Canberra: Australia is an island continent about the size of the continental U.S. Geologically, it is one of the oldest continents, but in terms of European settlement is one of the most recent. The country’s 18 million people enjoy a high standard of living in a land still developing its great natural resources.

Melbourne: Australia has considerable interest and appeal to Americans: a development paralleling that of the U.S., its unique geography where there is striking contrast between the highly civilized coastal cities and the untamed Outback of the bush, and breathtaking flora and fauna. U.S.-Australian ties cover the spectrum of international relations, including commercial, cultural, political, and defense cooperation.

Perth: Australia’s increasing economic importance and the firmness of Australian-American relations add to the challenge of an assignment here and provide a chance to make a useful contribution to U.S. interests.

Note to the reader: This outline divides a post report into four distinct parts. Part I describes Australia in general terms as the host country; Part II discusses the U.S. Embassy located in Canberra and the surrounding area of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT); Part III covers the other areas where Consulates General are located and their region (Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney); and Part IV covers topics that address traveling personnel.

In the interest of brevity, some parts of this post report will refer back to others when the information is the same.

The Host Country

Area, Geography, and Climate Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:41 AM

Australia is a large, comparatively dry, and sparsely inhabited continent, almost as large as the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Australia, the only continent that consists of a single nation, is also the only inhabited continent which is isolated from all others (total coastline exceeds 22,000 miles). Average elevation is about 985 feet, which makes it the flattest continent on earth. This is among the prime reasons for sparse annual rainfall—16.5 inches, which is less than two-thirds the world average (26 inches). Further, the rain falls mainly on coastal regions: forty percent of the surface gets less than 10 inches per year, and annual evaporation exceeds annual rainfall on about three quarters of the land. Overall runoff is less than half that of the Mississippi basin; Australia has no navigable rivers of any commercial significance.

In general, the country is warmer than the U.S. (the northern one-third is in the Tropics, the rest in the Temperate Zone). Temperature extremes are much less pronounced. Sydney’s average daytime temperature in the coldest month (July) is 59°F; in the warmest month (January), 81°F.

Population Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:41 AM

Most of Australia’s 18.6 million people live in the south and southeast coastal areas (Temperate Zone). The States of New South Wales and Victoria contain 56 percent of the population. The State of Queensland, however, has the fastest growing population. Australians are mainly city dwellers: sixty-four percent reside in the eight capital cities, with about 39% residing in Sydney or Melbourne.

About 80% of Australians are of British or Irish descent. After World War II, Australia began to encourage immigration from other European countries also, and these immigrants and their descendants make up most of the balance. Approximately 23% of Australians were born overseas (8% in the UK, Ireland, or New Zealand), and about 20% to homes where English is not the dominant language. Immigration from Asia has increased in the last 20 years, especially from Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. Thirty-three percent of current immigrants come from Asia, and Asian-Australians are projected to account for 7% of the total population by 2040. New Zealand, however, has provided the largest single group of immigrants annually since 1997 (19%) followed by the UK (12%), China and Hong Kong (10%), South Africa (6%), and India (4%). In 1997, the population’s annual rate of growth was estimated to be 1.1%; less than half of that stemmed from immigration. The government promotes pluralism, ethnic tolerance, and social diversity, describing this policy as multiculturalism.

Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders total about 283,500 (approximately 1.6% of the population). Most of them live in northern coastal regions and the interior, but there are also significant Aboriginal communities in metropolitan Brisbane, Sydney, and other Australian cities.

Public Institutions Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:44 AM

Australia is divided into six States and two Territories: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). All eight regional jurisdictions are represented in both houses of Parliament. Australia also governs external territories such as Norfolk Island in the Pacific (about 1,000 miles northeast of Sydney), as well as the Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Islands in the Indian Ocean (about 1,600 miles northwest of Perth).

Without the power to tax personal incomes or corporate profits, Australian State and Territorial governments mainly depend on grants from the Federal Government. Nevertheless, the States and Territories have broader administrative authority than States of the U.S., for they manage various functions that Americans usually associate with local government (e.g., police, schools, and hospitals). In Australia, local governments provide relatively minor services (e.g., water supply, recreation facilities).

Canberra, the capital, is about 180 miles southwest of Sydney. During the nation-building ferment of the 1890s, it became clear that partisans of Sydney and Melbourne could not reach agreement on either city as the permanent capital. The site of Canberra, the compromise, was selected after the six States federated in 1901. Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin designed the basic plans, and construction started in 1913.

The Commonwealth (Federal) government and the six State governments operate under written constitutions which mainly draw on the British (Westminster) tradition of a Cabinet government that is responsible to a majority in Parliament’s lower chamber, the House of Representatives. The Federal constitution, however, also contains some elements that resemble American practice (e.g., a Senate in which each state has equal representation).

The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning British monarch, but she exercises her functions through personal representatives who live in Australia (i.e., the Governor-General of Australia and the Governors of the six States). All seven are Australian citizens and are appointed at the recommendation of the corresponding head of government (the Prime Minister or the Premier of one of the States). Most of their duties are ceremonial, and they mainly act on the advice of Cabinet ministers. Democratically elected representatives thus exercise effective rule, and in recent years there has been considerable debate about proposals to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. A referendum to establish a republic was defeated in November 1999.

Voting is compulsory, and seats in the 148-member Federal House of Representatives allotted to the states and territories according to population. Members of the House are elected to three-year terms from specific “divisions” (districts) by means of a preferential voting system, but the Prime Minister may recommend new national elections before the three years have elapsed. (The Governor-General traditionally follows such advice.)

The Prime Minister and other Cabinet ministers are all serving members of Parliament. By tradition, most are members of the House of Representatives, which is the focus of intense debates and a highly structured competition that pits the government against the opposition. Party discipline is strict; almost all controversial proposals are debated and enacted along party lines. It is rare for a member to cross the floor (i.e., vote against party views), and anyone who does so risks expulsion from the party or rejection for “pre-selection” in the next electoral cycle. Australia does not have primary elections. A candidate for the House of Representatives is nominated during a meeting of the party’s local members.

Each of the six States elects 12 Federal Senators who serve for six years, but their terms overlap—so that half these seats are contested every three years. In addition, each of the two territories elects two Senators who serve three-year terms. The Upper House thus has 76 members in all.

Drafters of the constitution intended that the Senate mainly represent the States and protect their rights. However, because of strict party discipline and complex electoral methods—at-large voting involving proportional “quotas” and sequential tallies that take account of second and subsequent preferences marked on the ballot—Senators mainly represent the interests and policies of political parties, with relatively minor variations that attest to regional concerns. Senators may serve as ministers, and in recent years about one-third of the overall number have come from the Upper House.

The Senate cannot originate or amend tax or expenditure bills, but has the constitutional authority to reject them or propose changes. In all other respects, the two Houses have equal standing. Under complex conditions specified in the Federal constitution—in essence, extended deadlock between the House and Senate—both Houses may be dissolved simultaneously, so that ensuing national elections would involve all seats in Parliament. This is unusual and has occurred only six times.

All major parties support the U.S.-Australia alliance and stress the importance of close relations between Australia and the United States. This long-standing and stable pattern is essentially unaffected by the outcome of national elections.

In March 1996, the governing Liberal-National Coalition unseated the Australian Labor Party (ALP) after 13 years in office. The Coalition under the leadership of Prime Minister John Howard won reelection in October 1998. Both the Coalition and the ALP agree on the need to liberalize trade and enhance global economic ties, and both favor in differing degrees a free-market, entrepreneurial approach to economic growth. The Coalition, however, stresses individual rights, personal autonomy, and managerial initiative, and has sought a more rapid shift toward enterprise contracts to replace detailed Federal and State regulations on pay levels and fringe benefits. During its first term in government the Coalition made work place and budget reform its key priorities. The Liberal Party holds about three-quarters of the Coalition’s seats in Parliament. Its junior partner, the National Party (formerly called the Country Party), is closely associated with conservative social values and the interests of farmers.

During its period in government (1983–1996), the ALP, which maintains close ties to the trade union movement, carried out major restructuring of the economy (e.g., floating the Australian dollar, cutting tariffs by substantial amounts, reducing and simplifying regulations that affect business). Liberalizing trade and enhancing economic integration with Asia-Pacific countries are major tenets of the ALP.

Three minor parties—the Australian Democrats, the Australian “Greens”, and the One Nation Party—are represented only in the Senate but have political and media influence which is disproportionate to their numbers. The Democrats, who present themselves to voters as a balancing force between the liberal ALP and the conservative Coalition, stress good government, public-sector services, and social equality. The Australian “Greens” take a special interest in environmental matters and often express concern about the effect of large social institutions (e.g., government bodies, corporations, and trade unions) on individuals and local communities. The far-right One Nation Party had a significant effect on public debate throughout the first Howard government on issues ranging from immigration to welfare to rural services. The One Nation Party supports restricted immigration favoring English speakers and protectionist trade policies.

The High Court of Australia equates to the U.S. Supreme Court. It has the power of constitutional review, as well as general appellate jurisdiction over other Federal courts and the courts of the various States. The Federal court system is less influential than in the U.S., for Parliament has invested State courts with substantial authority to enforce federal statutes.

Arts, Science, and Education Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:45 AM

Education is compulsory through age 15. Reflecting the Government’s drive to expand educational access, the number of Australians finishing high school has risen from 34% in 1983 to more than 70% today. Approximately 66% of students attend Government schools; the rest attend private schools. The number of students completing the Australian equivalent of a college education (i.e., at a university, teachers’ college, college of advanced education, or technical school) is growing annually. The Australian Government supports two significant organizations that encourage Australian and American scholarship and academic exchanges: the Australian Fulbright Commission and the Australian Centre for American Studies.

In science, Australia holds a significant place in radio astronomy, geology and marine sciences. Its observatories constitute the principal center of optical astronomical research in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also an important base for monitoring U.S. space flights and satellites with two critical NASA Space Tracking Stations. With the Great Barrier Reef on the country’s northeast coast, Kakadu National Park in the far north, and the unusual array of flora and fauna, Australia is considered a giant ecological laboratory. Australia’s proximity to Antarctica has also fostered considerable scientific research in the area of the South Pole.

Private and community events organizers, as well as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), annually bring to Australia internationally acclaimed performing artists who tour Australia’s principal cities. The major cities have symphony orchestras and lively professional theaters with productions ranging from the classics to the avant-garde. National and foreign opera, ballet, and theater companies perform in sites outside their headquarter cities on a regular touring basis. Some Australian companies such as the Australian National Ballet have received international acclaim.

Australia’s art scene is dynamic. Government-supported galleries in Canberra and the State capitals have important collections of Australian and overseas artists. Commercial galleries in the larger cities display top-quality work as well. Traditional and contemporary aboriginal art is popular with local and foreign collectors. Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra host annual or biennial arts festivals. They include all of the arts and attract world famous writers, musicians, singers, actors and dancers. Activities in the arts and politics are well covered by newspapers and magazines. Australia’s publishing scene is lively. Novels, travel books and more “academic” publications by local authors are plentiful. Bookshops are usually well stocked, yet books, even paperbacks, are substantially more expensive than in the U.S. because of Australian arrangements with British publishers.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has a World Wide Web page that covers a great deal of current information about Australian culture. This internet site is regularly updated. The address for the main page is http://www.dfat.gov.au. The section “Australia in Brief ” is highly recommended for detailed information concerning life in Australia.

Commerce and Industry Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:47 AM

Australia has a highly developed market-based economy dominated by its services sector (65% of GDP), yet dependent on the agricultural and mining sectors (which accounts for 9% of GDP combined) for the bulk of its export income. Hence, Australia’s trade balance tends to fluctuate in response to shifts in global commodities’ prices, while domestic conditions remain relatively stable. Australia’s comparative advantage in primary products is a reflection of the natural wealth of the Australian continent and its small domestic market: 19 million people occupy a continent the size of the contiguous United States.

The manufacturing sector has been in relative decline for several decades, and now accounts for just over 14% of GDP. Within the manufacturing sector, however, there has been a clear shift in recent years away from simple goods (such as textiles) towards more elaborately transformed products (such as transport equipment).

The United States is Australia’s single largest source of imports and foreign investment, so U.S. brands and companies are prevalent. Along with consumer goods, Australia’s imports from the U.S. include aircraft, computers and electronics equipment. However, Australia’s largest trading partner is Japan, which accounts for 20% of Australia’s exports, mostly in the forms of raw materials for industry (such as coal and iron ore). Despite the effects of the Asian financial crisis, the bulk of Australia’s trade remains with the East Asian region.

Australia enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world, and despite reductions in government expenditure in recent years, retains a significant social welfare infrastructure, including large outlays on public health and housing. Government participation in telecommunications and utilities has declined in recent years, a result of an extended program of privatization and deregulation. Wages in Australia are determined by a combination of government direction (mostly for minimum standards), collective, and individual bargaining.

Transportation

Automobiles Last Updated: 11/19/2003 9:56 AM

Vehicles in Australia are more expensive than American vehicles. Imported vehicles are strictly controlled and must be made for the Australian market. Please contact the Embassy General Services Office before any proposed purchase or importation of vehicles.

Local interest rates on vehicle loans may be higher and a U.S. financial arrangement may be more competitive. Some employees have been able to obtain car loans denominated in U.S. dollars at competitive U.S. interest rates from an Australian bank.

The Community Liaison Office (CLO) packet includes information on car dealers, and consumer publications for new and used cars are readily obtainable from local newsagents.

Canberra is a city in which most people find a car necessary. It would be possible to live in Sydney or Melbourne without a vehicle due to the local rail and tram services, but residents of Perth would also require a vehicle. All cities have local bus services, but they are not always convenient.

People wishing to buy a car from a departing Embassy employee should notify the CLO who can put a note in the Embassy newsletter on their behalf.

The ACT government will issue a local driving license without charge on sighting of a current U.S. driver’s license and DFAT card. Eye tests are compulsory. “DC” plates are issued to persons on the Diplomatic List and “DX” plates to Administrative and Technical staff personnel.

Tax paid on gasoline is refunded to American diplomatic and consular officers. Admin and Technical staff are not entitled to tax-free gasoline on the open market. All grades and types of fuel are sold; unleaded gas is available.

Third-party personal (liability) insurance is mandatory for all vehicles registered in Australia. Minimum third-party insurance is required; comprehensive insurance is recommended. Insurance rates are somewhat higher than in the U.S. A letter from your insurance company stating that you have made no insurance claims during the previous 5 years will enable you to get a “no claim” bonus from the local insurance companies. The bonus will allow for insurance rate reductions of up to 60%.

Duty and Sales Tax on Motor Vehicles. The Government of Australia (GOA) imposes goods and services tax (GST) on all locally manufactured new vehicles and duty plus GST on all imported vehicles. Approval, after arrival at post, must be sought from GOA to purchase a duty/sales tax-exempt vehicle.

Duty on foreign-made vehicles is payable at entry to the Australian market, while GST on foreign and Australian made vehicles is made at point of purchase. Therefore, to obtain exemption on duty it will be necessary to order a specific vehicle from a dealer which may take some time depending on whether they have a bond store or not. Purchase from the showroom floor will not obtain exemption only from duty. Often the hire of a rental vehicle is more than the duty component, but needs to be examined in each case. Individuals may make purchase arrangements with a local dealer before arriving so that the vehicle is at the point of entry when the owner arrives.

Accredited diplomatic and consular officers may purchase one duty-free vehicle every three years, or two vehicles where there is a dependent family member forming part of the household.

Administrative and technical staff may purchase only one duty-free vehicle per family provided this is completed within the first six months of arrival.

GST on vehicles must be paid, but will be refunded by the GOA after necessary documentation has been filed. For other consumer goods, employees may file quarterly submissions for the refund of GST paid on invoices with a minimum value of A$2000. GST paid on services, including hotels, restaurants, and insurance, is not reimbursable. Request for GST refunds on vehicles may be submitted at the time of purchase, without waiting for the next quarterly submission.

Vehicles purchased under privilege may be sold with approval from the GOA. No refund of duty or sales tax is required if the vehicle is held for 3 years after the date of entry to Australia, or from the date of delivery when purchased from the shop floor. Pro rata duty/sales tax will be charged for any shortfall of the withholding period of 3 years.

Importation of Motor Vehicles. Any new or used vehicles imported for use in Australia must meet Australian safety standards (Australian Design Rules or ADRs) and have fitted a compliance plate indicating that the vehicle meets these requirements. ADRs include being right-hand drive and having strict emission controls. Imported vehicles under 15 years old, sold through authorized motor vehicle dealers, will be fitted with a compliance plate.

Compliance plates can only be fitted with the approval of the Federal Office of Road Safety. Vehicles newer than 15 years old cannot be registered and used on public roads in Australia without a proper compliance plate. It is essential that a compliance plate be issued before importation is considered to Australia.

Vehicles more than 15 years old may be imported to Australia, provided that they conform to standards applicable to an Australian car of the same age, including being right-hand drive.

Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Vehicles belonging to SOFA personnel may be imported temporarily for use in Australia without compliance plate requirements, including left-hand drive vehicles.

It is worth noting that there are stringent requirements that must be met in order to take advantage of this SOFA privilege. It is strongly urged that the employee contact the 337th (02–6214–5879) to obtain all of the necessary information before committing one’s car to importation. Also, some members have reported difficulties in obtaining replacement automotive parts for their personally imported vehicles. The CLO has a catalog through which some parts can be ordered to help alleviate this problem.

Transportation

Local Transportation Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:48 AM

Bus service in Canberra is available; however, it is sometimes unreliable due to industrial work stoppages. Most people do not live within walking distance of large shopping centers or the Embassy, and many families find it necessary to have a second vehicle. Other major cities have a good system of commuter trains, buses, streetcars, and harbor ferries. Public transportation there is efficient though crowded during rush hours.

Taxi service in all major cities is good. Tipping is not expected unless the driver helps with baggage. Rent-a-car services are available in all cities. Rates are higher than those in the U.S. Railway porters have a set charge for each piece of luggage handled, varying slightly from city to city.

Transportation

Regional Transportation Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:48 AM

Australia’s size makes air travel the most convenient method of in-country travel. Several international airlines operate regularly in and out of Australia. There is an extensive but expensive domestic air network with an impressive safety record.

Rail service is good between major cities. Bus service is available between most cities and is less expensive than either air or rail.

Road conditions in Australia vary greatly. Few four-lane highways exist, and these are mainly for short stretches on the approaches to the larger cities. Most highways are two-lane asphalt; some have a third lane for passing on hills and other dangerous points.

Communications

Telephones and Telecommunications Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:49 AM

Telephone service within Australia and worldwide is excellent. An Australia-to-U.S. call is easy to place. Itemized billing is available but must be requested when ordering telephone service as it is not automatically installed. Aside from Telstra direct-dial international call facilities, there are call-back services that offer highly competitive rates. Telegraph facilities are excellent.

It is not advisable to have cordless/cellular phones in personal effects as they may be confiscated by Australian Customs. Phones coming into Australia must be registered with Telecom before entering Australia. Permits are very expensive.

Communications

Mail and Pouch Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:51 AM

APO service is available in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Mail is sent and received daily on weekdays at the Embassy and all Consulates General.

APO letter mail takes from 6 to 8 days to and from the U.S., and parcels sent SAM (Space Available Mail) and PAL (Parcel Air Lift) take from 2 weeks to 1 month; parcels sent Priority Mail take from 7 to 10 days. Contact APO up to 3 months prior to arrival for a post office box number.

Address letters and packages sent APO as follows:

For Canberra: Name of Employee PSC 277 Box … APO AP 96549

For Sydney: Name of Employee PSC 280 Box… APO AP 96554

For Melbourne: Name of Employee PSC 278 Box… APO AP 96551

For Perth: Name of Employee Unit 11021 APO AP 96530

Mail service within the country and between Australia and the U.S. is good. International airmail to and from the U.S. takes from 4 to 8 days and surface mail from 2 to 3 months. Though more costly, international airmail in most cases is faster than APO mail. Address international mail:

Canberra: American Embassy Moonah Place Yarralumla ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA

Sydney: American Consulate General MLC Centre, Level 59 19–29 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA

Melbourne: American Consulate General 553 St. Kilda Road 6th Floor Melbourne VIC 3002 AUSTRALIA

Perth: American Consulate General 16 St. George’s Terrace 13th Floor Perth WA 6000 AUSTRALIA

Communications

Radio and TV Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:52 AM

AM and FM radio stations reach the entire country. Shortwave broadcasts, including VOA, can be picked up but reception is unreliable. TV programs are similar to those in the U.S. with many American programs and films shown. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation presents an abbreviated version of National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” nightly and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) presents an extensive range of foreign television news programs, including PBS’ “The News Hour.” All five TV channels broadcast in color using the PAL system, which means that U.S.-made TVs cannot be used without modification. TV modification from NTSC (U.S.) to PAL is expensive, not always satisfactory, and will render the set unusable in the U.S. until it is converted back to NTSC. Contact the CLO for additional information on TVs.

Communications

Newspapers, Magazines, and Technical Journals Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:54 AM

Australia’s metropolitan press consist of two daily papers in Sydney and two in Melbourne; one each in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, and Perth; and two national daily newspapers. Circulation figures range from 580,000 (Melbourne’s Herald Sun) to 41,000 (the Canberra Times). Each State capital has at least one Sunday paper. Many daily papers are published in provincial areas. Triweeklies, biweeklies, and weeklies are published in other cities and towns throughout the country. Australia has a flourishing periodical press, ranging in circulation from 1,152,000 (the Australian Women’s Weekly) to small, specialized journals published at intervals of up to one year, catering to a great variety of interests. U.S. newspapers are not available locally; however, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the International Herald Tribune are available at a limited number of news agents. Subscriptions to the Stars and Stripes and other military periodicals (Army Times, Navy Times, etc.) are available.

Newsstands carry Time Australia, the Asia-Pacific edition of Time, as well as Who magazine (People). Newsweek and Fortune have been incorporated as part of the Bulletin magazine. Numerous bookstores in each capital city carry such American magazines as Fortune, Saturday Review, Scientific American, Harper’s Bazaar, the New Yorker, the New Leader, and European magazines such as Paris Match, Realities, Punch, the Observer, the New Statesman, and Encounter. Airmail delivery or locally printed editions of the more popular magazines listed above means that issues are up to date. Subscriptions normally would be necessary for only the specialized publications.

Avid readers may be frustrated by higher priced books and might consider joining a book club or shopping on-line to avoid the extra costs. Devotees of weekly magazines enjoy reading stories of current events and entertainment from an American perspective, even with the built-in delay of delivery, should consider subscribing to their favorite magazines as well.

Because of APO privileges, all shipping of magazine subscriptions and book club materials, etc., will be at the domestic postage rate. Delivery to one’s home address would incur substantially higher costs as well as a longer delivery time frame.

Health and Medicine

Medical Facilities Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:56 AM

Although no posts in Australia have a health unit, the Embassy and Consulates General are stocked with basic first aid supplies for emergency and work-related problems. Also readily available are well-qualified doctors, surgeons, and specialists as well as good hospitals and laboratory facilities. It is not necessary to go outside Australia for medical care except in rare instances that require a trip to a specialist in the U.S. The regional medical officer in Singapore makes trips periodically to Australia and is available for consultation and medical advice.

Canberra has two public hospitals and three private hospitals, which cater to all sections of the community. They are well equipped and provide the usual pathology and X-ray services and outpatient care. The city has many general practitioners and a variety of specialists. Good dentists, several opticians and ophthalmologists are available. Fees for general practitioners are about A$35 to A$45 per visit. Specialists (need to be referred by G.P.) fees for initial consultation are approximately A$200 and A$75 for successive visits. Dental fees vary with the type of work required. Laboratory fees are expensive.

Each State capital where Consulates are located has several large and well-equipped hospitals. Many excellent doctors, surgeons, and specialists of all kinds practice in these cities. Competent oculists and opticians are readily available although eyeglasses, lenses and contact lenses are more expensive than in the U.S.

All residential areas have a large number of general practitioners competent to handle all general ills not requiring a specialist. Gynecologists and pediatricians are excellent. Hospital accommodations are sometimes limited and, except for emergency care, should be reserved as far in advance as possible. Dentists use modern methods and equipment. Good orthodontic, periodontal and endodontal care are available. Pharmaceutical services are provided by chemist shops (drugstores) in all suburban and city shopping areas. Pharmacies (“chemist shops”) are well stocked with prescription and patent medicines.

Health and Medicine

Community Health Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:57 AM

No unusual health problems or hazards exist. Sewage and garbage disposal services are similar to those in the U.S. Water supply is ample for household use and for watering lawns. Water is soft and safe (drawn from a mountain reservoir in the mountains near Canberra) and is chlorinated and fluoridated. Safe pasteurized and homogenized milk is available.

Flies are pests throughout Australia in warm weather. In mid-summer, the native bush fly is a constant annoyance outdoors, but it disappears in cold weather. People with gardens find snails and slugs a great nuisance. Zipper-type garment bags are useful to protect fine and seldom-worn clothing from moths and silverfish. A number of spiders and snakes, some of them poisonous, are native to Australia and may be encountered, particularly in rural areas. Antivenom is widely available in affected areas and should be sought at once if bitten.

Health and Medicine

Preventive Measures Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:58 AM

No serious endemic diseases exist and no special health precautions are necessary for those assigned to Australia. All shots are available here. Sabin polio vaccine is available; take the series either before or after arrival, especially children under 2, as well as a measles, mumps, and rubella shots. The usual children’s diseases (measles, mumps, chicken pox) occasionally reach epidemic proportions, as immunization is not mandatory for children to enter public school. Mild outbreaks of influenza, gastroenteritis, and other seasonal diseases are common, as are sinusitis, colds, other minor respiratory illnesses, asthma, and allergies. Children should be immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and Hemophilus influenza B. Adults should keep tetanus and booster shots current. Yellow fever immunizations are currently required for personnel who have previously resided in tropical Africa or Brazil. No unusual health hazards exist. No known cases of rabies have occurred in Australia in recent years.

Employment for Spouses and Dependents Last Updated: 11/19/2003 10:59 AM

Australian law restricts the issuance of work certificates to other than the country’s own and intended citizens. However, in 1984 Australia and the United States signed a bilateral work agreement permitting spouses and eligible family members to be employed locally. Due to the Rockefeller amendment and changes in the Foreign Service Act, eligible family members may now apply for Foreign National (FSN) vacancies. Also, dependents can apply for temporary positions within the Australian Government.

