Australians have a reputation for being amongst the friendliest in the world and Australian cities are safe and clean with low crime rates. The lifestyle and quality of living in Australia is also among the best in the world, with several of Australia's capital cities regularly ranking among the world's 'most liveable' cities.

The recent Mercer Human Resource Consulting '2009 Worldwide Quality Of Living' survey found that five Australian cities ranked in the top 40 for overall quality of living. Sydney was ranked 10th out of 40, Melbourne was ranked 18th and Perth was ranked 21st. Adelaide and Brisbane ranked 30th and 34th respectively. This compares to Honolulu from the USA, which was ranked 29th and London from the UK was ranked 38th. These 5 Australian cities also ranked in the top 50 cities in the world for personal safety.

All Australian capital cities are close to the beach and national parks and other recreational and leisure activities are easily accessible. The great weather, landscape and environment could explain why Australians in general, enjoy the great outdoors so much.

If you are thinking of moving to Australia, below are a list of important things you should do as soon as possible after you migrate to Australia.

Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)
When you arrive in Australia, we recommend that you obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) as soon as possible. A Tax File Number is a unique number issued to individuals or organisations by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and is required if you receive an income in Australia.

The fastest way to obtain your TFN is via the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website. You will need your passport details and Australian address handy.

Register with Medicare
The Australian Government provides help with basic medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. The government also subsidises the cost of most medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Medicare and the PBS are administered by Medicare Australia.

You may be eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and programs. These include free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines.

To register with Medicare, you will need to visit a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport, travel documents and permanent visa. If all registration requirements are met, you will be advised of your Medicare card number and your card will be posted to you about 3 weeks later.

In most cases, you will pay for medical care then receive a refund for some of the payment. If you need to see a doctor urgently, you can register with Medicare without waiting 7 to 10 days and ask for an interim number. Emergency treatment is available on a 24 hour basis at the 'Casualty' or 'Emergency' departments of public hospitals.

In addition to Medicare, there are also many different private health insurance funds that offer options that cover services not covered by Medicare. For example, dental care, optical care and ambulance. To find a suitable private health insurance fund, look under 'Private health insurance' in the Yellow Pages telephone directory. Alternatively, Intellichoice can recommend a reputable insurance fund that best suits your needs.

Open an Australian bank account
In Australia, most income including salary or wages and government benefits are paid directly into a bank account.

It is advisable to open a bank, building society or credit union account within 6 weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After 6 weeks, you will need additional identification to open an account, and you may have difficulty if you don't have many documents. Advise your bank of your Tax File Number (TFN) to avoid higher rates of taxation on interest earned.

Intellichoice can help you set up a bank account.

Enrol your children in school
Under Australian Law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. For some parents choosing a school is as easy as geography – the one closest to home is the most appropriate. For others, school selection can be a more difficult decision.

There are almost 10 000 schools throughout Australia and choosing what type of school will most suit their child can be a confusing issue for parents. It's a very personal choice.

For you the decision might be based on:

• facilities
• school population
• broad curriculum
• a transition to school program
• religious affiliation
• single sex or co-ed
• government or private
• location
• connection to local community
• where your child's friends are going

Intellichoice can also provide you with an advisory service on the best school for your child. We will work out some options for you based on location, educational and extra-curriculum needs.

Apply for a driver's licence
To drive a car in Australia, you must have a driver's licence and the vehicle you are driving must be registered with the government. If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation from an acceptable source, you are allowed to drive for your first 3 months after arrival. After that, if you want to drive in Australia, you will need to have the appropriate Australian driver's licence. This will usually require you to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an eyesight test. In Australia, driver's licences are issued by state and territory governments.

If you do not hold a licence from another country, you will need to pass a Driver Knowledge Test to get a learner's permit.

Disobeying or breaking traffic laws can result in large fines, the loss of your driver's licence or even imprisonment. Using a mobile phone while driving is against the law, unless you do so using a 'handsfree' kit.

Register with employment agencies for work
There are a number of agencies available. You can also check for jobs online. The daily newspapers advertise 'Job vacancies' (or 'Positions vacant'), especially on Saturdays. Job vacancies can also be found on the internet. There are also private employment agencies, which are listed in the Yellow Pages telephone directory and internet employment boards.

Register with Centrelink
Centrelink is a government agency that provides help with job seeking, social security payments and other assistance. Newly arrived residents can register with Centrelink to get help with looking for work, having overseas skills recognised, and accessing relevant courses. Centrelink also has Tax File Number application forms and can assist you to lodge your application with the Tax Office, so that access to any payments is not delayed.

If you have children, you may be eligible for government-funded Family Assistance payments to help with the cost of raising them.

Before entering the country - Quarantine
To help protect Australia's agricultural industries and unique environment, quarantine officers screen all flights, passengers, baggage, mail and cargo using X-ray machines, detector dogs, physical inspection, questioning and profiling.

If you are entering Australia to holiday, study or live permanently, or if you are an Australia resident planning an overseas trip it is a good idea to learn what can't be brought into Australia.

On arrival in Australia you must declare all food, plant material and animal products for inspection to ensure they are free of pests and diseases. You make this declaration on your Incoming Passenger Card, which is handed to you by the airline before you land. You must complete this truthfully – it is a legal document.

If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. Some products may require treatment (at a cost) such as fumigation or gamma irradiation to make them safe. Items that cannot be treated will be seized and destroyed by quarantine.

Please refer to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS) on 1800 020 504 or www.aqis.gov.au (national office switchboard +61 2 6272 3933) for the most up-to-date information.