Banking and Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic unit (100 cents = A$1). Notes come in A$100, A$50, A$20, A$10 and A$5 denominations. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, A$1 and A$2 denominations. 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 and American Express.
Business Hours
Banks and post offices generally open from 0930 – 1600 hours Monday to Friday. Business office hours are 0900 – 1700 hours Monday to Friday. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available 24 hours in many locations.
Eating Out
Bistros, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops offer varied menus, prices and decor. Local specialties such as seafood and Australian wines are worth trying. At some restaurants you can keep the liquor bill down by taking your own wine or beer. These are called “BYO” restaurants, an abbreviation for “bring your own”.
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 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.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) / Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)
All prices quoted in this brochure are inclusive of 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax), unless otherwise specified. GST applies to most goods and services in Australia.
The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) is administered by the Australian Customs Department and enables travelers departing from Australia to claim a refund of the GST and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) paid on goods bought in Australia. For detailed information on the TRS visit the website of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services of the Australian Government.
Insurance
Registration fees do not include insurance. It is strongly recommended that at the time you register for the Conference and book your travel you take out an insurance policy of your choice. The policy should include
- Loss of fees/deposit through cancellation of your participation in the Conference or through cancellation of the Conference,
- Loss of international/domestic air fares through cancellation for any reason,
- Loss of tour monies through cancellation for any reason including airline or related services strikes within Australia,
- Failure to utilise tours or pre booked arrangements due to airline delay,
- Force Majeure or any other reason,
- Medical expenses (including sickness and accident cover),
- Loss or damage to personal property,
- Additional expenses and repatriation should travel arrangements have to be altered,
- Medical expenses.
The Organisers cannot take any responsibility for any participant failing to arrange their own insurance. This insurance is to be purchased in your country of origin.
Language
The official language for the Conference is English.
Passport and Immigration (VISA)
All visitors to Australia must have a valid visa to travel to and enter Australia. For VISA information please download the following information factsheet from the Australian Immigration Office.
Note – it is strongly recommended that Australian visa applications are lodged at least two months prior to departure from your point of origin.
Conference Invitation Letter
If needed, please download the invitation letter to apply for a Visa to attend ISBI 2017.
If you are an author and if your paper is accepted to the conference, then you will have access through Papercept for a more personalized invitation letter once your paper has been accepted by the conference.
Contact Information (for visa application purposes):
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference Secretariat,
445 Hoes Lane,
Piscataway,
New Jersey 08854-1331,
U.S.A.
Tel: +1-732-562-2673
Email: embs-conferences@ieee.org
Parking
Melbourne Exhibition Centre car park
1,060 undercover parking spaces managed by Wilson Parking, open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Fees are subject to change without notice and current rates are listed here.
Melbourne South Wharf car park
550 open air parking spaces managed by Wilson Parking, open 24 Hours, 7 days a week.
– Day Rates: A$10.00 per hour, with A$40.00 maximum for 3+ hours.
– Evening rate: A$10.00, entry after 1800 and exit before 0600.
Fees are subject to change without notice and current rates are listed here.
Photography
The Conference Hosts and Conference Managers have arranged for photography onsite throughout the event. The images may be used for post-Conference reports, case studies, marketing collateral and supplied to industry media if requested. If you do not wish for your photo to be taken, please inform the photographer and move out of camera range.
Planning your Travel
Because of time changes and jet lag we suggest you arrive in Australia a few days prior to the commencement of the Conference. This will enable you to relax and familiarise yourself with your hotel and its surrounds before the start of the Conference.
Quarantine
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 which cannot be brought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also restricted.
For more information see the ‘Information for International Travelers’ on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website.
Tipping
Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is at your prerogative; a reward for service. A gratuity of about 10% is usual in restaurants if good service is received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional.
Vaccination
There is no vaccination required for entering Australia. However, if you enter Australia from a yellow fever declared country but do not hold a vaccination certificate you will receive a Yellow Fever Action Card for further information. More information can be found on the Department of Health of the Australian Government website.
Airport Transfers
Melbourne Airport is located 20 km or 25 minutes from central Melbourne.
Taxi
Melbourne Taxis are a convenient way to travel from the airport to your destination. Taxis are available from designated taxi ranks only. Taxi ranks are located on the ground floor outside Terminals 1 and between Terminals 2 and 3. You can also find taxi ranks located on the ground floor of the transport hub outside Terminal 4.
A taxi fare into central Melbourne is approximately A$45. If you would prefer to pre-book your taxi during your stay in Melbourne please find the below contacts:
Melbourne Taxis- Phone: 1300 9091 9422 (Airport transfers) Phone: 03 9091 9440 (City transfers) Web: www.melbournecabs.com.au
Silver Top Taxis Melbourne- Phone: 131 008 Web: www.silvertop.com.au
Yellow Cabs Melbourne- Phone: 13 1924 Web: www.yellowcab.com.au
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis Melbourne- Phone: 9277 3877 Web: www.silvertop.com.au
You can request a ride from Uber when you arrive at Melbourne airport (please note that at present only UberBLACK (premium ride) is available from the airport.) When requesting UberBLACK you will be asked to confirm your terminal number. Be sure to meet your driver at the “Uber pick-up” area nearest to your terminal. A typical UberBLACK ride to Flinders Street Station (in the city centre) costs A$112 – 145. For more information on Uber in Melbourne please see here.
Shuttle Bus
A shuttle bus service, SkyBus, operates 24 hours a day between the Airport and the city centre. The service runs approximately every 10 minutes at a cost of A$18each way (A$35return). Transfers from the main city bus terminal to major hotels are included. For further information or to book your ticket online or view the complimentary CBD hotel shuttle bus information visit www.skybus.com.au or phone + 61 3 9335 2811.
Time
Melbourne is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Melbourne, Victoria, practices Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time advances the clock one hour during the summer months and usually commences at 2am on the first Sunday in October and ends at 2am on the first Sunday in April each year. During Daylight Savings Time, Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean time.
Climate and Clothing
Autumn (Mar-May): 11-20 ºC (52-68 ºF)
Generally Australians are informal dressers. We suggest you bring a jacket and tie with you for special occasions. A light jacket is recommended for evenings.
Please refer to the information on the social program for dress at social functions organised as part of the Conference, as some of these may require formal evening dress.
Shopping
Melbourne Shops open from 0900 to 1700 hours during the week with late night shopping on Friday until 2100 hours. The hours in the CBD and shopping centres on Saturdays are generally from 0900 to 1700 hours and on Sundays from 1000 to 1600 hours.
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia’s Knowledge & Cultural Capital
With over 4 million residents, Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and is renowned as Australia’s knowledge and cultural capital. Situated on the picturesque tree-lined banks of the Yarra River, in 2016 it was voted ‘The World’s Most Liveable City’ by the Economist for a sixth consecutive year.
Melbourne is a thriving and cosmopolitan city with a unique balance of graceful old buildings and stunning new architecture surrounded by parks and gardens. It’s also home to some of the world’s most outstanding communities of research and innovation and is the birthplace of Australian film, television, art, dance and music. The city’s major draw card is its research institutes and academia that facilitate world-leading contributions to key economic sectors. Melbourne offers a sophisticated multi-cultural lifestyle, hidden laneways abundant with arts, museums, festivals, sporting events, food, wine, shopping and much more. Melbourne really is the place to be.
Melbourne also comes alive at night with the most live music venues in Australia and a burgeoning number of chic and groovy inner city bars and restaurants for every level and style of socialising imaginable. On top of all of this, Melbourne is also the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles and Victoria’s most admired beaches.
To find out more about what Melbourne has to offer, visit http://www.visitmelbourne.com/. You can, once you have arrived, also receive tailored advice by visiting the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, open 0900 to 1800 7 days a week.
Here are some useful links to help you best plan your time when visiting Melbourne:
Top 10 things to do in Melbourne
General information about Melbourne
Travel information for getting around
Click here to find out more about where else you can visit whilst in Australia.
