A welcome pack for the Albanian community, by the Albanian community.

AMES Australia

Settlement support, free English classes (AMEP), employment programs and community connections for new migrants, with offices across Melbourne and Victoria.

myGov & Services Australia

Your single online account for government services — Centrelink payments, Medicare, tax and more. Set this up early; almost everything runs through it.

Medicare

Australia's public health system. Enrol as soon as you're eligible to access free or subsidised doctors, hospitals and medicines.

AMEP — free English classes

The Adult Migrant English Program gives eligible migrants free English lessons, delivered by providers like AMES. Unlimited hours until you reach vocational English.

TIS National — 131 450

Free telephone interpreting in Albanian for talking to Centrelink, Medicare, doctors, banks and more. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Settlement services near you

The Department of Home Affairs lists settlement support services by suburb — help with housing, school enrolment, driving licences and daily life.

Finding a place to rent

Most rentals are advertised on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. To apply for a lease you'll typically need photo ID, proof of income (payslips or a job offer letter), bank statements, and references — as a new arrival without a rental history, offering a larger amount of rent in advance or a reference letter from an employer or community member can help.

You'll usually pay a bond (commonly one month's rent), which in Victoria must be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority — never pay cash without a receipt. Know your rights as a renter before you sign.

Converting your licence

You can drive in Victoria on a valid overseas licence at first (with an English translation or International Driving Permit if it's not in English — a NAATI-certified translation is accepted). Once you become a permanent resident, you generally have 6 months to convert to a Victorian licence.

Depending on which country issued your licence, you may need to pass a knowledge test, a hazard perception test and a practical driving test. Book everything through VicRoads — and note the knowledge test can be taken with an interpreter.

Opening a bank account

Easy and free — you can even open an account online with most major banks (ANZ, CommBank, NAB, Westpac and others) before or shortly after you arrive. Within roughly the first 6 weeks in Australia, your passport is usually all the ID you need; after that, banks apply a 100-point ID check requiring extra documents.

Choose an everyday account with no monthly fees, and give the bank your Tax File Number once you have it, so interest isn't taxed at the highest rate. Never share your banking passwords or codes with anyone — banks will never ask for them by phone or SMS.

realestate.com.au

Australia's largest property portal, and the first place most rentals are advertised.

domain.com.au

The other major portal. Many agents list on both, but not always at the same time — check both.

rent.com.au

Built around renters rather than buyers, with an application you prepare once and reuse.

property.com.au

Another Australia-wide property search platform, useful for cross-checking what is on the market.

homely.com.au

Worth reading before you commit to a suburb: how safe the area is, the schools, the transport, and reviews written by people who live there.

Flatmates.com.au

If you only need a room. A share house is cheaper, asks for less paperwork, and is the usual first step for someone arriving alone.

Commonwealth Bank (CommBank)

The largest bank in Australia, with the widest branch and ATM network and the app most people find easiest to start with.

NAB

Popular with new arrivals, and several of its everyday accounts have no monthly fee.

ANZ

Everyday accounts, debit cards and a well-regarded mobile app.

Westpac

One of the oldest Australian banks, with branches across the country.

Beyond the Big Four

Bendigo Bank — community-focused, with personal service.
Macquarie Bank — known for online accounts and competitive savings rates.
ING — online only, no branches, with a highly rated app.
Bank Australia — ethical banking; deposits fund projects with social and environmental benefit.
Great Southern Bank — competitive home loans and low-fee accounts.
Bank of Queensland (BOQ) — accounts, credit cards, personal and home loans, and products for small business.

What you need to open an account

Your passport
Your Australian visa
An address in Australia — a temporary one is usually accepted
An Australian phone number
A working email address
Your Tax File Number — this can come later

For roughly your first six weeks in Australia the passport alone is usually enough. After that, banks apply the 100-point identity check and ask for more documents.

SEEK

The largest job site in Australia, and the first place most employers advertise. Install the app.

LinkedIn

The global professional network. Recruiters search it directly, so a complete, current profile is worth the hour it takes.

Indeed

A global job board with a large Australian listing set. Install the app.

