Living in Australia

• Quarantine
• Currency
• Food
• Electricity
• Transport
• Shopping
• Telephones
• Time Zones
• Tipping

Australian Quarantine Regulations

Australian quarantine is needed to keep out exotic pests and diseases that could affect plant, animal and human health and our environment. This role is undertaken by AQIS - the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

Currency

Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold coloured $1 and $2 coins.

Food

There is a large range of fruit and vegetables available at Australian produce markets. You should have no difficulty in finding the foods that you are used to at home. You will also have the opportunity to sample the foods of many other cultures while in Australia.

There are elegant restaurants or typical Aussie pubs. Ethnic restaurants offer cuisines from all around the world. Good food at reasonable prices can be found at bistros or cafes. There are also many fast food chains and take-away food stores.

Electricity

The electrical current in Australia is 240/250 volts AC, 50 cycles. The Australian three pin plug is extremely safe. Adaptors are usually required for most foreign appliances. A transformer may be required if you bring an appliance from overseas that operates on a different voltage.

Transport

Australia has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, tramways, ferries, two major national airlines and a number of regional airlines. Metropolitan areas are divided into zones and your ticket type and cost depends on which zone you are going to travel in and for how long. Tickets can be bought at train stations, on buses and trams and at newsagencies.

Tourist students may drive in Australia on a valid overseas drivers licence but if the document is not in the English language the visitor must carry a translation with the permit. An international driving licence is not sufficient by itself.

Metered taxicabs operate in all major cities and towns. You will find taxi ranks at transport terminals, main hotels or shopping centres or you can hail taxis in the street. A light and sign on the roof indicates if a cab is vacant. There is a minimum charge on hiring and then a charge per kilometre travelled. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.

Shopping

Australia's major centres and capital cities have world class shopping facilities. Shopping hours vary but generally big department stores are open from 9.00 am until 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings with late night shopping either on Thursday or Friday until 9.00 pm. Some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some cities have Sunday trading with major stores opening from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Telephones

Australia has a modern telephone system. Many private households now also have facsimile machines. Public telephones are available at all Post Offices, shopping centres and are often situated on street corners. Public pay phones accept a variety of coins and Phonecards. Phonecards are pre-paid for use in public pay phones and can be bought at a large number of retail outlets in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20 and A$50. Credit phones take most major credit cards, such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Diners International and can be found at international and domestic airports, central city locations and hotels.

Time Zones

There are three time zones in Australia:

• EST eastern standard time which operates in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland
  
• CST (EST minus 30 mins) central standard time in South Australia and Northern Territory
  
• WST (EST minus 2 hours) western standard time in Western Australia.

Tipping

Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. In better-class restaurants, it is usual to tip food and drink waiters up to 10 per cent of the bill for good service. Porters at airports, taxi drivers and hairdressers do not expect to be tipped although you may do so if you wish. Porters have set charges at railway terminals, but not at hotels. However, at any time, tipping is a matter of individual choice.