U21 Graduate Conference – Travel to Australia
Sustainable Cities for the Future - 29 November - 6 December 2009
What to wear
The conference will be held in early summer in Australia . In Melbourne , the weather can be unpredictable, but is likely to be warm during the day and cooler at night. Rain is possible. In Brisbane , the weather is sub-tropical and is likely to be warm and humid with showers likely.
Transport
Inner Melbourne has a good public transport system that uses trams, trains and buses. A single ticket can be used on all services. More information is available on the Metlink website. The most common routes around the conference site are the no. 19 tram along Royal Parade, which will take you from Ormond College to the CBD. There are also numerous trams along Swanston St that travel from the University to the CBD.
Brisbane …
Electrical connections
Mains electricity in Australia is 240V AC. The three-pin plug used in Australia is different from most others, so you will probably need an adaptor.
Currency
The Australian Dollar is currently worth about US$0.80 or UK £0.50, although it can fluctuate rapidly and is worth checking close to your departure date. Visa and Mastercards are widely accepted. Cash may be available from some Australian ATMs – check with your own bank for details.
Language
English is the dominant language in Australia and will be the language used at the conference. However, many other languages are spoken in the large urban cities of Australia .
Timezone
Both Melbourne and Brisbane will be in Eastern Daylight Time during the conference, which is 11 hours ahead of the UK (GMT) and 14 hours ahead of the east coast of the US .
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory, but is often used as a reward for good service in restaurants.
Visas
You will need a passport to travel to Australia . If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will also need a visa. See the Immigration Department for more information. We can provide letters of support if required. Please contact Dave Kendal at u21-conference@unimelb.edu.au if you need any further information on visas.
Customs/Quarantine
Australia has a strict quarantine and most food and many plant and animal products are also restricted. See the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website for more detailed information.
GST / TRS
Australia has a national 10% tax on all goods and services. In some cases, this can be refunded when you leave Australia through the TRS (Torist Refund Scheme). The Australian Customs Service has up to date information on this scheme.
Vaccinations
You may be required to have proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination if you are travelling from or through a Yellow Fever infected country.
Carbon Offsets
Travelling to Australia will result in a large quantity of greenhouse gases being emitted, mostly through burning aeroplane fuel. There are a number of schemes that you can use to offset your emissions. We hope to provide more information on this in due course.
For further information or help please contact u21-conference@unimelb.edu.au