Business Etiquette
Try to schedule your business trips to Sydney between March and November. Avoid the week before and two weeks after Christmas, as they are popular vacation periods. Also, be sure to make business appointments a month in advance of your visit.
To make a good impression, take some time to learn the Australian culture and background before you visit, as this will delight your host and local contacts, and in turn encourage them to discuss their country with you.
When attending meetings, bring along business cards, though not all Australians use them. And remember that it is essential to be punctual.
Be prepared to find most businesspeople easy-going and amiable, as personal relationships are just as important to locals as is productivity. Australians can be approached very easily: No matter what their position, they will take the time to give a visitor an appointment.
Try to develop a friendly relationship, especially by partying with people in the evening, though it is not advisable to discuss business while partying.
Australians are direct by nature. They tend to be cynical, laconic, and understated, and freely express negative opinions about people and situations. To gain their respect, take a definite stand on issues. Don't take a position just because it's popular with others: Australians like sincerity and dislike any display of phoniness.
Never behave in any way that could be interpreted as patronizing. You can expect locals to be more interested in major issues rather than finer points and minuscule details.
A final word of caution: Never give orders to an Australian.
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Social Etiquette
When sharing a meal with a local in a restaurant, the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” applies.
If you are invited to someone's home for a meal, it is normal to bring along a gift for the host/hostess. A bottle of wine, a box of chocolates or flowers is the usual gift. If you are visiting a family from the Middle East, don't bring liquor.
Seats are normally arranged so that the guest or the senior person gets the best seat at the table. An alternate boy-girl-boy seating is common.
Barbecues are an Australian favorite. Popular dishes are steaks, grilled prawns, and fish roasted in foil. Sometimes the dishes are garnished with pineapple and bananas.
To eat Australian style, hold the knife in your right hand and fork in your left. Use the knife to push food onto the fork. If you are left-handed, reverse the utensils. When not eating, keep wrists on the table, and expect food to be served family-style or brought in on individual plates.
A good topic for dinner conversations is sports (cricket and rugby are very popular in Australia). If you don't understand the game, people are pleased to explain it to you. It's fine to ask people what sort of work they do, but not to discuss salaries, profits, etc. Avoid comparing Australia to your home country if it makes Australia inferior in any way. Praising Australia and its beauty is a sure crowd-pleaser. Note that in Australia, accent is an indication of class rather than region.
It is inappropriate to ask a colleague out on a date; it depends on their friendship and the firms' policy.
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Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Australia, though this is now changing, and 10% will sometimes be added to hotel bills. Be aware that restaurants do not add a service charge. In elegant hotels and expensive restaurants, staffs have become used to receiving tips. It is usual to tip waiters up to 10% in some of the high-class restaurants, and hotel porters $2 to $5. On the whole, gratuity is at your own discretion.
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