian worker’s rights please visit SA.GOV.AU.

You are protected by law against discrimination on a range of grounds including age, gender and race. If you think you’re a victim of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment, visit the Equal Opportunity Commission website.

Fair work

The Fair Work Commission can help resolve general disputes between workers and their employers.

The Fair Work Ombudsman can help you understand your rights, entitlements and responsibilities at work.

The Fair Work Ombudsman works with employees, employers and the community to educate and encourage compliance with Australia’s workplace laws. They work with all parties to resolve workplace issues which may arise. These services are free to all workers and employers in Australia.

Safe work

Find practical information and guidance on how to meet the requirements of work health and safety laws on the SafeWork SA website.

If you have a question or concern about workplace safety, call the Safework SA Help Centre on 1300 365 255.

Employers have a legal obligation to immediately inform SafeWork SA of any safety incident or dangerous occurrence in their workplace. If you have a problem at work that you can’t resolve, assistance and support are available.

Other assistance

If you feel physically threatened and need help, phone the police on 131 444.

The South Australian (SA) Legal Services Commission provides free legal advice to anyone on most legal matters - phone 1300 366 424.

Generally, to start your job search in South Australia you will need to have a good resume and good contacts. It is strongly recommended that you build your networks to find employment opportunities. Jobs are usually found through word of mouth, job search websites, recruitment or employment agencies, and in local newspapers.

Skilled & Business Migration

Skilled & Business Migration supports newly arrived skilled migrants to find a skilled job and to have their overseas qualifications assessed. Find out if you are eligible and to register for this service.

Talent and Industry Connection Program

The Skilled Migration Talent and Industry Connection Program can help you connect with employers across high-demand industries where skilled workers are currently needed, such as engineering, ICT and construction.

Prepare for the local job market by accessing support services such as resume building and interview preparation, job readiness workshops, industry networking opportunities, and more.

Services delivered under the program are free and are available across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Learn more about the Talent and Industry Connection Program.

Australian Government

Generally, if you are a permanent resident of Australia, you may be able to access income support while you are looking for a job. Find out more through the Centrelink website.

Private employment, and recruitment agencies and career advisers

There are many private employment and recruitment agencies in South Australia who find candidates for employers. While most cover most industries, some specialise in certain industries, for example, finance, information technology, engineering, or trades. Be aware that private employment/recruitment agencies are paid by employers, and as a jobseeker, you do not have to pay agencies at all and should never use any recruitment agency who asks you for any payment. To find local agencies, conduct a search for ’recruitment/ employment agencies Adelaide’.

If you require intensive job preparation support, you should seek the services of private career practitioners who can assist you manage your career and find job opportunities. They usually charge a fee for their service, so make sure that before you solicit their business, you ask questions about their credentials and experience working with skilled migrants.

If you are visiting from overseas, or you’ve recently moved here permanently, make sure that you are driving legally and safely. For all information relating to obtaining a driver’s licence of driving with an overseas licence, registering a vehicle and insurance visit SA.GOV.AU.

Adelaide metro public transport information can be found on the Adelaide Metro website.  
 
Adelaide Metro InfoLine
Phone: 1300 311 108 (metropolitan customers)
Phone: 1800 182 160 (regional customers)
TTY: 8303 0844
 
Adelaide Railway Station InfoCentre
North Terrace, Adelaide
Monday to Sunday 7.00 am to 8.00 pm
Selected special event days 7.00 am to
12.15 am
 

In South Australia, there are a range of early childhood care options available to support working parents. There is a choice of government, private or community childcare services including registered childcare and early learning centres, family day care, out of school hours care, and kindergartens.

You may be eligible for financial assistance to help with the childcare and education costs.

For more information and to search for a childcare centre near you please visit SA.GOV.AU