I made a couple of blog posts last year providing tips for would-be Pinoy migrants to Australia. Well, recently, we accidentally found a more comprehensive list of tips provided for by the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). They’re the Beginning a life in Australia booklets. And what’s more is that the booklets are available for free online on their website in Adobe Reader PDF format.

Here is a short description of what the booklet is about according to the DIMA website:

The purpose of this web site is to provide information about life in Australia, settlement services available to migrants and the range of services at the national, state and local levels that migrants in Australia may need.

There are different specialised booklets for each of Australia’s states and territories. So, if you are interested in moving to Sydney, for example, go pick up the “Welcome to New South Wales” booklet. Now, I’m sure new migrants-to-be may not always be familiar in which state or territory your destination city is located, so here is a list of the states and the better known Aussie cities in each one:

  • New South Wales (NSW) - Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong
  • Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - Canberra (but in the list of booklets, look for Canberra instead of ACT), Queanbeyan (although technically part of NSW, it is real close to Canberra that the Canberra booklet might be helpful, too)
  • Victoria (VIC) - Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo
  • Queensland (QLD) - Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns
  • South Australia (SA) - Adelaide
  • Western Australia (WA) - Perth
  • Tasmania (TAS) - Hobart
  • Northern Territory (NT) - Darwin, Alice Springs

And here are some of the things you’ll find in the booklet (from the booklet’s table of contents):

  • What to do soon after arrival - important things you’ll need to accomplish such as applying for a tax file number, open a bank account, and so forth
  • Emergency services
  • Where to go for help - for migrant resource centres and agencies, legal aid, consumer rights
  • Australian customs and law
  • Housing - renting, buying and tenants’ rights and responsibilities
  • Employment - looking for work, job network services and working conditions
  • Transport
  • Education and child care
  • The health system - Medicare, Private health insurance
  • Recreation and media
  • Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs - citizenship, resident visas and family visits to Australia
  • Local government and community services

Now, if you are not that proficient in English, there are booklets translated into other languages, including Tagalog! Here is the Tagalog translation of the booklet’s purpose:

Ang layunin ng website na ito ay upang magbigay ng impormasyon tungkol sa buhay sa Australya, mga serbisyong nauukol sa paninirahan ng maaaring makuha ng mga migrante at ang hanay ng mga serbisyo, mula sa pambansa, estado at lokal na antas ng kakailanganin ng mga migrante sa Australya.

So, thinking of coming over to beautiful Australia? Get the inside info on how to start your new life here right through the booklets provided for by the Australian government. You can’t get any more official than that.