Sydney Phone Directory
Communicating In Australia
Australia has an excellent domestic and international communications service. Communication in Sydney is modern and advanced and primarily uses fiber optic networks. It connects households and businesses through copper lines and allows one to call long distance within the country (STD) without operator assistance or make an IDD (International Direct Dialing) call.
Using the payphone
Two major payphone operators in Australia are Telstra and Tritel. Both companies charge 50c for each local call and some Telstra payphones have the ability to send SMS for 20c per message. Both payphones accept all local coins and Tritel or Telstra phone cards, which are available at news agencies.
Credit phones require special telephone cards, debit cards or credit cards from many leading companies like Visa. Credit card phones are found in airports, major locations in the city and hotels.
Calling abroad
A service called Country Direct also lets one connect to an operator if you are calling from a foreign telephone network and not get charged for long distance calls.
Mobile communications in Australia
Mobile phones may also be rented in Australia, or you can bring your cell phone along. Mobile networks in Australia operate on 800 for CDMA, 900 and 1800 bands for GSM. Users of Telstra will be charged for international roaming agreements in many countries. Further details can be seen at the company’s website. You must contact your service provider to activate international roaming in Australia.
Sydney Useful Telephone Numbers
| Police, Fire and Ambulance | 000 |
| Abortion Hotline | 9233 3780 |
| Alcohol and Drug Information Service | 1800 422 599 |
| Ambulance bookings | 13 12 33 |
| Cancer council | 9334 1900 |
| Centrecare Pregnancy Support | 9283 3099 |
| Emergency Dental Info (after hours) | 9369 1111 |
| Emergency Prescription Service | 9235 0333 |
| Medicare | 12 20 11 |
| Poisons Information Hotline | 13 11 26 |
| Rape Crisis Centre | 9819 6565 |
| Royal North Shore Hospital | 9926 7111 |
| St. Vincents Hospital | 9339 1111 |
| Sydney Hospital Emergency | 9382 7111 |
| Sydney Sexual Health Centre | 9382 7440 |
