Western Australia

Perth · ~2.9 million · The Wildflower State · AWST — 2 to 3 hours behind the east coast

A third of the continent with the population of a mid-sized city. Perth is one of the most isolated capitals on earth, with beaches that face west so the sun sets over the ocean. WA runs on mining and agriculture, wages are high, and the distances are genuinely enormous — Perth to Broome is further than London to Moscow.

Every official WA link, in one place

The bodies that actually decide these things. Everything further down this page cites one of them.

WA Department of Transport Licences, registration, overseas conversion Consumer Protection WA — Renting Tenancy law and the Bond Administrator WorkSafe WA Unsafe work — report it, visa status irrelevant Emergency WA Fire, flood and cyclone warnings Explore Parks WA Parks, camping and passes Tourism Western Australia Official tourism information

Three things that surprise people here

Distances break people. Do not plan a casual drive north without water, fuel and a plan.

Perth is 2–3 hours behind Sydney. Ring family and employers with that in mind.

Free public transport zones exist in central Perth, including the CAT buses.

SourcesMain Roads WA — travel advice (Remote driving)Transperth — Free Transit Zone (Free transit zone)

Ambulance — the thing most people get wrong

Not free for most people. You get a bill.

Who does not pay: WA Seniors Card holders and pensioners receive emergency ambulance at no cost; some concessions apply.
Typical cost if you do: An emergency callout in the metro area commonly runs around $1,000–$1,300, and country callouts cost more.
How to cover yourself: St John WA sells ambulance cover directly, and most private health policies include it. Visitor and travel insurance usually covers emergency transport.

Costs are directional and change without notice. Confirm on the official page before relying on a figure.

SourceSt John WA — ambulance cover

Local services and who runs them

Getting around

SmartRider

The Free Transit Zone covers central Perth, and the CAT buses circle the CBD, Fremantle and Joondalup for free. Perth to Fremantle by train is one of the great cheap days out.

Bank card instead of a travel card? Transperth accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets on most services alongside SmartRider.

Get the card Journey planner

SourceTransperth

Health advice, 24/7

healthdirect

1800 022 222

Free 24/7 nurse advice. WA also runs after-hours GP services linked from the same service.

Sourcehealthdirect Australia

Driving

Using your overseas licence

Permanent residents have 3 months to convert to a WA licence. Temporary visa holders can generally use a valid overseas licence, with an English translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in English.

WA Department of Transport

SourceWA Department of Transport — driver licensing

Renting

Consumer Protection WA — Renting

Tenancy law and the Bond Administrator. Your bond is lodged with a government authority, not held by the agent — if nobody lodged yours, something is wrong.

Tenancy rules & bonds

SourceConsumer Protection WA — Renting

Work safety

WorkSafe WA

The state regulator for workplace health and safety. If a job feels unsafe, this is who you call — and they do not ask about your visa.

Report or ask

SourceWorkSafe WA

Costs & climate

What to budget for

Wages run high because of mining. Perth rent has climbed steeply; regional mining towns are expensive but pay accordingly.

Mediterranean in the south-west — dry hot summers, mild wet winters. The north is tropical with a serious wet season and cyclones.

SourcesConsumer Protection WA Bureau of Meteorology — Western AustraliaG'day Guide estimate — not an official figure

Free in WA

CAT buses in Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup are free. Check it
Kings Park — one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, free, with skyline views. Check it
WA Museum Boola Bardip has free general entry for WA residents; check current pricing for visitors. Check it
The Art Gallery of Western Australia has free general entry. Check it

SourceTourism Western Australia

Where the work is

Mining & FIFO supportHospitalityConstructionAgriculture (Carnarvon, Manjimup, the Wheatbelt)Marine tourism

Whatever the job, check your legal minimum rate on the Fair Work Pay Calculator in your first week. Underpayment of new arrivals is common and the calculator settles it in five minutes.

SourcesJobs and Skills Australia Harvest work via Workforce Australia (Seasonal work regions)

Worth seeing

  Rottnest Island  A ferry from Fremantle, bikes, beaches and the quokkas that made the island famous.
  Margaret River  Wine, surf breaks and caves, three hours south of Perth.
  Ningaloo Reef  Swim with whale sharks from Exmouth between roughly March and July. Reef you can walk into from the beach.
  The Kimberley  Gorges, waterfalls and the Gibb River Road. Dry season only, and you need the right vehicle.
  Cottesloe & the sunset coast  Perth’s beaches face west, so sunset over the Indian Ocean is a nightly local ritual.

SourcesTourism Western Australia Explore Parks WA

Towns and cities

Perth

Isolated, sunny, and the highest-wage capital in the country.

In your first week here

Use the free CAT buses and the Free Transit Zone in the CBD.
Take the train to Fremantle — it is the best cheap day out in WA.
Remember you are 2–3 hours behind the east coast when you call anyone.

Broome

Pearling town on Cable Beach, and the gateway to the Kimberley.

In your first week here

The Dry season (May–Oct) is the season. In the Wet, half the town closes.
Staircase to the Moon happens on specific nights — check the dates.
Marine stingers and crocodiles are both possible. Check local advice before swimming.

SourcesTourism Western Australia Transport information

Still to do?

The national list — myGov, tax file number, Medicare, Fair Work and the rest — is on the main guide, in the order that works. Tick it off as you go on the checklist in My guide.