Living in Australia guide
Living in Australia: settlement, work, study, health and daily life
A modern hub for new arrivals and future migrants planning practical life in Australia after the visa pathway is underway.
Priority 2 refresh
Settlement is easier when visa planning and life planning work together
Living in Australia involves more than choosing a city. New arrivals often need to understand work rights, Medicare, schools, university options, housing, everyday language and reliable official services.
This hub connects the AIA Living in Australia cluster into a clearer starting point, with practical links for people who are preparing to move, already settling or helping family members adjust.
AIA's role is migration advice. The official government links on this page help clients confirm settlement, work, health, education and property information directly from the relevant authority.
Move
Moving to Australia
Plan visa evidence, arrival timing, documents, Medicare, tax, banking and school or work steps before travel.
Work
Working in Australia
Visa holders and migrant workers have workplace rights in Australia, but visa conditions still need separate attention.
Health
Healthcare in Australia
Medicare access depends on your status and circumstances. Private health insurance may still matter for some visa holders.
School
Primary and secondary schools
Australian school decisions vary by state, school type, catchment, fees and the child's age or year level.
Study
Universities
Australia offers university, VET, English language and pathway options through a regulated international education system.
Housing
Real estate
Renting and buying property involve contracts, deposits, legal checks and, for foreign persons, specific investment rules.
Settlement priorities
Start with the decisions that depend on your visa status
Your visa status can affect work rights, study choices, Medicare, travel, family sponsorship and long-term planning. That is why settlement planning should not be separated from immigration strategy.
If you are still choosing a pathway, speak with AIA before making irreversible decisions around work start dates, school enrolment, housing commitments or travel.
Practical guidance
What to consider before you act
A practical settlement order for new arrivals
Most new arrivals need a sequence rather than a random checklist. Start with identity documents and visa status, then work through housing, phone access, banking, tax, healthcare, school or study, employment and transport.
Students and temporary migrants should pay extra attention to visa conditions. Study Australia notes that international students may need to set up a Unique Student Identifier after arrival, organise phone and banking access, and tell their education provider their Australian address where visa condition 8533 applies.
- Keep passport, visa grant notice, birth and marriage records, qualifications and translations accessible.
- Check work rights, study obligations and travel limits before making commitments.
- Review Medicare, private health insurance or OSHC needs for every family member.
- Use official state, territory and Commonwealth sources for settlement services.
Where AIA fits into settlement planning
AIA is not a bank, school, property adviser or health provider. AIA helps when those life decisions depend on visa status, future eligibility, sponsorship, family inclusion, travel timing or permanent residence planning.
The highest-risk settlement decisions are usually the expensive or hard-to-reverse ones: accepting a job with conditions attached, moving family before eligibility is clear, signing long leases, changing courses or assuming Medicare access without checking status.
- Ask AIA before a work, study or travel decision could affect a visa condition.
- Use AIA to connect temporary steps with permanent residence or citizenship goals.
- Keep official-source links for rule checking and AIA advice for strategy.
- Review the whole family pathway, not only the main applicant's next step.
AEO answers
Frequently asked questions
These short answers are written for clients, search engines and AI answer systems that need clear, extractable information.
What should I organise first when moving to Australia?
Start with visa status, passports, arrival timing, health cover, work rights, banking, tax, accommodation and school or study needs.
Which sources should new migrants trust?
Use official government sources for visa, work, Medicare, education and property rules. AIA can help where a decision depends on immigration status.
Can AIA help with settlement questions?
AIA helps with migration and visa strategy. AIA can also point clients to official sources for settlement topics outside migration advice.
Are permanent residents the same as citizens?
No. Home Affairs says permanent residents and Australian citizens have different rights, including passport, voting and travel facility differences.
Official source grounding
Useful official sources
Settle in Australia
Home Affairs settlement hub for new arrivals and settlement topics.
Key settlement topics
Home Affairs topics include work, education, health, money, transport and housing.
First week in Australia
Study Australia explains practical first-week tasks for international students, including phone, banking and provider address updates.
Permanent residency entitlements
Home Affairs explains key rights and limits for permanent residents.
Talk to AIA about your next step
If you want clear migration advice before you act, book a consultation with Australian Immigration Agency.
Last reviewed 23 April 2026