Quick answer: In your first week you need a phone number, an activated bank account, a Tax File Number application, a myGov account, a place to live beyond the hostel and a certificate that gets you hired. Do the online admin on days one and two, sit your RSA or White Card on day three, and spend the rest of the week walking into businesses with your CV. Everything below assumes you built the documents folder before you flew.
Day 1: land, connect, sleep
- Get a phone number. Install an eSIM before the flight so you have data on landing, then pick up a prepaid SIM in the first days. An Australian number is required for almost everything below.
- Check in to your hostel. Book a full week; you will use the address for forms. Pay attention to the check-out time and the kitchen rules.
- Message home and join the KoalaGuide chat for your city — see how to join.
- Sleep. Jet lag from Europe or South America is brutal.
Day 2: bank, TFN, myGov
- Activate your bank account. If you opened it from overseas, take your passport and visa letter to a branch to verify your identity. If not, open one now — see money and bank accounts. Ask the teller to write down your BSB and account number.
- Apply for your Tax File Number. Free, online, on the ATO website, once you are physically in Australia. Use the hostel address or a friend’s; the ATO posts the number. Full detail in TFN and super explained.
- Create a myGov account and link the ATO. You will use myGov for your tax return, your income statement and, if eligible, Medicare.
- Load your Wise or Revolut card for spending until the Australian account is fully active.
Day 3: get certified
Book this before you fly so you are not waiting.
- RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) for cafés, bars, restaurants, bottle shops and events. State rules differ: NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia require state-approved training; Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT accept nationally recognised online courses. Details in our RSA guide.
- White Card for any construction site, including labouring, landscaping and traffic control. One day, nationally recognised. See the White Card guide.
- Barista course if you want café work and have no experience — a few hours and a certificate that gets you past the “any experience?” question. See barista courses.
RSA — Responsible Service of Alcohol
CBD College — RTO 91399 · Unit SITHFAB021
- Cities
- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide
- Duration
- 1 day (face-to-face) or online where permitted
- Price
- see current price
- Discount
- 10% off for KoalaGuide readers
State rules differ: NSW, VIC, TAS, WA require approved face-to-face or state-specific training; QLD/SA/NT/ACT accept nationally recognised online.
Get my 10% codeCBD College is owned by the same people as KoalaGuide and pays us a commission when you book, so we are not neutral here. We also list other providers where they are a better fit. How we make money
Day 4: Medicare (if eligible) and super
- Medicare. If your passport is on the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement list (Italy and the UK yes; Spain, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Taiwan and Hong Kong no — check the current list), visit a Services Australia centre with your passport and visa to enrol. Your travel insurance still matters.
- Superannuation. Your employer will pay super into a fund for you. Pick one fund now so you do not end up with three. When you leave Australia you can claim most of it back. See TFN and super.
Day 5: find a room
Start looking on day two, move by the end of the week if you can. Share houses cost far less than hostels and give you a stable address.
- Search Flatmates.com.au, Facebook groups for your city and hostel noticeboards.
- Inspect in person. Never pay a bond or deposit for a room you have not seen.
- Understand the bond rules for your state before paying.
The accommodation guide covers all of this, including the scams.
Days 6 and 7: the job hunt
- Print ten copies of a one-page CV with your Australian number, certificate and availability.
- Wear the black outfit and walk in mid-morning or mid-afternoon, never during the lunch rush. Ask for the manager.
- Apply online too, but walking in wins for hospitality.
- If you want the 88 days done early, this is when you research harvest regions and working hostels.
- For construction, register with labour hire companies with your White Card and steel-caps.
Keep your certificate PDFs on your phone; managers often ask to see them.
Deals we used
- Airalo
- Boost Mobile
- Wise
What to do next
- Set up an eSIM before your flight.
- Book your RSA or White Card for day three.
- Save this checklist offline and tick it off.
- Read the accommodation guide so you can start looking on day two.
- Check the deals page for current backpacker discounts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the very first thing to do when I land?
Get connected. An Australian number is needed for your bank, TFN application and job applications. An eSIM set up before the flight or a prepaid SIM from the airport does it.
How long does a TFN take?
You apply online once you are in Australia and the ATO posts it to your Australian address, usually within a few weeks. You can start work before it arrives, but give it to your employer as soon as you have it.
Do I need an RSA or a White Card?
An RSA if you want to work anywhere alcohol is served. A White Card if you want to work on a construction site. Both are one-day courses and both open doors in your first week.
Can I do everything in one week?
Yes if you arrive with your documents folder ready. Most of it is online, and the in-person steps (bank ID check, course, hostel to share house) fit comfortably into seven days.
