It is also a good idea to inform yourself of some Australian customs prior to arriving, particularly about some common Australian expressions, or colloquialisms. Many of these may sound strange to people new to Australia. If you are unsure what an expression means, it is acceptable and advisable to ask the person who said it to explain it to you. Australians are more than happy to answer questions and often realize how difficult it is for newcomers to understand them. To find more about Australian customs go to http://www.immi.gov.au/settle/states/customs.htm.

One of the Australian cultural phenomena widely mentioned in books and travel guides is a reputation for resenting the success of others, otherwise called the 'tall poppy syndrome', usually manifested in a resentment of success or what they perceive as snobbery and arrogance. An egalitarian attitude is often reflected by calling people 'mate' and the concept of a 'fair go' for all. The best advice is not to be too enthusiastic about yourself and your successes (whether they were overseas or in Australia).

This is only a general guideline and you need to keep in mind that Australia is a multicultural society and many people will also keep and practise customs of their home country, even if their family has been in Australia for generations. Visit Study in Australia http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au for some general tips.

Whilst appreciated, tipping is not a general practice in Australia. If you have received excellent service, a tip is always welcome. Taxi drivers are almost never tipped, however, passengers usually round up the taxi fare to the nearest dollar. A cab driver, however, will round your fare down rather than bother with change. Services that have set charges, like hairdressers, hotel staff, cloakroom and garage attendants do not expect to be tipped. Some Australians regard tipping as patronizing, so unless you are sure about their expectation, there is no need for a tip. Exception is in top class restaurants, where a tip of 10% is common for good service, and can be included with your credit card payment, or given as cash.

--

Information courtesy of Sue Ellson, Founder of Newcomers Network and Dina Zavrski-Makaric, Sydney Representative of Newcomers Network and Personal Coach and Counsellor of Challenging Directions.

Got something to add to this section? Spotted something which should be changed? Please let us know!

Click here to return to the contents page for "Australia - an expatriate guide."