Settling in Australia from Nepal: Your Practical Guide

Your First Week

Arrival

Airport: Immigration is electronic for student visa holders. Have your passport and CoE details ready. Walk through without a separate stamp — your visa is linked to your passport electronically.

Transport from airport: Airport trains or buses are cheapest. Sydney Airport to the CBD costs AUD 17-20 by train. Melbourne SkyBus is AUD 20. Alternatively, ask your Nepali student network if someone can pick you up — many communities organise airport pickups for new arrivals.

SIM card: Buy a prepaid SIM at the airport (AUD 15-30). Optus and Vodafone are budget-friendly for metro areas. Telstra is more expensive but has better regional coverage.

Admin (Days 1-3)

Bank account: Open at any major bank (CommBank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB) with your passport and CoE. Student accounts have no monthly fees. You'll receive a debit card same-day.

TFN: Apply online at the ATO website. Essential for legal work. Arrives by post in 10-15 business days. Without it, employers withhold 45% tax.

University orientation: Attend every session. You'll learn about campus services, meet other students, and get essential information about course requirements. Find the Nepali student association and join immediately — they're your most valuable network.

Finding Accommodation

Share Houses (Most Common)

Most Nepali students live in share houses with other Nepali or South Asian students. A room in a share house costs:

• Sydney (Rockdale, Auburn, Parramatta): AUD 180-280/week
• Melbourne (Dandenong, Clayton, Noble Park): AUD 150-250/week
• Brisbane (Annerley, Moorooka): AUD 140-220/week
• Adelaide/Perth: AUD 120-200/week

Where to find rooms:

• Facebook groups ("Nepali Students Sydney Accommodation," "Nepali in Melbourne Flatshare")
• Flatmates.com.au
• University accommodation noticeboards
• Word of mouth through the Nepali community

Tips:

• Inspect before committing. Check the condition, safety, and transport links.
• Understand your rights as a tenant — even in a share house, you have legal protections
• Avoid overcrowded situations. Some share houses pack too many people into small spaces — this can breach tenancy laws and fire safety regulations
• Get any agreement in writing, even if it's informal

Student Accommodation

Purpose-built student housing costs AUD 300-500/week but includes utilities and internet. More expensive but convenient for the first semester while you learn the city.

Working in Australia

Finding Work

Nepali networks: Community Facebook groups and word of mouth are common channels. Nepali-owned restaurants, grocery stores, and businesses often hire from within the community.

Job boards: Seek (seek.com.au), Indeed, Jora, and Gumtree for casual and part-time roles. Filter by "casual" or "part-time."

Agencies: Recruitment agencies for warehouse, cleaning, and hospitality work (Adecco, Hays, Chandler Macleod) can place you quickly.

Common first jobs: Restaurant kitchen hand or waiter, cafe barista or server, cleaner (commercial or residential), warehouse picker/packer, aged care assistant (if trained), delivery driver/rider.

Know Your Rights

This is critically important. Wage theft and exploitation of international students is a real problem in Australia. Know these facts:

Minimum wage: AUD 24.10/hour (full-time/part-time). Casual workers receive a 25% loading: AUD 30.13/hour. Weekend and public holiday rates are even higher.

If an employer offers less than minimum wage, they are breaking the law. It doesn't matter if they're a fellow Nepali, if they say "that's normal for students," or if they threaten your visa. Underpayment is illegal.

Work hour limits: 48 hours per fortnight during term. Unlimited during scheduled breaks. Breaching this limit can jeopardise your visa — track your hours carefully.

Payslips: Your employer must provide a payslip within 1 business day of pay day. Every time.

Super: your employer must pay superannuation of 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2025) on top of your wages. The old $450-a-month threshold was removed on 1 July 2022.

Report exploitation: The Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au or 13 13 94) investigates wage theft. Your visa status is protected — reporting exploitation will not affect your visa.

Career Development

While casual work pays the bills, build toward your career goal:

• Seek internships or entry-level roles in your field of study
• Use your university's career services (free resume reviews, interview practice, job listings)
• Attend industry networking events
• Build a LinkedIn profile highlighting your Australian experience
• Volunteer in your field if paid opportunities are scarce initially

Managing Money

Weekly Budget (Single Student, Sydney)

Saving Money

Cook at home. Dal bhat costs AUD 3-5 per serve at home versus AUD 15-20 at a restaurant. Buy rice, dal, and spices in bulk from Asian grocers. Shop at markets for fresh produce — Paddy's Markets (Sydney), Queen Victoria Market (Melbourne), and local farmers markets offer cheaper prices than supermarkets.

Share transport costs. Use public transport concessions where available. Walk or cycle for short distances.

Buy second-hand. Furniture, textbooks, kitchen items — check Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and op shops (charity stores like Salvos, Vinnies, and Red Cross) before buying new.

Sending Money to Nepal

Many Nepali students and workers send money home. Best options:

• Wise: Low transparent fees, close to mid-market exchange rate. AUD to NPR transfers in 1-2 business days.
• Remitly: Good for smaller regular transfers. Competitive rates.
• Nepali community hundi/hawala services: Common but operate outside formal banking channels. Legal risks exist.
• Bank transfer: Higher fees and worse exchange rates. Use only if necessary.

Receiving money from Nepal: Nepal Rastra Bank regulations limit outward remittances. Your family's bank can remit tuition fees directly. Living cost transfers through authorised dealers are also permitted.

