Australia has a population of about 21 million, concentrated in the major cities along the coast: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Each city has its own personality with a mix of late 19th Century European architecture and modern high-rise buildings. Most cities also have their own Chinatown and ethnic neighbourhoods so you’ll always be able to find food, restaurants and entertainment from your home country! For this reason, overseas students have no problems fitting in, and lecturers are familiar with teaching students from many different backgrounds.

Outside the cities, Australia is a continent of diverse and breathtaking landscape – from dry arid deserts to rainforests, from mountains where you can ski in winter to pristine sandy beaches. The Great Barrier Reef stretches from the tip of Australia down the East Coast and is considered one of the world's natural wonders - a fantastic playground for diving and snorkelling adventures.

Australia is truly a multicultural country and Australians are welcoming, friendly and energetic – particularly when it comes to supporting their sporting teams. Australians enjoy a high standard of living and a relatively low cost of living. It is a relaxed culture and the climate encourages an outdoor lifestyle, with barbecues being a popular pastime throughout the year.

• Australian People
• Government
• Law
• States and territories
• Currency
• Weights and measures
• Time zones
• Water
• Australian culture
• GST and costs of goods and services
• Religion
• Food
• Bank services
• Opening a bank account
• Transferring funds
• Tipping
• Shopping
• Postal services
• Telephone services
• Transport
• Taxis
• Your own transport

Australia is an English-speaking country and has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Sydney is home to people from over 180 countries, and at least one in five Australians was born overseas. Cultural diversity is part of our national identity and is one of Australia’s greatest strengths.

Government

There are three levels of government in Australia: the Australian Government (Federal), state and territory government and local government (councils). The Australian Government is based in Canberra at Parliament House and is headed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

As an international student in Australia, you will be subject to all state, territory and federal laws. The legal age for buying cigarettes and buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years. Remember, if you break the law (depending on the offence) your student visa could be cancelled and you may be deported. Australian police patrol public areas in marked or unmarked cars, on foot, on bicycle, and sometimes even on horseback. They are approachable and will offer assistance if you need it, even if you just need directions to the train station. You are encouraged to report any crime committed against you or that you witness to your local police station.

States and territories

There are six states and two territories in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The capital city is Canberra, which is located in the Australian Capital Territory in the south-east of the country.

Currency

Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5 (purple), $10 (blue), $20 (orange), $50 (yellow) and $100 (green). Coins used are silver 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents, and gold $1 and $2 coins. Australian currency is the only legal tender in Australia. Money from other countries can be changed at the exchange facilities located at international airports, banks and major hotels. Travellers’ cheques are easier to use if they are already in Australian dollars, but banks will cash travellers’ cheques in almost any currency. Major hotels and some shops will also cash travellers’ cheques.

Weights and measures

Australia uses the metric system of weights and measures. Speed and distance are measured in kilometers, goods in kilograms and litres, and temperature in degrees celsius.

Time zones

There are three different time zones in Australia. Daylight saving also comes into effect in some parts of Australia during the summer months.Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland) Central Standard Time: AEST minus 30 minutes (South Australia and the Northern Territory) Western Standard Time: AEST minus two hours (Western Australia).

Water

Australia is a very dry country and water is a precious commodity. Many Australian cities and towns experience drought from time to time and often have enforced water restrictions. Do not waste water unnecessarily. You should learn about appropriate water use when you arrive by visiting Sydney Water website www.sydneywater.com.au or ask at the SIBT office. Tap water in Australia is clean and safe to drink.

Australian culture

You may notice differences in etiquette, lifestyles and values to what you are used to. Australians are informal and this can take some adjustment, especially if you are more accustomed to a culture where ritual is important and where levels of status and authority are clearly distinguished and carefully respected. These are not obvious characteristics of Australian culture and you will be expected to be able to accept a wide range of people on an equal basis in informal situations.

GST and cost of goods and services

A goods and services tax (GST) of 10 per cent is added to most goods and services in Australia. Items excluded from this tax include fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, bread and dairy products. The GST is added to the cost of the item on the shelf, so the ticketed price is the amount you will pay at the cash register. Although the cost of goods and services is monitored by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to protect consumers from being unfairly charged for items, costs do vary slightly depending on the place of purchase. The best advice is to visit several stores to find the lowest price for an item.

As one of the most multicultural countries in the world, Australia is accepting of all religions and your right to practice your faith without persecution or discrimination is protected by law. Macquarie University has prayer rooms on campus, and there are many places of worship representing all faiths in Sydney.

Food

Australia’s diverse cultural heritage has resulted in some of the finest and most varied cuisine in the world. There are restaurants for all tastes, with Asian, Middle Eastern, African and European food heavily represented. Australian cuisine itself is a mixture of all these influences, with traditional dishes given an Australian flavour. For cooking at home, you will find a wide range of international ingredients at major supermarkets and speciality food stores. There is also a wide range of foods available for people with special diets, such as gluten- or dairy-free products, vegetarian and vegan products, and halal meats.

Bank services

There are many banking institutions represented in Australia. Normal trading hours are 9.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am to 5.00pm on Friday. Some banks are open on Saturday mornings, but all are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Macquarie University has one bank located on campus and 3 ATMs. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are readily available for withdrawals 24 hours a day. Most stores and supermarkets also have Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) terminals where you can pay for goods directly from your bank account and make cash withdrawals.

Opening a bank account

You should open a bank account as soon as you arrive in Australia. While your passport will be adequate identification for the first six weeks of your stay, you will need further identification after this time. When you open a bank account, you may be required to provide a Tax File Number (to get a Tax File Number please see the section on Tax returns)

Transferring funds

Money can be transferred to Australia via bank drafts or cheques and telegraphic transfer. Bank drafts from overseas will take a few days to arrive and can take up to 10 working days to clear through an Australian bank. Telegraphic transfers usually take a shorter time, but cost more. Cheques take about five working days to clear.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. At any time, tipping is a matter of choice in recognition of good service. You can tip food and drink waiters up to 10 per cent of the bill for good service. You are not required to tip taxi drivers.

Shopping

New South Wales has world-class shopping facilities. Hours are generally 9 am to 5.30 pm seven days a week, with late night shopping until 9 pm on Thursday. Some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Postal services

Australia Post provides postal services and mail is delivered once a day from Monday to Friday. For larger parcels, a card will be left in your letter box for you to take to your nearest post office for collection. The postal service is reliable and efficient with next day delivery within the same city. Most post offices are open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. They sell stationery, post bags, phone cards and stamps. You can also pay your electricity and telephone bills and some other accounts at a post office.

Telephone services

Australia has a modern communications system. Public telephones are widely available and accept coins and pre-paid phone cards. Mobile phones are also very popular and are available from a variety of service providers. To order a mobile phone check out Talk Down Under website.

Transport

Public transport - Australia has an extensive and comparably safe public transport system that includes trains, buses, trams and ferries. You can buy tickets at train stations, ferry wharves or onboard buses and trams. Australia also has three major domestic and a number of regional airlines. Airline bookings can be made through travel agents, the airlines or online.

Taxis

Metered taxis operate in Sydney. You can call a taxi and book your journey by phone or wait at taxi ranks, which are at transport terminals, main hotels and shopping centres. In Sydney you can also hail taxis on the street. A taxi is vacant if the light on the roof sign is on. There is a minimum charge on hiring and then a charge per kilometer traveled. You may be charged a small fee for paying by credit card or EFTPOS.

Your own transport

You may decide to purchase your own transport. A reasonable second hand bicycle can be bought for about $200 and a good second hand car can be purchased for less than $10,000. It is a good idea to have a second hand car inspected by a reputable mechanic to ensure it is roadworthy.Contact the Road and Traffic Authority NSW for more information on Australian driver’s licences and road rules. www.rta.nsw.gov.au