Job opportunities for dependents within the Embassy exist, and some Embassy spouses work on the local economy. The procedures for seeking employment outside of the Embassy vary, depending on the status of the sponsor’s employment within the Embassy. Family members of employees in Australia on diplomatic status must contact the Embassy personnel officer when a job is secured, as a letter must be then sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to formally notify the Government of Australia of the employment. Dependents of SOFA (Status of Forces) personnel must contact the Staff Judge Advocate’s (SJA) Office prior to actually accepting employment.

Currently, the employment situation for teenage eligible family members is less favorable than for adults as the teen unemployment rate is high.

American Embassy - Canberra

Post City Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:02 AM

The national capital, Canberra (an aboriginal word meaning “meeting place”), is in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in the southern tablelands of New South Wales. It is 1,900 feet above sea level with much of the surrounding mountainous terrain above 3,000 feet. Built to be the seat of the Federal Government, Canberra is one of the most carefully planned and rapidly growing cities in Australia. It is often called the “garden city” because of its millions of trees and shrubs. More and more the city is becoming the nation’s political, administrative, educational, and scientific hub. It is also a growing tourist center. Its lake, national buildings, parks, and wide avenues attract over 500,000 visitors a year. In the heart of the city is man-made Lake Burley Griffin. Always an integral part of the city’s master plan, the lake (11 km long with a 41 km shore line) was completed in 1964. Planned community shopping centers are in each suburb. Modern new buildings attest to the fast growth of the capital.

Wheat and dairy products are produced in the ACT; the surrounding treestudded upland country is used for the most part for sheep grazing. To the south are the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric development and Mount Kosciusko (about 7,316 feet), the highest point in Australia. The highlands are timbered mainly with native eucalyptus and radiata pine planted by the Forestry Commission. The Molonglo River flows through Canberra, but much of the city’s water supply comes from the Cotter River dam about 12 miles away.

Canberra’s climate is sunny year round with only short periods of rain or overcast skies. Summers are warm, with temperatures occasionally above 37°C (98°F); evenings are usually cool. Winters are cold, with early mornings often below freezing but warming up during the day. It almost never snows. January is the hottest month; July, the coldest.

The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:04 AM

U.S. Government representation in Australia is carried out through the Embassy in Canberra and Consulates General in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. The Embassy consists of Executive, Political, Economic, Administrative, Consular, Security, and Public Affairs Sections, along with associated agencies. The Embassy provides administrative support to all associated agencies. The Embassy is located on a 9.5-acre site just off State Circle, in the residential district of Canberra called Yarralumla. The large grounds include the Ambassador’s residence, the Chancery, the General Services Office (GSO), the receiving building including the APO, and the consular/ finance annex. The buildings are designed in the colonial Williamsburg style. The largest consular offices are located in Sydney and Melbourne. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) representatives are at all Consulates General. The U.S. is represented by a number of other agencies, which include FCS, Legal Attaché, Defense Attaché/CINCPAC Representative, Office of Defense Cooperation, the Army Standardization Office, and the Defense Personnel Exchange Program. NASA operates a network of tracking stations outside Canberra. The FAA is located within the Sydney Consulate General. The senior commercial officer is resident in Sydney.

Embassy working hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Embassy phone number is 6214–5000 during office hours and 6214–5900 after hours. A Marine Security Guard is always on duty in the Chancery. The cafeteria in the Chancery serves light breakfast and lunches on days when the Chancery is open for business.

Sydney, about 180 road miles away (about 4 hours by car and 45 minutes by air), is the main port of entry and Australia’s largest city. Air travelers arrive at Kingsford-Smith Airport in the suburb of Mascot about 5 miles from the city center. Airlines provide bus service to the city and domestic terminals for a small fee. Taxi service from the airport is good. If possible, arriving travelers should bring some local currency (especially on weekends or late evenings), as airport banking facilities are not always open.

Frequent air service links Sydney and Canberra, and new arrivals usually can fly on to Canberra the same day. Morning flights to and from Canberra during the winter months (June–August) are sometimes cancelled or delayed because of dense fog. You will be met at the airport (about 6 miles from the Chancery). Notify the Embassy Administrative Section of your travel plans so that hotel reservations, arrangements for transportation, and clearance of effects can be made. Include names of accompanying family members showing dates of birth of children, name, and flight number of aircraft.

Employees of State, FSC, and FAS are paid biweekly through the Financial Service Center in Charleston. Employees of other agencies should check pay arrangements with their headquarters.

Housing

Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:04 AM

Normally, newly arrived employees move directly into their permanent quarters. Should they be unavailable, temporary quarters—either vacant residences or serviced apartments—will be reserved for the employee. These are fully equipped including a fully furnished kitchen, washer/dryer and TV. The daily rate for Embassy selected accommodations will be within the current allowance. Any other charges incurred (e.g., telephone calls) are the sole responsibility of the employee.

Housing

Permanent Housing Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:05 AM

The Canberra housing program encompasses all U.S. Government employees assigned to the Mission. The Mission utilizes both government-owned (GO) and short-term leased (STL) housing. All assignments are made by the Mission Interagency Housing Board, which is representative of all agencies at post. Government-owned residences vary from small, single-occupancy townhouses to senior representational houses. No residence is designated for a particular officer or agency, the Ambassador and DCM residence excepted. For all other employees, Department of State housing policy and standards as specified in A–171 are enforced. Usually, a property which meets these standards is available prior to the employee’s arrival, and he/she will be assigned to these quarters and moved in upon arrival. On the rare occasions this is not possible, the General Services Office will search for suitable leased housing while the employee resides in temporary quarters.

Housing

Furnishings Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:05 AM

Australian post housing is furnished, so bring a limited shipment of household effects (HHE). Furniture normally consists of complete sets (including lamps) for a living room, dining room, and bedrooms, plus outdoor patio furniture. Additional furniture (i.e., family room or study) is allotted as available. Furniture will be replaced if warranted, provided replacements are available. Bookcases will be provided if available. The Embassy does not provide stereo stands, and stocks a limited supply of wall units.

All houses are normally provided with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, washing machine, dryer, and vacuum cleaner, plus heaters, portable air conditioners, fire extinguishers, transformers, and fans as required and available. (Note: some agencies have regulatory limitations.) Freezers and dehumidifiers are not provided. Residences with gardens are provided with a lawn mower and small garden implements. Employees are responsible for maintenance and care of gardens and lawns.

Housing

Utilities and Equipment Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:06 AM

The Government pays all utility charges and the housing office arranges for all connections and disconnections. Electricity is 240v, 50 hertz.

Electrical outlets take a three pronged plug with two angled prongs. The third prong is for grounding, a sensible safety precaution with 240v current. Adapters to convert U.S. and some European-type plugs are available at local hardware stores. Single phase appliances are recommended.

Air conditioning is uncommon in Canberra but common in the coastal cities. Houses that are not centrally heated are provided with built-in electric or gas heaters, although not in every room.

Local electricity is 50 cycles and any appliance with a synchronous motor made for 60-cycle current will run at five-sixths the intended speed. This makes little difference with most items; but timing devices or appliances where speed of rotation is important will be affected. Conversion of some items, such as phonograph turntables, can be done locally (direct drive turntables do not require cycle conversion). Most timing devices, particularly electric clocks, are harder to convert. Make such adjustments in the U.S., if possible, since getting proper conversion parts may be a problem in Australia.

Television. Television in Australia is the PAL System and conversion of a U.S. set is not recommended due to the unavailability of conversion kits and high cost. Color television sets can be purchased locally at a cost slightly higher than U.S. prices or multisystem sets can be purchased by mail from the Army-Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). In addition, TV sets can be rented for approximately US$30 per month with an option to purchase after the first year by applying the rental price to the purchase price.

Telephones. Telephone bills are the responsibility of the occupant. They are sent monthly, and are payable by check, phone, or in person.

Gardens. The occupant of any house, whether government owned or leased, is required to maintain garden and lawn areas. Occupants of leased properties must be aware that Canberra tenancy laws and customs impose garden maintenance requirements which are stricter than those found in the United States.

Food Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:07 AM

There is an excellent range of food products at local markets and stores. Beef, lamb, pork, veal, chicken, fish, and shellfish are of good quality and available year round, as are a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. All types of baby formulas and most canned goods, including baby foods, are available. Some Stateside favorites are unavailable.

There are American-style supermarkets in major shopping areas for one-stop shopping, but in addition smaller grocery/ convenience stores are found in each suburb.

There are also butcher shops, news agents, and markets for fresh fruit and vegetables in many suburbs. No post exchanges, commissaries, or group-purchasing arrangements exist in Australia.

Clothing Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:07 AM

Most clothing needs can be met in Australia, but the range of sizes and choice is not as great as in the U.S. Good quality clothing is available although more expensive than in the United States, but department and discount stores stock reasonably priced clothing. Availability of sizes and reduced selection are more a consideration than price. It is difficult to find shoes in narrow widths, or in extra wide or large sizes. Those needing fittings other than medium should either bring a supply to last their tour or plan to order from U. S. catalogs.

Clothing

Men Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:08 AM

Men’s dress in Australia is similar to that in Washington, D.C. Many American men wear medium-weight suits of wool or woolen-synthetic mixtures year round. Heavier suits are worn in winter with comfort, particularly in Canberra. Sport coats are also worn. Lighter weight suits are comfortable in summer. Bring a light-to medium-weight topcoat and/or raincoat.

Casual attire is very much the same as in the United States. Track suits are popular. A warm jacket is needed for winter, but there is little need for a heavy parka except for skiing. Hats are needed for sun protection.

The Marine Ball is the most formal event of the year for most staff. Senior officers need black tie for occasional formal functions. All types of styles and materials are worn in dinner jackets and tuxedos. Morning dress and white tie are not required. Formal wear rental is available.

Clothing

Women Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:09 AM

Women’s clothing styles are current, and influenced by U.S. and European designs, as well as some excellent Australian designers. Good quality women’s clothing is available but more expensive than in the U.S., and the selection and size range are more limited. Petite and tall sizes in women’s clothes are not widely available. Clothing needs are very similar to the U.S. — casual for the most part, but more formal for office and official events.

Warm clothing is needed for colder months in Canberra. Clothes that can be layered are very useful. Most houses are chilly in winter so bring warm clothes for indoor wear. Many wear wool sweaters; some, thermal underwear. A light to medium-weight coat is sufficient. Hats and gloves are not required even for formal official functions, but Australians wear hats of all kinds to protect against the sun in all seasons. A wide range of women’s sunhats is available.

Evening wear ranges from casual to dressy. An invitation specifying “formal” or “black tie” requires formal evening wear. The Marine Ball is for many the main “formal” function of the year. As Canberra summer evenings can be cool, sweaters and light-weight jackets are useful.

Dressmakers are difficult to find as well as expensive. Good quality lingerie is available. Hosiery is available but quality and sizes are different. Sewing materials and patterns are also more expensive.

Clothing

Children Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:10 AM

Bring children’s clothing for all seasons, although heavy winter clothing is not necessary unless skiing trips are planned. Snow is a rarity in Canberra, though winter nights are often below freezing.

Most public schools through grade 10 have a school uniform, which children are required to wear. Therefore, a large wardrobe is often not necessary. Sneakers are popular in Australia and are often worn to school. For attendance at private schools, black or brown oxford-type shoes are required. Almost all private schools require students to wear the school uniform, which for older students often includes blazer (or suit) and tie in winter. After-school clothing is much the same as is worn in the U.S. Jeans are popular but the name brands are expensive so bring a supply.

Clothing for infants and preschool children is available, and at reasonable prices in the larger stores. Some U.S. brands are stocked but are expensive. Arrange to get some U.S. catalogs to order clothing for children and adults. CLO has some mail-order catalogs available as does the APO.

Supplies and Services

Supplies Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:11 AM

Some American-brand cosmetics, including Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, and Estée Lauder, are sold locally but are expensive. Paper products are available, and the range much greater than a few years ago. Table and bed linens are available in a limited range, sizes are slightly different, and high quality items are more expensive. Normally, queen-size and twin beds are provided for government-furnished quarters, so send appropriate linens or order from U.S. catalogs. Personal items for men, such as shaving supplies, etc., are sold locally; this includes several makes of electric razors. (If you bring an electric razor from the U.S., make sure it will run satisfactorily on the local current.)

Bring all needed baby furniture if practicable. Items such as bassinets, playpens, cribs, carriages, and high chairs are available but more expensive than in the U.S., as are large outdoor and indoor toys and play items.

Christmas tree decorations, including lights, are available. U.S. tree lights operate with a transformer, but replacements for U.S. 110v bulbs are not available. Do not bring Christmas items made of straw or pine cones as they may be damaged when subjected to fumigation on arrival.

Bring any special supplies or decorations for celebrating U.S. holidays or special days, such as Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Halloween. Easter is celebrated much the same as in the U.S.; however, egg dye kits are hard to find. Father’s Day in Australia falls in September rather than in June. Mother’s Day is celebrated in May.

Supplies and Services

Basic Services Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:11 AM

Laundry and drycleaning services are good. Drycleaning services vary from 1 day to 1 week; 60-minute drycleaners are also available. Coin-operated laundromats are available, and a few of these include coin-operated drycleaning equipment.

Hair salon services are good. It is not customary to tip barbers and hair stylists in Australia.

Supplies and Services

Domestic Help Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:12 AM

Most Americans in Australia do not have household help. Full-time, qualified domestic help is difficult to find. Part-time help is available for cleaning and ironing, as is trained help for entertaining. Most families use local high school students to babysit, and the CLO maintains a list of Embassy dependents willing to babysit. Babysitters can be obtained from an agency but are expensive and charge for transportation and a light snack. Full-time child-care givers can be found but not easily.

Employers are required by law to carry worker’s compensation insurance; the procedure is simple, and the premium is reasonable.

Parking. The Embassy has adequate parking for employees, both in a small lot and off street. There is no charge.

Religious Activities Last Updated: 11/19/2003 11:13 AM

Members of all major religious denominations find places of worship easy to locate. It is common for communities to have congregations made up of Australians as well as families from all over the world. Newcomers are always welcome.

Education

Dependent Education

At Post Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:28 PM Education in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) is not comparable to education in the United States and all schools (public and private) have been designated “inadequate” by the State Department Office of Overseas Schools:

An “adequate” school means an elementary grade school (grades K–8 or equivalent) or secondary school (grades 9–12 or equivalent) not requiring mandatory denominational religious instruction and providing an educational curriculum and services comparable to those normally provided without charge in public schools in the United States. The major criteria of “adequacy” is whether a child of normal ability, upon completion of a grade, or its equivalent, can enter the next higher grade in a public school in the United States. (State Department Office of Overseas Schools STR 270 Education Definitions)

Grade placement for children transferring from the Northern Hemisphere can sometimes be a problem due to the differences in the dates of the school year. The school year is divided into four semester blocks. It begins the first of February and ends in mid-December, when the summer vacation occurs. There are short breaks of approximately 2–3 weeks at the end of terms in March/April, June/July, and September/October. High schools, colleges, and some private schools close in early December.

Since the school year cycle differs from that of the U.S. school system, students must be evaluated before entering schools to determine if they will advance or stay back a grade. Therefore it is vital to hand-carry up-to-date school records to post. Upon returning to the U.S. educational system, students will again find themselves at a mid-year point in their academic year.

There is no American or international school in Canberra and no school with an American curriculum. Students sometimes find language classes begun at one school are not offered at a new school. Subjects required for completion of U.S. high school certificates, such as U.S. history, are not offered in Canberra schools. At the request of eight students, one local high school formed a U.S. History course. Others have completed such required subjects by correspondence through the University of Nebraska’s Distance Learning Program. Also, Advanced Placement Courses are not offered in local high schools (such courses being defined as giving “students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in secondary school and to receive advanced placement and credit, or one of these, upon entering college” in the STR–271 Education Allowance Definitions).

Another major factor in determining adequacy of overseas schools for U.S. Government students is guaranteed placement. There is no guaranteed placement for American students within any school, public or private, in Australia.

Parents and students are advised to visit the schools of interest and speak with the administration, as schools do vary in their emphases. Each family and the school must assess each student individually. If a student is within the age range of his/her grade, is a good student, and arrives in Canberra between February and mid-July, he/she usually can go ahead a grade. A student arriving after July would probably continue in the grade that he/she was in upon departing the Northern Hemisphere and then continue into the next grade the following February. However, a supplementary education allowance may be available to help defray tutoring expenses for children who require additional instruction to enter or remain in the grade appropriate for their age and previous education. This is especially useful to help students fit into the mathematics program as it is taught so differently here in Australia. Check with your agency/human resources section to see if this allowance is available for you.

Uniforms are required by private schools and while they are not compulsory in public schools, most primary schools do have a uniform and children are expected to wear it. Public high schools have a dress color code in lieu of a uniform proper. Uniforms can be purchased locally through school clothing shops or retail outlets, and second hand uniforms are available through school clothing pools.

There is an education allowance for Canberra. At present, about two-thirds of the American community children are enrolled in private schools, including Catholic schools. A small number of families have elected to home-school their children. Expenses in excess of the maximum amount granted for education allowance cannot be reimbursed. Present allowances cover reimbursable costs for all schools. They do not cover costs of uniforms or elective classes.

A listing of all schools in Canberra, both public (“Government”) and private (“Non-Government”) can be found on the World Wide Web at http://csn.act.edu.au/schools.html. Some schools will have links to their own pages giving more detailed information about their facility, while all will have a direct link to e-mail the school.

Public Schools. Schools are located in most suburbs of the city. In Canberra, children attend preschool at age 4, primary school for kindergarten through year 6, and transfer to high school for years 7 through 10. Students may leave school after grade 10, and many, even in the private schools, choose to do so. Students who continue into years 11 and 12 attend secondary college. One secondary college in Canberra offers the international baccalaureate program for those students who are academically talented.

All 5-year olds and children turning five on or before April 30 in any year, enroll in kindergarten at the beginning of that school year in early February. Public schools request a small parent contribution to cover the cost of special resources, sporting equipment, and library books. Many primary schools in the ACT offer before and after school care. All public schools are coeducational and non-selective.

Private Schools. Most private schools are church-sponsored by either the Catholic or the Anglican Church of Australia, although membership in the sponsoring church is not a requirement for admission. It can be difficult to enroll children in private schools, as waiting lists may be long. While you must place your child’s name on a waiting list, or pre-enroll, students are not accepted until after an interview process. Private-school fees are expensive; however the educational allowance is adequate to cover most costs. If you have children, and wish to consider enrolling them in a private school, write to the CLO early to obtain further information. Some of the private schools provide educational facilities from kindergarten through grade 12. Others follow a structure similar to that of the public schools. Most private schools are not co-educational.

A complete listing of Catholic schools in Canberra is contained in the brochure “ACT Catholic Schools Information” available in the CLO or from:

Catholic Education Office P.O. Box 3317 Manuka, ACT 2603 Tel: (02) 6234–5455 Fax: (02) 6239–6567

For information regarding Anglican and other private schools, contact the CLO.

Testing. In some states, teachers rely heavily on examinations to grade students. In the ACT, year 10 and year 12 certificates depend on a system of continuing assessment of student progress, including performance, tests, and written work. In addition, year 12 students who study a certain quota of accredited courses and sit the Australian Scaling Test (AST) receive a Tertiary Entrance Statement that is recognized for entrance to tertiary institutions.

The U.S. College Board achievement tests can be taken in Australia. In Canberra, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Achievement Tests are usually given twice a year. In addition the PSAT/NMSQT and the ACT tests are given at the Embassy in October each year. Information is also available regarding the Secondary Scholastic Achievement Test (SSAT), which measures general school ability and is required for admission for grades 6 through 11 at private schools. For further information on all these exams, contact the CLO.

Preschool. Preschool facilities, both privately run and government-sponsored, are available in most areas for 4-year olds. The public preschools are generally located near the primary schools but operate separately with some parental help. There are Montessori, Steiner, French-Australian, and Chinese-Australian preschools. In some areas there is a waiting list for preschool admission, especially in private schools. Playgroups are plentiful for children under 4 years.

Education

Special Needs Education Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:28 PM

Educational offerings in Canberra are geared toward the mainstream; opportunities for children with learning disabilities or for gifted children are limited. Parents contemplating an assignment in Canberra are advised to check with Post and to discuss their children’s special needs directly with potential schools. The ACT maintains FOCUS programs for students with significant sensory impairment and integration support for students with intellectual and/or multiple disabilities who cannot be supported in mainstream settings. The emphasis here is on students with hearing, vision, and communication disorders. Children with mild learning disabilities, often including ADD/ADHD, may not be considered by Australian education authorities to be eligible for special education support.

Students enrolled in mainstream settings may receive support from a Special Teacher’s Assistant for some part of the day or week. These assistants are not always specially trained special education teachers. Alternatively, mainstreamed students may be enrolled in small units called Learning Support Centers attached to regular schools (ratio: 14–16 students per instructor).

Koomari, Malkara and Cranleigh are special schools for the moderately, severely and profoundly intellectually and physically handicapped children. These schools concentrate on training in self-care, gross and fine motor skills, sensory experiences and language development. Parental involvement is encouraged. The Senior School at Koomari also provides a prevocational program preparing the students for workshop employment.

Placement for children with special needs should be raised with Post early in the assignment process.

Education

Higher Education Opportunities Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:30 PM

There are two universities in Canberra—the Australian National University (ANU), an internationally recognized school with a strong research orientation and large graduate program; and the University of Canberra (UC), with a full range of professional degree programs, including teacher and nursing degrees. Entry to both is competitive, but overseas students are accepted subject to satisfactory academic qualifications and availability of places. At present, both universities require U.S. educated students to have a U.S. high school diploma and a minimum of 1,050 to 1,100 in SAT scores, with much higher scores for entry to some degree courses. No “subsidized” fees exist for overseas students and Australian students. In addition, there are no concessions for diplomats or military personnel assigned to the Embassy. In 1999, the fees for overseas students for undergraduate degree courses range from A$11,550 to A$16,000 per annum. Books, room and board are extra. Books, including school textbooks, are expensive.

Further educational opportunities are available through the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), which is a large multi-campus provider of a wide range of tertiary education and training courses. The CIT is part of the Australian TAFE (Tertiary and Further Education) system that is government-funded and provides vocational education and training programs to persons in the workforce, school leavers, and members of the community. CIT offers more than 300 courses from certificate to diploma, through nine teaching schools. Fees vary by course, but are now about A$7,000 per annum for full-time overseas students. CIT opened a new hotel-management school in 1995, run in conjunction with Cornell University of New York. The Institute is planned to be a world-class provider, so fees are substantially higher than regular CIT course programs.

Non-degree or diploma-level instruction is available in many subjects through the Technical and Further Education Program at CIT, the Centre for Continuing Education at the ANU and many local secondary colleges. Costs are higher for non-Australians. Sports, computer training, arts, crafts, business courses, languages and home-making skills are among the many subjects covered. Both evening and day instruction are available. Contact the CLO for more information.

Recreation and Social Life Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:30 PM

Although once considered the “bush capital,” Canberra is a thriving, cosmopolitan city without the traffic, pollution, and crime problems of many larger cities. It has been well planned, has excellent recreational amenities, and is becoming a significant stop for international tourists. There are frequent festivals, fairs, and exhibitions, the Royal Canberra show, a thriving symphony orchestra and philharmonic society, and frequent touring companies. The Floriade festival in September/October is recognized internationally.

Recreation and Social Life

Sports Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:34 PM

Canberra is a very sports-minded city. Cricket, football, tennis, golf, swimming, and bowling (lawn and 10-pin) are all popular. Also available are ice and field hockey, basketball, ballooning, rifle shooting, softball, horse riding, volleyball, cycling, fishing, ice skating, skiing, croquet, polo, squash, baseball, bush walking (hiking), rowing, sailing, and soccer. Five versions of football are played—rugby league, Australian rules, rugby union, soccer, and gridiron (American) football. The Canberra Raiders Rugby League team has a place in local culture similar to the Washington Redskins and won the National Competition in 1994.

American personnel may join most clubs or associations for a nominal fee. Dress for the various sports is similar to that in the U.S., and quality sports equipment is available but at higher than U.S. prices. Children’s bicycles and sports items are available.

There are several public golf courses available as well as clubs that offer membership privileges. Some private golf clubs offer concessions to transient, diplomatic, and military personnel.

Tennis, mostly hard court, is popular. Limited numbers of public courts are available but small clubs are inexpensive to join. Squash courts are also available.

The Australian Institute of Sport (A.I.S.) in Bruce is a world-class training facility with residential programs for athletes of many sports. Indoor and outdoor stadiums are located there and their swimming and other facilities are available for some public use.

Lake Burley Griffin in the center of the city is the focus of many water activities. There are several sailing clubs with races held each Saturday and Sunday during summer. The rowing clubs participate in regular rowing regattas, and dragon boat races have become a popular annual event for amateur teams. A tourist boat regularly provides cruises (some with meals), around the lake. Powerboats are not permitted on the lake.

Some streams are stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Lake Burley Griffin is stocked annually with both species, which may be taken only with a line and rod. Good ocean fishing is available on the south coast of New South Wales, about 100 miles from Canberra. A fishing license is not necessary in the Territory although New South Wales has recently instituted a license required for freshwater recreational fishing. Size restrictions and bag limits apply in both areas.

Swimmers have a choice of a number of pools in the city (indoor and outdoor) and several natural pools on rivers outside the city. However, swimming is prohibited in the large lakes, such as Lake Burley Griffin. Most public pool facilities offer swim lessons for children. Canberra is a 2-hour drive from the ocean and has good, if chilly, surf beaches.

Most school children join one or more of the many sports clubs operating for children, which practice once or twice weekly, and compete on weekends. In addition, the YMCA and YWCA cater to children 8 years of age and older. Activities include basketball, volleyball, squash, judo, trampoline, gymnastics, yoga, etc. Also active are various church groups, scouts, girl guides, and the Canberra Police and Citizen’s Youth Clubs.

Recreation and Social Life

Touring and Outdoor Activities Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:35 PM

The Canberra area has a wide range of options for every member of the family. In the city, the major sites include the new and old Parliament Houses, the High Court, Questacon (the Science and Technology Centre), the National Gallery of Australia, the War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian National Library, and Regatta Point—a display center to explain Canberra’s planned development. Also close by are a Dinosaur Museum, the National Aquarium and Australian Wildlife Sanctuary, the National Museum, Cockington Green (a miniature English village) and a number of other tourist attractions.

