Living and Working in Sydney, Australia
Photo: Hamilton Lund, Destination NSW
Information Pack
CONTENTS
WHY ACU?
3
LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
4
Medicare and private health insurance
4
Banking
4
Taxation
5
Superannuation
5
5
Useful websites for living in Australia
LIVING IN SYDNEY 6
Natural attractions and climate
7
Cultural attractions
7
Housing and property
8
Schools and education
8
Getting around Sydney 9
Cost of living
10
More information about Sydney
10
This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working
arrangements within Sydney, Australia. We acknowledge that moving and working within a new country is an exciting
experience and there are many logistical aspects to consider, therefore ACU wishes to make this transition as easy for you as
possible. Please consider the information in this booklet as a general guide to working in Australia and the Australian way
of life, with a particular focus on Sydney.
Our information booklet contains general information and is to be used as a guide only. In Australia and as an employee
within this country, it is solely your responsibility to make decisions around the financial, legal and medical affairs
that affect you. ACU takes no responsibility or liability of the accuracy of the information provided in this document or
information provided on the listed websites. This booklet does not constitute legal or financial advice, not does it endorse
the products/services listed throughout.
WHY ACU?
We’re unique
Where we are
We empower our students to think critically
and ethically, and gain the skills to bring
about genuine change in their communities,
professions and industries, guided by a
fundamental concern for justice and equity,
and the dignity of all human beings. When you
join ACU you know you will not only be joining
a university, but one that strives to uphold its
mission and emphasise its Catholic identity.
ACU has six campuses around Australia
– Brisbane, North Sydney, Strathfield,
Canberra, Melbourne, and Ballarat. ACU has
approximately 23,000 students and over 1,500
staff.
ACU lives its mission daily: through community
engagement programs on the Thai-Burma
border, working with Burmese students to
have access to internationally recognised
qualifications in higher education; through
our unique Clemente Australia program
that brings university level education to
disadvantaged Australians; through assisting
the East Timorese rebuild their educational
infrastructure and programs; through
our nursing students undertaking clinical
placements in rural Australian communities
and in Vanuatu. These are just a few examples
of how ACU creates links with broader
communities to make a genuine difference.
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We value you
As a publicly funded university, we
welcome staff and students of all beliefs
and backgrounds, and uphold a respectful,
open-minded and culturally diverse learning
environment.
Mission and Values
Our Mission and Values underpin everything
that we do at ACU, and the standards of quality
in our teaching, research and service. We are a
community characterised by free inquiry and
academic integrity.
The University’s inspiration, located within over
2,000 years of Catholic intellectual tradition,
summons us to attend to all that is of concern
to human beings. It brings a distinctive
spiritual perspective to the tasks of higher
education.
LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Through fostering and advancing knowledge
in education, health, commerce, the
humanities, the sciences and technologies
and the creative arts, ACU makes a specific
contribution to its local, national and
international communities.
The University explicitly engages the social,
ethical and religious dimensions of the
questions it faces in teaching and research,
and service.
ACU has a primary responsibility to provide
excellent higher education for its entire
diversified and dispersed student body.
Our Vision
ACU is Australia’s outstanding Catholic
university and a leading Catholic university in
the world. Teaching and researching within
the great Catholic intellectual tradition, it is
national in its reach, public in its relevance and
committed to the common good.
For more information about ACU, visit our
website – www.acu.edu.au
Living in Australia
Australia has an enviable reputation for
being one of the most accessible and liveable
countries in the world. Diversity lies at the
heart of Australia – in our culture, population,
climate, geography and history. For this reason,
we are so welcoming to new people who come
to join us.
Australia is multicultural and multiracial,
which is reflected in the food, lifestyle, culture
and experiences. Australia’s population is
approximately 22 million people, with most
living in New South Wales and Victoria.
Canberra is Australia’s capital city and its
political centre. However, the capitals of NSW,
Sydney, and of Victoria, Melbourne, are the
most populous cities. Australia’s population
is concentrated along the coastal region of
Australia from Adelaide to Cairns, with a small
concentration around Perth, Western Australia.
