10 Things you must do when you move to Sydney
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Worrying about settling down in Sydney? or not sure where to begin? Don’t worry. UTS College alumni and current UTS student, Bob has got you. Here are the 10 things he did when he first arrived in Sydney from Laos.
Purchase a SIM Card
Free WIFI is not widely available in Australia. So, getting a SIM card is crucial for connecting with your family and friends. Once you arrive, you can easily purchase from one of the many providers like (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and Virgin) at the airport. You can also do your research beforehand or shop around to find the provider with the best deal and plan that suit your needs.
Get an opal card
Australia has a great public transportation system, and you will use it a lot to travel around Sydney. So, it is essential for you to get an opal card when you first arrive in Sydney. Opal card is a smartcard ticketing system used to pay for your travel on public transport across Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra. With an Opal card, you can have access to many benefits, helping you save the cost of travelling. If you did not get a chance to get it at the airport, you could also get it at many Opal retailers across Sydney.
Download transportation app
With the Opal card settled, the next step is to download the transportation app to help you navigate the city. The popular application among Sydneysiders is TripView. Within the application, you will be able to check real-time data of your trip, including any delay or trackwork or service interruption information.
Set up a bank account
The next important thing to do is to set up a bank account in Australia. The main Australian Banks are Westpac, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and NAB; all offer different plans and offerings for students. Setting up an account is also an easy process. You can either do it online or visit the branch directly with the required documents.
Tax file number
If you are planning to work part-time in Australia, you must have a tax file number (TFN) to successfully register to pay tax. Applying for TFN is also an easy process. You need your passport, address in Australia, valid email address and telephone number. Simply apply for a TFN online for free and start working.
Explore your neighbourhood
Once you have settled into your accommodation and get well-rested. You should start exploring around where you live and find out where the groceries, restaurants, bars and other essential services are in your area.
Familiarise yourself with public transport
As I mentioned at the start, you will often use the public transport system to travel around Sydney. So, you should familiarise yourself with the transport system such as where the closest bus, train, tram or ferry are and what is the best way to get to university.
Attend orientation week
Orientation is a chance for you to meet new students who are just like you, trying to adapt to a new country and university environment. Attending orientation will allow you to make friends, meet tutors, and participate in many social and academic events across the week. During this time, you will also get a chance to familiarise yourself with your university system.
Volunteer, build a network, and make friends
If you want to take a step further, you can also join a volunteer group at your university to build your network and make new friends. Once you’ve settled in for a semester, you can join the UTS College Student Helper to help new students before and during orientation week. Besides, there are many benefits to becoming a student helper, including professional training, invitations to special events, certificates and references, experience to add to your resume, networking advantages and the sought-after official student helper t-shirt.
Explore Sydney
Now that you have familiarised yourself with all the transportation and university, the last and most important thing to do is explore Sydney. Sydney is a home to many attractions for you to visit and experience. These include Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanical Garden, and Taronga Zoo.