Currency
Australia’s currency is the Australian dollar. There are bank notes for $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100; gold coloured coins for $1 and $2; and silver coloured coins for 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents.
Banking
There is a many banks and automatic teller machines (ATMs). Banking facilities are widely available throughout Australia. Banks also provide internet and telephone banking services. Opening hours of banks are generally 9.30 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday. Some banks open untill 5:00 pm on thursday. Some banks also open on Saturday mornings. Travellers cheques can be cashed at any bank, and credit cards are accepted throughout the country.Most shops accept payment by key card or credit card, and supermarkets and a selection of other shops allow you to withdraw cash when you pay for purchases by bank key card.
Credit Cards
Credit card is a system of payment named after the small plasticc card issued to users of the system. A credit card is different from a debit card in that it does not remove money from the user's account after every transaction. In the case of credit cards, the issuer lends money to the consumer.
A credit card is the single most authentic proof of your credit worthiness. It means that financial institutions are willing to lend loans/credit to you. Depending upon how much you earn, financial institutions would be happy to lend loans to you. So the better your credit rating, the more loans you can get. Every time you are approved for a credit product like a bank loan or a credit card, your credit rating improves which will help you in securing more credit products in the future.Apart from improving your credit rating, having a credit card will help you in paying your tuition fees. You can try to save as much cash as you want and the rest you can pay with your credit card.
How to get a credit card:-
Before you apply for a credit card, it would be better to have some pre-requisites fulfilled. Get an Australian driving license. It doesn't matter even it is a restricted learner's licence. But getting a full license has its own benefits. Check my post about driving licenses. An Australian driving license is your main identity document and will be used every where for identification purposes. The sooner you get it, the better it is. Once you have an Australian driving license, the next step is to have an entry made in your Australian Credit file to start a credit score. What is an Australian Credit File and what is a credit score? A credit score is a numerical expression based on a statistical analysis of a person's credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person, which is the likelihood that the person will pay his or her debts in a timely manner. Your credit file is held by a private owned company in Australia. You can check this website for more details.Any way, you want to start your credit file in Australia and want the first entry to be entered into it.The best way would be to go and buy a mobile phone connection from a cellular service provider.
A credit card is the single most authentic proof of your credit worthiness. It means that financial institutions are willing to lend loans/credit to you. Depending upon how much you earn, financial institutions would be happy to lend loans to you. So the better your credit rating, the more loans you can get. Every time you are approved for a credit product like a bank loan or a credit card, your credit rating improves which will help you in securing more credit products in the future.Apart from improving your credit rating, having a credit card will help you in paying your tuition fees. You can try to save as much cash as you want and the rest you can pay with your credit card.
How to get a credit card:-
Before you apply for a credit card, it would be better to have some pre-requisites fulfilled. Get an Australian driving license. It doesn't matter even it is a restricted learner's licence. But getting a full license has its own benefits. Check my post about driving licenses. An Australian driving license is your main identity document and will be used every where for identification purposes. The sooner you get it, the better it is. Once you have an Australian driving license, the next step is to have an entry made in your Australian Credit file to start a credit score. What is an Australian Credit File and what is a credit score? A credit score is a numerical expression based on a statistical analysis of a person's credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person, which is the likelihood that the person will pay his or her debts in a timely manner. Your credit file is held by a private owned company in Australia. You can check this website for more details.Any way, you want to start your credit file in Australia and want the first entry to be entered into it.The best way would be to go and buy a mobile phone connection from a cellular service provider.
Driving License in Australia
The information provided is only related to Class C driving licenses. For other licenses such as taxi, bus, heavy vechile, etc, please check the respective RTA websites.
Use your country's driving license:-
Yes you can use your country's driving licence in Australia.
If you hold a current overseas Driver's Licence of a particular class you may drive a vehicle of an equivalent class in Australia if:
you also hold a current international driving permit
your foreign licence is written in English or is accompanied by an English translation of the details on the licence. Translation services are provided by different state government agencies e.g. http://www.translate.sa.gov.au/. www.crc.nsw.gov.au/interpreting/index.htm
you are not disqualified from driving in Australia.
You are required to carry your license (and English translation if applicable) at all times when driving. You must produce the license and your temporary visa to Police on request.If you are an international student in Australia, you can use your country's driving license for as long as you have the status of an international student. But, as the following article explains, it is in one's own interests to acquire an Australian driving license.Why Should I get an Australian Driving License?
It serves as your primary identification document. Every where you go, you will be asked for your driving license e.g. credit cards, police checks, etc.
Most jobs involving driving require you to have a class C, also known as full driving license. Without a class C license, the insurance companies charge extra for covering you in case of an accident or emergency. Therefore, it is best to have a class C driving license.
