When you’re a newcomer to a country, we understand that immigrants may not know where to turn to for the government information and assistance that locals take for granted.
So here’s the Remitly guide to Australia’s online government portals. We’ve got some tips to help you find your way around the available services, information on how to get in touch with the state bodies for help, and more.
Overview of available services in Australia
The Australian government provides a wide range of services to citizens and residents alike, under the Services Australia banner. It breaks its assistance down into four main areas:
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- Medicare, which provides help with the costs of seeing a doctor, getting medicines, and accessing mental health care.
- Centrelink, which is about getting income support and other payments to Australians.
- Child Support provides information and assistance with the cost of raising your young ones, and advice on what happens if parents separate.
- myGov, where you set up your own account for dealing with all the government services and bodies.
We’ll talk about how things work a bit more later, but essentially the Australian government has made it as easy as possible to engage with then about pretty much anything online.
Benefits of Australian government services for its citizens
The Aussie government, like almost every other nation’s government, handles taxation, healthcare, social services, education, housing, and of course immigration and citizenship matters. It’s in the nation’s interests to provide:
- A better quality of life to its citizens through all of those services.
- Financial stability through programs that help people find work to keep the economy growing, and help those who are struggling by providing unemployment benefits or welfare payments.
- Social and community welfare and inclusion to foster a sense of belonging, and build a feeling of community among Australia’s very diverse population.
And fortunately, in Australia this is done really well online.
Accessing Australian government services online
We mentioned Services Australia, the government body responsible for delivering its programs and services. They’ve put a lot of effort into making sure you can find the information you need and even apply for help online. Centrelink, for example, is the part of Services Australia that delivers payments and financial assistance to people in Australia.
This means everything from unemployment benefits, rent support, and pensions, to disability support, youth allowance, tax benefits, and other welfare payments.
Reflecting that modern fact that many people turn straight to the internet for advice and information, millions of native Australians and immigrants alike use myGov to engage with their government. Through myGov, you can access all the Services Australia resources we mentioned, manage your personal details, lodge claims, and more.
To set up a myGov account:
1) Visit the official myGov website.
2) Select “Sign up,” and follow the prompts.
3) Set up a strong password with security questions to safeguard your account.
4) You can now link to various government services, such as Medicare, Centrelink, Child Support, Workforce, and ATO.
There’s a myGov app, too, to keep you in touch while you’re on the move.
Other ways to engage with Services Australia
Not everyone has permanent or reliable internet access, of course. Australia is a huge country and in some remote areas the internet may not be your best bet for connecting with the government. Or you may just prefer to deal with them another way. So there are also other channels to get hold of them;
Visit your nearest Services Australia office
You can locate the nearest Services Australia office, make an appointment to visit in person, and speak to a government official if you need to.
Give them a call
If you need to actually speak to somebody, you can contact the local offices and chat with a representative. The number of the nearest office will come up in the results when you search for them online.
Write to them
It’s not common nowadays, but the nearest office’s postal address will also come up in the online results. So if you’ve got a complicated situation to explain, or want to provide written evidence for something, you can still write to Services Australia too.
Services available through Centrelink
As we mentioned, Centrelink are responsible for getting state payments to people in Australia who need them. So if you’re looking for:
- Income Support, including JobSeeker payments, Youth Allowance, Age Pension, and rent assistance;
- Disability Support,
- Carer Payments,
- Family tax benefits, or
- Employment or training support through Workforce Australia, including work-from-home opportunities,
Centrelink is your starting point.
Best practices for accessing government services online
While it might seem like there’s a lot of information on the Aussie government’s website and it looks complicated, it’s probably the best way to access government services in Australia once you’re used to it.
So here are the best practices to help you navigate these government services:
Only use myGov and other official platforms
Always use the official government sites (myGov, Services Australia, or ATO, for example) to access the services you need. Don’t click on unknown links or third-party sites that ask for registration fees—the real Australian government will never charge you a fee just for accessing their services.
Secure your account
Create strong passwords and security questions to keep your account safe. Enable two-factor authentication for added security and include a backup email or phone number just in case.
Have the necessary documentation
Find out the required documents for whatever service or payment you need, and have them digitalised, organised and ready for upload if you can. If you can’t digitalise them, they can always be sent by post.
Utilise available tools and apps
Make your experience better and easier on the go with the available apps, logging in securely with biometrics, and activating push notifications. The Australian government’s apps and tools make it easy to access services from anywhere and at any time.
Learn about the various services available
Consider exploring the platform to familiarise yourself with the multiple government services available so you don’t miss out on benefits and support you may be entitled to, or information you might need.
Stay updated on digital information
You can enable notification alerts to receive updates so you’re always in the know. Government agencies also send emails and text messages about service delivery changes from time to time, so keep an eye out for those, too.
Essential considerations for first-time users
As an immigrant, you may be talking to the Australian government for the first time as a resident of the country rather than as a visa applicant. So while this may be second-nature to native Aussies;
Be patient
Don’t do anything in a rush—that may lead to mistakes. When asked to wait for a response, be patient. Your issue is likely being dealt with, but so are lots of other people’s.
Link your essential accounts
myGov allows you to link various accounts for a better user experience. Having them accessible on a single dashboard might make things easier to manage.
Always ask for assistance when needed
Contact support services via phone, chat, or email if you encounter challenges. Having someone take you through some processes can help you avoid mistakes and better understand the platform you’re dealing with.
Australia is a highly diverse nation, so their government information is available in lots of different languages. They’ll be used to dealing with people who are originally from other countries.
Get the help and info you need
From healthcare and social services to education, pensions and housing, the Aussie government does as much as it can to meet the diverse needs of its citizens online.
By understanding the available government services and familiarising yourself with the system, you can ensure you get the benefit from them you’re entitled to, and gain access to the same help and resources that native Aussies do.
FAQs
Do immigrants have access to Australian government services?
Yes, immigrants can access various Australian government services. Your eligibility for certain government services such as healthcare, welfare, and social security depends on the type of visa you hold.
How can an immigrant access Centrelink services?
Centrelink provides a range of services including employment services, financial support and healthcare assistance. Immigrants can access this service by,
- Registering by phone, online through myGov, or in person,
- Providing the relevant identification documents, visa details, and financial information,
- Completing scheduled interviews and filling out any additional paperwork require.
What services are available through Centrelink?
Some of the services available through Centrelink include income support benefits, carer support, employment support, and disability support.