Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 11 min 📋 Quick Summary — Salary Sacrifice 2026-27 What it is Pre-tax salary redirected to approved benefits, reducing taxable income Most common uses Super contributions, novated lease (car), NFP living expenses Super concessional cap (2026-27) $32,500 total (employer SG + salary sacrifice) NFP living expenses cap $9,010 per FBT year (1 April – 31 March) EV novated lease FBT Exempt (below luxury car tax threshold ~$91,387) Effect on HECS repayments Does NOT reduce HECS repayment income — added back by ATO Employer requirement Voluntary — employer must agree and be set up to administer A colleague of mine had been salary sacrificing $10,000 per year into super for three years before she realised it wasn't reducing her HECS repayments the way she'd assumed. Someone told her it would lower her repayment income — it doesn't. The ATO adds reportable employer super contributions b...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 10 min Quick Summary — Banking at a Glance (2026) The Big Four Banks CommBank, ANZ, NAB, Westpac The 6-Week Hack Open within 6 weeks of landing to use Passport ONLY (No 100-point hassle) Average Monthly Fee $4 to $6 AUD (Waived if monthly deposit conditions are met) Permanently Free Account NAB Classic Banking ($0 monthly fee unconditionally) Savings Account Rates 4.5% to 5.5% p.a. (Introductory/Bonus rates) Recommended IMT Tools Wise, WireBarley (Avoid legacy wire transfers) When migrating to a new country, setting up your financial foundation is paramount. One of the absolute first things you must do upon arriving is opening your first Australian bank account. Having a local account is an absolute necessity for receiving your salary, securing rental accommodation, and managing your daily expenses safely. In this comprehensive 2026 guide, we provide a complete, step-by-step breakdown of everything newcomers need t...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 12 min Quick Summary — Super at a Glance (2026–27) Super Guarantee rate 12% of qualifying earnings Payday Super Starts 1 July 2026; contributions are generally due in the fund within 7 business days of payday Concessional contributions cap $32,500 for 2026–27 Non-concessional contributions cap $130,000 for 2026–27 Preservation age 60; access normally also requires a condition of release Contribution tax Concessional contributions are generally taxed at 15%; exceptions may apply Temporary residents May be eligible to claim DASP after leaving Australia and meeting the requirements When I first started working in Australia, my employer mentioned super during onboarding and I nodded along without really understanding what it was. I knew it was retirement money, but I did not understand how much was paid, who controlled it, whether I could choose the fund or what happened if I left Australia. Superannuation is the founda...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 11 min Quick Answer: How do new migrants enrol in Medicare? Eligible Australian residents and some visa holders can enrol in Medicare online through myGov or by submitting a Medicare enrolment form with their supporting identity and visa documents. Check that your citizenship or visa status is eligible. Prepare your passport or ImmiCard and residency evidence. Apply online through myGov where available. Use the Medicare enrolment form if online enrolment is unavailable. Link Medicare to myGov and add your digital card to the myGov app. When you first move to Australia, Medicare can feel more complicated than it needs to be. You may know that it helps cover doctor visits and hospital treatment, but the difficult part is working out whether your visa is eligible, which documents you need and where the application actually goes. The process is much easier ...