Many other benefits which I cannot think of now.How to get a class C Australian license
If you are coming from overseas, make sure you bring your home country's driving license. Your home country's driving license must be at least 3 years old at the date of application for your Australian driving license. If your home country's driving license is less then 3 years, you will not be awarded a full unrestricted driving license. Rather, you would be given a provisional license. Provisional licenses have their own restrictions like not driving over a specific speed limit etc.Once you have your home country's driving license, just walk up to any RTA close by, and present your self at the counter. Depending upon which country you are from, you might not have to give any tests to convert your country's driving license into a full Australian driving license. You can check that list on the RTA's website.If you are coming from the sub-continent, you will need to pass two exams before you convert your home country's full driving license into a class C Australian driving license.The first exam is a computer based test comprising of forty MCQs related to basic concepts of driving and have familiarity with the different traffic signs used in Australia. The complete pool of MCQs can be downloaded from the RTAs website. This test costs around $40 AUD.The second test is a practical test in which an instructor accompanies you on a short drive and tries to assess your driving skills. It is advisable to get some pre-test coaching from a qualified driving instructor who can teach you how to pass the exam. Most candidates cannot clear the practical driving test because of their lack of knowledge regarding basic driving concepts. This test costs around $43 AUD. There is a long queue for tests so waiting periods can be very long. Make sure you book your test early.
Use your country's driving license:-
Yes you can use your country's driving licence in Australia.
If you hold a current overseas Driver's Licence of a particular class you may drive a vehicle of an equivalent class in Australia if:
you also hold a current international driving permit
your foreign licence is written in English or is accompanied by an English translation of the details on the licence. Translation services are provided by different state government agencies e.g. http://www.translate.sa.gov.au/. www.crc.nsw.gov.au/interpreting/index.htm
you are not disqualified from driving in Australia.
You are required to carry your license (and English translation if applicable) at all times when driving. You must produce the license and your temporary visa to Police on request.If you are an international student in Australia, you can use your country's driving license for as long as you have the status of an international student. But, as the following article explains, it is in one's own interests to acquire an Australian driving license.Why Should I get an Australian Driving License?
It serves as your primary identification document. Every where you go, you will be asked for your driving license e.g. credit cards, police checks, etc.
Most jobs involving driving require you to have a class C, also known as full driving license. Without a class C license, the insurance companies charge extra for covering you in case of an accident or emergency. Therefore, it is best to have a class C driving license.
Many other benefits which I cannot think of now.How to get a class C Australian license
If you are coming from overseas, make sure you bring your home country's driving license. Your home country's driving license must be at least 3 years old at the date of application for your Australian driving license. If your home country's driving license is less then 3 years, you will not be awarded a full unrestricted driving license. Rather, you would be given a provisional license. Provisional licenses have their own restrictions like not driving over a specific speed limit etc.Once you have your home country's driving license, just walk up to any RTA close by, and present your self at the counter. Depending upon which country you are from, you might not have to give any tests to convert your country's driving license into a full Australian driving license. You can check that list on the RTA's website.If you are coming from the sub-continent, you will need to pass two exams before you convert your home country's full driving license into a class C Australian driving license.The first exam is a computer based test comprising of forty MCQs related to basic concepts of driving and have familiarity with the different traffic signs used in Australia. The complete pool of MCQs can be downloaded from the RTAs website. This test costs around $40 AUD.The second test is a practical test in which an instructor accompanies you on a short drive and tries to assess your driving skills. It is advisable to get some pre-test coaching from a qualified driving instructor who can teach you how to pass the exam. Most candidates cannot clear the practical driving test because of their lack of knowledge regarding basic driving concepts. This test costs around $43 AUD. There is a long queue for tests so waiting periods can be very long. Make sure you book your test early.
Phone
There are many mobile phone providers in Australia. Some of them are OPTUS, 3 , TELSTRA, VODAFONE, VIRGIN etc. Each offering an extensive range of mobile phones and payment plans. They providing prepaid, postpaid and contract plans. Most of all phone provider providing free Mobile handset with contract plans. For overseas calls, there are hundreds of phone cards available and offering cheap rates are widely available which can use from home phone or Public Phone Booth.
Post
There are number of Post office are available in every city in australia. Australia Post sends letters and packages around the world. They are providing many services including parcels, registered post, express post etc.
Electrical appliances
The electricity in Australia is 240/250 volts (AC 50 Hz). In Australia three-pin plug are used which is different from the plugs used in most other countries so you may need an adaptor plug. You may also need a voltage converter if your appliances do not operate at 240/250 volts .
Email and Internet
Most of all education providers generally have free internet and computer services for their students. There are number of internet cafes available in country. They are charging around 1$ to 3$ per hour. Public libraries also offer free computer facilities. You also can have the internet connection at home, There are number of companies providing different plans for internet.
Stay safe
Follow steps to keep yourself safe:Avoid giving your personal information to strangers.Don't keep much cash at home.Lock your doors and windows before going out.Always tell someone when you are going out.Take care travelling at night on your own.Never leave personal belongings unattendedAlways carry mobile phone.Always choose the safe area for travling at night.Avoid dark streets at night.Plan you journy before departure.