Financial Literacy for Expats
This course helps you make smart money decisions while working overseas — opening a bank account, sending money home, paying tax, and saving for your future.
Financial Literacy for Expats
This course helps you make smart money decisions while working overseas — opening a bank account, sending money home, paying tax, and saving for your future.
What you will learn
- How to open a bank account in Australia or New Zealand.
- How tax works — what is taken out of your pay and why.
- How to send money home cheaply and safely (remittance services).
- What superannuation (Australia) or KiwiSaver (New Zealand) is and how it builds your retirement savings.
- Building a budget so you can save and still send money home.
- Avoiding scams targeted at overseas workers.
Course format
- Short reels.
- A short quiz at the end.
- Takes about 20–25 minutes.
How to take it
- Open the Courses page.
- Tap Financial Literacy for Expats.
- Watch the reels.
- Take the quiz.
Points and badges
- Earns OES points.
- Counts toward the Deploy Ready badge.
Smart money tips
- Open a local bank account in your first week. Your employer needs it to pay you.
- Get a Tax File Number (TFN) in Australia or IRD number in New Zealand. Without one, you pay much more tax.
- Compare remittance services — Wise, Remitly, BPI, and others all charge different fees. Saving even 1% adds up over time.
- Save before you spend — set aside money for tax, savings, and home before any extras.
- Avoid debt traps. Credit card interest is high in Australia and New Zealand.
Tip: Use the Salary & Cost of Living Calculator in the Tools section to see what your take-home pay might look like after tax and rent.
Sending money home
- Use a registered remittance service. Compare the fees and exchange rates before you send.
- Avoid sending cash through couriers or strangers — it is risky.
- Keep records of every transfer in case you need them later.