The centre of Australia is sparsely populated.
With its natural beauty, Indigenous culture,
a vibrant cultural life and pleasant climate,
Australia is an easy place to live. To help you
to settle in Australia, the following sections
outline what you will need to do when you first
arrive and start working. You will need health
cover, a bank account, and a Tax File Number,
when you first start working.
Medicare and private health insurance
The Australian Government provides help with
basic hospital and medical expenses through
a program called Medicare Australia. Newly
arrived migrants can check their eligibility to
enrol in the Medicare program by going to
a Medicare office with their passports, travel
documents and visa information.
Most temporary visa holders are not eligible
to enrol in Medicare and must have their own
private health insurance prior to arrival in
Australia. This is referred to as Overseas Visitor’s
Cover. This insurance scheme helps with the
cost of treatment in private hospitals, dental
or optical care or transport in ambulances
(which are not covered by Medicare). There are
exceptions – for example people on temporary
visas who have applied for a permanent visa
and meet the necessary rules, may be able to
access Medicare.
provides further details regarding eligibility.
The Human Services website provides
information about the countries that have
Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with
Australia and eligibility for Medicare.
Private health details
For Medicare information for visitors from
the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand see:
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/
publications/ma1856-36
Online: www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/
publishing.nsf/Content/private–1
Some temporary visa holders from certain
countries can access limited reciprocal health
care under Medicare. This relates to immediate
necessary treatment in public hospitals only,
not to elective health care. The Medicare
website (www.medicareaustralia.gov.au)
For Medicare information for visitors from the
United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands,
Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta
and Italy see: www.humanservices.gov.au/
customer/publications/ma1856
Banking
Banking institutions in Australia range from
local credit unions that provide services to
members through to large national banks as
well as a range of overseas banks. There are
four major banks in the Australian banking
sector: ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank,
National Australia Bank and Westpac. However,
you should investigate whether your current
bank has a presence in Australia, as many of
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the European, UK and American banks have
established branches locally.
It is best to open a bank account within six
weeks of arriving in Australia, as only a passport
will be required as identification. After the six
weeks, you will be asked for extra identification
in order to open an account.
You can also open an Australian bank account
LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
from overseas by visiting the particular bank’s
website and searching for “Open an Australian
bank account”. You can also ask your overseas
bank whether they have branches in Australia
and if they will open an account for you.
The www.bankers.asn.au website has more
useful information regarding our major banks
and banking systems.
Taxation
All Australian residents pay taxes on their
income when it exceeds a certain amount each
year. Taxable income includes a salary from
a job, business earnings and interest earned
on money deposited in a bank or from other
investments. If you are working in Australia on
a temporary visa, your tax liability will depend
on your time spent in Australia, your visa status
and the source of your income.
The Australian tax year runs from 1 July to
30 June. Under Australian law, most people
are required to lodge a tax return each year,
containing details of all income earned from
all sources and taxes paid. In most cases, tax
is deducted directly by employers from each
salary payment and paid to the Australian
Taxation Office (ATO). This is called ‘Pay As You
Earn’ (PAYE) tax.
A 1.5 per cent Medicare Tax Levy is payable by
all residents in Australia. Temporary residents
can apply for the Medicare Levy exemption
when lodging their tax return, as they are not
eligible for Medicare.
For further taxation information, please
contact the ATO or a qualified taxation adviser.
ATO
Telephone: 132 861
Online: www.ato.gov.au
Tax File Number application
To be eligible to receive income in Australia,
you will need to have a Tax File Number (TFN).
You can phone the ATO on 132 861 to obtain
a TFN application form or online at www.ato.
gov.au This is one of the first things you will
need to arrange prior to starting work.
If you do not provide your employer with a tax
file number, you will not be able to claim the
tax free threshold, which means that you will
pay more tax.
If you are a non-resident of Australia for
taxation purposes, you can apply for a TFN by
using the Tax file number-application or enquiry
for individuals living outside Australia form or
visit www.iar.ato.gov.au to apply online (if you
hold a current working visa). You will receive
your TFN no more than 28 days after the ATO
receives your completed application and
required documentation. All documentation
you send to the ATO will be returned to you by
registered mail and the TFN will be forwarded
to the postal address listed on the application
form.
