Your first week in Australia: the money checklist

Your first week in Australia sets up every payslip that follows. Miss one step and you'll be scrambling months later to fix over-withheld tax, a stalled super account, or a payroll that still owes you money. Work through this list in order.

Before you fly

• Open an Australian bank account online before you land — most major banks let you do this from overseas so your BSB and account number are ready from day one
• Screenshot or print your account details (BSB + account number) so you can hand them to your employer immediately
• Gather proof of funds — many hostels, share houses, and sponsors ask to see enough money to cover your first few weeks
• Call your home bank and card provider to tell them you're travelling; unblock international transactions to avoid your card being frozen
• Enable international ATM withdrawals on your home card as a backup
• Download your bank's app and test that it works before boarding — you may need it at the airport

Days 1–2: essentials first

• Buy a local SIM (Telstra, Optus, or Woolworths Mobile) — you need an Australian number for bank verification codes and employer contacts
• Get a transport card for your city: Opal (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne), go card (Brisbane), Metrocard (Adelaide) — topping up later wastes time on your commute
• Verify your Australian bank account in person at a branch if required and activate online banking
• Give your employer your BSB and account number so payroll can set you up immediately — a missed deadline can push your first pay by two weeks
• Ask your employer for your payroll email address — payslips go here and you'll need them for your tax return

Week 1: tax and super

• Apply for your TFN (Tax File Number) free online through the ATO — you need to be physically in Australia when you apply
• Have your passport, visa subclass, and Australian residential address ready for the TFN application
• TFN usually arrives within two weeks; without it your employer must withhold 45% of your pay — so apply on day one
• Give your TFN to your employer the moment it arrives; don't wait until next payday
• Choose a superannuation fund — you can pick any MySuper-compliant fund, or your employer will assign a default; Hostplus and Australian Retirement Trust are popular with WHV workers
• Complete your super choice form and give it to your employer within the onboarding window
• Set up PayID on your Australian bank account (usually your mobile number or email) so other Australians can pay you instantly without needing your BSB
• Turn on transaction notifications in your banking app — you want to know the moment your first pay lands

Common first-week money mistakes

• Starting work without a TFN — you'll lose 45% of your first paycheck to over-withholding
• Not giving your BSB to your employer on day one — a late payroll submission means you wait an extra fortnight
• Withdrawing cash at the airport — the exchange rate is up to 10% worse than mid-market; use your bank card or an ATM in the city instead
• Forgetting to tell your home bank you're travelling — they can freeze your card as a fraud precaution at the worst possible moment
• Skipping super setup — unclaimed super from your first job can sit in a lost account; nominate your fund and check it's active
• Missing payslips — you need every payslip to lodge a tax return and claim your refund when you leave

How Tern helps

Tern prompts your TFN application at signup so you never miss the day-one window. It stores each payslip as it arrives, flags if a pay run looks short (wrong tax rate or missing super), and reminds you when your super fund hasn't received a contribution — so your first week in Australia stays stress-free and your money works from the start.