Health and safety

Before you go overseas research the potential health and safety pitfalls of your destination(s).
The government’s travel advisory and consular service website Smartraveller is a great starting point.

It’s where you’ll find the current travel advisory for the country you’ll be visiting, including health, safety and security information which is updated every day.

Check that there are no travel alerts that make you uncomfortable about going ahead with your trip.

Before you go overseas:

• Register with DFAT – the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recommends you register with them before departing and leave a copy of your itinerary. This can be done online.  
• Go to your doctor for a medical check up, and discuss any medicines that you may have to take overseas with you. Get a letter from the doctor clearly listing all medications for your personal use that you’ll be travelling with and carrying through customs.
• Consult a travel vaccination specialist about which vaccinations you need for your trip, and when you need to have them. Make sure you do this well in advance to organise the appropriate vaccinations on time.
• Research the health profile of your destination, and arm yourself with information about which diseases are prevalent, whether the area is at risk from any particular natural disaster, the quality of water, food hygiene and medical care available.
• Record phone numbers that could be helpful in an emergency, for example, the most recommended doctors and hospitals, and contact details for the Australian embassy.

Useful information:

Contact Medicare Australia for information about staying healthy while travelling. Medicare also provides details of countries with which we have reciprocal health care agreements.

Contact Health Services Australia for details of the vaccinations you need and services available in your area.

You've had your vaccinations, packed your medicines, done your research – now what? Enjoy yourself while being aware and minimising risk.

Talk to locals about what is and isn’t safe, starting with asking at the tourist information centre. No matter where you are, there are places you wouldn’t go at night and things you wouldn’t consider doing. For instance:

• don't go bushwalking or camping without giving  someone your schedule so they know when to expect  you back and can raise the alarm if you’re overdue
• don't pick up hitchhikers and don’t hitchhike
• don't invite a stranger to your hotel room
• don't display large sums of money or expensive jewellery (the best place for your jewellery may be back home in  a safety deposit box)
• don't accept a drink from a stranger
• don't leave your drink unattended
• find out which areas are considered unsafe
• travel with a partner or friends  where possible
• never agree to carry a bag onto a plane for another person
• don't leave your baggage unattended or with a stranger

There are other ways to protect your health while travelling:

• protect yourself against insects, especially mosquitoes, as many highly contagious diseases are insect-borne
• avoid animals that could have rabies and infect you with a bite or scratch
• in many countries water, cold meats and reheated food may be unsafe
• if you're unsure about the water, use bottled water for brushing your teeth and don't order drinks with ice
• stick to fresh food that's been cooked and be careful about dairy products and where you buy food
• try to avoid fruit and vegetables that have been washed in the local water
• try fruit with thick skin such as bananas and oranges, as they are usually considered safer.

Another thing to be aware of while travelling is DVT, or Deep vein thrombosis, often referred to as 'economy class syndrome'. It’s the forming of a blood clot usually in the veins of the legs. Known risk factors include obesity, heart disease and sitting still for extended periods of time. To help lower the risk of DVT:
 

• consult your doctor before departure for advice on medication and clothing
• wear loose clothing
• avoid alcohol and caffeine
• drink plenty of water before and during the flight
• get up and move around regularly
• stretch your legs and feet during the flight, and follow any airline in-flight advice on exercises designed to minimise the risk of DVT.

Personal security and safety is paramount when travelling, so weigh up the possible risks of your intended holiday against the benefits.

Tragically, terrorism has touched many parts of the world and for many Australians the threat of terrorism influences their travel choices. Some parts of the world have a history of unrest; others may experience political, civil or military unrest at the time you travel.

Keep informed about world events, be vigilant when travelling, and most importantly, check the Australian government's Smart Traveller website for the latest travel advisory for the country you plan to visit. They are updated on a daily basis, and provide you with the best information to make your travel decisions.

Keeping your money safe

No-one wants the nerve-racking experience of being left without funds while travelling, especially in a foreign country.

Being flexible and carrying cash, travel cards, credit cards, debit cards and traveller's cheques will help with security.

Keeping them all in different locations also helps.

• If you own more than one credit card, keep them separate when travelling.
• If one card is lost or stolen you'll have another to use while waiting on a replacement.
• Keep the credit card details in a separate area so you can quickly call and cancel the cards if they go missing.
• Keep primary and backup Travel Cards separate when travelling. If one card is lost or stolen you’ll be able to use the other card.
• Keep the details of the card (but don't record the PIN details) in a separate area so if you lose both cards you can cancel the cards and order replacements.
• Keep your traveller's cheques in a safe place and avoid carrying them all at the same time. Have a few in your wallet and the rest in different bags, in a hotel safe or hidden in a safe place.    
• Check what responsibility (if any) your accommodation provider will take if there's a theft from their safe.
• Keep two copies of the traveller’s cheques serial numbers in different areas separate from the cheques themselves.
• Mark off the traveller’s cheques against your list as you use them. This way, you may be able to have them replaced should they be lost or stolen

Other tips for keeping your money safe include:

• never produce a large amount of cash or traveller's cheques in open view
• consider wearing a money belt, but don’t produce this in public
• carry a second wallet, with a small amount of cash, so if held up, you may be able to only hand this over
• find out what responsibility the hotel takes before leaving  cash, credit cards or traveller’s cheques in the hotel safe
• don't leave large amounts of money in your hotel room
• if walking, don't carry a bag off the shoulder that is near the road
• purchase a travel purse that can be worn across the shoulder, inside clothing and out of view
• be aware of distractions that may be ploys to divert attention while someone steals your wallet or bag
• if you wear a bum bag, have it in front of you and  not behind
• be careful about the areas where you travel – ask trusted locals for advice in advance
• try to stay in hotels that have swipe cards and not numbered keys, so if your card is lost or stolen, the thief won’t know which room to access
• avoid letting your credit cards leave your view when making purchases.

ANZ has a number of options to help you and your money stay safe and seure while overseas.

ANZ Travel Insurance – can protect you from the financial impact of a cancelled trip, lost luggage, theft along with illness and injury. Medical expenses overseas can be financially beyond reach. Ask yourself this, if I can’t afford travel insurance, can I really afford to travel? Find out more about ANZ Travel Insurance.

Then there is the security of your funds and the flexibility of having multiple ways of accessing your money. ANZ can help with the following.

ANZ Travel Card¹ – a secure and convenient way to access your money while you’re abroad, with no transaction fees on purchases. You can load funds in up to 10 different currencies on a single Prepaid Visa card which is accepted more than 29 million locations worldwide. Find out more about ANZ Travel Card.

Credit cards - A flexible payment option while you're overseas. Choose from a range of rewards credit cards and you could earn points for travel purchases. Our platinum credit cards come with many built-in travel benefits such as Overseas travel and medical insurance. Compare ANZ Credit Cards.

ANZ Access Visa Debit card² – allows you to use your own money, online, over the phone or in store anywhere Visa is accepted.  Find out more about ANZ Access Visa Debit.

Foreign exchange – you may need some cash in the local currency for the things you can’t pay for using any other method. See current exchange rates.

ANZ International Money Transfers^* – if you do need help while you are away, then you can arrange for a family member or friend (who is an ANZ account holder) to transfer money directly to an account held by you overseas.  Find out more about ANZ International Money Transfers.

Personal loans – we could hep you find the money to fund your journey. Find out more about ANZ Personal Loans.

And remember all ANZ Credit and debit cards come with the added security of ANZ Falcon^TM and ANZ Fraud Money Back Guarantee.