Start Your Journey Here

The essentials for your first weeks in Tasmania, in the order you will need them.

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https://weiluoyan.github.io/hellotas/journey/step-1/

Your first 2 weeks

  1. Get a SIM

    You need an Australian number for almost everything.

    UTAS moving guide ↗

  2. Get an address

    Your TFN letter will be posted here.

    Find a room ↓

  3. Open a bank account

    Bring your passport. You can start online.

    CommBank ↗ Hobart branch ↗

  4. Apply for your TFN

    Free, online at the ATO. Arrives by post in about 2–4 weeks.

    Apply at the ATO ↗

  5. Ride the bus free

    Metro buses are free until 30 June 2027. No card needed.

    Metro free travel ↗

  6. Start job hunting

    Don't wait for your TFN to apply.

    Seek ↗ Indeed ↗ Jora ↗
University of Tasmania students around a table in a café-style kitchen

Survival Income

Casual work

Start job hunting from day one.

  • Tailor your resume

    Make one for each job type: customer service, hospitality or kitchen. Later, look for jobs in your field.

  • Apply online, then walk in

    Apply online, then drop in the next day with the same resume. Also try cafés, supermarkets and service stations.

  • Deliver while you wait

    With your TFN, get a free ABN and sign up for DoorDash or Uber Eats. Quick cash, but it doesn't count as job experience.

Find jobs on: Seek ↗Indeed ↗Jora ↗UTAS Careers ↗
  • Check your work-hour limit on VEVO — delivery hours count too.
  • Avoid cash-in-hand jobs — often underpaid, untaxed and a risk to your visa. Know your rights ↗
Aerial view of Sandy Bay homes near the university and the Derwent River

Accommodation

Live

Secure your place early — good rooms near campus go fast.

  • Search online

    Browse rooms and share houses on Flatmates and Facebook Marketplace. Start before you arrive.

  • Join local groups

    Join Hobart rental and share-house groups on Facebook. Many rooms are only posted there.

  • Ask other students

    Ask UTAS students where they live. They often know of rooms coming up in their share houses.

Find rooms on: Flatmates ↗Facebook Marketplace ↗
  • Inspect before you pay — in person or by video call. Rental scams target students booking from overseas.
  • Pay your bond through MyBond, never to the owner directly. How bonds work ↗

The Daily Basics

A Metro Tasmania bus at a bus stop

Move & Transport

  • Metro buses are free until 30 June 2027 — no card needed
  • Check bus times on the Metro Tasmania real-time app
  • Learn to drive before you arrive — buses can be slow and infrequent
International students smiling around a laptop

Connect & Bank

  • Prepaid SIM — Telstra, Optus, Vodafone or budget brands like Amaysim
  • Open a CommBank account online, then visit the Hobart branch with your passport
  • Stay on prepaid until you have steady income
University of Tasmania students at orientation, Sandy Bay

Safety First

  • Emergency: 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
  • UTAS SafeZone app — campus security
  • Non-urgent police assistance: 131 444

Your Arrival Checklist

Tick these off to know you are ready for Step 2.

Ready for the next step?

Once your basics are sorted, it's time to build your English confidence.

Next: Community →

Photos: University of Tasmania, Metro Tasmania and CommBank.