Telephone, Post & Web

Australia has a modern communications network and it is easy to contact family and friends locally or in your home country.

Telephone

Public Payphones

Public payphones that accept coins can be found in airports, post offices, railway stations, shopping centres and in the centre of the city.

Local calls are untimed. They cost 50c from a payphone if you use coins. Long-distance and international calls are charged by the minute.

Home (fixed or landline) phones

You can rent a home phone from one of the telephone service providers in Australia. Calls from a home phone cost 25c for a local call.

Interstate and international calls are timed and are usually charged by the minute.

Mobile phones

Mobile phone services are available from several telephone companies. The telephone companies offer a wide range of phones and payment options.

Depending on the network in your home country, you may be able to connect your existing mobile phone to an Australian network by installing a new SIM card. Mobile call costs may be more expensive than fixed line calls.

Many students find it easier to buy pre-paid mobile phone packages which also help to budget for telephone costs.

Overseas phone cards are also available. These offer cheap call rates. You can buy overseas phone cards from most newsagencies and convenience stores.

back to top

Internet and email

TAFE NSW institutes provide their students with free internet and email services.

Internet cafes that provide internet services at low rates are easy to find in city areas.

The internet can also be connected at your Australian house or apartment. To arrange this, contact an internet service provider.

back to top

Postal services

Australia Post is Australia’s national postal service. Australia Post delivers letters and cards to your home.

Small and large parcels addressed to you are usually held at your local post office; the postman leaves a card in your letterbox, and you take the card to your local post office to collect your parcel.

You can also rent a post office box at any post office. Your mail is placed in your post office box. You are given a key and you can collect your mail at any time. A small fee is charged for renting a post office box.

Australia Post offices and shops also sell:

• Local and international postage stamps
• Envelopes
• Packing boxes
• Cards
• Other stationery items

You can also pay many bills with cash, BPay or debit (EFTPOS) cards at any post office.

Australia Post offices and shops are open Mondays to Fridays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Many post offices are also open on Saturdays from 9:00am till 12:00pm (noon).

It is easy to send letters or packages to your family in your home country. Australia Post delivers letters and parcels by airmail to most countries within one week.

Letters and parcels sent within Australia usually take 1-2 days to be delivered.

back to top