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The first-week setup for international students in WA — tax file number, bank account, phone SIM, public transport with SmartRider and health cover, plus the scams to dodge along the way.
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.
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.
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.
In the main cities, trains, buses and other public transport are paid for with a travel card — in WA that's SmartRider. Get one soon after you arrive and keep it topped up. The official transport website for WA is where to check fares, caps and how to plan a route.
On concessions, be careful with second-hand advice: the rules are different in every state. Enrol full-time at a WA university, TAFE or polytechnic and you can get a Tertiary SmartRider concession — apply through your institution. WA is more generous here than NSW or Victoria. Don't guess — using a concession you're not entitled to carries fines. Check your eligibility on the official transport website for WA or with your university.
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.
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).
This guide is general information as at 2026, not legal or financial advice. Fees, eligibility and processes change — always confirm details on the official sites named above.
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