Protocol

Protocol is the set of formalities and courtesies used in official and private life. These rules are still important in modern society, especially in official situations like business meetings, ceremonies and other events in which representatives from other companies or nations are involved.

It is important to keep in mind, that the rules of protocol differ to a wide range between different countries, religions and regions. While the protocol of Europe and the United States is close to the one used in Australia, the Asian and Middle Eastern protocol is very different and might seem strange to people brought up in a Western culture.

Therefore it is very important to familiarise oneself with the protocol of the country one is dealing with. Even little things that might not seem to be significant can influence the outcome of a business meeting. The knowledge of the "do's and don'ts" is very helpful in making a good impression. Just a little bit of knowledge shows the people one is dealing with, that one made the effort to learn about their culture and this will always be appreciated.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) gives a good overview about the business etiquette of the different countries. To read more about business etiquette follow the links below.

Austrade - China
Austrade - EU
Austrade - Japan
Austrade - Korea
Austrade - Taiwan
Austrade - UAE
Austrade - USA

For other countries please follow this link:
Austrade - Countries

The Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet published a Protocol Handbook that can be downloaded by the following link.
Protocol Handbook

Important: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.