Welcome

The Australian Embassy in Vienna and Permanent Mission to the UN is accredited to Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and to the International Organisations in Vienna.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Request for Tender (RFT)

Provision of transactional and administrative services for the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs

On 14 July the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) released an RFT on AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au) titled: Department of Home Affairs - Overseas Service Delivery Partners (HOMEAFFAIRS/2083/RFT).

The RFT is seeking to engage one or more suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver certain overseas transactional and administrative services on behalf of the Department. These services include Biometric Collection and Identity Verification (checking a customer’s face against their identity document before collecting facial and fingerprint biometrics), Digital Assistance, Online Payment Assistance, Remote Interview Hosting, Document and Claim Checking, Local Addressing and Document Delivery and Paper Digitisation. 

If you think you may be able to provide these services, you can obtain a copy of the RFT documentation by registering here.

The RFT is open until 1 September 2022.  

 

Celebrating NAIDOC Week: 3-10 July 2022

 

 

Sunday 3 July 2022 marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week – a time where Australia proudly celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held in the first week of July each year throughout Australia and abroad. During this week, a range of events, activities and workshops, including community barbeques, art fairs, and cultural performances, are organised to support and recognise the contributions that First Nations Australians make to our country and to our society.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. 

This year’s theme, 'Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!', calls for all to amplify indigenous voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome; and work together in seeking environmental, cultural and heritage protections and making proposals that aim to benefit indigenous livelihoods and outcomes.
 
Further information is available at: https://www.naidoc.org.au

 

IDAHOBIT - 17 May

17 May marks the  International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

We stand together with the LGBTI community across the world. Togehter with Diplomats for Equality we have issued a joint statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anzac Day 2022

 

After a two-year pause, the Australian and New Zealand Embassies are pleased to resume the joint hosting of an in-person commemorative Dawn Service in Vienna on 25 April.

 

Please join us at our new Anzac Day commemoration venue in Volksgarten, 1010 Vienna, at 5:30 am with commemoration to start at 5:45 am. Entrance is via the main gate of Heldenplatz (see map below).   Please register at [email protected] by Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

 

Over 75,000 Australians and New Zealanders served at Gallipoli between 25 April and 20 December 1915. Over 10,000 lost their lives. Many of these men were killed during the two most intense periods of fighting, in the week of the landing and in the August offensive that was launched to break the deadlock that had prevailed. Gallipoli was the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ introduction to war and though the campaign ended in defeat, the anniversary of its beginning quickly became, and has remained, Australia’s and New Zealand’s principal day of commemoration.

The Anzac Portal features information on some of the campaign’s most important aspects and significant themes; plus a virtual tour of the key Allied battlefields, cemeteries and memorials.

The Australian War Memorial provides information about services and commemorations, customs and traditions and has a special Anzac at Home section for those who are unable to join a commemoration in person.

 

Australia Day 2022

Australia Day is a time to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history. It is an opportunity to reflect, respect and celebrate with all Australians.  Visit our special Australia Day web page.

Remembrance Day 2021

 

Remembrance Day  is one of the most significant and poignant days on the Australian calendar, as we unite to pause, remember, and honour Australian service personnel who have died or suffered in wars, conflicts, and peace keeping operations. Our nation stands in silent reflection for one minute on 11 November to commemorate and honour the courage and sacrifice of all Australians who have served their country.    

Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the guns falling silent on the Western Front at 11 am on 11 November 1918 after the bloodshed of the First World War.

For more information, please see the webpage of the Australian War Memorial at: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/remembrance-day

 

LGBTI: Supporting equal rights

Embassy staff at Vienna Pride 2021 (copyright: Australian Embassy)

Australia believes that nobody should be discriminated against for who they are or who they love. Valuing diversity and promoting inclusion benefits everyone.

On this basis, Australia joined 44 embassies, diplomatic missions, and international organisations based in Vienna, Austria, in support and recognition of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May 2021, and joined the Vienna Pride on 19 June.  See full statement of the Diplomats for Equality group.

