:: World Congress of the Federation of Sleep Research Societies 2007

	Currency Decimal currency is used in Australia – units are dollars and cents. Current exchange rates can be obtained from your bank. All major credit cards are widely accepted in Australia. Visit www.xe.com for current exchange rates.
	Banks Normal banking hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30am-4.00pm and Fridays 9.30am-5.00pm, excluding public holidays. 24 Hour Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) can be found throughout the City and hopping Centres. There are four major banks in Australia which offer a full range of banking services including currency conversions and sales of travellers cheques including Commonwealth Bank,Westpac Bank, ANZ Bank and the National Bank.
	Language English is spoken throughout Australia and is the official language for the Congress.
	Time Local Cairns time during September is Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours.
	Electricity The electrical supply is 240 volts, 50Hz.The connection for appliances is a flat 3-pin plug of unique design. Most hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers. Universal adapters are available from most gift stores and electrical shops around the city.
	Climate In Cairns, September is a month of our spring season and you can look forward to temperatures of approximately 28°C (82°F) during the daytime and 18°C (66°F) in the evening..
	Shopping General shopping hours for the city centre are as follows: Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 8.00pm Friday 8.30am – 9.00pm Saturday 8.30am – 4.00pm Sunday 10.30am – 4.00pm Markets Night Markets 6.00pm – 11.00pm daily Kuranda Markets Wednesday,Thursday, Friday, Sunday Mud Markets Saturday & Sunday Rusty’s Markets Friday, Saturday, Sunday
	Travel and Health Insurance The Congress does not provide insurance to delegates. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance policies to cover medical and travel expenses. If necessary, consult your travel agent.
	Wheelchair access or other mobility disability access during the Congress When you register, please notify the Congress Secretariat of any mobility disabilities you have so that any venue access challenges can be met.
	Taxes A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% applies to all consumer goods and is included in retail prices.
	Tipping Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. However, you may tip hotel porters and food and drink waiters in restaurants (up to 10% of the bill) for special service. At any time, tipping is at your discretion.
	Eating Out Restaurants and cafes offer varied menus, prices and décor. Local seafood delicacies are recommended and include Oysters, King Prawns, Queensland Mud Crab, Balmain Bugs and Barramundi. These are delicious when accompanied by Australian wines, many of which have won major international awards.
	Dress Code As Cairns is a casual city and situated in the tropics, smart casual (no ties) with comfortable shoes is recommended. Traditionally people caught wearing ties will be fed to the crocodiles!
	Mobile Phones Australia operates on a digital network.
	Transport from the Airport The International Airport is only 10 minutes from the City Centre, making Cairns the most convenient of convention locations.The Congress does not provide any transfers from the airport to Congress Hotels. All delegates must make their own transport arrangements from the airport. Taxis - Free taxi telephones are located in the arrival halls and the taxi ranks are immediately outside.The average fare to the city is AUD15.30 by Black and White Taxis. Courtesy Coaches - Some of the major hotels in the region operate their own courtesy coach service to and from the airport. Please contact the hotel directly. Car Rentals - At the domestic terminal Car Rental companies are located in the central concourse.These include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Red Spot and Thrifty. Bus Services - Australia Coach operates an airport shuttle bus service to hotels and the city centre – fare AUD8.00 per person and children under three years of age travel free. Sun Palm Express Coaches operate services to the Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. Both companies pick up immediately in front of the arrivals area at both terminals and both operate an information desk within the terminal, which if not staffed, have direct-dial telephone.
	Public Transport around Cairns Bus services run regularly from the City Place to all over Cairns.Taxis are available from the main taxi rank in the City Place or along The Esplanade outside of McDonalds or outside the Reef Casino.
	Things you cannot bring into Australia Australia has very strict importation laws and like most countries we place great emphasis on protecting our native fauna and flora from infectious diseases and other hazardous substances.The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) provides quarantine inspection services for the arrival of international passengers, cargo, mail, animals and plants or their products into Australia, and inspection and certification for a range of animal and plant products exported from Australia. For more information regarding specifically what you are able to bring into Australia visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website at www.aqis.gov.au
	The Appropriate Visa for Delegates As a general rule, all visitors to Australia (other than citizens of New Zealand travelling on a New Zealand passport) require a visa to enter Australia. Australian Visas Overseas visitors seeking to attend or participate in a conference or event in Australia should, in most cases, apply for a short stay business visitor visa (subclass 456). Please check with your airline, travel agent or nearest Australian Consulate, as immigration laws are very strict. Some delegates will be able to obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). If eligable, you can apply for an ETA via the Internet www.eta.immi.gov.au or through a travel agent, an airline office or a specialist service provider to arrange an ETA on your behalf. ETA eligible countries are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Republic of Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK - British Citizen or UK - British National (Overseas), USA, Vatican City. Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Taiwan. Holders of UK passports, which indicate their nationality to be British National (Overseas), can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Hong Kong. Non-ETA Countries Non-ETA country delegates need to lodge a subclass '456' visa application at the nearest Australian Mission overseas. The application form (also number 456) can be downloaded from the website www.immi.gov.au Invitation letter and Visa** If you require an invitation letter for visa purposes please indicate this on your registration form or contact the Congress secretariat. Please note this procedure is intended to assist participants who need to obtain a visa or permission to attend the Congress. It is not an official invitation covering fees and other expenses. It does not imply any financial support from the Congress. To top of page

worldsleep07: The 5th World Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies