How to arrive and

Australian slang terms

Many common Australian expressions or slang may seem strange to someone new to Australia. Slang words originate from many different sources from around the world and some are totally indigenous words. Many originated from Australia's early European settlement and during the two world wars. Many words are shortened versions of longer words. Many were expressions already in use by immigrants who came from the north of England. If you are ever unsure what an expression means, it is quite acceptable to ask the person who said it to explain it to you. Some common expressions are:

Australian	English
Ambos	Ambulance workers
Arvo	Afternoon
Award Wage	Minimum pay rate
Barbie	Barbecue
Barrel	Big tubes (surfing term)
Beauty	Great or fantastic
Bikkies	Biscuits
Billabong	Water hole in dried up river
Bloke	Man
Boozer	Pub
Booze Bus	Police van for breath testing
Bottle shop	Liquor store or off-licence
Bring a plate	A dish of food to share with others
Bush	Country side
BYO	Bring your own
Cask	Wine box
Chook	Chicken
Compo	Compensation
Cray	Crayfish or lobster
Crook	Sick or ill
Cuppa	A cup of tea or coffee
Dead horse	Tomato sauce
Deli	Delicatessen
Didgeridoo	Aboriginal musical instrument
Dill	Idiot
Drop in (surfers)	Take off in another's wave
Dunny	Toilet
Esky lid (surfers)	Boogie Board
Fair dinkum	The truth, honestly
Flake	Shark meat
Flat out	Really busy
Footy	Aussie Rules Football
G’day	Hello
Garbo	Garbage collector
Give it a burl	Try it
Glamour	Beach Babies
Goat Boater	People who ride jet skis
Good onya	Good for you
Grog	Beer
How ya goin’ ?	How are you?
Kiwi	New Zealander
Knock	To criticise
Lingo	Language
Lollies	Candies or sweets
Lollipop Lady/gent	School pedestrian traffic controller
Loo	Outdoor lavatory
Manchester	Household linen
Mate	Friend
Moolah	Money
Mozzies	Mosquitoes
No worries	No problem
Outback	Interior of the country
Oz / Aussie	Australia/n
Piss	Beer
Pissed	Drunk
Pokies	Poker machines
Pom(mie)	A person from England
Postie	Mailman
Reckon	Absolutely
Right	Okay
Road Train	Very long Semi-trailer
Rock up	Arrive
Sanger	Sandwich
Seppo	American
Sheila	Woman
Shout	Turn to buy a drink
Sickie	Take a day off work calling in ‘sick’
Snag	Sausages
Stubby	Bottle of beer
Sunbake	Sunbath
Sunnies	Sun glasses
Tea	Evening meal
Tellie	Television
Too right	Definitely
Tucker	Food
Uni	University
Unit	Apartment/flat
Ute	Pick up truck
Yabbie	Freshwater crayfish

Many more Australian expressions and slang can be learned at the comprehensive Macquarie Dictionary, online at: http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FFC52961543+0/-/p/dict/slang.html

Appendix A - Checklist for emigrating to Australia
With more than 3 months to go

1.	Begin your visa application process.
2.	Establish a written timetable for the move.
3.	Decide what you want to do with your current housing.
4.	Look into storage costs for storing personal possessions.
5.	Choose a good moving company if required.
6.	Get your driver's licence ready in order to be exchanged in Australia.
7.	Start informing yourself about Australia regarding your particular needs.
8.	Start saving - you can't have enough money when emigrating.
9.	Decide what to do with your pets.
10.	Check which of your electrical appliances will not work in Australia
11.	Obtain information about the real estate market in Australia
12.	Relocation services exist to help corporate executives in moving and settling.
13.	Parents should start the search for a school for their children.
14.	Have your health checked out.

With more than 2 months to go

1.	Start shopping around and compare prices on airfares.
2.	Apply for the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) membership card if you need to use hostels.
3.	Get some decent luggage to protect your belongings and valuables.
4.	Get your tax affairs in order.
5.	Get certified bank statements from your bank.
6.	Open a Web-based email account.
7.	Obtain copies of your no-claim insurance certificates from your car insurer.
8.	Update your CV, save it to a disk and forward it to yourself ahead of your arrival.
9.	Contact employment agencies in Australia
10.	Make arrangements for how or where you will be staying

With more than one month to go

1.	Draw up a list of the people you'd like to see before you leave.
2.	Give notice on your accommodation and your employment.
3.	Get an International Driver's Licence.
4.	Start looking around for someone to buy your foreign exchange through.
5.	Photocopy or scan the documents you think you will need in Australia.
6.	Decide what to do about your bank account.
7.	Contact your utility providers and advise them of your intention to terminate your account.
8.	You may want to open a private box at a post office.
9.	Cancel or redirect your magazine subscriptions and such like.

With a few weeks to go

1.	Provide copies of your itinerary and contact details to friends and family.
2.	Collect all the important documents in one place.
3.	If you wear contact lenses, buy a few bottles of your preferred solution.
4.	Start saying your goodbyes to friends and family.
5.	Keep checking your moving plan to see what still needs doing, like emptying home of 'stuff'.

With a week to go

1.	Start packing your bags.
2.	Make sure your tickets and foreign exchange have arrived.
3.	Say some of your last goodbyes.
4.	Check the moving plan to finalise anything outstanding.
5.	Find out how long before your flight is due to takeoff that you need to be at the airport.
6.	Arrange for someone to take you and your luggage to the airport.
7.	Relax about things that need doing and get excited about what awaits you.

The big day

1.	Keep calm.
2.	Phone the airport to see if your flight is on schedule
3.	Confirm with the person(s) taking you to the airport
4.	Check your documents and passport one last time.
5.	Say goodbye, but not as if for the last time.

Appendix B – The list of professional bodies for employment purposes
Architecture & Design Jobs

Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
Address:	Post Office Box 301 Deakin West ACT 2600
Phone:	[phone]
Email:	[e-mail]
Website:	www.aiqs.com.au
Building Designers Association of Australia
Address:	Suite 1.04, 10 Help Street Chatswood NSW 2067
Phone:	[phone]
Email:	[e-mail]
Website:	www.bdaa.com.au