General information

Airport and transport	Melbourne Airport is located 20 km or 25 minutes from central Melbourne. Taxi: A taxi fare is approximately A$45.00. If you would prefer to pre-book your taxi during your stay in Melbourne please find below contacts: Melbourne Cabs Phone: 1300 9091 9422 (Airport transfers) Phone: 03 9091 9440 (City transfers) Web: www.melbournecabs.com.au Top Taxis Melbourne Phone: 131 008 Web: www.silvertop.com.au Cabs Melbourne Phone: 13 1924 Web: www.yellowcab.com.au Accessible Taxis Melbourne Phone: 9277 3877 Web: www.silvertop.com.au Shuttle Bus: A shuttle bus service, SkyBus, operates 24 hours a day between the Airport and the city centre. The service runs approximately every 10 minutes at a cost of A$17 each way (A$28.00 return). Transfers from the main city bus terminus to major hotels is included. For further information or to book your ticket online or view the complimentary CBD hotel shuttle bus information visit www.skybus.com.au or phone + 61 3 9335 2811.
Banking and currency	Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic unit (100 cents = A$1) Notes come in A$100, A$50, A$20, A$10, and A$5. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, A$1 and A$2 denominations. Currency exchange facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate normal business hours. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most widely used being Mastercard, Visa and American Express.
Finances and Loans	Cash advances and payday loans are available both in cash stores nearby or at online direct loan lenders here as well as in other places. There is also a number of cash loan brokers who offer cash advance in Cadanda with no credit cheks.
Business hours	Banks and post offices generally open from 0930 – 1600 hours from Monday to Friday. Business office hours are 0900 – 1700 hours from Monday to Friday. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available 24 hours in many locations.
Climate and clothing	Spring (Sep-Nov): 10-20ºC (50-68ºF), Summer (Dec-Feb): 14-25ºC (57-77ºF), Autumn (Mar-May): 11-20ºC (52-68ºF), Winter (Jun-Aug): 7-14ºC (45-57ºF). Generally Australians are informal dressers. We suggest you bring a jacket and tie with you for special occasions. A light jacket is recommended for evenings. The conference venues may also require a light jacket or wrap with cooler air conditioning in some rooms.
Eating out	Bistros, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops offer varied menus, prices and decor. Local specialties such as seafood and Australian wines are worth trying. At some restaurants you can keep the liquor bill down by taking your own wine or beer. These are called “BYO” restaurants, an abbreviation for “bring your own”.
Electricity	Electrical current is 240/250V, AC 50Hz. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from that in many countries, so you will need an adaptor. If your appliances are 110V, check if there is a 110/240V switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V shavers are usually found in leading hotels.
Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)	Most price labels in stores are inclusive of 10% GST (Goods & Services Tax), unless otherwise specified. GST applies to most goods and services in Australia. The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) is administered by the Australian Customs Department and enables travellers departing Australia to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) paid on goods bought in Australia. For detailed information on the TRS visit the website of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services of the Australian Government here.
Insurance	Registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the Conference and book your travel you take out an insurance policy of your choice. The policy should include: loss of fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the Conference, or through cancellation of the Conference, loss of international/domestic air fares through cancellation for any reason, loss of tour monies through cancellation for any reason including airline or related services strikes within Australia, failure to utilise tours or pre-booked arrangements due to airline delay, Force Majeure or any other reason, medical expenses (including sickness and accident cover), loss or damage to personal property, additional expenses and repatriation should travel arrangements have to be altered Medical expenses The Conference Managers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance.
Language	The official language for the conference is English.
Photography	The Conference Hosts and Conference Managers have arranged for photography onsite throughout the conference. The images may be used for post-conference reports, case studies, marketing collateral and supplied to industry media if requested. If you do not wish for your photo to be taken, please inform a staff member at the registration desk onsite.
Passport and immigration (VISA)	All visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia. Welcome letters can be requested by emailing the Conference Managers following completion of Conference registration. For VISA information please download the information factsheet from the Australian Immigration Office.
Planning your travel	Because of time change and jet lag the Organising Committee suggests you consider arriving in Australia a few days prior to the commencement of the Conference. This will enable you to relax and familiarise yourself with your hotel and its surrounds before the start of the Conference.
Privacy	Australia introduced the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in 2001. The latest updates have been published 2014. The Conference Managers comply with such legislation which is designed to protect the right of the individual to privacy of their information. Information collected in respect of proposed participation in any aspect of the Conference will be only used for the purposes of planning and conduct of the Conference and may also be provided to the organising body or to organisers of future events. Information may also be used for advice as to future conferences in a related area. Further information on Privacy Laws in Australia can be found here. It is also usual to produce a ‘Delegate List’ of attendees at the Conference and to include the individual’s details in such a list. Consent for publication of the individual’s information may be withheld when completing the Registration Form for the Conference. Individuals are also entitled to access the information held by written application to the Conference Managers.
Quarantine	Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the import of animals and plants, which cannot be brought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also restricted. For more information see the ‘Information for International Travelers’ on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website.
Shopping	Melbourne shops are usually open from 0900 to 1700 hours during the week with late night shopping on Thursday and Friday until 2100 hours. On Saturdays and Sundays, the hours in the CBD and shopping centres are generally from 0900 to 1700 hours and 1000 to 1600 hours.
Time	Melbourne is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Tipping	Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is your prerogative, a reward for service. It is customary to tip hotel porters and a gratuity of about 10% is usual in restaurants if good service is received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional.
Vaccinations	There is no vaccination required for entering Australia. However, if you enter Australia from a yellow fever declared country but do not hold a vaccination certificate you will receive a Yellow Fever Action Card for further information. More information can be found on the Department of Heath of the Australian Government here.