SALARY PACKAGING OPTION
At ACU, you are able to salary package a
range of items, such as motor vehicles and
laptop computers out of pre-tax salary, which
will effectively lower the tax you pay and
increase your take-home pay. Additionally, as
a rebatable employer, the University is eligible
for a rebate of 48 per cent of the amount of
Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would otherwise
be payable on salary packaged items, up to a
limit.
Superannuation
In Australia, superannuation is compulsory for
most employees. Superannuation is a savings
program that ensures workers have money
to live on when they retire. In most cases,
the money is not accessible until you reach
retirement age. Employers are required by law
to contribute to an employee’s superannuation
fund. Nine per cent is the minimum rate
that employers are required to pay into an
employee’s superannuation account and some
industry funds pay higher than the minimum.
In the higher education and research sector,
employees are employed under awards or
agreements that require the University to
make a higher percentage contribution into
superannuation. The superannuation fund
universities use is UniSuper. Your conditions of
employment and superannuation entitlements
will be outlined in your letter of offer.
There are some exemptions from the
requirement to pay the minimum nine per cent
for temporary visa holders who are covered
by their own country’s social security system,
providing Australia has an agreement with
that country. Temporary residents may claim
the money in their superannuation fund, when
departing Australia. Please note: this will be
subject to withholding tax.
Further information on superannuation
and taxation is available from the Australian
Taxation Office (ATO).
Telephone: 132 861
Online: www.ato.gov.au or
UniSuper 1800 331 685
Useful websites for living in Australia
Australian Government:
www.australia.gov.au
www.ato.gov.au
Settle in Australia:
www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settlein-australia/beginning-life/_pdf/eng.pdf
A 46 page booklet about Life in Australia:
www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/
book/english/lia_english_full.pdf
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LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Living in sydney
Sydney offers visitors a variety of attractions
and activities. Sydney is Australia’s oldest and
largest city, set on a stunning harbour and
houses over 4,000,000 people. It is home to
two of the world’s most recognisable icons
− the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney
Harbour Bridge.
NORTH SYDNEY
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LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
STRATHFIELD
Natural attractions and climate
With its rich variety of bushland, rainforest,
green spaces and coastal spots, Sydney is the
ultimate outdoor playground for locals and
tourists alike. Discover secret nooks in which
to laze away a hot day with a picnic, take a
leisurely cycle beneath leafy pathways or
escape to a quiet retreat to drink in the sights
and scents of the great outdoors.
Sydney is well-endowed with open spaces and
access to waterways, and has many natural
areas, even in the city centre. Within the CBD
is the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Sydney
Park, Hyde Park, The Domain and the Royal
Botanic Gardens.
The Sydney region has a temperate climate of
mild temperatures with four distinct seasons.
Only a short distance from the city lies the
untamed beauty of the Royal National Park
and the lush mountainous region of the Blue
Mountains, a 90-minute drive from Sydney.
Season
Average maximum
Average minimum
Summer (December to February): warm to hot
25°C
18°C
Autumn (March to May): mild
22°C
14°C
Winter (June to August): cool to brisk
16°C
8°C
Spring (September to November) cool to mild
21°C
13°C
Cultural attractions
Sydney has a cultural life to suit all tastes. See
a lavish production of theatre, symphony
or ballet at the iconic Sydney Opera House,
where glittering harbour views enhance
the experience at intermission or catch a
performance by the Sydney Theatre Company.
From the Rocks to Hyde Park, take in the
Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of
New South Wales and Australian Museum.
You can take in a full calendar of international
sporting events in Sydney, including the
annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (a
Boxing Day tradition), and the Australian Open
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Both popular tourist attractions, these pristine
natural environments come alive in the
warmer seasons with colourful displays of
flora and thriving wildlife.
of Surfing in February, showcasing the world’s
best surfers at iconic Manly Beach.
