Travel to Australia - Update January 2020

As you may know, Australia is experiencing bushfires which have resulted in widespread destruction in much of rural New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. Other states with ongoing fires include Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.

While central areas of major cities are not directly at risk, severe haze from bushfires in peripheral areas is liable to reduce visibility and could potentially cause short-notice flight disruption. For example, the capital’s Canberra Airport (CBR) cancelled some flights on 5 January due to poor visibility from smoke. Road travel in the city was also affected by heavy smog due to the fires near to Mallacoota (Victoria) on 31 December 2019.

In preparing for your travel and while you are abroad, please remember to monitor and follow International SOS (ISOS) safety advice, which includes closely monitoring ongoing bushfires via the active maps of NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia states and Northern Territory, and exercising stringent precautions in surrounding areas. As a basic precaution:

  • Defer all travel to areas which may be affected by fire activity, reconfirm the status of routes before setting out as road closures near fires are common.
  • Stay up to date by listening to local radio stations or by monitoring the emergency services’ websites for your state.
  • Follow all safety precautions provided by your host institution/organization.
  • Keep in mind that smoke can cause disruption at airports. Ensure you reconfirm the status of your flights to remain apprised of the situation.
  • If you are in an area affected by smoke, minimise time spent outdoors due to associated health risks.

As a reminder, any students participating in international university-sanctioned travel are required to complete the Safety Abroad Steps for Students, in particular the Travel Registry (step 3) and registration with the Government of Canada (step 5)

Faculty and staff are also welcome to use ISOS resources outlined on the Safety Abroad Steps for Faculty and Staff. 

Should you have any questions or require further assistance with the safety abroad protocols, please contact us at travelregistry@uwo.ca