Welcome to Western Australia, we hope that you love it here as much as we do!
In an effort to acquaint you to the ways of Australia we have put together some information we hope you find helpful. We are not endorsed by anyone we have recommended, and we do not profit in any way from these recommendations.
If you think of anything you wish we had told you, please let us know so we can find out the information for you and add it to our pack for future reference.
In the meantime, hopefully this will help get you started.
Apps
We thought we would kick off with some useful apps. Some things that will just make you settle in a bit easier.
Wilson Parking: This is a great app for paying for parking.
A single monthly payment at a consistent rate. Unlimited 24/7 access to the car park of your choice with no need to book, no cancellation fees or charges.
Transperth: This app will help you get from A to B, and then on to C. Transperth is the public transport system for Perth and surrounding areas in Western Australia. It is managed by the Public Transport Authority (PTA), a state government organisation, and consists of train, bus, and ferry services.
Service WA. Service WA is provided by the WA Government to help people connect with WA State Government services. This app offers services such as Fuel Watch, Shark Smart, Weather Stations, and Bushfire Warnings.
Council
Perth City Council is your local Council
As a renter you will not have to pay rates to them as this is your landlord’s responsibility.
Perth City Council has a very good website with lots of handy info.
Kids
Kids around Perth
Perth is definitely set up to cater for families and there are tonnes of kid’s activities on all year round. Some good resources are to be found on the Kids around Perth website. They send out regular emails with activities, ideas and special offers. They can also be found on Facebook.
We recommend you get on their mailing list as they are definitely the people in the know when it comes to things to do here:
https://www.kids-around-perth.com/
Camping
Camping is very popular here. If you want to go during the school holidays, we recommend you book as far in advance as possible.
December and January are peak times, but Easter is also very popular.
Check with your campsite for their rules on open fires. Some places will allow it and some won’t, it will depend on the Bush Fire risk at that time and location so best to check with the person who books you in.
Parking
Parking in Perth has its quirks. Keep an eye out for certain spots that ask you to park nose in only or reverse in only. Parking attendants love catching people out for that.
Also, you cannot park on the ‘opposite’ side of the road here.
For example, if you are travelling along a road and you see a space on the other side of the road, you are not allowed to pull over and park in it if you are then facing the opposite direction of traffic and are in fact facing into the oncoming traffic. In order to obtain that spot you would have to pass it and do a U-Turn to get back to it. (Please see the earlier note on U-Turns)
Telephone Numbers
Your tax file number (TFN) is your personal reference number in the tax and super systems.
Your TFN is an important part of your tax and super records as well as your identity, so keep it secure.
Your TFN is yours for life. You keep the same TFN even if you change your name, change jobs, move interstate or go overseas.
You don’t have to have a TFN, but without one you pay more tax. You also won’t be able to apply for government benefits, lodge your tax return electronically or get an Australian business number (ABN).
Your employer should assist you with getting a TFN but if you are in any doubt you can check the Australian Taxation office (ATO) website for help.
https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn/foreign-passport-holders,-permanent-migrants-and-temporary-visitors—tfn-application/
Cycle paths
If you wish to cycle, there are many bike paths in and around the area. Both the Council and Transport websites have links to allow you to plan your route.
https://www.yourmove.org.au/journey-planner/
https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/activetransport/riding-and-walking-maps.asp
Water
Water Corporation is Western Australia’s statutory authority responsible for providing a safe, secure and cost-effective bulk drinking water supply for 3.1 million people across Western Australia.
They also:
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provide essential flood mitigation services.
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manage catchment health and offer community recreation facilities.
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provide water for irrigation to about 1,200 farmers across seven water supply schemes.
As a tenant you will only be billed for the actual water you have used, and the landlord pays the connection fees and any ongoing charges. Your agency should forward you the water bill every quarter with it clearly highlighted how much your share of the bill is.
It is your responsibility to know if there is a leak, so we recommend you check your water meter regularly to make sure it is only charging you for your usage and not a sneaky leak.
Water Corporation website provides further guidance in this area:
https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Help-and-advice/Water-issues/Leaks/Detect-a-Leak
Travel
We recommend you get a SmartRider card. This is the easiest way to use public transport in and around Western Australia. SmartRider works all acrossWestern Australia.
