Healthcare 

Singapore has a well established healthcare system comprising of many private and public (government) hospitals and several specialist clinics catering to varying patient needs.  Many doctors practicing in Singapore have trained in Australia, the UK, Canada and the US.  Additionally, medical training in Singapore’s hospitals is of a very high standard. 

Pharmaceuticals are available from many outlets including supermarket and pharmacists (such as Guardian & Watsons). 

Patients are able to choose providers within the government or private healthcare delivery system and can walk in for a consultation at any private clinic or any government clinic.

For a listing of some of Singapore's hospitals and their telephone numbers please look at Useful Numbers and Services.

Education 

There are many different schooling choices available in Singapore and Singapore offers many high quality international Schools.

All Singaporean State Schools (including kindergartens) follow the same school year which starts on 2 January and consists of four 10-week terms.  There is a one-week holiday after the first and third terms, a four-week holiday after the second term, and a six-week break at the end of the year.  Foreign International schools operate to different timetables and should be consulted directly for their term dates.

Pre-School
Even though children are not required to start school before the age of six in Signapore, there are many pre-school centres for children from six months old.  Between the ages of three and six years old children will often be enrolled in a kindergarten.  There is a varied choice of these in different areas of the island, including foreign/international kindergartens for expat children.

Primary Education
In Singapore children start primary education from the age of six.  Singaporean shools only take children from a certain catchment area, which is determined by a set radius around the school campus.  Some schools are more popular (mainly due to their exam results) and it is not uncommon for parents to buy or rent a home within that school’s catchment area to secure a place for their children.

Secondary Education
Secondary schools in Singapore are government funded, government aided or independent.  Students attend four or five years of secondary education.

Special Needs Education
Special Education encompasses a range of specialized teaching programmes in special education (SPED) schools which cater for children with autism, or intellectual, sensory, physical or multiple disabilities.  For more information please visit the National Council of Social Service website or the Ministry of Education website.

International Schooling
There is a choice of international schools in Singapore and most expatriates’ children will attend one of these.  Many start at kindergarten age and will go through primary to secondary school.  Most of Singapore’s international schools follow the schedule of the “home country” school. 

Singapore has it’s own Australian International School. 

Avondale Grammar School follows the NSW Curriculum. Avondale's holidays and calendar year follow a similiar pattern to Australian Schools.

Cars 

Buying a car in Singapore is expensive compared with in other countries.  Due to the small size of the country the Government tightly monitors the number of vehicles on the road and vehicles attract substantial import and road tax surcharges.

The Registry of Vehicles (ROV) administers the use of a permit system known as the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). Only a certain number of vehicles are permitted for sale each month and each must have a COE.  Certificates of Entitlement are allocated through a bidding system with the highest bidders each month being granted a COE.  COEs must be updated every ten years.  If you are purchasing a new car, the cost of the COE is built into the showroom price.  Second-hand vehicles will already have a COE at the time of purchase.

Car Parking
Parking Coupons are used for street parking and open air carparks.  The rates for a particular area can vary from S$1 – S$3 per hour.  Sign posts indicating ‘Coupon Parking’ will tell you the rates for a particular area.

The parking coupons come in denominations and can be purchased at petrol stations, 7-eleven stores, Post Offices and some Newsagents.

Road Tolls
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is a toll for using roads entering the central business district/restricted zone and expressways across the country.  Fees are charged via an In-Vehicle Unit (IU) installed in the car and a CashCard (stored value card).  The IU automatically deducts the appropriate ERP charge from your CashCard each time your vehicle each time your vehicle passes through a charge point.

Money and Banking 

The unit of currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar.  Singapore uses 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 coins, while notes come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500, $1000.

Banks are open from 9.30am – 3pm weekdays and from 9.30am – 11.30am on Saturdays.

Please click here to access a currency converter.

Useful Numbers and Services

Emergency:
Ambulance: 995
Fire: 995
Police: 999

Public Hospitals:
KK Women & Children’s: 65 6293 4044
National University (NUH): 65 6779 5555
Singapore General (SGH): 65 6222 3322

Private Hospitals:
East Shore: 65 6344 7588
Gleneagles: 65 6473 7222
Mt Alvernia: 65 6347 6688
Mt Elizabeth: 65 6737 2666
Raffles: 65 6311 1111
Thomson Medical Centre: 65 6250 2222

Postal Enquiries:
SingPost Customer Service: 1605

Taxis:
Comfort Cablink: 65 6552 1111
City Cab: 65 6552 1188
Sovereign Limousine: 65 6552 2828
TIBS Taxi: 65 6555 8888
Prestige Limousine: 65 6555 8888
Premier Taxi: 65 6476 8880

Expat Magazines / Guides

Singapore produces several expat magazines/guides which may be particularly useful for newcomers to Singapore.

The Finder
Free monthly magazine covering a broad range of information on life in Singapore.  Topics include; shopping, restaurants, travel, furniture etc.  The Finder is available from central locations frequented by expats including cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and shopping centres.

Expat Living
A referral guide for Singapore.  Published monthly.  Available for free at many serviced apartments, hotels etc.  Alternatively you can subscribe to the magazine or purchase it for S$5.80 from most supermarkets, news agencies and convenience stores.

Where
This magazine is produced monthly and offers a complete guide on where to go in Singapore.  ‘Where’ is available from central locations (serviced apartments, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, cafes) around Singapore.