Major Hospitals

• Brisbane Dental Hospital, Ph: 3231 3777
• Ipswich Hospital, Ph: 3810 1111
• Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Ph: 3840 8111
• Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, Ph: 3275 6111
• Royal Brisbane, Ph: 3253 8111
• Royal Women's Hospital, Ph: 3253 8111

Emergency Services - 000

• Contact Fire, Police or Ambulance by dialing free call 000 anywhere in Australia.
• Less urgent situations, please call Police - 3364 6464, Fire - 3247 5539 or Ambulance - 3247 8200

Rail Services

• Transit Centre, Roma Street, Brisbane, Ph: 13 12 30
• Long Distance Train Information, Ph: 13 22 32

Credit and Charge Cards

• Major international credit and charge cards including Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted.
  • American Express, Ph: 3220 0878
  • JCB Credit Cards, Ph: 1800 252 157
  • Diners Card, Ph: 1300 360 060
  • Mastercard, Ph: 1800 120 113
• ATM (Teller Machines) will provide currency to foreign card holders. This is marked with a "Cirrus" symbol.
• EFTPOS (Maestro) is available at most hotels and retail outlets.

Foreign Currency

To ensure the most accurate rate of exchange visitors are advised to convert foreign currency to Australian dollars at a Bank or at financial institutions e.g. Thomas Cook, American Express or Travelex.

• You can exchange money at Thomas Cook, Shop 135, Level Q, Myer Centre, Cnr Elizabeth and Queen Streets, Brisbane, Ph: 3221 7555
  Open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 5.15pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Tipping is not a requirement in Australia though some people do so if they are extremely pleased with the service.

Interpreter Service

Service operates 24 hours a day, Ph: 13 14 50

Banking

Banking Hours are Mon - Thurs 9.30am - 4.00pm, Fri 9.30am - 5.00pm at all Banks except Metway who are open Mon - Thurs 8.30am - 4.30pm, Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm, Sat 10.00am - 2.00pm. National, ANZ, Commonwealth, Westpac and Metway and most Building Societies have 24 hour Automatic Teller machines.

Electricity Standards

In Australia we use 240 volts at 50Hz

Driving Rules

Driving Rules are available at the Department of Transport Office which is situated in Surfers Paradise at Upton Street Bundall. Australians drive on the LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Customs Rules

Coming Soon.

Radio and Television

Up to 9 "free to air" television channels are available from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern New South Wales:

• ABC (Brisbane)
• SBS
• Seven (Brisbane)
• Nine (Brisbane)
• Ten (Brisbane)

FM Stations available are:

• ABC
• Radio FM 88
• 4BC Talkback Radio
• Classic Hits Star 106.9
• Radio 4EB
  
• Radio 4RPH : Radio for the Print Handicapped
  
• 101FM Logan City
  
• B105 FM
  
• FM104 Triple M

Post Offices and Stamps

Australian Postage stamps must be used on all mail posted within Australia. Stamps can be purchased at all Post Offices or at vending machines at the Post Offices after hours. Newsagents also dispense stamps.