Sub Navigation:

• Australia
  • Global Heinz
  • Information Technology (MSIT)
  • Public Policy Management (MSPPM)
  • About Heinz Australia
    • Dean’s Welcome
    • Executive Director’s Welcome
    • Rankings & Reputation
    • Student Life
      • Campus
      • Adelaide
      • International Student Population
      • Housing
      • Family & Community Services
      • Living Concerns
        • Personal Safety
        • Telephones
        • Internet Connection
        • Medical Concerns
        • Customs and Cultural Adjustment
        • What to Bring
        • Customs and Duty-Free
        • Student Visas
        • Work and Study
        • Taxes
        • Superannuation
        • Consulates, High Commissions & Embassies
        • Emergency Information
    • Contact Us
  • Faculty & Research
  • Employers
  • Students
  • Directories
  • Tour Online

Secondary Navigation:

• ABOUT HEINZ
• GLOBAL HEINZ
• Faculty & Research
• Alumni
• EMPLOYERS
• Students

Breadcrumb Navigation:

Home>Australia>About Heinz Australia>Student Life>Living Concerns>Telephones

Telephones

For information regarding home telephone connection, please refer to the Utilities page of this section.

Public telephones

You will find public telephones throughout the city. It costs 50c to make a local call for unlimited talking. You can also make interstate (STD) and international (ISD) calls from public phones. Costs vary depending on the time of day and the country that you are calling. To make a call on a public phone, you'll need either coins or a telephone card.

To make an ISD call from a public phone, the code that you dial is 0011, followed by your country code (e.g. USA 1, Kenya 254, and China 86) then the area code and local phone number. You usually omit the zero at the beginning of your area code. If you're not sure of a country code, or you want to check a local number, you can use a telephone directory. The White Pages is a directory of telephone numbers of government services, businesses and private households. The Yellow Pages is a directory of businesses and service providers. Copies are free at any Post Office.

If you cannot find the number you are looking for, dial 1223 or 12 455 from a private or public phone to get Directory Assistance for local and national telephone numbers and 1225 for international numbers. These directories are also available online at www.whitepages.com.au and www.yellowpages.com.au.

Phone (calling) cards

There are two main types of pre-paid telephone cards in Australia, both of which can be used in public telephones:

• Phone cards you insert into a public telephone.
• Phone cards that contain a number you dial to access a timed line which is set aside for a unique pin number written on your card.

You can purchase the first type in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 or $100 from any Post Office, news agency or convenience store, etc. You can only use this card in a public phone that has a phone card ‘slot’.

You can purchase the second type in various denominations from any Post Office, news agency, convenience store, and supermarket. These cards claim to be better value than Telstra cards (depending on time of call and destination). You do not insert these cards into the public phone. Each card comes with easy-to-follow instructions. You can use these cards from your home phone or any public phone.

With some of the cards you may get a good deal for making calls to your home country. It is worthwhile comparing prices carefully because they can change without notice and some cards charge a higher connection fee than others.

Another factor is that some companies have relatively few lines available and are quite popular, which means their lines are often busy when their phone cards are used. Therefore it might be best to buy a card with only $5 credit at first to see how the connection works for you. It might be worth buying a card from a slightly more expensive company if it means there are more lines available and you can make a phone call when it is convenient for you.

You can recharge some of the cards over the phone with your credit card (see the Money Matters section). This way you do not have to try to remember new pin numbers as you purchase new cards. The following sites are useful for comparing various cards and rates – www.phonecardselector.com.au and www.ephonecards.com.au.

Mobile (cell) phones

Most students choose to purchase a mobile phone soon after arriving. Phones purchased in Australia will not work until you are connected to a carrier or service provider’s ‘mobile network’. This is where most if your money will go – paying for network ‘air time’. Costs can appear quite high relative to some other countries but there are huge variations in price and service features.

Most carriers provide plans to suit your needs and include a relatively low purchase or lease price for the phone itself. New services appear almost daily so it is difficult to provide anything more than a broad overview. These plans generally require you to enter a contract (usually for a minimum of 12 months) so think seriously before committing yourself. Another option is to purchase a phone outright and use a pre-paid account. This option frees you from any binding contracts but call costs are usually higher in comparison. It all comes back to choosing the right option for your needs. There are a number of mobile providers in Australia. Listed below are links to some of the larger ones which can give you an idea of cost and features:

• Telstra
• Optus
• Vodafone
• 3 Mobile

Before you buy a mobile phone, or sign up for a mobile plan, it is strongly recommended you read the information produced by the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs.