It can be hard to imagine what life will be like in a new country, and even harder to predict everything you might need to organise or take along for your stay.

At first, you will probably notice some differences in manners and lifestyle between Australia and your home country. Here are a couple of insights into Australian culture to get you started.

• Australians are very informal and levels of status are not always clearly distinguished. For instance,
  most Australian students refer to their lecturers and tutors by their first names.
  

• Australians have a strong egalitarian attitude. This means that they expect everyone to be treated equally. For instance, it is normal to thank shop assistants and other service staff when they give you assistance.

• Punctuality is valued in Australia. It is polite to call if you are going to be late for an appointment.

• Smoking is not permitted in restaurants, bars, nightclubs or many other public covered areas. Littering
  is prohibited and so is drinking alcohol in a public place.
  

If you're not sure of something, or need an explanation, don't be afraid to ask. Most Australians will be happy to help you understand certain customs that you may find puzzling at first.

Browse through the links below to help you plan for your stay in Australia.

Banking
Communications
Aussie slang
Customs and quarantine
Electrical appliances
Entertainment
Food
Getting around
Living costs

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