For those who like the outdoors, there is Namadgi National Park plus many nature reserves and recreation areas for bush walking, bird-watching, camping and barbecues. The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, the NASA Tracking Station and a dry alpine slide are each about a 45-minute drive from Canberra. Many picnic spots with facilities at lakeside areas are available, as well as picnic grounds in the city, often equipped with free electric grills or firewood. There are also about 10 wineries to visit near the city. The only real problem with outdoor activities is the large number of flies during summer, which can be bothersome.

There are many seaside resorts on the coast, 100–200 miles from Canberra, which are accessible by paved road. The beaches are beautiful and the drive is scenic. Accommodations are heavily booked in summer holidays.

Good skiing at about five resorts, as well as on cross-country trails, is available about 100–130 miles from Canberra in the Snowy Mountains. The ski season tends to be short. Equipment can be hired in Canberra, Cooma, or at the ski resorts. The Snowy Mountains, location of the large Snowy Mountain hydroelectric development, is also an attractive area for summer recreation with camping, picnic and fishing areas, water sports, a llama farm, riding (both day or longer trail rides), and other activities.

Recreation and Social Life

Entertainment Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:36 PM

Except for opera, for which it is necessary to go to Sydney or Melbourne, it is possible to enjoy a wide range of cultural activities in Canberra very easily and relatively inexpensively. The Canberra Theatre Center, which has a theater seating 1,200 as well as a smaller playhouse, sponsors a full range of live theater with both local and touring companies and performers. The Canberra Repertory Group is one of several groups producing high-quality plays. The Canberra Symphony Orchestra and Musica Viva arrange a number of subscription concerts annually. Active music clubs and a number of other societies offer a wide variety of cultural and intellectual programs. The Canberra School of Music presents a number of concerts and recitals of near-professional caliber in Llewellyn Hall. Movie theaters show American, British, Australian, and continental films. Movie and theater tickets are more expensive than the U.S.

Canberra has a casino, and a few nightclubs together with several discos and restaurants with live entertainment/ dancing. There are more than 300 restaurants providing a wide range of ethnic cuisine. In addition, most Canberrans belong to social or sporting clubs which provide inexpensive restaurants for members as well as recreational facilities and slot/poker machine gambling.

Recreation and Social Life

Social Activities

Among Americans Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:36 PM Most social and official occasions enable Americans to mix freely with Australians. Americans residing in Canberra include U.S. Government employees and their families, research fellows at ANU, American spouses of Australian officials, and business representatives. The American Embassy Women’s Association (spouses and employees) meets regularly and the Australian-American Association has a wide range of events. Canberra’s social life varies with the wishes of the individual. Active, outgoing individuals find little effort is required to be accepted by Australians or American coworkers. As Canberra is an open, English-speaking environment, there are fewer Embassy only community activities than in some posts. Living in Canberra is similar to living and working in any modern, Western country. Most employees find that their contacts with Australians are as important an aspect of their social life as relations with coworkers.

Recreation and Social Life

Social Activities

International Contacts Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:36 PM There are more than 70 Embassies and High Commissions with representatives resident in Canberra. The United States Embassy is the largest. Embassy personnel can develop contact with other diplomats through school, sporting, or other social organizations, such as the Diplomatic Association, Pan-Pacific, or the Women’s International Club.

Official Functions

Nature of Functions Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:37 PM

Cocktail party receptions are held as well as smaller, more casual buffets. Dinner parties are also a popular form of entertaining. All are equally well received by Australians and foreigners. Most diplomatic missions also hold large receptions on their national days. Various black-tie balls are held throughout the year.

Official Functions

Standards of Social Conduct Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:38 PM

On arrival in Canberra, the Chief of Mission and the DCM make courtesy calls on their appropriate diplomatic colleagues. (In some cases Heads of Mission may choose to make “joint” calls, including their wives.) Newly arrived officers call on those of equal or higher rank within the Embassy. Calls upon and introduction to officials and private persons with whom you will have contact in the course of your duties will be arranged by your section chief.

Most diplomatic officers should bring at least 200 calling cards, but check with your predecessor; some positions require a much higher number. Australia is a very open society and professionals exchange business cards frequently. Married couples need a reasonable number of “Mr. & Mrs.” invitation cards. Engraving of a high standard is very expensive, but printed cards of excellent quality are affordable but still more expensive than in the U.S. (Paper products tend to be costly in Australia.)

Social usage is similar to that in the U.S. Invitations should be acknowledged promptly either by phone or in writing. A “thank you” call to the host on the day after an informal function, excluding cocktail parties, is customary. More formal occasions require a “thank you” note.

Special Information Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:38 PM

Post Orientation Program

In addition to normal in-processing briefings, the post has a formal orientation program that is presented to newcomers upon arrival and is held once a year. This program includes a description of the Mission’s functions as well as security and CLO briefings. Newcomers are also provided with welcome materials from Human Resources. The CLO provides new arrivals with an information packet during individual CLO briefings. The Mission Housing Handbook is on the post’s Intranet site and is provided with prearrival information from the CLO upon notification of your assignment to Canberra. A Hail and Farewell is held about three times a year.

Consulate General - Melbourne

Post City Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:40 PM

Melbourne is the capital city of the State of Victoria at the southeastern corner of the Australian continent, and has a population of approximately 3 million. The city sprawls on gently rolling terrain on the shores of Port Phillip Bay about 50 miles from the ocean. It is bisected by the Yarra River.

The Melbourne consular district includes the States of Victoria (capital: Melbourne); South Australia (capital: Adelaide); Tasmania (capital: Hobart); and the Northern Territory (capital: Darwin). Tasmania is an island State about 150 miles to the south of Melbourne across the Bass Strait. The well-known desert town of Alice Springs is located in the southern portion of the Northern Territory. It is about 2,880 miles from Darwin to Hobart. The Consul General represents the U.S. Government in this area.

Melbourne’s latitude of about 38 degrees south corresponds to that of Washington, D.C., and San Francisco; but the climate is more changeable, with warm days and cool nights. Although temperatures rarely drop below freezing, cold evenings and morning frosts do occur in the winter months. The usual summer pattern is a week of gradually rising temperatures culminating in a few hot days suddenly broken by the “cool change,” which drops the temperature sharply and starts the cycle all over again. At any time of year the climate is highly changeable with rain, sunshine, heat, and cold sometimes all occurring in the same day. Because of the mild but variable climate, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania are well-suited for a wide range of flowers and trees that bloom all year round. South Australia and Victoria are noted for their good wines. All three states are rich farming and livestock-producing areas. Victoria, and especially Melbourne and its nearby districts, is a major industrial area. There are several other important industrial areas in South Australia. Tasmania is largely agricultural, although many new industrial and mining plants have been built since the World War II. The area of the Northern Territory around Alice Springs is comparable to southern Utah, Arizona, or New Mexico, varying from sparsely watered grasslands to desert, while the Darwin area is tropical.

Melbourne is a major port city and rail hub, as well as a major center of industry, business, and finance. Its parks are magnificent, its streets are ample, and it is an easy city to get acquainted with and in which to move around. Because of its size and given the high number of cars per capita in Australia, traffic is a growing problem. The center of the city, however, has numerous car parks, and the local transportation system of trains, trams, and buses is extensive. Taxicabs are clean, reliable, and easy to obtain.

The city has an impressive skyline. A recent construction boom resulted in a large increase in modern office and apartment buildings in the 15- to 50-floor category.

Australia’s post-World War II program of immigration has brought to Melbourne many “new Australians” from Western and southern European countries. These have injected a continental influence that is noticeable in many ways in delicatessens, restaurants, shops, sports, music and cultural programs, as well as in the frequency with which foreign languages are heard.

Since the late 1960s there also has been a substantial influx of Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Lao, and Indonesians that has broadened the city’s ethnic and cultural base even further. Nearly 75% of the approximately 20,000 Americans in the consular district are located in the Melbourne metropolitan area, with the rest scattered throughout the district.

The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:41 PM

The Consulate General moved to its current quarters at 533 St. Kilda Road in February 1991. Its location is about 2 miles south of the downtown business area on St. Kilda Road, a broad multi-laned boulevard that permits fast access to the city by car or public transportation. The office of the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) of the Department of Commerce and its library are included in the Consulate General offices and are served by the same switchboard. The leased offices occupy the sixth and seventh floors of the seven-story building.

Mailing addresses: International: American Consulate General P.O. Box 6722 Melbourne, Victoria 3004

A.P.O.: American Consulate General (MELB) Unit 11011 APO AP 96551–0002 Telephone: (03) 9526–5900 (Office listed under American Consulate General)

Fax lines: ADMIN: (03) 9510–4646 FCS: (03) 9510–4660

Housing

Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:41 PM

The Consulate General attempts to have suitable housing ready for newly arrived personnel, when possible. If housing is not immediately available, the post will make temporary arrangements at one of a number of apartment blocks close to the office. These are self-contained units of one, two, and three bedrooms, completely furnished with linens, bedding, dishes, silverware, and utensils. Washing and drying facilities are available.

Temporary duty personnel are usually housed at the Radisson or the Park Royal hotels. Luxury hotels such as the Regent, the Hyatt, the Melbourne Hilton, the Southern Cross, and the Windsor are located in the city’s center. Newly assigned personnel should plan to be “out of pocket” for approximately 2 to 3 weeks before receiving reimbursement for their Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance.

Housing

Permanent Housing Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:42 PM

The only U.S. Government-owned housing is the official residence, a 15-minute drive from the office. The residence is a large two-story brick house of classic Georgian architectural style. The ground floor includes a living room and a study, each with a fireplace, a dining room that will seat up to 12, a large family room, and a well-equipped kitchen and adjoining laundry room. There is a powder room and a servant’s washroom downstairs. On the second floor are a large master bedroom suite, one large and one small guest bedroom, a study, and two smaller bedrooms (suitable for children or live-in help). There are also two additional bathrooms. The house is completely furnished and equipped, but occupants will want to bring pictures, lamps, small rugs and other items of personal furniture. It is located on a one-third acre lot at the corner of two tree-shaded residential streets and is surrounded on the street side by a six-foot-high brick wall. The garden is well-planted and there is a swimming pool and pool house.

FCS leases a residence for the Post Commercial Officer. An officer newly assigned to this position should correspond with the incumbent concerning current furnishings, although the residence is basically furnished and equipped.

Although the Consulate General admin staff will make every effort to identify appropriate housing prior to arrival, employees other than the Consul General may be required to locate their own housing after arrival. After appropriate housing has been found, the Administrative Section will prepare a U.S. Government Lease. The difficulty and time required in locating a residence depends on housing requirements and tastes. Most employees have located adequate quarters well within the 3-month period they are authorized temporary quarters allowance. Personnel are required to submit utility bills to the Administrative Section for payment. Routine maintenance and upkeep are the responsibility of the employee, as are phone bills.

Melbourne is a large modern city with extensive suburban districts. Houses tend to become more modern the farther out one goes, although there are modern apartments close to the office. Not all the older houses and modern apartments have central heating; if not, they usually have fireplaces or space heaters. Most houses (and apartments) are carpeted wall-to-wall and some furnish curtains even though the house may be rented unfurnished.

Apartments are sometimes easier to find than houses and are usually more modern. Many apartment buildings in nearby residential South Yarra and Toorak are convenient to the office and the city and make it easy to attend official, social and cultural events. However, they are considerably more expensive than equivalent quarters further out.

The relatively easy access to and from the office and the center of Melbourne by freeway or by local transportation makes it advantageous for families with young children to live further out. There are local shopping areas in appropriate suburban locations as in the U.S. (See Food.)

Real estate agents generally do not take clients around to look at housing. People must arrange their own transportation. It is advisable to check with agencies often as most agencies do not notify clients when a place is available.

Housing

Furnishings Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:43 PM

As noted above, Melbourne is now on a government-leased, government-furnished housing program. The furniture supplied is obtained through U.S. government contract. Each household is assigned a two-bedroom set of furniture and appliances. Adjustments are made depending on size of family and living quarters. The standard furniture package includes a master bedroom set, one other bedroom set, living room, dining room and kitchen furniture, an outdoor furniture set, and appliances such as washer, dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave oven and vacuum cleaner.

The description below is of the current furnishings in the principal officer’s residence. Bring pictures, paintings, lamps, and wall hangings to supplement pictures already in the residence. Bring radios, record players (adjusted to 50- cycle current), and books for the library. Color TV (PAL II) and video recorder are provided in the Consulate General’s residence.

The dining room table, with matching chairs, seats 16 when fully extended. When divided into two tables, it is possible to seat 20. The dining room will accommodate a maximum of 12. In the less formal family room, the table can be extended to its full length. A full set of dinnerware for 18 is provided, along with an extensive collection of glassware and a coffee service for 24. The residence is equipped with a mixer, a food processor, a blender, a good quantity of pots and pans, kitchen knives and spoons, three refrigerators, one freezer, dishwasher, washer, dryer, two vacuums, and a polisher for parquet floors. Two large tablecloths with matching napkins are provided, but more cloths and mats would be desirable. The master bedroom has a queen-size bed. The two other main bedrooms have twin beds with matching headboards. The house has two partial air-conditioning/heating systems, supplemented by an adequate supply of electric space heaters.

Automobiles. Cars not meeting Australian design rules will not be registered. This includes left-hand-drive vehicles. Automobiles meeting Australian design rules are available duty-free. In order to obtain reasonably-priced insurance in Australia, insurance records for the previous 5 years should be brought along in one’s luggage.

Licenses. Everyone must take the written test. No registration fee is imposed in the State of Victoria. Consular Status are issued with DC plates and A&T are issued regular plates.

Electrical Appliances. Because of the high voltage (240 volts, 50 cycles), extreme caution must be taken in handling electrical appliances. Australian plugs are of a triangular configuration; adapter plugs are difficult to obtain here and expensive.

Food Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:44 PM

In Melbourne there are many supermarkets comparable to U.S. stores, such as Safeway. Imported items from the U.S. and Europe are available, but at higher prices than in the U.S. In addition, because of the large foreign population in Melbourne, there is an immense variety of delicatessens, butchers, and green grocers specializing in Italian, Greek, Eastern European, and Asian produce. Also some neighborhoods have countrystyle markets which are open several days a week. The largest, the Victoria market, sells everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to live chickens and sides of beef and lamb. Local seafood is excellent and varied, including good fish, oysters and crustaceans. The large saltwater crayfish, known as “rock lobster” in the U.S. is very expensive but worth it. There is a list of markets in the Melway Street Directory Guide under “Shopping Centers.”

Many supermarkets such as Safeway are open until midnight, but there are several Coles supermarkets operating 24 hours daily. Smaller supermarkets may close around 7 p.m. Almost all stores close at 5 p.m. on Saturdays. City Center shops are open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Milkbars” usually exist in the small neighborhood areas. Not only milk, but also other dairy products and “emergency” food items are available at these small stores all weekend. Some grocery stores and butchers will take telephone orders and deliver either free or for a small charge. For large shopping orders, there is a “half case” outlet next to the parking lot at Prahran Market just off Chapel Street and Malvern Road (see Melway). Similar stores exist in various suburbs; these are listed in the Melbourne telephone directory.

If your temporary quarters are in the South Yarra area, you will find on Toorak Road a post office, carry-out food shops, restaurants, reliable hairdresser/barber facilities, flower and book shops, etc. If you take the tram east you will come to the Toorak shopping center just before Grange Road, in which is the closest Safeway, a movie theater and various attractive shops, similar to South Yarra’s. Most shops in the city are open Friday nights until 9 p.m. These hours are not always applicable in the suburbs.

Clothing Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:45 PM

Clothing prices in Australia are high by U.S. standards. Personnel may wish to ship clothing and shoes to cover their requirements for a normal tour of duty.

No matter when one arrives in Melbourne there is always the question of what weight clothes to put on—and by the time a decision is reached, the weather has changed completely! Generally speaking, the sweater, light coat or jacket which can be removed is a successful formula, whether it is winter, spring, or autumn. Even in the summer either a long-sleeved cotton or a sleeveless dress with light sweater or short-sleeved jacket will be useful.

In the winter months (June–August), skiing is possible about 160 miles from Melbourne, so some winter clothing would be appropriate to wear for weekends on the slopes or just looking.

Melbourne has been known to experience all four seasons in one day. There is quite a lot of wind most of the year. In summer, Melbourne has a typical Mediterranean climate, except that the summer is as changeable as the rest of the year, so that hot weather alternates after 4 or 5 days with a cool change, and then back again. Daytime average temperatures range from 57°F in winter to 77°F in summer.

Supplies and Services

Supplies Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:45 PM

Employees will be surprised at the prevalence of American brands in supermarkets and department stores. However, due to the high import tariffs levied by the Government of Australia, the prices are significantly higher, even when a favorable exchange rate is factored into the equation. Many employees find that using catalogs and online shopping is much more feasible. The opposing seasons make it more difficult to obtain clothing unless shopping is done at end-of-season clearance sales, which limits selection but lowers prices.

Supplies and Services

Basic Services Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:46 PM

Fees charged at dry cleaners, barbers and beauty salons, and other personal needs services are comparable to those found in large U.S. cities. Shopping around reveals that costs can vary greatly in regards to location, although quality usually remains consistent.

Supplies and Services

Domestic Help Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:46 PM

“Luxury” services such as maids and housekeepers are charged at slightly higher rates, and one must usually contact a service unless given a recommendation for a specific person. Parents will be happy to see the high quality of care at children’s centers, and in many cases the fees are quite reasonable.

Parking. See Canberra section.

Religious Activities Last Updated: 11/19/2003 1:46 PM

As with all metropolitan areas of Australia,