Useful information for Visitors
TAXIS
As there is limited public transport on Christmas Island, Island Taxis are available for all your transport needs, including airport transfers and short Island tours. Contact Teresa or Alan Thornton on mobile 043 921 5644 for bookings or more information:
| • | Airport pick up and delivery |
| • | Vehicle ferrying drive your car to a venue & we can pick you up & drop you and your car home at the end of the evening |
| • | Document & parcel courier service (on Island Only) |
| • | Take-a-way pickup & delivery |
| • | A range of 2 & 4 wheeldrive tours |
HEALTH
The Indian Ocean Territories Health Service offers a wide range of medical, nursing and ancillary health service. Qualified medical, nursing and ancillary health workers provide these services. The health facilities are modern and well equipped, and include accidents and emergency department, consulting rooms, laboratory, dental clinic, operating theatre, 8 inpatient beds, x-ray and ultrasound facilities. Patients requiring specialist care are assisted in their travel to Perth, and emergency cases are evacuated to Perth through the RFDS. It is important that visitors to the Island have appropriate travel insurance to cover emergency evacuation from Christmas Island. Obstetric patients are referred to Perth for delivery in Perth during the last four weeks of pregnancy. These patients and their spouses are assisted their travel to Perth.
Health services include:
| • | Outpatient GP Service |
| • | Inpatient cares |
| • | Emergency 24 hour cares |
| • | Visits by medical specialists and ancillary health workers |
| • | Women s' health |
| • | Child health and immunization |
| • | Health promotion activities |
Routine medical services are provided free to Australian citizens & permanent residents. Private billing applies to workers' compensation, insurance examinations, etc. Dental services are available at the hospital for a scheduled fee. The dentist also operates a school dental health clinic. A voluntary St Johns Ambulance service also operates on the island.Contact the Indian Ocean Territories Health Services on Ph: +61 (0)8 9164 8333 or Fax: +61 (0)8 9164 8338
MASSAGE SERVICES
Massage is a simple, non-intrusive therapy which restores, rehabilitates and revitalises your body and mind. Professional Massage will assist:
| • | the body's fluid circulation - arterial and venous blood, and lymphatic drainage |
| • | the soothing of the nervous system |
| • | Energy balancing/clearing of meridian blockages |
| • | Greater freedom of movement |
| • | Increase flexibility of connective tissue |
| • | Supply of nutrition to cells/dispersion of wastes |
| • | Total relaxation and the development of well-being |
Contact Stephen Watson at Massage Logic (ABN : 62 090 238 213)
1 Sunset Place, Silver City, Christmas Island
Telephone : +61 (0)8 9164 8020 or Mobile 043 921 5321
Pick up service available for customers without transport
Email : steve@watson.cx
POLICE
The Australian Federal Police are responsible for providing police services
to the Community of Christmas Island. A team of four sworn police officers
and six locally engaged 'special constables' provide the full range of community
policing services, including land and marine search and rescue coordination,
within a small, diverse and multicultural community. No firearms are allowed
on Christmas Island. Further information about the Australian Federal Police
can be found by visiting www.afp.gov.au.
Contact the Christmas Island Police (AFP) on
Phone +61 (0)8 9164 8444 or Fax: +61 (0)8 9164 8440
IMMIGRATION AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visas are required for non-Australian passports holders visiting Christmas
Island. Many countries are now able to provide ETA's (Electronic Travel
Authorities) issued via travel agents, so obtaining a visa is as quick and
easy as purchasing your airline ticket. Information about Australian immigration
requirements can be found on the government website at www.immi.gov.au
CUSTOMS
The Australian Customs Service operates the Indian Ocean Territories Customs
Service and is responsible for undertaking border related functions on Christmas
Island including the arrival and departure of aircraft, ships, yachts, launches
and accompanying passengers, crew and cargo. Operators and owners/masters
of arriving and departing craft are required to report certain information
to Customs, within specified time periods, prior to the actual arrival or
departure occurring. Customs on Christmas Island can be contacted via email
on dmwaci@customs.gov.au or
Telephone +61 (0) 8 91647228 or Fax: +61 (0)8 91648440
QUARANTINE
Christmas Island is an island with some unique endemic species of wildlife. It is also free of many pests and diseases that are found in other parts of the world. Quarantine is the border agency charged with the task of protecting the environment and human health from pest or disease incursions. The department's objective is to facilitate the movement of passengers, cargo, aircraft and vessels in a way that minimises any inconvenience to the people involved while maintaining the quarantine integrity of the island. This is achieved through various reporting, screening, inspection and treatment mechanisms. Certain products are prohibited on the island while other items may require some form of treatment before they may be released.