Sydney’s restaurants, bars and fresh fruit
markets reflect diversity of cultural groups
from around the world and are always abuzz
with locals and tourists alike. There are many
popular attractions in Sydney which include:
the Sydney Opera house, the Sydney Harbour
Bridge, Luna Park, Taronga Park Zoo, Hyde
Park, Bondi and Manly Beaches, Sydney
Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium and Darling
Harbour, just to name a few.
LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Housing and property
Once you have decided on working and
settling in Sydney, your next step is to find
somewhere to live. Generally, people rent
or buy a house or an apartment through a
licensed real estate agent.
Properties for sale or rent are advertised in
daily newspapers, usually on Saturdays, as well
as various internet sites and through estate
agents. Some popular real estate websites are:
www.realestate.com.au and
www.domain.com.au
Local real estate agents can help you to
find houses or units in your price range
and preferred location. The websites above
provide agent details under ‘Find an Agent’.
Temporary residents are generally restricted
from purchasing property unless the
temporary visa is valid for more than
12 months. The restrictions in place for
temporary residents are governed by the
Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)
and you will need to apply to this Board for
approval if you wish to purchase property.
Please refer to: www.firb.gov.au for more
information.
If you will be renting a unit or house, you will
need to sign a written agreement with the
landlord or real estate agent so any terms and
conditions are agreed to and documented.
This is known as a lease or a residential
tenancy agreement, which is a legal
contract between a tenant and a landlord
and will usually be for a fixed period of six
or 12 months. However, you are entitled to
negotiate the time period of the lease before
you sign. You may be able to renew a lease at
the end of a fixed-term period.
The lease will also set out the weekly or
monthly rent payable as well as additional
payments, such as one month’s rent in
advance and a rental bond. A bond is a
deposit paid to the landlord and is generally
the equivalent of one month’s rent unless it
is a furnished property. The landlord or realestate agent must lodge your bond with the
Residential Tenancies Bond Authority.
Schools and education
If you have school-aged children, you should
enrol your children in a school as soon as
possible. All children aged between six and 17
must attend school. The first year of primary
school is called kindergarten and children
complete another six years of primary school,
Years One to Six. Secondary school (also
known as high school) is from Year 7 to Year
12.
Students attend school on weekdays, Monday
to Friday, usually between the hours of 9.00am
to 3.00pm. However, some independent
schools may have compulsory activities
on Saturday mornings, such as school
representative sport.
It is a legal requirement that students attend
school until they complete Year 10. Students
are examined for their School Certificate in
year 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC)
in Year 12. The HSC mark determines which
courses the student is eligible for admission to
at universities and colleges in NSW.
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There are two major types of schools in NSW
for both primary and secondary level:
• public schools (also known as state schools
or government schools)
• independent schools (non-denominational
or religious schools, including Catholic
schools).
Details about State government (public)
schools can be located at:
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Details about independent schools:
www.aisnsw.edu.au
The school year runs on the calendar year,
beginning in late January and ending in
December for the summer holidays. Students
attend school for about 40 weeks per year,
divided into four school terms. Holidays
between each term typically last for two
weeks, while the summer holiday break,
from mid-December to end January, is for six
weeks.
LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Public schools are fully funded by the
government and free to attend. However, you
are usually asked to pay a voluntary school
levy per student per year. You will also need
to pay for uniforms, some books and extracurricular subjects. Independent schools
are fee-paying schools and you will need to
apply directly to the school of your choice to
see if your child is accepted and then pay the
annual fee. Some independent schools offer
scholarships or bursaries.
Getting around Sydney
Sydney is a busy and bustling city, yet is
seemingly easy to navigate. The centre of
the city is accessible on foot and there is also
a great public transport network to get you
from A to B, with a variety of modes of travel.
Public transport
Public transport in Sydney consists of an
extensive network of road transport as well as
monorail, light rail around Sydney’s centre, and
ferries. Trains run as suburban commuter rail
services in the outer suburbs, then converge in
an underground city loop service in the central
business district. A monorail, Metro Monorail,
runs in a loop around the main shopping district
and Darling Harbour.
Sydney has two rapid bus transitways called
T-ways, built in areas of the western suburbs and
state government-owned Sydney Ferries runs
numerous commuter and tourist ferry services
on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River.
A variety of simple and easy CityRail fare options
(paper based tickets) are available, to meet the
many and varied needs of passengers on the
integrated transport network.
For more information about Sydney’s public
transport system, visit:
www.cityrail.info or www.131500.com.au
Driving yourself
The most important rule for driving in Australia
is that we drive on the left-hand side of the road.
You must also wear a seatbelt and have your
licence with you when driving or you will be fined.
In Sydney, the speed limit on the open road rises
to 100 kilometres per hour and, in some sections
of freeway, 110 kilometres per hour.
Sydney’s road system consists of an extensive
network of freeways and toll roads (known as
motorways). The most important trunk roads
in the metropolitan area are the nine Metroads,
which include the 110 km Sydney Orbital
Network.
Drivers’ licences are issued by state and territory
governments and usually require applicants to
pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test
and an eyesight test. A person cannot drive
without a valid licence.
Holders of temporary visas may drive in Australia
on their overseas licence, provided they have a
current driver’s licence from another country in
English (or with an official translation). Qualified
NAATI translators can assist in the translation to
English.
Permanent resident visa holders are allowed to
drive in Australia for the first three months after
arrival on their overseas licence, provided they
have a current driver’s licence, which has been
translated into English if in another language.
After this time, they need to apply for an
Australian state or territory driver’s licence.
Go to the Road Traffic Authority-RTA (NSW)
website- www.rta.nsw.gov.au - for more
information.
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LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
Cost of living
One of the concerns for anyone wishing to
move to a new country is the cost of living and
whether they will have a better standard of
living if they make the move. To assess this you
need to do your own research.
Your research should include an assessment of:
• your current situation - how much money
you have to bring in, whether you are selling
property overseas and your expectations in
terms of where you will live and the size and
type of accommodation
• your future situation - how much you will
earn after tax and day-t-day cost of living to
maintain the standard of living you expect
• standard of living or quality of life - many
people moving to Australia are looking for
a higher standard of living while others
are looking for a better quality of life. You
need to decide what it is you are looking for
and whether the balance is right for you in
making the move.
In the most recent Mercer Cost of Living report
from March 2012, most of Australia’s major
cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and
Canberra – ranked in the top 30 most expensive
cities in the world. Sydney is currently ranked
11th. However, while some things are relatively
expensive in Australia compared to other
countries, there are a lot of leisure activities
that are free or very affordable. If you want to
compare the costs of living in Sydney with the
cost of living in your home city, you can obtain
a copy of the Mercer Cost of Living Report on
www.mercer.com.
There is a NSW Government website www.nsw.gov.au that contains information
on the cost of living as well as information on
housing, education and child care. Expenses
that you should consider before moving to
Sydney include the following:
Household
• Rent or mortgage costs
• Food and groceries
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• Clothing and shoes
• Personal care and cosmetics
• Medical costs and health insurance.
Family
• Childcare
• Education costs including school fees, books,
uniforms, camps, excursions.
Other
• Debt expenses including repayments on
personal loans, car loans, credit cards
• Expenses involved in owning your own
home – such as home and contents
insurance, council rates and water rates
• Savings including superannuation
contributions and regular investments
• Utilities such as electricity, gas and water
• Sports and hobbies
• Telecommunications, including telephone,
mobile phone and internet access costs
• Entertainment including films, theatre,
newspapers, magazines, books and music
• Furniture and appliances.
• Holidays
Transport
• Gifts
• The cost of buying, registering, servicing and
running a vehicle
• Car insurance
• Public transport costs.
More information about Sydney
LIVING IN SYDNEY
SYDNEY CAMPUS (MACKILLOP) DETAILS
www.nsw.gov.au
www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/our_campuses/
north_sydney_campus
www.living-in-sydney.com
Personal
LIVING AND WORKING IN sydney, AUSTRALIA. Information Pack
• Take-away food and restaurants