*
Consider whether you need to obtain Travel Insurance to cover hospital treatment, loss of luggage, theft, travel delays, tour cancellations etc.
*
Gather information on where you're going and check developments at your destination
*
Obtain the necessary travel documents and visas for countries you're visiting
*
Inform friends and relatives of your proposed destination(s) and keep in touch
*
Protect your personal information and make copies of your passport, insurance policy and credit card number(s)
*
Stay healthy by visiting your doctor before you depart
*
Take the locations and contact details of Australian embassies and consulates
Australian Embassy, Thailand
Head of Mission
Australian Ambassador to Thailand
Address
37 South Sathorn Road
Bangkok 10120
Thailand
Telephone
+66 (2) 344 6300
Fax
+66 (2) 344 6310
E-mail address
* General enquiries: austembassy.bangkok@dfat.gov.au
Taking PBS Medicine Overseas
Translated InformationTravellers taking PBS subsidised medicine overseas are advised to check they are not carrying a substance that is considered illegal in their country of destination. Travellers should contact relevant embassies before leaving Australia .
If you are planning to take PBS medicine overseas for your own personal use or the personal use of someone travelling from Australia with you, you should:
* contact the embassy of the country you are visiting to ensure the medicine is legal there;
* carry or enclose a letter from your doctor detailing what the medicine is, how much you will be taking and stating that the medicine is for your personal use; and
* leave the medicine in its original packaging.
There are also restrictions on the amount of PBS medicine you can take overseas. It is advisable to check with your doctor before you travel.
Customs may detain any medicine it suspects is being illegally exported. It is therefore in your best interest to provide documentation explaining what the medicine is, how much you are carrying, and that it is for your personal use.
If you are unable to get a letter from your doctor, Medicare Australia's Medicine Export Declaration may be sufficient to satisfy Customs that the medicine is for your personal use. People found to be illegally exporting PBS medicine overseas may be prosecuted.
Travelling with medicine
Before leaving home, you should check that your medications are legal in the country you are visiting. You can do this by contacting the country's embassy or high commission.
Since the National Health Act was amended in 1999, it has been an offence to carry or post Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines overseas unless they are for your personal use, or the use of someone travelling with you.
Only Australian residents living in Australia at the time a PBS prescription is dispensed are entitled to receive PBS-subsidised medication and there are restrictions on the amount of PBS medicine that can be carried or sent overseas.
When planning to travel overseas with PBS medicine it is important that you:
* talk to your doctor and discuss the medicine you will need to take
* carry a letter from your doctor detailing what the medicine is, how much you will be taking, and stating that it is for your own personal use
* leave the medicine in its original packaging so it is clearly labelled with your name and dosage instructions.
If you intend to travel with large quantities of medicine, including over-the-counter or private prescription medications, you should ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist to provide you with a letter explaining why you need to carry such quantities.
If you have to inject your medication it might be preferable to carry your own needles and syringes but you should check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting to make sure this is acceptable. If you buy needles and syringes while overseas ensure you buy packs that are sealed and sterile. And, if you need to carry needles and syringes with you on the plane, inform your airline before you travel and if necessary, arrange a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to carry them.
It is important to be aware that some items purchased overseas may be packaged under a different brand name to those available in Australia. Keep an eye on the strength and active ingredients of similar-sounding medications overseas-they can vary.
More information on travelling with medicines is available from the Medicare Australia or by phoning the Travelling with PBS medicine enquiry line: 1800 500 147.
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All Australians travelling overseas, whether for tourism or business or for short or long stays, are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade before travel. The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency. It may also be used to pass other information to you such as, new Travel Advisories, notice of elections and information on other matters relevant to travellers and expatriates.
Information about risks overseas is contained in the Department’s travel advisories. These and other travel tips to help you better prepare for your overseas trip can be found at smartraveller.gov.au. You can also subscribe to automatically receive email updates each time we change our travel advisories.
Your information is strictly protected by the Privacy Act 1988. To ensure this information is kept safe during transmission the Department uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Firewall technology.
If you have any difficulties in completing this form please contact us: in Australia 1300 555 135 (24 hours) or via Australian missions overseas. Alternatively you may email Registration Help for assistance.
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Medical Insurance
General Tips
• Always read your product disclosure statement prior to purchasing your travel
insurance. Travel insurance policies are competitive so it pays to shop around to find
a policy that suits your individual requirements.
