smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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Smartraveller Campaign

Each year Australians make more than 4 million trips overseas and the Department provides consular assistance to more than 15,000 Australians in difficulty.

Against a backdrop of 4 million trips a year, the number of consular cases might not seem that large. But even one Australian in difficulty is one too many and the Department is always looking for ways to reduce this number.

The $9.7 million smartraveller public information campaign, officially launched by Mr Downer on 7 September 2003, is a key part of the Department’s preventative consular work. Through the smartraveller campaign, the Department is informing Australians about how they can be well-informed, responsible ‘smart travellers’ and avoid hassles while travelling.

One of the key ways the Department assists Australians avoid difficulties overseas, is through the information it provides in its travel advisories. However, feedback from Australian travellers on the difficulties they have faced and consular assistance they have received also helps the Department to encourage Australians to be safe travellers, avoid similar difficulties and appreciate what level of assistance the Government is able to provide to Australians overseas.

Information on how to provide feedback is available online. 

About Smartraveller

What is the purpose of the smartraveller campaign?

The smartraveller campaign is in place to:

• increase public awareness of the Department’s travel advisories and encourage all Australians to consult them as a routine part of their international travel preparations
• promote the role of travel advisories as a source of accurate and impartial travel information for all Australians
• increase awareness that it is the responsibility of each traveller to minimise their risk while travelling overseas by:
• • checking and subscribing to the Department’s travel advice
  • registering their presence overseas
  • organising adequate travel insurance

How is the smartraveller campaign advertised?

To promote the importance of consulting the latest travel advice and the Department’s range of travel information on the smartraveller site, a series of national smartraveller television, print and internet advertisements have been produced.

Where can I get further information on safe travel?

To assist Australians prepare for travel and avoid difficulties overseas a range of publications and 10 top travel tips have also been prepared.