Any persons wishing to know more about the quarantine
requirements on Christmas Island should contact the Christmas Island Quarantine
Service on Tel: +61 (0)8 9164 7456 or Fax: + 61 (0)8 9164 7468 or
via E-mail on Christmas.Island@aqis.gov.au
POSTAL SERVICES
You should not miss a visit to the Christmas Island Post Office as they
have a range of unique Christmas Island stamps & philatelic items and
provide "Australia Post" postal services. The Christmas Island
Post Office is a Commonwealth Bank Agency and provides services for many
other banks including Citibank, Statewest, Bankwest, Metway, Hong Kong Bank
of Australia & Adelaide Bank. EFTPOS & EPOS are available as well
as cash advances from credit cards of up to AUD$800 per day. The Christmas
Island Post Office also has a retail area stocking Christmas Island books,
maps, postcards, souvenirs, Perth Mint & Royal Australian Mint products
as well as most stationery needs. The friendly staff are always happy to
assist.
Contact the Christmas Island Post Office on Ph: +61 (0)8 9164 8495 or Fax:
+61 (0)8 9164 8494 E-mail: cipost@pulau.cx
BANKING SERVICES
Westpac Banking Corporation have a branch located at Canberra Place, Settlement.
This branch offers full banking services & can exchange foreign currency.
Opening Hours are Monday - Friday 9.30am - 3.00pm.
Contact Westpac-Christmas Island on
Ph: +61 (0)8 9164 8221 or Fax: + 61 (0)8 9164 8241
EDUCATION
The Christmas Island District High School provides education from pre-school level through to Year 12 secondary level. The school is staffed by teachers from the Education Department of Western Australia and follows the state curriculum. A weekly Playgroup also meets on the island for children from 0-4. An Early Childhood Centre is run by the Christmas Island Women's Association and operates from the Tom Paterson School catering for children from 3-4 years. Contact the Christmas Island District High School on:Ph: +61 (0)8 9164 8546 or Fax: +61 (0)8 9164 8544
INDIAN OCEAN GROUP TRAINING ASSOCIATION
Indian Ocean Group Training Association (IOGTA) is the main employment
provider on Island. IOGTA also runs many training courses for more information
on current training course please contact:
Phone: +61 (0)8 9164 7220 or Fax: +61 (0)8 9164 7129
OTHER SERVICES
ELECTRICITY
The island electricity (consumer voltage 240V, 50 cycles) is generated by deisel plants in the power station located on the island.
WATER
Water is pumped from several springs and underground streams. The water is treated and supplied in accordance with West Australian standards and is tested periodically by hospital staff. The water is safe to drink.
TELEPHONES
There is full STD access by phone or fax to and from the Australian mainland. A Telstra GSM Mobile Telephone Service operates on the Island and a Telstra dealership is available for new, postpaid or prepaid products. All Telstra facilities and services are available to island residents. Contact IOCOMM Technologies on (08) 9164 8505 for further information. Christmas Island numbers are listed in the "Great Northern WA" phone book.
TV/RADIO
Christmas Island recieves Golden West Network (GWN) - a commercial TV network broadcast from West Australia as well as ABC & SBS & WIN TV. As stations are broadcast through a satellite service, interference may occur due to rainfall. Many residents have also had their own small satellite dish installed to receive other stations. Radio 6RCI is the local radio station, transmitting on 105.3FM from Rocky Point and 102.1FM from Drumsite. Transmissions in English, Malay and Chinese. Staffed by volunteer announcers. Christmas Island also receives Red FM - a commercial station based in West Australia as well as ABC Classical Radio and JJJ FM.