Your first week in Australia: TFN, bank, SIM, Opal and OSHC

Tax file number (TFN): free, and only from the ATO

A TFN is your personal Australian tax number. You only strictly need it once you start working, but applying early is smart. It is completely free, and you apply online through the Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) once you're in Australia.

The scam to dodge: paid websites that look official and charge a 'processing fee' for TFN applications. Any site that charges for a TFN is a middleman at best. And keep your TFN private — a real employer or bank has a proper form for it; a stranger on a messaging app never needs it.

Opening a bank account

You can usually start opening an Australian account online before you fly — the big four banks (ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB, Westpac) and app-based banks all offer this — then verify your ID at a branch or in the app after you arrive. Bring your passport.

Most banks offer accounts with no monthly fee for students, but fees and conditions vary — check the bank's own website before choosing. And one hard rule: never let anyone else use, 'rent' or receive money through your account. Money-muling recruiters target new students, and it is a crime that can end a visa.

Getting a SIM

A prepaid SIM from the airport or a supermarket gets you connected on day one — you'll need your passport to activate it. The major networks are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone; smaller brands (MVNOs) run on the same networks for less, with prepaid plans you can change any month.

An Australian mobile number matters beyond calls: banks, clinics, universities — and Zuwu's own mobile verification — all use SMS codes. Set it up early.

Getting around: Opal and public transport

Sydney's trains, buses, ferries and light rail all use the Opal system. You can pay with an Opal card or by tapping a contactless bank card or phone. For fares, caps and route planning, transportnsw.info is the official source.

On concessions, be careful with second-hand advice: most international students are not eligible for concession Opal fares, with limited exceptions for some scholarship holders and exchange programs. Don't guess — using a concession you're not entitled to carries fines. Check your eligibility on transportnsw.info or with your university.

OSHC and health cover

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a condition of a student visa — you must hold it for your whole stay, and you'll usually have arranged it before arrival. Know your provider, install their app, and check which local doctors ('GPs') bill your insurer directly so you pay little or nothing upfront.

Medicare, Australia's public system, generally covers citizens and permanent residents, plus visitors from a handful of countries with reciprocal agreements — most international students rely on OSHC instead. For anything urgent, hospital emergency departments treat everyone; in an emergency call 000.

One thread through all of it: nobody official demands gift cards

New arrivals are prime targets for fake 'ATO', 'immigration' and 'police' calls demanding payment or personal details under threat. Real agencies do not demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or urgent bank transfer over the phone, and they do not threaten your visa for instant money. Hang up, then check by contacting the agency through its official website. Report attempts to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au).