There are, of course, many things to consider when embarking on a new life in Australia, but here are few practical tips that people moving to Australia need to be aware of.

The weather
The Australian summer falls from December to February and is dry and very hot. Australians typically wear factor 30+ sunscreen as skin cancer is common. However, the weather is a fantastic plus-point to settling in Australia and is a great excuse to make the most of the beaches and water sports, available to everyone living near the coast.

Water safety
It is essential to take note of water safety flags when visiting an Australian beach. A red and yellow flag indicates that the beach is being patrolled and it is safe to swim.

Electricity
Australian immigrants may need to replace some of their electrical goods with devices that can be used with the Australian 230V 50Hz electricity supply. People moving from abroad can use a plug adapter, but again, they may want to replace plugs for long-term use.

Trading hours and holidays
Trading hours are much like elsewhere, in that they begin at 9am and end at 5pm, although shops in larger towns and cities may stay open until around 9pm. Supermarkets generally stay open until 9pm from Monday to Friday. Christmas, New Years and Easter Holidays are as per most Western countries, but there is also Australia Day on 26th January and ANZAC Day on 25th April. There are also several State holidays. School holidays also differ in each State, but all have four terms with the main Summer holiday running from mid to late December through to around 26th January.

Crime
Crime in Australia’s cities is comparable to that in any city of the world and as such, newcomers need to bear in mind that they should keep their bags safe and attended at all times to avoid being targeting by pick-pockets.

Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory in Australia and people tend to only tip when service is very good. However, a 10% good and service tax is added restaurant bills.

Emergency numbers
The number of the emergency services in Australia is 000, which is free to call.

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