Visiting Australia
Welcome To Australia
With a population of over 21,000,000 Australia has a lot to offer. Our landscape ranges from outback deserts to dense tropical rain forests and includes some of the worlds finest beaches. Australian's enjoy fine art, food and have a passionate love of sport and the great outdoors.
Climate
Any time is a good time to be in Australia. Our summer is at it's peak during December to February with many families taking to the beach over the summer holidays. Up north the summer is also a wet season with tropical showers making it very humid. Our winter takes place June to August there are some great ski detsinations in the southern parts of Australia. During spring and autumn our weather is quite mild.
Operating Amateur Radio In Australia
Since 14 February 2008 a Class Licence issued by the Australian regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has allowed visiting amateurs to operate in Australia.
The Class Licence is issued under the Australian Radiocommunications Act, and allows any overseas amateur visiting Australia to operate for up to 90 days after each entry to Australia. A visiting amateur does not have to make any application or payment to operate, but must hold evidence of a licence or qualification recognised by ACMA and a call sign issued by the administration that issued the licence or qualification.
The conditions of operation are fully set out in the Class Licence, including the 5 levels of operation permitted.
The Class Licence may be found on this site – see file for download below
The level of operation, which range from the privileges and bands allowed to the Australian Advanced licence to a 146 to 148 MHz low power FM licence (essentially for hand held operation), depends on the level of the overseas licence.
Overseas licences and the equivalent level are set out in the Table of Equivalent Qualifications and Licences which can be found on the ACMA’s website. The URL for the part of the ACMA site ‘Apparatus Licensing – Amateurs Visiting Australia’ that includes the table is available via this Link
Even if your licence is not listed you can still operate.
The Tables are identified as C (i) to C (v), and the last Table covers overseas amateurs who possess an overseas amateur qualification or licence other than a qualification or licence listed in Tables C (i) to C (iv). They may operate under the conditions set out in Division 1 of the Class Licence (which apply to all levels) and Division 6 of the Class licence, which is the low power, 146 to 148 MHz level, which covers all the Australian 2 meter repeaters.
You must use your own call sign, followed by “VK”, followed by “portable” and the location of the station.
There are currently a number of omissions in the Table of Equivalent Qualifications and Licences and the WIA is assisting ACMA in identifying them. Any suggestions should be emailed to the WIA at nationaloffice@wia.org.au.
It is hoped that Australia will shortly become party to the CEPT T/R 61-01 for the benefit of Australian amateurs travelling overseas.
Page Last Updated: Sunday 24 February 2008 at 19:9 hours
|
