9th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference (IOP)

Banking/currency

Banks are generally open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic unit (100 cents = $1). Notes come in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations. When paying by cash (i.e., not with a credit card), prices will be rounded to the nearest 5c. Currency exchange facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate normal business hours. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most widely used being MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club.

Climate and time

Brisbane has a subtropical climate with temperatures ranging between 20-29 degrees C (68-84 F) in summer and a very pleasant 9-20 degrees C (48-68 F) in winter. Brisbane has an average annual rainfall of approximately 1150 millimetres (45 inches) and 242 glorious days a year of sunshine!

Time

Standard time zone for Brisbane is UTC/GMT +10 hours. Please note there is no daylight savings in Queensland.

Dress

Smart casual attire is appropriate for all conference sessions.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240/250V, AC 50Hz. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from that in many countries, so you will need an adaptor if travelling from overseas. If your appliances are 110V, check if there is a 110/240V switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V shavers are usually found in leading hotels.

Emergency

If you need police, fire or ambulance in an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

Emergency first aid is available from the Brisbane City Police Beat on Adelaide Street opposite Brisbane City Hall.

Police locations in CBD

• Brisbane City Police Beat Station (67 Adelaide Street)
• City Station (46 Charlotte Street)
• Roma Street Station (200 Roma Street)
• South Bank Station (Glenelg Street).

Goods & Services Tax (GST) - Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

Australia levies a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10%.

The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) enables travellers departing Australia to claim a refund of the GST (and also the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET)) paid on goods bought in Australia and taken out of the country. The refund applies to goods over the value of A$300 when items are purchased in the same shop within 30 days of your departure from Australia. Should an item be too large to take onto the aircraft as hand luggage you will need to visit the TRS clearing office at the international airport with the item and receipt. The receipt will be stamped "TRS sighted" and at that point you can check in the large item with your luggage. Once you have cleared customs you can collect your refund from the TRS desk by showing your receipt or items purchased. It does not apply to services or goods consumed or partly consumed in Australia. Goods which are to be exported can be used before departing Australia.

Insurance

Delegates are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. Delegate registration fees do not provide any such insurance coverage. The Local Organising Committee and conference managers accept no responsibility for loss in this regard.

Internet and wireless access

There will be a free internet café available for delegates to use in the exhibition area on the Friday and Saturday during the conference. The internet café will operate during exhibition hours. In addition to these facilities the venue has Wi-Fi hot spots or alternatively casual wireless internet coverage is available to anyone attending the conference at the centre. Blocks of time may be purchased as required from the main BCEC information desk on the ground floor. Instructions and details are issued at time of purchase. Casual wireless internet is designed for web browsing and checking web based email. It is not designed for VPN or downloading large files. Casual rates for this service are one hour block $5, day rate $25.

Language

The official language for the IOP Conference is English.

Post offices

Operate between 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Stamps are usually available for purchase from major hotels.

Quarantine and Customs

Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the import of animals and plants, including most food products, which cannot be brought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also restricted. For more information please visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection (AQIS) website prior to travelling to Australia - http://daff.gov.au/aqis

Customs

International visitors should allow approximately 30 minutes for processing through Australian Customs. These waiting times may vary during peak periods.

Shopping

Brisbane's Queen Street Mall has long been considered the centre of fashion and retail in Queensland. This vibrant shopping and lifestyle precinct lies at the heart of Brisbane City and is arguably Australia's most successful pedestrian mall, playing host to 26 million visitors a year. For more information, or to search the shopping directory, see: www.queenstreetmall.com/Centres.

Trading hours

The Queen Street Mall traditionally trades seven days a week with the exception of some public holidays. The mall itself never closes, trading seven days a week. Most of the eateries and bars are open late every night.

The below trading hours should be used as a guide only. If you are planning a special trip into the Queen Street Mall, be sure to contact individual retailers to confirm opening hours.

General retailer trading hours
Monday–Thursday: 9.30am–6pm
Friday: 9.30am–9pm
Saturday: 9am–5pm
Sunday: 10am–5pm

David Jones and Myer trading hours
Monday–Thursday: 10am–7pm
Friday: 10am–9pm
Saturday: 9am–5:30pm
Sunday: 10am–6pm

Tipping

Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is your prerogative, a reward for service. It is customary to tip hotel porters and a gratuity of about 10% is usual in restaurants if good service has been received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional.

Vaccinations

A current valid international certificate of inoculation against yellow fever is required if passengers come from or have travelled through infected areas. Please check all requirements through your travel agent or airline.

Visa/passport requirements

A valid passport is required for entry into Australia. All travellers to Australia must obtain a visa or electronic travel authority (ETA) before travelling to Australia, with the exception of New Zealand citizens travelling on New Zealand passports. The Australian Visitor Visa may be obtained by mail or in person from the nearest Australian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate. In some countries, travel agents can issue the visa. Travellers may be issued with either a visa in their passport or an electronic visa, depending on the country of origin and the passport/nationality of the traveller. It is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure that they hold the required documentation before arriving in Australia. Please note that applications for visas must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the date of travel. We strongly recommend making an early application for a visa.

For further information, please visit the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website at: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/index.htm.