Major banks in Australia are open weekdays (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) with some offering services on weekends. Some smaller towns may have limited banking facilities, provided by agencies at the local post office or newsagent.

All the major banks can exchange foreign currency, as well as outlets at international airports and foreign exchange bureaus. For current conversion rates, see the Universal Currency Converter.

Major credit cards - Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club - are widely accepted throughout Victoria. Other types of credit cards may also be accepted at certain establishments.

The Australian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents, is the currency of Australia and is legal tender throughout all its states and territories. General circulation coin denominations are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar and 2 dollars. Cash transactions are rounded to the nearest five cents. Polymer banknotes are available in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars.

GST is a tax on most goods and services in Australia. There are a few exemptions, including basic food items and beverages, but not food or drink purchased for consumption on premises such as at restaurants. To avoid confusion, the law requires that the prices displayed for goods or services must be inclusive of the GST component.

The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) enables visitors to possibly claim a GST refund on goods bought within Australia that are then taken out of the country. For full details, read further about the Tourist Refund Scheme.

Medicare is the name of Australia's public health care system. The Australian Government has reciprocal health care agreements with the governments of Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, allowing residents of those countries access to medically necessary treatment offered by Medicare. These limited services may be free or discounted. For further important information, see Health Care for Visitors to Australia from the Australian Government.

Even if you're from one of the nations that has a reciprocal health care agreement, travel insurance with comprehensive health cover is strongly recommended. This should be taken out prior to your arrival in Australia.

Residents of overseas countries who are not Australian citizens require a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter Australia. This must be obtained prior to arrival in Australia, except for New Zealand citizens who are issued with a visa on arrival.

An ETA will let you spend up to three months in Australia. Certain travel agents and airlines can provide visitors with an ETA. An ETA can also be applied for on the internet using the Australian Government's Electronic Travel Authority System.

For stays of longer than three months, you must apply for a visa. Visas are available from Australian visa offices, such as Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates.

For further information on visa and entry conditions into Australia, see Visas & Immigration.

Would you like to live in Victoria? Every year, many people immigrate to Victoria from overseas, settling into Melbourne or regional centres. For information on what Victoria offers and how you can become a resident of this state, see Work and Live in Victoria.