• Travel insurance cover is not unlimited. It is recommended that you check your policy
for any limits and what they apply to.
• Speak to your insurer to clarify any issues about your policy that you may be unsure
of.
• Some travel insurance policies have an excess clause. This excess is the amount
payable when you make a claim. You can also pay a higher premium to remove any
excess. It is important to read all the conditions of your policy and make sure you are
aware of excess and where it applies.
• It is important to make a record of all your personal effects and belongings before
you travel, and place the record in a safe location at home. It is also important to
keep original receipts and/or statements if relevant as you may need them as
evidence if you make a claim.
• Medical expenses can be expensive when you are overseas. In regions such as
North America, Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia they can be extremely
expensive. Therefore, it is important to obtain the maximum amount of cover for
medical expenses when travelling.
• Make two copies of your policy. Keep one copy with
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Getting help overseas
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides help to Australians who find themselves in trouble overseas. Through this support, known as consular services, the Department's consular officers provide a lifeline to Australians who are away from home.
The Australian Government will do what it is able to help Australians in difficulties overseas. Whether this is helping Australian victims and survivors of a terrorist bombing, assisting Australians to repatriate the body of a loved one from overseas, or providing comfort and advice for a young Australian in an overseas prison, our consular staff often help Australians through the worst days of their lives.
But Australians need to appreciate that, when they go abroad, they leave behind Australia's support systems, emergency service capabilities and medical facilities. There are legal and practical limits as to what consular officers can do for travellers overseas and Australians need to have realistic expectations.
Australians are now making over 4.7 million overseas trips each year, compared to 3.4 million three years ago. In the last year alone, the Department assisted over 25,000 Australians in difficulty in over 152 countries and handled over 350,000 public inquiries.
The Australian Government cannot decide for Australians where to travel and how to behave when they get overseas. Australians are intrepid travellers and are going in ever greater numbers to out-of-the way, sometimes dangerous places. These are personal choices which the government respects. But, Australians need to accept responsibility to minimise risks to themselves. Consular functions are governed by international agreements and the Australian Government cannot impose Australia's laws, rules or standards on other countries.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer outlined what consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians overseas in his 8 November 2005 National Press Club Address: Hurricanes, Terrorism and Drugs Charges: A day in the life of Australians overseas.
What we can and cannot do
Examples of what we CAN DO to help Australians overseas include:
* help during crises, such as civil unrest and natural disasters, by confirming the number of Australians involved and providing advice to family members at home
* provide advice and support in the case of an accident, serious illness or death, or if an Australia is a victim of a serious crime, and arrange for next-of-kin to be informed. This may involve facilitating communication between the local hospital, the victim and their family, monitoring the victim's welfare and if necessary, assisting in arranging a medivac
* visit or contact Australians who are arrested and arrange for their family to be informed (if they wish)
* contact relatives and friends on an Australian's behalf and ask them to assist with money or tickets
* provide some limited financial assistance in real emergencies (subject to very strict criteria)
* provide information on a government scheme under which eligible Australians can apply for financial assistance in limited circumstances to help with legal costs overseas
* provide a list of local doctors, lawyers
* issue passports, including emergency passports.
There are limits to the levels of assistance consular officers can provide. Examples of what we CANNOT DO to help Australians overseas include:
* give legal advice, investigate crimes overseas or intervene in court proceedings
* get Australians out of prison or obtain special treatment for Australians in prison
* provide medical services or medications
* arrange visas, work or residence permits for other countries, or help Australians to obtain them
* pay or guarantee payment of hotel, medical or any other bills, including the cost of returning lost luggage to Australia
* act as a travel agent, bank or post office, or store luggage
* become involved in commercial disputes or take up complaints about local purchases
* provide translation, interpreter, telephone or photocopy services.
MONEY
Money MattersThe Thai baht is divided into 100 satangs. Paper currency includes a 1,000 (grey), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), and 20 (green) baht note. Ten-baht coins are brass disks in a silver ring, five-baht coins are silver with copper rims. Two-baht coins are silver and can be mistaken for five-baht coins; look carefully when being given change. One-baht coins are silver. The 50 and 25 satangs coins are brass. The baht is rated around 40 baht/US $1.00. Newspapers list daily exchange rates. There is no currency black market. Most establishments accept credit cards and traveller cheques but not personal cheques. Money can be changed at banks, hotels, and several private money-changing shops whose rates are set by the government's Bank of Thailand. Rates in hotels are generally lower than in banks.
