Banks: As a general guide, banks across the city are open for business Monday to Friday, 9:30am-4pm. Some banks in local shopping centres are also open Saturday mornings (with varying opening hours).

Automatic teller machines (ATMs): ATMs are located throughout the city and will recognise cards issued by most banks.

Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted across the city by most outlets.

Currency exchange: Melbourne Airport offers currency exchange facilities within the airport. Throughout the Melbourne CBD you’ll find numerous bureaux de change. Most banks also offer currency exchange services.

Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100
Coins: 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1 and $2

Pricing: Australian prices occasionally end in a variant of 1¢ or 2¢. Where this occurs, at the cash register the price is rounded to the nearest 5¢.

Melbourne experiences mild winters and a warm, dry summer. It has an average maximum temperature of 26°C (79°F) in summer and 15°C (59°F) in winter.

IFSO is held in spring, which sees weather warm up with an average maximum temperature of 20.5°C (69°F). Rainfall is low but evenings can be quite brisk as temperatures drop quickly. Be sure to bring a cardigan!

We continue to monitor COVID-19 regulations in line with advice from the Australian Government and local health authorities to ensure your health is protected.

Mains supply in Australia is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz with three-pin plugs used across the country. The Australian three-pin electrical socket differs from those found in most countries, and international travellers may require an adaptor socket. Standard outlets for 100-volt small appliances can be found in most hotel rooms.

Adaptors can be bought from all good travel stores, chemists and department stores located in and around the Melbourne CBD.

In a life-threatening or time-critical emergency, dial Emergency Services on 000.

The Triple Zero service is an operator-assisted service that connects callers to the most relevant emergency service organisation (police, fire brigade or ambulance). Calls to Triple Zero are free and can be made from all telephones (landline, mobile phones and payphones). When you dial 000 services, the most important thing to remember is to stay focused, stay relevant and stay on the line.

The goods and services tax (GST) is a broad-based 10 per cent tax included in the shelf price of most Australian goods and services. The Tourist Refund Scheme allows international travellers to claim a GST refund (subject to certain conditions) on some goods purchased in Australia. The refund applies only to items worn or goods taken on board as hand luggage when leaving the country.

Australia has a high-standard healthcare system offering a mix of public and private services. A number of services operate in the Melbourne area. Two close to the venue are:

Victoria Harbour Medical Centre
850 Collins St, Docklands VIC 3008 (main entrance via Merchant Street)

Phone: (03) 9629 1414
Open Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 12:00pm

Capstone Medical Centre
216 City Road, Southbank VIC 3006

Phone: (03) 9686 2222
Open Hours: Monday – Wednesday 9:00 am to 5:30pm
Thursday – Friday 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
Saturday 10.00 am to 3.00 pm

You can also speak to your hotel’s front desk, or contact a provider via Better Health.

In an emergency, call 000 immediately

All international travellers must present a valid and approved travel document (generally a passport) as evidence of their identity and nationality to allow entry into Australia. In addition, all international travellers (with the exception of most New Zealand passport holders) must also obtain a valid visa before travelling to Australia.

As a general guide, travellers are encouraged to apply for their Australian visa well in advance of their planned departure date.

Find the right visa

eVisitor visa

Passport holders from certain countries can apply for a visa online through the Australian Government’s eVisitor system. The eVisitor allows visitors to travel to Australia for short-term business or tourism purposes for up to three months. eVisitor applications are free.

Find the right visa

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

Passport holders from a range of other countries (including the US) can apply for a visa online through the Australian Government’s Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system. Alternatively, passport holders outside of Australia can apply for ETA through a travel agent, airline office, specialist service provider or Australian visa office. The ETA allows people to visit Australia for short-term tourism or business purposes of up to three months. An ETA is available to passport holders from more than 30 countries, regions and locations.

Learn more about the ETA

Note: The eVisitor and ETA systems provide the electronic equivalent of a visa for the short-term traveller, replacing the traditional passport visa label or stamp. Most applications are processed within a day.

For conference organisers and delegates, specialised visa advice is available through the Located across the country, IECN staff work with event organisers to provide free advice and visa-processing assistance for international travellers invited to speak at, perform in, or attend an event in Australia.

Check the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website for eligibility requirements at immi.gov.au.

VISA LETTERS

Attending the IFSO World Congress is a fantastic opportunity to network with people from all over the world and expand your knowledge. We understand navigating an international event can be difficult, therefore, we have built a form so you can create a personalised letter to use in support of your application to travel to Melbourne, Australia for the IFSO World Congress.

What can Congress participants do to help with the visa application process?

For the best possible chance of obtaining a visa to travel to Australia to attend an event, you should determine which visa you should apply for, making sure that the visa allows for the purpose of visit to Australia. For example:

• attendees, amateur performers, and volunteers (who will not be paid to participate, other than to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as accommodation and meals) may be eligible for a Visitor visa.
• invited participants and speakers (whose principle intent is to impart information/facts) might be eligible for a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) as an invited participant in an event.
• performers, entertainers, and other persons intending to work in the entertainment industry in Australia (including, but not limited to, directors and producers) might be eligible for a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) in an entertainment activity.
• workers (including, but not limited to, exhibit installers, constructors of stands/event products, supervisors and organisers) might be eligible for a Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400).

Other important things to note:

• apply for your visa in advance to allow for variances in processing times.
• consider Australia’s health and character requirements, which you may have to meet as part of the visa application process.
• ensure you obtain a confirmation of your registration, or a letter of invitation, to attach to your visa application.
• participants required to lodge paper-based visa applications should do so at the Australian visa office nearest to their current country of residence.

The International Event Coordinator Network might not be able to help if participants do not lodge their visa applications within recommended timeframes

Under Victoria’s Tobacco Act 1987 (the Tobacco Act), smoking and the use of e-cigarettes (vaping) is prohibited in all enclosed workplaces and certain public spaces where members of the public gather. The use of e-cigarettes and smoking is banned in the below settings:

• outdoor dining areas
• entrances to: indoor children’s play centres, public hospitals and registered community health centres, certain Victorian Government buildings
• the grounds of, and entrances to: childcare centres, kindergartens, preschools, primary and secondary schools
• outdoor recreational areas, including playground equipment, skate parks and sporting venues during under-age sporting events
• outdoor areas of public swimming pools
• patrolled beaches
• enclosed workplaces such as: enclosed shopping centres, enclosed areas of restaurants, cafes and licensed premises
• public transport vehicles and areas including: on all trains, trams and buses, train stations, tram-stop platforms, tram and bus shelters
• under-age music or dance events.

The fine for using an e-cigarette or smoking in a smoke-free area is $185, and the maximum infringement penalty is $740.

The Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre is a non‐smoking venue, including the use of e‐cigarettes and their products. There are designated smoking areas outside of the venue with ashtrays.

There are a number of e-cigarette retailers in the Melbourne CBD, however, e-juice containing nicotine is only available by prescription. E-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine are legal in Victoria.

Tobacco is available at most supermarkets and convenience stores.

Melbourne has extensive public transport system, covering tram, trains and buses.

While in Melbourne, you can keep in touch with friends and family using VicFreeWiFi – a free wireless internet network in outdoor areas across the city centre. Look out for the VicFreeWiFi network when scanning for WiFi in the city. You can use up to 1 GB per device, per day, you do not need a personal login and there’s no pop-up advertising.

Many cafes and restaurants also offer free WiFi to paying customers. Just ask for the password when you place your order. Alternatively, the City of Melbourne’s libraries offer access to a computer connected to the internet for use.

While in Melbourne, you can keep in touch with friends and family using VicFreeWiFi – a free wireless internet network in outdoor areas across the city centre. Look out for the VicFreeWiFi network when scanning for WiFi in the city. You can use up to 1 GB per device, per day, you do not need a personal login and there’s no pop-up advertising.

Many cafes and restaurants also offer free WiFi to paying customers. Just ask for the password when you place your order. Alternatively, the City of Melbourne’s libraries offer access to a computer connected to the internet for use.