Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Simply choose a question from the list below for an answer to the most common questions. Should you have any further questoins relating to employment please don't hesitate to contact us.

1. How much money will I need when I come to Australia?

You will need to have enough money to cover expenses such as accommodation, taxi or transport fares, money for food.

ABC will advise you as to the cost of your accommodation so that you have enough money to support yourself until you receive your first pay.

2. Will the employer assist with my relocation costs?

Contracts of Employment are very individual.

Some employers may assist at their own discretion although in almost all cases employers do not and are not obliged to assist.

3. Can my family come with me?

ABC encourage your family to come with you as our employers understand the importance of immediate family, this decision however is entirely at the employees choice.

4. Can I drive on my current license?

If you have a current driver’s licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, you may be allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival. After that, if you want to drive, you will need to have the appropriate Australian driver’s licence. To get one, you usually need to pass a knowledge test, a practical test, and an eyesight test.

5. How do I know which airport to arrive at?

ABC will advise you of all details once you have been issued with and accepted an Offer of Employment.

6. As a new arrival in Australia, how long do I have to wait to qualify for a bank loan or a credit card?

This is at the discretion of the lending body. Most car loans and credit cards can be accessed within 2 weeks of arrival in Australia. Housing Loans are usually after about 8 – 10 weeks.

7. Can I buy a house in Australia?

Real estate agencies have a list of properties for sale and can usually give you a free catalogue. If you are buying a home for the first time in Australia you may be eligible for a Commonwealth “First Home Buyers’ Grant”. For any further questions relating to buying a property or investing in Australia please go to www.firb.gov.au

8. How does the health system work in Australia?

MEDICARE

For Australian residents, the costs of essential medical and hospital care are automatically covered by Medicare. Medicare pays for most of the costs of visits to the doctor, X-rays, blood tests, public hospital care, and certain other services.

But Medicare does not pay towards ambulance costs, dental services, physiotherapy, spectacles, podiatry, chiropractic services, or private hospital accommodation. For more information about Medicare, see Chapter 1, what to do soon after arrival.

CENTRELINK HEALTH CARE CARD

If you receive a CentreLink payment or earn a low income, you may be eligible for a government Health Care Card. The card will entitle you to a range of concessions, including the cost of medicines and health services (doctor, dentist ambulance). For more information on CentreLink, see Chapter 8, Social Security.

Even if you have a Health Care Card, you still need to present your Medicare Card for all basic hospital and medical treatment in conjunction with your Health Care Card.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Many Australians belong to private health insurance funds. They cover you for treatment as a private patient in private or public hospitals, and can include some services that Medicare does not cover, such as dental and optical services. The costs and types of cover vary widely, so if you decide to get private health insurance, it is important to check the details carefully before you buy the policy.

INCENTIVES

The government has introduced financial incentives aimed at encouraging people to take out private health insurance. There is a Commonwealth Government 30% Rebate on private health insurance premiums, and a 1% tax levy on high income earners who don’t take out private health insurance.

LIFETIME HEALTH COVER

There is also a new system called Lifetime Health Cover, under which private health insurance funds charge different premiums depending on the age at which people first take out hospital cover. People who take out hospital cover at or before the age of 30 and maintain their membership will pay lower premiums throughout their lifetime, relative to people who take out hospital cover when they are older. If you delay taking out hospital cover, you will pay an extra 2% loading for each year you delay joining after the age of 30, up to a maximum loading of 70% that will apply to someone who first takes out hospital cover at age 65.

There are plans to change the rules of Lifetime Health Cover so that future migrants will no longer need to pay the extra loading because of their age. New migrants will have twelve months from the day they are eligible for Medicare, to take out private health insurance. Private health insurance taken out after this twelve month period will incur the extra loading.

MORE INFORMATION

More information about private health insurance can be obtained by visiting the websites www.health.gov.au/privatehealth and www.phiac.gov.au or by ringing:

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

EMERGENCIES

Emergency treatment can be obtained through some medical centres or the emergency departments of hospitals. Public and private hospitals are listed under ‘Hospitals’ in the White Pages telephone directory. Information about ambulances is provided in Chapter 3, Emergency services.

When you go to hospital, remember to take with you any medicines you are using and also your Medicare card, private health insurance membership card, Health Benefits or Pension Concession Card.

Emergency treatment is available on a 24 hour basis at the ‘Casualty’ or ‘Emergency’ sections of public hospitals. If the situation is not an emergency you should seek medical assistance from a General Practitioner.

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS (GPs)

If it is not an emergency, you should go first to a family doctor (also called a ‘general practitioner’ or GP) or a medical centre. You can choose which doctor or medical centre you attend – they are listed in the Yellow Pages telephone directory under ‘Medical practitioners’.

Your doctor may bulk bill. This means you will be asked to sign a Medicare form, and the doctor sends this form to Medicare, which then pays the doctor. Otherwise the doctor will charge you, and you will need to claim the cost back from Medicare or your private health insurance fund. In either case, you must bring your Medicare card and Health Care Card.

INTERPRETING

Doctors may access a priority telephone line to have an interpreter translate for you during your medical consultation. This is done at no cost to you or the doctor, provided you are a permanent resident or Australian citizen.

SPECIALISTS

You cannot visit a medical specialist without seeing a GP first. The doctor may refer you to a medical or other specialist for further treatment.

MEDICINES

If your doctor believes you need medication, you may be given a prescription to take to a chemist shop (or pharmacy). Many medicines, such as antibiotics, are only available with a prescription.

If you have a Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card provided by CentreLink you will be eligible for a concession on certain medications. You must also bring your Medicare card when collecting your medicines from the chemist shop. For help or information about medicines, speak to a pharmacist or, from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm, phone:

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Community Health Centres provide health services for people of all ages at low cost. Not all centres provide the same services. However, services often available include nursing, health education and promotion, physiotherapy, dental care, medical care, counselling and social welfare. They are listed in the White Pages telephone directory under ‘Community Health Centres’ or ‘Health”.

MENTAL HEALTH

A number of services exist for people requiring help for mental health problems and mental illness. In most cases, people needing assistance for mental health difficulties should contact their general practitioner or community health centre.

SERVICES FOR PEOPLE FROM CULTRALLY LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

Many hospitals and large health centres have teams of health professionals who supply services for local migrant communities. These services include counselling, advice, referral and health information. Ring your local hospital or Community Health Centre to see if there is a Multicultural Health Worker for your language group.

IMMUNISATION

Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections. Immunisation is not compulsory but is recommended for all children. Some states and territories (NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT) require a record of a child’s immunisations to be presented when the child attends day care or starts school. This is so the child care centre or school knows which children have not been immunised. Immunisations can be obtained from your family doctor.

If your children are not immunised, you are not eligible for child care payments.

DENTAL SERVICES

There are private dentists in your local area who usually charge a fee for service.

You may wish to take out private health insurance to assist with the payment for dental services.

The State and Territory governments also provide a limited range of free oral health care to eligible CentreLink concession card holders. Services provided are primarily relief of pain and some basic oral health care, including dentures. Please contact your nearest medical centre or hospital for details of services in your area, and contact CentreLink.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information and details of other health services, ask your local doctor, medical centre, Community Health Centre, hospital or chemist.

9. Childcare.

There are many types of full-time and part-time child care services available for children too young to go to school and for outside of school hours. You will find a range of child care options in the Yellow Pages telephone directory, including preschools or kindergartens, which prepare children for school, child care or day-care centres, which look after younger children and family day-care where children are looked after by another parent along with their own family.

There are also playgroups, where parents and their children get together for the children to learn to interact together and for the parents to chat and share information.

10. Education and schooling.

Preschools are available for all 4 to 5 year old children. Preschool helps children to develop physically, emotionally and socially in the year before going to school.

It is compulsory for children between 6 and 15 years old to go to school. Children usually start school when they are 4 or 5 and often continue until they are 17 or 18 years old, in preparation for university or other further education. Generally, children under 12 or 13 years old attend primary school and older children go to high school (or ‘secondary school’).

You can send your children to either a government or a non-government school. To find schools in your area, look under ‘Schools’ in the White Pages telephone directory, or visit the website www.dest.gov.au/schools/authorit.htm.

Government schools provide free education, however, most schools ask for a voluntary contribution to enhance the school’s educational and sporting programs. Payment is a matter for decision by parents. (Some overseas students are required to pay fees).

Non-government schools charge fees, and they may have a religious affiliation or a particular educational philosophy. Parents who want to find out about private education should make an appointment with the relevant non-government educational authority or contact the selected school directly.

Ask at your school about before and after school care or school holiday programs for school-age children.

NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING CHILDREN

Newly-arrived children who don’t speak English can enrol in English Language Schools (ELS) and centres (ELC) which provide intensive English programs designed for children.

INTERPRETERS

Non-English speaking parents and carers can ask the school for an interpreter to be present when discussing matters involving their children. They can also use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on telephone 13 1450 to contact the school.

ENROLMENT

To enrol your child in a school, contact the school by telephone or in person. You will need to take your visa or entry to Australia documents, proof of their date of birth, and any papers including school reports relating to their previous education. You may also need to show immunisation documents.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

TAFE (Technical and Further Education) courses are designed for students who want vocational, technical or trade skills. Numerous courses cover vocational training area such as information technology, business services, arts and media, tourism and hospitality, construction and transport, rural and mining manufacturing, and engineering. TAFE colleges charge fees and students usually buy their own books. Students must complete high school to qualify for some courses.

11. Buying a new car.

New and second-hand vehicles are advertised for sale in the newspapers and magazines and are also available from new car showrooms and second-hand car yards. The purchase price of a car does not usually include the cost of registration, stamp duty and compulsory insurance. These costs usually have to be paid separately by the buyer.

12. How do I find out questions about Immigration?

Go to www.immi.gov.au

13. What if I cannot find my question here?

Contact ABC if you are seeking employment in Australia.


ABC Global Services are leaders in Employment Process's, we do not provide advice on Immigration matters, for those people requiring advice please go to www.immi.gov.au or contact a Registered Migration Agent.
A list of Registered Migration Agents can be cited on www.themara.com.au

All information relating to immigration may be viewed at
www.immi.gov.au.