If you are staying in Homestay accommodation via our preferred provide Talkabout Tours, it is possible to organise your airport pick as part of your application. Please visit Talkabout Tours

Rideshare and Taxi services are available from all Perth airports, with most available 24/7.  Rideshare companies include Uber, Ola, Didi, and each terminal has a rideshare pick up area.   

Taxi companies include Swan Taxi /13cabs and Black and White Cabs. Taxis ranks can be found as you exit each terminal, just look for the signs within the terminal. 

Public transport options include the Airport Train Line and The City Shuttle Bus service. Both the train and bus will take you into Perth’s city centre from which you will need to connect via other options to your accommodation if you are not staying in the city centre.  

The airport train takes approximately 18 minutes to reach the city centre and costs AUD $5.  

The City Shuttle Bus service takes around 25 minutes to reach the Perth city centre. Stops can be found outside each airport terminal, and costs approximately AUD $15  

Several public buses also operate between Perth airport and the city centre, including bus numbers 380, 40 and 935. Bus 380 can be found outside terminals 1 & 2, and bus 40 & 935 outside terminal 3 & 4. Public buses take around 35 to 45 minutes to reach the city and costs approximately AUD $5 

Airport train and bus services can be found at Transperth.

Depending on your arrival date, time and terminal, make sure you stop by the StudyPerth Airport Welcome Kiosk. Here you will be able to talk to the airport greeters who can assist with any questions and receive your welcome pack. Information on operation times and dates can be found at StudyPerth.

While you are in Perth, you might be able to access your account from home but depending on how long you are studying in Perth, you may wish to open an account to make things easier.   

There are four major banks in Australia - Commonwealth Bank (also referred as Commbank), Westpac, Australia New Zealand (ANZ) and the National Australia Bank (NAB), but there are a range of other reputable banks including Bankwest, ING and Bendigo Bank to name a few. Each bank has different account options and products to meet your needs. We recommend you do your research before deciding on a bank. You might like to consider: 

• number of ATMs available 
• transaction and withdrawal fees 
• setup fees 
• ease of transferring money from home 

ANZ, Westpac and Commbank may allow you to open an account before you arrive. 

What do I need to set up an Australian bank account? 

Most banks will require you to verify your identity at a branch in Australia before you can withdraw funds. As an international student, be prepared with relevant proof of identity documentation on hand, including a passport, proof of residence, birth certificate or driver's license and Australian address. You may also need proof you are a student in Perth, which will mean providing your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (ECoE) if you are on a Student Visa.  

You will also need to be of legal adult age (18).  

Not all mobile phones will work in Australia. This could mean making sure your phone is unlocked before you leave home, however it is important you do some research before you leave home.  

If you bring an unlocked phone to Australia, you can choose between a pre-paid service or a SIM-only plan.  

Pre-paid SIM cards are sold in many shops and supermarkets as well as mobile phone provider stores. This can be a good way to keep track of your budget as SIM cards come in a range of prices. You can ‘top up’ your prepaid service online or at various retail outlets. 

SIM-only plans may give you more included calls and unlimited messages however, you may be locked into a contract for an extended period.  

If your phone is locked to your home provider, you may need to buy a new phone in Australia. Most providers will allow you to pay off your phone as part of your monthly contract. Your contract will also include a set allowance for calls, text messages and data.  

There are three major mobile carriers in Australia: Telstra, Vodafone and Optus. There are many more small providers, who use the infrastructure of one of these three carries, but may offer more affordable phone plans.  

Moving to study abroad is and exciting opportunity, and Australia is a unique country with a unique culture. When you travel to a new country, you take with you your own personality and cultural ways with you, so when arriving in Perth you may experience a variety of feeling and reactions. This culture shock and adjustment period will be different for each person and will last a different length of time for everyone, but culture shock is a normal reaction.  

There are many culture shock’s that you might expect when coming to Australia, for example the different accent, the climate (a hot Christmas) and the weird wildlife, bugs and insects.  

However, there may also be many that you do not expect such as the ‘aussie’ slang and shortening of words, the sport obsession, shopping hours, the cold winters and even the coffee culture. Other cultural shocks and adjustments may relate to things such as:  

• Differences in study, such as classroom participation  
• Informal academic approach (how to address teachers and professors)  
• Smoking (smoking is banned on all university campuses and you are not allowed to smoke in public building, public transport, shopping centres, bars, hotels or restaurants)   
• Driving  
• Eye contact  
• Homesickness & separation from loved ones  
• Feelings of loss toward your cultural identity.  
  
  

One of the most important things to know is UWA CELT can help if you are having problems adjusting life and studies in Australia.  

The Department of Home Affairs provides further information on Culture Shock  

It's important to be aware that scammers can try to target international students studying in Australia. A scammer is an individual or organisation that makes money using illegal methods, especially by tricking people. While there's nothing to be alarmed about, the best way to beat scammers is to know what to look out for and how to protect yourself.  

View UWA's guide [PDF 1.25MB] or download one of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)'s guides below. 

English guide [PDF 524KB]. 

Simplified Chinese guide [PDF 524KB].