Jora

A search engine that gathers advertisements from many sites at once — good for catching what the others missed.

CareerOne

An Australian platform advertising roles across the country.

Hospitality jobs

Kitchen hand, chef, waiter, cleaner, barista. Hospitality is often the fastest first job while you settle, study, or wait for a qualification to be recognised.

Ethical Jobs

Roles in community, social and not-for-profit organisations.

APS Jobs

Australian Public Service roles — federal government jobs. Each state government runs its own board as well.

HAYS

Professionals, construction, IT, accounting and administration — temporary and permanent.

Randstad

Administration, logistics, healthcare and engineering — temporary and permanent.

Adecco

Warehouse work, manufacturing, logistics and services — temporary and permanent.

Hoban Recruitment

Warehousing and distribution, transport, blue-collar industrial work, business support, accounting and finance, health, education and childcare, call centres and government.

Programmed

Trades, construction, mining, industrial work, maintenance and cleaning.

Michael Page

Finance, HR, marketing, engineering, legal and management.

Robert Half

Accounting, finance, IT and administration.

Chandler Macleod

Mining, warehousing, government, manufacturing and call centres.

Manpower Australia

Logistics, warehouses, administration, sales and manufacturing.

Fuse Recruitment

Manufacturing, insurance, pharmaceuticals, engineering and scientific roles.

Labour Solutions Australia

Warehouses, food processing, transport and manufacturing.

Drake International

Administration, customer service, warehousing and sales.

Income tax

Paid by individuals and businesses on what they earn. The rates are progressive: the more you earn, the higher the rate on the top part of your income.

GST

Goods and Services Tax — 10% on most goods and services. You pay it as a customer; businesses above the registration threshold collect it and pass it on.

Capital gains tax (CGT)

Tax on the profit you make when you sell an asset such as a property or shares.

Fringe benefits tax (FBT)

Paid by employers on non-cash benefits given to employees — a work car available for private use, for example.

Payroll tax

A state tax paid by businesses whose total wages pass their state's threshold.

Superannuation

Retirement savings your employer must pay on top of your wage, into a fund held in your name.

What you must do

Register for an ABN.
Keep records of your income and expenses.
Lodge your tax returns.
Register for GST once your turnover passes the legal threshold.
Pay PAYG if you employ anyone.

How the tax is worked out

A business is taxed on its profit, not on everything that passes through it:

Profit = income − allowable expenses.

Keep the two sides of that equation documented as you go; reconstructing a year of receipts in July is how people end up paying more than they owe.

Help in your own language

Our mentors in business, finance and accounting explain ABNs, GST and small business basics in Albanian — see find a mentor.

If you are an employee

A compulsory uniform
Tools
Computers
The work share of your phone
The work share of your internet
Work travel
Professional courses
Professional memberships
Books and work materials
A home office, where the conditions are met

If you have a business

Office rent
Electricity
Internet and phone
Insurance
Advertising and marketing
Your accountant
Bank fees
A vehicle, where it is used for business
Equipment and machinery
Computers, office furniture and supplies
Software licences
Staff wages and their superannuation
Interest on business loans
Depreciation of assets

What is not deductible

Personal spending
Ordinary meals
Ordinary clothing
Fines
Family costs
Personal holidays
Private travel

Community associations

Albanian community organisations run cultural events, festivals and support networks in Melbourne, Sydney, Shepparton and beyond. Ask your mentor for the group nearest you.

Albanian language schools

Weekend schools help children keep their gjuha shqipe while growing up Australian. Community associations can point you to the closest one.

Events & celebrations

From flag raisings for Albanian and Kosova independence days to the Shepparton Harvest Festival, community picnics and iftars — the calendar is full. See the community events calendar below; showing up is the best way to build your network.

Kosova Independence Day

Dita e Pavarësisë së Kosovës — marking Kosova's declaration of independence on 17 February 2008. Melbourne officially recognises the day with a flag raising at Fed Square (Federation Square, corner of Swanston & Flinders St, in the city), where the Kosovar flag flies over the heart of Melbourne.

