Australia is one of the countries that already works under a patchwork of time zones, as Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is one of the most widely used. AEST is 10 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+10). This time zone is one of the most important markers we have for scheduling and timing in today’s world of commerce, travel, and communication.
AEST is used as standard time in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, all of Australia’s eastern states. The time zone is the same all year so no daylight savings confusion. During Daylight Saving Time, states like New South Wales and Victoria move the clock forward. Clocks spring forward one hour in this state of affairs. Even with this change, we’re still living in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), GMT+11.
Getting to grips with AEST is vital for anyone whose work involves dealing with Australia either at home or abroad. For businesses that contest on an international level, arranging meetings and due dates becomes tricky without having a solid understanding of time zones. AEST’s position as 10 hours ahead of GMT means that when it is noon in London, it is already 10:00 PM in Sydney. This large time difference has a huge impact on everything from stock market open and close times to international conference calls.
Beyond its influence on business, AEST is critically important to travel planning. Travelers coming to Australia or returning home should factor AEST into travel plans when they book flights and reserve hotel rooms. Airlines, understandably, would announce all flight departures and arrivals using AEST. This would make it easier for passengers to know what to expect with disruptions to their travel plans.
Additionally, the assumed standard time zone crosses into the cultural, social and sporting realm in Australia too. Cultural events, like sporting fixtures, concerts, and public holidays, work with AEST so as to cater for local audiences. In fact, almost all major sporting events, such as the Australian Open tennis tournament, program their matches to fit in AEST. Yet this strategy maximizes viewership and attendance.
