General Information

	Currency Decimal currency is used in Australia - units are dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank. All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia. www.xe.com

	Banks Banks in Australia are open from 0930 to 1700 Monday to Thursday, and 0930 to 1700 on Fridays. Most banks are closed on weekends, however some banks in major cities open for limited hours on Saturday. Currency exchange facilities are available at the airport and most major hotels. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available at a wide variety of outlets, and in most city streets.

	Language English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language for the Congress. On your registration, please indicate if you require interpreting services at the Congress venue, and for what language. Limited interpreting services may be provided subject to demand.

	Electricity The electrical supply is 240 volts, 50Hz. The connection for appliances is a flat, 3-pin plug of unique design. Most hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers.

	Climate In Sydney, March ends our summer season and you can look forward to temperatures of approximately 24°Celsius during the daytime, and 15°Celsius in the evening.

	Shopping Most shops open from 0900 to 1700 during the week, with extended-hours shopping on Thursdays to 2100. On Saturdays and Sunday, most shops are open between 0900 and 1700. Sydney is considered an excellent duty-free port for travellers.

	Travel and Health Insurance We strongly recommend that you take out insurance policies to cover medical and travel expenses. If necessary, consult your travel agent.

	Wheelchair access, or other mobility disability access, during Congress When you register, please notify the secretariat of mobility disabilities you have, so any venue access challenges can be addressed.

	Taxes A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% applies to all consumer goods, and is included in retail prices.

	Tipping Service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. You may tip hotel porters and restaurant wait-staff (up to 10% of the bill) if you wish to acknowledge exceptional service. At any time, tipping is your choice.

	Eating Out Sydney’s multicultural population is reflected in the wide variety of excellent restaurants offering a diversity of cuisine from around the world. Bistros, restaurants, wine bars and cafes offer varied menus and prices, and range in style from relaxed, outdoor dining to chef’s hat-awarded restaurants. Local seafood delicacies are a must-try, including Sydney Rock Oysters, King Prawns, Queensland Mud Crabs, Balmain Bugs and Barramundi. These are delicious when accompanied by Australian wines, many of which have won major international awards.

	Mobile Phones Australia operates on a digital network, therefore analogue mobile or cell phones cannot be used. Mobile phones can be readily hired at Sydney Airport or telecommunication outlets.

	Transport from the airport Taxis are readily available at Sydney Airport, and the journey to the city’s CBD takes 15-20 minutes (longer during peak hours). The Airport Link rail service runs from approximately 5am until midnight, seven days a week, between the Domestic and International Terminals and all City Circle railway stations. For more information, call +61 2 8337 8417 or visit www.airportlink.com.au The Congress does not provide any transfers from the airport to the Congress venue or hotels. All delegates must make their own transport arrangements from the airport.

	Public Transport around Sydney Sydney’s public transport network allows easy travel around the city. Taxis can be hailed from the street, or engaged at taxi ranks throughout the city. Alternatively, use buses, ferries, water taxis, monorail and lightrail. There are also direct trains from the city to many state-wide destinations. Public transport timetables, and fare and route information, is readily available on the State's transport website, www.131500.info