In addition to enjoying Canberra’s beautiful scenery, there are a few things you may need to do.
03 June 2024
The to-do list can seem never ending when you move to a new city.
With Canberra’s population projected to reach 500,000 by 2027, there’s a growing number of people calling Canberra home.
The ACT is also home to 22,000 veterans and their families.
We’ve taken the guess work away with this handy list of things you need to do when you move to Canberra.
This includes:
- Update your details with Access Canberra
- Get an ACT driver licence
- Update your Medicare details
- Update your details with Access Canberra
- Update your details on the electoral roll
- Get familiar with the recycling and waste system
- Enrol your child in school
- Register your pet
- Sign up to MyWay+, Transport Canberra's ticketing system
- Find where to go for health care
- Join the library
- Find disability support
- Find support for Defence families
- Connect with Canberra’s multicultural community.
Find out more below!
Update your details with Access Canberra
If you’ve moved to Canberra from interstate, you have three months to update your details with Access Canberra.
This will ensure that you don’t miss out on any important reminders.
You can easily update your details online, and it will apply to other services including:
- occupational licences
- building and construction licences
- Working with Vulnerable People registration.
Find out how to update your details with Access Canberra.
Get an ACT driver licence
If you plan on driving in the ACT, you’ll need to get an ACT driver licence within three months of moving here.
If you’re moving to Canberra from overseas, what you will need to do depends on the type of license you have and the country that issued it.
If you’ve moved to Canberra from interstate, you need to visit an Access Canberra Service Centre to get an ACT driver licence. You will need to bring:
- your proof of identity and residency
- your current interstate licence
- your licence history from the state or territory that issued it (you need to take this into an Access Canberra Service Centre within 7 calendar days of receiving it).
For interstate drivers’ licences, there’s no fee for this transaction if you’re issued with an ACT licence with the same expiry date as your interstate licence.
Update your Medicare details
Once you’ve got your ACT driver licence, log onto MyGov to update your Medicare details.
Update your details on the electoral roll
Once you’ve lived at your new address for at least one month, you are eligible to enrol at your new address.
The details on the electoral roll are used for both federal and state elections so you’ll only need to do this once.
Get familiar with the recycling and waste system
There are three different types of bins that are collected in the ACT:
- recycling bins have a yellow lid
- rubbish/landfill bins have a dark green or red lid
- garden organic green waste bins with a light green lid.
The green waste bins are optional. If you don’t have one, you can easily order one.
Bins are collected on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The bin collection calendar can tell you when bins are collected in your suburb. It will also tell you what can and cannot go in your household bins.
Enrol your child in school
Every ACT child or young person from kindergarten to year 12 is guaranteed a place at their local public school, determined by their priority enrolment area.
Children from the age of 6 must be enrolled in and attending school (or registered for Home Education) until they complete Year 12 or turn 17, whichever happens first.
Prior to starting school, your child may be eligible for preschool.
Canberra families can access up to 300 hours of free preschool per year with the three-year-old preschool program offered by participating Early Childhood and Education Care (ECEC) services.
Register your pet
All dogs and cats over eight weeks who have been in the ACT for 28 days or more must be registered.
When you register you pet for the first time, you’ll need to:
- complete the application form
- pay a one-off fee.
Cat and dog owners must renew their pets registration annually.
Pet services are now a part of the ACT Digital Account. This means that with your online account, you can:
- register your pet
- pay online
- renew, update or change your pet’s registration details.
Get set up with MyWay+
Canberra’s public transport system has two main parts: buses and the light rail.
MyWay+ is the ticketing system used to pay for both services. MyWay+ is as simple as tapping on and off with your regular bank card or payment method on your phone
You can also download the MyWay+ app and create a MyWay+ account. This gives you the added benefits of personalised journey planning and real time information.
If you don't want to use the digital features of MyWay+, you can also purchase a MyWay+ card.
Find out how to set up a MyWay+ account and download the app.
Find where to go for health care
The ACT Government has developed a new online tool to help the community find out more about local health services in Canberra.
The tool includes information about GP services and public, community-based health care services that people (mostly) don’t need a referral for. It also has information about non-government health related services.
Join the library
Libraries ACT has nine branches plus the ACT Heritage Library in Fyshwick.
Your local library offers so much more than just books to borrow. You can scan and print your important documents for free, use the public PC’s, connect to free Wi-Fi or even meet a, Justice of the Peace.
Plus, the library is a great way to meet people and connect with your new community with events and programming happening daily such as, Geri-Fit active sessions, children’s school holiday activities and much more.
Plus, joining Libraries ACT gives you access to free digital resources across categories like language learning, music and film, newspapers and magazines, personal and professional development and more.
Find disability support
If you or someone you care for has disability, there are programs and services that can support you.
Find support for Defence families
Moving to a new posting can be a challenging time for serving members, as well as their families.
There are a number of available supports for veterans, serving members and their families living in the ACT and surrounding regions.
Find out more about supports, services and opportunities for veterans in the ACT.
The ACT also has a strong network of Returned and Service League of Australia (RSL) sub-branches.
Find or contact your local sub-branch.
The Ministerial Advisory Council for Veterans and their Families advises the ACT Government on issues which impact veterans and their families in the ACT. It is composed of:
- current serving members
- veterans
- family members.
Find out more information about the council and its members.
Connect with Canberra’s multicultural community
There are programs and services for members of Canberra’s multicultural community.
This includes:
- overseas qualifications assessments
- work experience and support
- Translating and Interpreting Service
- support for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
- and more.
You can also visit the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre to speak to community organisations that can you give you advice, help you access support services and help you with English.
Explore your new home!
Don’t forget to get out and about and enjoy our beautiful city. Here are some stories that you might enjoy as someone new to Canberra:
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