Albanian Independence Day

Dita e Flamurit — Flag Day, marking independence and the raising of the flag in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Melbourne marks it with a flag raising at Fed Square, and the community holds its own ceremony organised by the Albania Australia Community Association at 765 Drummond St, Carlton North, often with the Albanian and Kosovar embassies — followed by celebrations in Dandenong and Shepparton through 28–29 November.

Shepparton Albanian Harvest Festival

The biggest Albanian community event in Australia, running for over 25 years — traditional music, valle, Albanian food, and a famous fruit and vegetable market with produce from Goulburn Valley farmers. Held at Queens Gardens, Shepparton, drawing families from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. About two hours from Melbourne by car or train.

Albanian football clubs

Football (soccer) has deep roots in our community, with Albanian-backed clubs across Melbourne — all welcoming players, junior players and supporters:

North Sunshine Eagles FC — St Albans (west), founded in 1975 as Klubi Futbollistik Shqiponja (Albanian Eagle SC), with senior men's, women's and junior teams, and host of the annual Albanian Cup.
Dandenong Thunder FC — Dandenong (south-east), founded by Albanian migrants in 1970 as South Dandenong, now one of Victoria's most successful state-league clubs, with the double-headed eagle on its crest.
Heidelberg Eagles SC — the Albanian community club of Melbourne's north-east, at James Reserve, Heidelberg Heights.

Your local suburb club

Every suburb has community clubs for football, AFL, basketball, cricket, tennis and netball. Most offer beginner and social grades — no experience needed. Search "sports clubs near me" or ask at your local council.

Junior sport for children

Programs like Auskick (AFL), MiniRoos (football) and junior basketball are cheap, run on weekends, and are where Australian families meet. Victorian families may be eligible for the Get Active Kids voucher to help with fees.

Albanian businesses

Trades, shops, services and family firms run by Albanians across Melbourne, Shepparton and beyond.

Albanian restaurants

Where to eat food that tastes like home — and where the community tends to gather.

Albanian doctors

GPs and specialists who speak Albanian, so nothing is lost between you and your health. Until a listing is confirmed, TIS National on 131 450 gives you a free Albanian interpreter for any medical appointment.

Albanian lawyers

Albanian-speaking lawyers for tenancy, family, migration and workplace matters.

Albanian accountants

Albanian-speaking accountants for tax returns, ABNs and small business — see the tax section above for what they will ask you for.

Mosques & Islamic societies

The Albanian community built some of Australia's earliest mosques — a proud part of our history here:

Xhamia e Carltonit — the Albanian Mosque in Carlton North (765 Drummond St), opened in 1969 by the Albanian Australian Islamic Society as the first mosque in all of Melbourne — xhamia e parë në gjithë Melburnin — and now heritage-listed (aais.org.au).
Xhamia e Prespës — the Albanian Prespa Mosque in Reservoir, home of the Prespa community.
Xhamia e Dandenongut — built by the Dandenong Albanian community (Albanian Sakie Islamic Society) in 1985, beside Dandenong Creek.
Xhamia e Sheppartonit — built 1956–60 by the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society, the first purpose-built mosque in Victoria (sheppartonalbaniansociety.org).

Friday prayers, Ramadan iftars and Bajram celebrations are open to newcomers.

Albanian Catholic Society

Albanian Catholic Society of Melbourne — Shoqata Katolike Shqiptare — established in 1974 and based in St Albans, in Melbourne's west, bringing Catholic Albanian families together for Mass, feast days and community celebrations. Their Facebook group is the easiest way to connect.

In Adelaide, the Mother Teresa Albanian Catholic Society serves the South Australian community. Any local Catholic parish will also welcome you — ask about migrant chaplaincy services in your diocese via melbournecatholic.org.

Respect for all beliefs

Australia is a secular country where every religion — and no religion — is respected. Workplaces must reasonably accommodate prayer and religious holidays; the Fair Work Ombudsman explains your rights.

Ask us for a local contact

Tell us your faith and your suburb in your welcome session, and a volunteer will connect you with the nearest congregation and its Albanian-speaking members.