Your Adulting
Transition Checklist

Get at least one form of photo ID — driver's licence, Keypass, or passport

Set up a myGov account and link Medicare, Centrelink, and the ATO

Get your own Medicare card (you can get one from age 15)

Know what 100 points of ID means and what documents count toward it

Enrol to vote — you can enrol from 16, and must vote from 18 or you'll be fined

Open your own bank account using 100 points of ID

Understand the difference between credit cards, Afterpay, and personal loans — and the risks of each

Set up a basic weekly budget — income minus essentials shows what you can actually spend

Know what Centrelink payments you might be eligible for

Read a phone contract all the way through before signing — know what you're locked into

Know what types of insurance exist (contents, car, health) and roughly what each covers

Get your Tax File Number (TFN) — you need one the moment you earn any money

Lodge a tax return every financial year (July–October) — you might get money back

Understand super — your employer must pay it, and you can choose your fund

Know your minimum wage and Fair Work rights before starting any job

Know the difference between being an employee and a gig/contractor worker, and what protections apply to each

Know you have the right to feel safe at work — physically and mentally — and where to get help if you don't

Find a GP you trust and know how to book your own appointments

Know how Medicare works — what's bulk billed, what costs money, and what your card covers

Know what happens if you need an ambulance — and look into Ambulance Victoria membership

Go to the dentist at least once a year — adult teeth don't grow back

Understand how the public health system and private health insurance differ, so you can make an informed choice

Know where to go for sexual health information and services

Understand what a lease and bond are before signing any rental agreement

Know what bills you'll be responsible for: gas, electricity, water, internet, rent

Complete a thorough condition report when you move in — photograph every mark and defect

Set up a sharehouse agreement — cleaning, bills, guests, noise. Written down = fewer arguments

Know how to end a tenancy properly — notice periods, cleaning standards, getting your bond back

Know your rights if a landlord is treating you unfairly — you have legal protections

Get your learner's permit — available from age 16, computer-based test at VicRoads

Complete your 120 hours of supervised driving — log every hour, it's compulsory under 21

Understand demerit points and P-plate restrictions before you hit the road independently

Before buying a car: check rego, do a PPSR check, factor in fuel, insurance, servicing costs

Know how to register a car and what toll roads cost — set up a Linkt account if you'll use them regularly

Know your basic rights when dealing with police — what they can and can't ask or do

Know the laws around sharing images — including nudes — and what to do if yours are shared without consent

Understand what personal information social media platforms collect — and what your data is actually worth to them

Know your rights at school — around gender, sexuality, race, and religion

Know where to go if you've got a problem and aren't sure whether it's legal

Know at least 2 places you can call or go when things get really hard — not just for emergencies

Know how to support a mate who's not doing well — including when to encourage them to get help

Know about Medicare Mental Health services — free support, no GP referral needed to get started

Know what grief can look like — it comes in all shapes, and it's okay not to be okay for a while

Have at least one thing that reliably helps you reset on bad days — sleep, movement, getting outside, talking to someone

Understand what consent means — in all relationships, and that it can be changed or withdrawn at any time

Know the signs of an unhealthy relationship — control, isolation, and fear are not normal

Know that alcohol, gambling, and drugs can become patterns — and that getting support early is always okay

Know the legal and personal risks of sending nudes — and what to do if you're pressured or if they're shared

Know it was never your fault if someone violated your consent — and know where to get support

Know how to do laundry — sorting, temperatures, what goes in the dryer and what doesn't

Clean your bathroom weekly and change your sheets at least once a week

Cook at least 5 meals from scratch on a budget — pasta, stir fry, eggs, soup, rice dishes

Keep the kitchen and fridge clean — the back of a fridge is a whole other universe if you leave it

Have a cleaning agreement in any shared house — expectations written down prevent most conflict