Studying in Australia - 9 Social Etiquette Tips

Going abroad to Australia to study soon, or recently arrived in Australia to study? Despite its close proximity, the culture and etiquette in Australia is quite different from most Asian and some other western countries.

Here are 9 simple tips to help you survive your first few months in Australia.

1. When waiting in a line for customer service, even if you are in the front of the line and there's an empty service counter, only proceed to the counter when the server calls for you.

This is a typical situation in most shop cashiers, banks, post offices, insurance, university student help centres etc. The server might be busy doing something else, which could be private. Hence, only when they call for you, it then is polite to move to the counter.

2. On public transport, you are expected to give your seat to the less mobile.

On public transport including buses, ferries, trains, trams, etc, you are expected as a polite measure to give your seat to those who are less mobile than you. This includes people who are in wheelchairs/ sticks /crutches, elderly people, pregnant women, young children, people with prams. In addition, there are seats which fold-back for prams and wheelchairs. If you are in one of these seats, it would be polite if you help with folding the seat back for the person in a wheel chair/ pram.

3. It is not polite to ask someone their age, or how much they earn.

Most people take this as information as something private. It would be offensive to ask someone their age. On the other hand, a good conversation starter would be around asking if someone has kids or pets; or about what they do for work. It is also important to be perceived as interested about what the other person does, even if you don't think their job is important or is lowly. In a socialist country, every job is an important job, and we appreciate everyone for doing what they do. Another good conversation starter would also be asking what someone studies, or where someone is from.

4. It is not polite to comment on a person's body size, particularly if you think someone is fat.

A negative comment on a person's body size (eg "You're fat.") is taken as an offensive comment. Actions such as deliberately withholding food to a fat person at dinner, even if you mean well to that person, is often taken as an offensive action.

5. If you smoke, be informed where you can or cannot smoke.

In different states, there are different laws about where you can or can't smoke. It is considered very impolite to smoke in non-smoking areas. In NSW,  you cannot smoke in enclosed public places such as libraries, shopping centres, public transport, restaurants and bars. There are also outdoor public areas where you cannot smoke such as public swimming pools, public transport waiting areas (eg bus stops, train stations), spectator sporting areas, etc.

6. It is polite to thank someone for their service.

It is polite to thank your bus driver, your cashier, your bank teller, your librarian, your nurse etc.

7. It is impolite to take more than what you can eat at a buffet.

If you take more than what you can eat at a buffet, you would be seen as greedy and impolite to your other diners. In some restaurants, taking more than what you can eat might attract a surcharge.

8. It is polite to turn down your music and TV between 8pm and 7am.

Most Australians turn in early and wake up early. 9 pm is quite a normal bed time. So it would be polite if you turn down any loud music or TV by 8pm. Depending on the town council of your residence, if you play loud music at late at night, you may be reported to the police.

9. Tipping is not necessary, but welcomed.

Unlike North American countries, tipping in Australia is not necessary. However, in most bars and restaurants, there is a small tip box at the counter if  you wish to leave a tip.

Other related topics
Studying in Australia - Mobiles, Internet, Calling home, etc.
Studying in Australia - Finding Accommodation
Studying in Australia - What to do when I get sick?

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