Getting Established

Day 4 at a new place when you are intending to live there for a while is alot different than day 4 when you intend to just visit and return in a few days or a few months.  When intending to live there for a while, the things you have to do you and your concerns turn to "survival" rather than just "enjoyment."  If things aren't going easy, there might not be anyone to back you up or help you, and you can't simply just say, "I'll just wait a few days I'm going back."  Your problems turn to how to house and feed yourself and get healthcare, rather than what's the next thing to see.... and it is far easier to become homesick when things don't come easy.  You may find yourself saying in frustration: "Back in my old place/country we did things this way or that way, why can't they do things that way over here?"  Why? because we want to rely on familiar things when the going gets a bit rough.  Thus it's easy to feel negative about a place that is actually really nice.

It's a good idea to make a list of the things you have to do when arriving in a foreign country.  Overestimate the expected time you want to get those things done.  You need to allow that some routine tasks at home won't be routine at all in the new place.  Above all you might feel an urgency to get all these things done (especially if the list is long) and that you are behind - even if in reality you are proceeding on or ahead of what is realistic to expect.  So the proper attitude and awareness is to try to take an objective look at yourself from the outside when things don't seem well.  They actually might be ok.

That being said, there are a few things you might be able to do ahead of time, if you have to move to a country like Australia that can help alot.
(1) You should try to get a tax identification number before you arrive - this will help in alot of things (including establishing payroll, bank accounts etc.).
(2) You can also establish a bank account before you arrive and have funds wired to it in advance.  You probably wont be able to do anything with the funds before you walk in the bank office and show identification.  However, by doing this before you arrive you might be able to save as much as a week before you can access significant funds greater than the daily limit of your atm cards - When might you need such funds? howabout when you want to rent a room or apartment/flat and you need the first month's rent with security deposit?
(3) Research the cost of some basic services (phone, internet access, etc.).              
(4) Expect that house hunting might take longer.
(5) If you can find a credit card from home with no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, bring it!!