In Hungary, the Australian Embassy joined the statement of 41 diplomatic representations and cultural institutions in support of the 26th Budapest Pride Festival taking place from 25 June to 25 July 2021.  Please read the joint statement issued on 19 July ahead of the 24 July Pride March here.

To mark the 2021 Pride events on 24 July and 21 August in Slovakia, Australia joined 44 diplomatic representations, human rights institutions, and the City of Bratislava, and issued a statement to reaffirm our commitment to protecting and defending the human rights of all. For the full statement, please refer here.

 

Celebrating NAIDOC week: 4-11 July 2021

 

Sunday 4 July marks the beginning of NAIDOC week in Australia - a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Communities throughout Australia hold activities and celebrations during NAIDOC week, including community barbeques, historical visits and cultural performances.  NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. 

During NAIDOC week, Australia highlights the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage as part of Australia’s national identity.  This year’s theme, Heal Country, calls for continued focus on greater protections of Australia's lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage. 

To learn more about NAIDOC week, see https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2021-theme

 

National Reconciliation Week - 27 May – 3 June

 

Australia marks National Reconciliation Week every year from 27 May to 3 June, during which we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and promote reconciliation with non-Indigenous peoples.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the Australian reconciliation journey — starting with the successful 1967 referendum when more than 90 per cent of Australian voters chose ‘Yes’ to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census.  The week ends on the anniversary of Australia’s land High Court decision in the Mabo case when the court recognised native title for the first time.

2021 marks almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process and incorporates the theme ‘More than a Word, Reconciliation Takes Action’, which urges those that are involved in the reconciliation movement toward braver and more impactful action.

For more information on what reconciliation action the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is taking, visit here.

 

The Contribution of Indigenous Australia to our diplomacy

 

On 20 May 2021 Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, gave an important speech outlining how the department intends to build Indigenous Australia into its diplomacy and create an authentically Australian foreign service.

Read her speech here.

 

International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) - 17 May 2021

Australia joins citizens from around the world in celebrating the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May 2020.  This important day celebrates diversity and inclusion and raises awareness of the work still needed to combat discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people around the world. Valuing diversity and promoting inclusion benefits everyone.

Australia has joined 44 embassies, diplomatic missions, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and international organisations based in Vienna, Austria, in welcoming IDAHOBIT.  See full statement of the Diplomats for Equality group.

 

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh

 

Messages of condolence on the passing of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh can be made using the online or downloadable form at https://www.pmc.gov.au/his-royal-highness-duke-edinburgh.  Messages will be sent to Buckingham Palace and archived by the Commonwealth of Australia.

Events

The Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna held an exploratory discussion about expanding business and investment opportunities between Austria and Australia via a new networking platform, ABIE Austria, on 31 March.

For those who did not have an opportunity to attend, find out more via this brief concept note.
 

Appointment of Australian Honorary Consul in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Australian Embassy is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Elvedina Busuladžić as Honorary Consul for Australia, resident in Sarajevo with jurisdiction throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ms Busuladžić is an experienced businesswoman who has strong professional networks and experience in Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a dual national with citizenship of Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms Busuladžić has strong ties with both countries. Ms Busuladžić lived in Perth, Western Australia, for five years until 2010, and maintains strong linkages with her personal and professional connections in Australia. She lives in Sarajevo with her family.

There are approximately 8,500 Australians visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina annually. The Australian Consulate in Sarajevo provides consular and passports services to Australians in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Contact details for the Australian Consulate are as follows:

Address
Australian Consulate
Strossmayerova 1/1
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
 

Smartraveller website

Smartraveller has the latest, authoritative travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. Subscribe to receive travel advice updates - by simply supplying your name and email address – straight to your inbox.

You can now also subscribe to the new SMS service - by supplying your mobile number – to receive critical alerts in the event of a crisis overseas.

In a crisis, Smartraveller will activate a crisis page on its website. It will make it easier for you or someone you know to contact the Australian Government if you need help. It will supplement the consular emergency hotline.

Visit http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ to subscribe or connect with Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.