General Information
About Melbourne
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, known as Australia’s Garden
State, was founded on the mouth of the Yarra River in 1835 and boomed
in the 1850's as a result of the gold rush in the region to the north.
Today, Melbourne has a reputation of being the home of the country's
finest restaurants, shopping and art and is Australia’s leader in
theatre and sport; furthermore it is acknowledged as the country's most
important medical research centre. It is a thriving cosmopolitan city
with a unique balance of graceful old and new architecture surrounded
by parks and gardens. The city caters for all religious and dietary
needs so everyone will feel welcome. Melbourne’s colourful streetscapes
and reputation as a safe and friendly place also make it an ideal
walking city. All great international cities offer visitors unique and
interesting attractions; but what amazes and delights those who come to
Melbourne is the sheer breadth of unique sightseeing and entertainment
experiences that are situated within just a short stroll of each other
in the very centre of the city.
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Airlines
The following airlines fly regularly to Australia from Asia:
• Qantas Airlines www.qantas.com
• AirAsia www.airasia.com
• Tiger Airways www.tigerairways.com
• JAL www.jal.com
• Singapore Airlines www.singaporeair.com
• Malaysia Airlines www.malaysiaairlines.com
• British Airways www.britishairways.com
• Emirates Airlines www.emirates.com
• Air India www.airindia.com
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Airport Departure Tax
Departure Tax should already be included in the price of the air fare.Top
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne airport is 25km from the city centre and the journey should take approximately 30 minutes in non rush-hour traffic.
The
Skybus is a special bus service that runs between the central areas of
Melbourne, including many hotels, and Melbourne airport. It leaves from
the domestic and international terminals and costs approximately AUD$16
one way and AUD$26 return. Please refer to the Skybus website for the timetable and further information.
Alternatively
you can take a taxi; taxis are available at each terminal. Taxi fares
to the central Melbourne from the airport cost approximately AUD$50 to
AUD$60. Additional charges may apply for taxis waiting at the airport
taxi rank, or those that commute to their destination via tollways.
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Business Hours
Banks generally open from 09:30 to 16:00 hours on Monday to Friday.
General office hours are 09:00 to 17:00 on Monday to Friday. Post
Offices operate these hours too; however stamps are often available
from hotels.
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Certificate of Attendance
A Certificate of Attendance will be available for all
delegates for collection from the registration area.
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Climate & Clothing
Melbourne is the southern most capital city on the mainland of Australia and offers a temperate climate; it has one of the country’s lowest rainfalls too. However Melbourne does have a reputation for variable weather; it can reach freezing point on a winter’s night and climb to over 40°C/104°F during a summer heat wave, and there can be a 20 degrees difference in just one day. So it is not uncommon to have four seasons in one day!October tends to be one of the wettest months of the year so pack accordingly. Temperatures may vary between 12 – 22°C daily. The best advice is to consider ‘layering’ when visiting Melbourne; choose clothing to suit the range of average temperatures stated, but allow for the odd day beyond these averages. Congress attire is smart casual.
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Congress Secretariat
8th AOEC,
ILAE/IBE Congress Secretariat,
7 Priory Hall, Stillorgan,
Dublin 18, Ireland
Tel: +353-1-2056720
Fax: +353-1-2056156
Email: melbourne@epilepsycongress.org
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Credit Cards and ATMs
Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most
widely used being MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club.
ATMs are widely available throughout the city of Melbourne.
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Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic
unit (100 cents = $1). Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5. Coins
come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations. Currency exchange
facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate
normal business hours.
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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. The following website www.eatability.com.au/au/melbourne/
provides helpful information on eating out.
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Electricity
The electrical current in Australia is 240/250V, AC 50Hz. The
Australian three-pin power outlet has an earthing pin and two flat
current-carrying pins forming an upside down V-shape.
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Language
English is the official language of the 8th Asian &
Oceanian Epilepsy Congress.
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Letters of Invitation
Individuals requiring an official letter of invitation to
attend the 8th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress should write
to the Congress Secretariat at: registration@epilepsycongress.org.
This procedure is designed to assist participants who need to obtain a
visa or permission to attend the congress and does not cover
registration fees or other expenses.
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Liability and Insurance
The congress organizers will not accept liability for personal
injury or loss/damage to property/belongings of participants or
accompanying persons, either before, during or following the congress,
tours or their stay in Melbourne. It is therefore recommended that
participants arrange their own personal health, accident and travel
insurance.
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Newsletters
Monthly newsletters containing updates on the 8th Asian &
Oceanian Epilepsy Congress are available from the Latest News section
on the homepage.
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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 details please view the ‘Information for
International Travellers’ on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service (AQIS) website, which you can access by visiting http://www.affa.gov.au
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Replacement Badges
Please note that you will be charged a fee of US$50 for a
replacement badge. Please ensure that you keep your badge with you at
all times.
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Shopping
Shops open from 09:00 to 17:30 during the week with late night
shopping on Thursday. On Saturday, most shops open from 09:00 to 16:00.
On Sunday, most city centre shops and major department stores open from
around 12:00 to 17:00. The main shopping area is on Bourke Street. If
you are looking for some bargains then go to the Queen Victoria Market
and wander through its diverse range of stalls.
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Smoking
All restaurants, cafes, licensed premises and shopping centres are
smoke-free in Melbourne; even some outdoor dining and drinking areas
are no-smoking. Smoking is not permitted inside the congress centre.
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Tax and Service Charges
A 10% GST (Goods & Service Tax) is included in the price of
almost everything one purchases in Australia. A Tourist Refund Scheme
enables travellers departing Australia to claim a refund of the GST on
any goods over the value of AUD$300 when items are purchased in the
same shop. A service charge of 10% is added on to most dining bills.
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Time Zone
Melbourne is 10 hours ahead of GMT in October.
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Tipping
Tipping is not a general custom in Australia, and is at your
discretion.
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Transport in Melbourne
An excellent system of trams, trains and buses serve
Melbourne. Fares, timetables and network maps are available on the Metlink website.
For a list of trams and trains convenient for the Melbourne Convention
& Exhibition Centre (MCEC) please view here.
All
Melbourne taxis are yellow. Taxi ranks are located at the Melbourne
Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) as well as all major hotels
and Southern Cross and Flinders Street Stations.
For private
transfers to and from the airport for individuals and groups or either
private cars or coach hire for your daily congress needs, please email: aoec2010@arinex.com.au
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Visa Entry Information
All visitors (other than those travelling on a New Zealand passport) travelling to Australia from overseas, including those attending congresses, are required to obtain a Visitor/Business Visa. This type of visa allows a business person to take a short visit of up to three months to Australia. Examples of appropriate activities include a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit. A single entry or multiple entry visa may be issued. Visas are available from Australian Visa Offices, such as Australian Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates. They are also available in ETA format.Australia's Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronically-stored authority for travel to Australia for short-term or business entry. It replaces the visa label or stamp in a passport and removes the need for application forms. It enables visitors to Australia to obtain authority to enter at the same time as they book their travel arrangements. ETA’s are available to passport holders from over 30 countries and locations. In addition, a recent innovative enhancement to ETA arrangements allows a traveller to apply for an ETA over the Internet. The APEC Business Travel Card provides travel help for business people from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. The card simplifies business travel, and gives accredited business people pre-cleared entry to participating APEC economies. Card holders enjoy pre-cleared short-term entry to participating economies, therefore eliminating the need to individually apply for visas; multiple entry to these economies; and faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast track entry and exit through special ‘APEC’ lanes at major airports.
Please visit the following comprehensive link: www.immi.gov.au for up-to-date information.
