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August 2024
Given that moving house requires you to advise your service providers about your change of address – including electricity, gas, subscription television and internet – it's easy to expect that all your mail will start arriving at your new physical address. But it's easy to forget to update your personal details and tell everyone who needs to know – which is why you could miss out on receiving an invitation to your 20-year school reunion or, worse, a mid-season sale deal. Ensure you provide your change address details to important parties concerned so you don't miss any important communication.
To help you out, here's a change address checklist for a smooth transition to your new home.
Everyday service providers
Assuming you've already updated your electricity and gas suppliers with your new home address, and used EnergyAustralia's online energy calculator to find the right plan for your new home, it's time to consider some of your other everyday service providers, including:
- Banks, credit cards and other financial institutions
- Pay TV
- Internet and telephone (landline)
- Mobile phone
- Insurance (car insurance/home/contents/life/income)
- Legal representatives
- Motorway toll tags
- Accountant/financial advisor
- Employers and related services, e.g. superannuation fund/s, union
Health
Ensure your health providers have your new address so your records are up to date and nothing goes astray. This may include the following:
- Medicare
- Private health insurance providers
- Local doctors and other health professionals you visit regularly
- Dentist
- Gyms and other fitness outlets
- Blood bank
Government and utilities
There is a wide range of government services that may need to know about your new postal address, especially if you're relocating to a new city. This includes everything from changing your address on your driver's licence to letting the local council know. The following are particularly important as they serve as your public record, and failure to notify them of your address changing in some cases could result in fines. With most, you'll be able to change your address online – simply search your state and the relevant body online to find out more.
- Australia Post (consider their mail redirection service)
- Australian Electoral Commission
- Australian Taxation Office
- Concession/Pension cards
- Centrelink
- Department of Human Services
- DonateLife
- Driver licence and motor vehicle registration (transport departments in each state)
- Library
- Local council
- Pet microchip registry
- Seniors card
- School, TAFE, university
- Department of Veteran's Affairs
- Water
Entertainment
Between all the official stuff, don't neglect the more fun parts of your life.
- Loyalty programs and store cards
- Frequent flyers
- Travel agents
- Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Alumni/social groups
Final word
The best thing you can do to make your move a little easier is to have Australia Post redirect all your mail for up to 12 months for a small cost. During that period, make a record of all the mail you receive and make sure you successfully updated your address change so that your mail continues to arrive after the transition period has expired.
Moving interstate? Check out our guide.
