Rules, regulations and helpline numbers

A loud continuous siren means smoke. A single chirp every 30 to 60 seconds just means a flat battery, not a fire.

• Continuous alarm + smoke or flames: get everyone out, close the door behind you, call 000 from outside. Never go back in.
• Continuous alarm from cooking or a steamy shower: open windows, turn off the stove, fan the alarm or press the 'hush' button. Never remove the battery.
• One chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means a flat 9V battery. In a rental, message your agent, landlords must maintain alarms by law.
• Never disconnect or cover a smoke alarm. It's illegal in every state and can void your renters insurance.
• Test yours monthly by holding the button until it sounds.

In apartments and student housing, a building-wide alarm means leave immediately by the stairs.

• Never use the lift during an alarm
• Go to the assembly point marked on the green signs on your floor
• Wait for the fire brigade to say it's safe before you go back in
• Know your two nearest exits before you ever need them

Different numbers for outages and leaks. A gas smell is always an emergency.

• Smell gas: don't touch light switches, open windows, leave, then call your gas distributor or 000
• Blackout: check your switchboard safety switch first, then call your state distributor (not your retailer)
• Burst pipe or major leak: turn the mains tap off (usually near the front fence) and call the landlord/agent
• Rentals: urgent repairs must be fixed within 24 to 48 hours by law, so put every request in writing

Australia has enforceable quiet hours, and neighbours will call council or police if you break them.

• Typical restrictions: no loud music after 10pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday
• Noise complaints in student housing can breach your lease, and repeated ones can end it
• Talk to your neighbour first; escalate to your agent or council, not confrontation

Councils collect bins on a fixed night each week, so the wrong bin, wrong day, or an overfull lid can mean a fine.

• Red lid = general waste, yellow = recycling, green = garden/food organics (varies by council)
• Put bins out on the kerb the night before your collection day
• No soft plastics, batteries or e-waste in the yellow bin, take them to a drop-off point instead
• Bulk items (mattresses, furniture) need a free council hard-rubbish booking

Australian UV is among the strongest in the world, so you can burn in 10 minutes in summer.

• Slip, Slop, Slap: SPF50+ every two hours, hat, sunglasses
• Only swim between the red and yellow flags, they mark the patrolled, lifesaver-watched zone
• Caught in a rip? Don't swim against it. Float, raise an arm and let it carry you until you can swim sideways to shore
• On heatwave days (35°C+) drink water constantly and avoid midday sun

Inspectors are frequent and fines are hundreds of dollars, so 'I didn't know' won't get you out of it.

• Always tap on AND tap off, whether you use a travel card or a contactless bank card, failing to tap off charges the maximum fare
• Concession fares: only if your card is officially registered as a student, otherwise it's a fine
• Cycling: helmets are compulsory everywhere in Australia
• Cross at lights, jaywalking is fineable in most CBDs

See a GP first for anything non-urgent. Hospital emergency departments are for emergencies only.

• Book a GP (general practitioner) via HotDoc or your clinic's site; 'bulk billing' means no out-of-pocket cost
• Claim your GP visit back through your OSHC provider's app
• After hours: call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 before going to a hospital
• Pharmacies (chemists) can advise on minor issues for free

It's very normal in the first few months. Free, confidential help is out there, and using it does not affect your visa.

• Every university has free counselling for enrolled students, book early because waits can be 1 to 2 weeks
• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 and Lifeline 13 11 14 are free, 24/7 and confidential
• Ask for an interpreter on 13 14 50 if you'd rather speak your first language
• Join a cultural association or the Buddy Program, see our Community page

A few small habits that make the first month much easier.

• Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Australia
• Tipping is not expected, the price you see is the price you pay
• Most shops close around 5pm, later on Thursday nights; supermarkets stay open late
• Public holidays close nearly everything, so check the state calendar
• Keep digital copies of your passport, visa grant, CoE and OSHC card

You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study and unlimited hours during official uni breaks. Minimum wage protections apply to you too, so don't accept cash-in-hand below award rates.

• Fortnight means 14 days, not 2 calendar weeks, so track it carefully
• National minimum wage: $24.10/hr (from July 2026, check Fair Work for updates)
• Superannuation must be paid on top of your wage
• Report exploitation anonymously to Fair Work on 13 14 44, your visa is protected

Last verified against the official source: August 2026

Every state has a residential tenancies act to protect renters. Bond is capped, landlords can't enter without notice, and repairs are on the landlord.

• Bond is capped at 4 weeks' rent in most states, and it's paid to a state bond authority, not the landlord
• Get a written lease and a condition report, and take dated photos on day one
• 24 hours' notice is required for inspections (this varies by state)
• Report scams to Consumer Affairs / Fair Trading in your state

Last verified against the official source: August 2026

Your TFN is a personal tax ID. Without one, employers have to tax you at 47%. Apply online with the ATO after you arrive, it's free.

• Apply at ato.gov.au and never pay a third party
• You'll receive it by mail within 28 days at your Australian address
• Give it to your employer and bank so you're taxed correctly
• Lodge a tax return every year (due 31 October)

Last verified against the official source: August 2026

A lifetime student ID number. You need it to graduate, and most universities create it for you at enrolment, but it's worth confirming on the USI government portal.

• Free, apply at usi.gov.au
• Required for every course you take in Australia
• One USI for life, across all education providers

Last verified against the official source: August 2026

Mandatory health insurance for student visa holders. It covers GP visits, hospital, most prescriptions and some ambulance costs. Compare Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care and nib to find the best fit.

• Must cover your whole visa duration, usually pre-paid via your university
• Doesn't cover dental, optical or physio, so consider add-ons
• Waiting periods apply for pregnancy and pre-existing conditions
• Switch providers anytime, a refund is usually available

Last verified against the official source: August 2026

New arrivals get targeted a lot. Real government agencies never demand payment in gift cards, crypto or wire transfers, and Australian Consumer Law gives you a refund right on faulty goods.

• 'Immigration police' phone scams: the ATO and Home Affairs will never phone-threaten you
• Rental scams asking for bond before viewing, always inspect first
• Job offers requiring you to pay upfront for training or a uniform
• Fake 'agents' charging for free government services (TFN, USI, visa changes)

Last verified against the official source: August 2026