Laying the foundation to the start of a life in Australia can be exciting, but you may definitely feel like a stranger in a foreign land as you learn about the different customs and unwritten rules of etiquette. Having knowledge of Australian etiquette in business and social situations, however, is more than just about good manners; it will help you make connections in your new home with neighbours, colleagues and peers. You will appear confident and knowledgeable about norms in your new country, putting yourself and others at ease!

Emails have become the way we communicate these days. But there are etiquette standards around emails, too.

• The layout of a professional email is similar to a business letter. You have your greeting, your body of the letter and your salutation.
• Use a relevant subject line.
• Don’t use urgent or important. If it is that important, call the person.
• Use “Hello” or possibly “Hi+ the person’s name.” Always consider your relationship with that person; err on the side of being more formal if in doubt. Never use “Hey!”
• Always use correct vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.
• Using all capital letters is equivalent to screaming.
• In a professional email, emojis or emoticons are not appropriate.
• Close by suggesting what you expect the recipient to do next: “I look forward to hearing back from you.” “If you have further questions, please contact me.”
• Use a closing line and then your name, even if you have an automatic signature, too.
• Your automatic signature should contain your full name, title and essential contact information. Keep it short so people do not have to keep scrolling down on their devices to see the next message.
• If you are unable to fully reply to an email right away, which should be within 48 hours, send an email with a quick note that you will get back to them shortly with the appropriate answers.
• In contrast to email, texting can be more informal, but always remain professional if texting with a colleague or client.