Healthcare

OSHC

Your Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory and covers:

• GP visits
• Hospital treatment (as a private patient)
• Some prescriptions
• Ambulance (in most states)

Using OSHC: Register with your provider, get your member card, and present it at GP visits. Some GPs direct-bill your insurer. Others require you to pay upfront and claim online.

Finding a doctor: Search for GPs on Healthdirect (healthdirect.gov.au). In areas like Rockdale, Dandenong, and Auburn, some GPs speak Nepali or Hindi — helpful for complex medical discussions.

Mental Health

Migration stress, academic pressure, homesickness, and financial worry are common. Australian universities provide free counselling services for students. Use them — there's no stigma, and they're experienced with international student concerns.

Beyond campus, services like Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer support in English. Some Nepali community organisations also provide informal support and peer counselling.

Community Connections

Nepali Organisations

• Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Australia: Active in all major cities. Organises cultural events, networking, and community support.
• Nepali student associations: At every major university. Social events, academic support, and cultural celebrations (Dashain, Tihar, Holi).
• Religious and cultural centres: Hindu temples (like the Murugan Temple in Sydney) and Buddhist centres serve as community gathering points.
• Sports clubs: Cricket clubs, futsal leagues, and running groups within the Nepali community are popular social outlets.

Building Broader Networks

While the Nepali community is essential, also invest in broader connections:

• Join university clubs outside the Nepali association
• Volunteer with Australian organisations
• Attend community events in your suburb
• Build friendships at work with people from different backgrounds
• These connections improve your English, broaden your professional network, and enrich your experience

Daily Life

Food

Cooking Nepali food is easy and affordable. Most essential ingredients are available:

• Rice: Available everywhere. Asian grocers often have better prices for basmati and long-grain.
• Dal: Lentils available at Asian grocers and major supermarkets.
• Spices: Jeera, haldi, methi, dhania — all available. Nepali specialty stores in Rockdale, Auburn, and Dandenong stock harder-to-find items.
• Fresh herbs and produce: Asian grocers and markets are best for specialty items. Regular supermarkets cover basics.
• Momos: Making momos at home is a popular weekend activity in Nepali share houses. Frozen momo wrappers are available at Asian grocers.

Weather

If you're from Kathmandu Valley, Australian summers (December-February) will feel much hotter and drier. Sydney and Brisbane summers are humid. Melbourne is temperate but unpredictable. Perth is dry and hot.

If you're from the Terai, you're accustomed to heat — but Australian UV is stronger than South Asian UV. Wear sunscreen daily, even on cloudy days.

Melbourne winters (June-August) are colder than Kathmandu — 5-15°C with rain and wind. Invest in a good waterproof jacket.

Transport

Use public transport where possible. Student concession cards are available in most states. Monthly/weekly caps on transport cards limit your maximum spend.

Walking and cycling are common and safe in most areas. If you need a car later, buy a used one (AUD 3,000-8,000 for a reliable vehicle) and convert your Nepali licence to an Australian one. The conversion process varies by state — some require a driving test.

Planning for the Long Term

Academic Focus

Your academic results matter more than you might think. Strong results:

• Improve your professional job prospects
• Strengthen employer sponsorship applications
• Can qualify you for academic merit scholarships
• Build a foundation for further study (master's, PhD) if needed

English Improvement

Continuous improvement from IELTS 6.0 to 7.0+ is one of the most valuable investments you can make. Every additional English points band adds migration points and improves your career prospects.

Strategies: speak English at work and with non-Nepali friends, consume Australian media, take free English classes at community centres, and do regular practice tests.

NAATI CCL

The NAATI Credentialed Community Language test in Nepali earns you 5 migration points. It's a relatively accessible test for fluent Nepali speakers — you interpret conversations between English and Nepali. Preparation courses are available in most cities.

Next Steps

Get your first-week admin done immediately — bank, TFN, SIM, and university registration.

Read our first week checklist for a day-by-day guide.

For visa planning, review the visa options guide and the student to 485 pathway.

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Related Resources

• Nepal to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
• Nepal to Australia Visa Options
• First Week in Australia Checklist
• Open a Bank Account in Australia
• Get Your TFN
• Best OSHC for International Students
• Find Your First Job in Australia
• Australian Rental Application Guide

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How much should I bring to Australia as a Nepali student?

Bring at least AUD 3,000-5,000 (NPR 270,000-445,000) in accessible funds for your first month — temporary accommodation, food, transport, SIM card, and essentials. Your tuition and OSHC should be paid before arrival. More savings give you a longer buffer before you need part-time work income.

Can I find Nepali food in Australia?

Yes. Nepali restaurants and grocery stores are common in areas with Nepali communities — Rockdale and Auburn in Sydney, Dandenong and Clayton in Melbourne. Asian grocers in most suburbs stock rice, dal, spices, and most ingredients you need for home cooking.

What part-time jobs do Nepali students typically get?

Common jobs include hospitality (restaurants, cafes, fast food), cleaning, warehouse work, retail, aged care, and delivery (UberEats, DoorDash). Hospitality is the most common starting point. Make sure any employer pays at least minimum wage.

Is it safe to live in Australia?

Australia is generally very safe. Violent crime is uncommon. Practical safety tips: be aware of your surroundings at night, report any workplace exploitation to Fair Work, and be cautious of scams targeting international students (fake tax office calls, rental scams, scholarship scams).