It explains the meaning of common slang that has bamboozled many a new arrival, including arvo, barbie, bloke, cuppa, ocker and BYO. Refugees arrive on a dinghy after crossing from Turkey to Lesbos Island, Greece. Credit:AP New residents are instructed on what it means to bring a plate, be feeling crook, shout a round or go for your life. Refugees aged over 18 will be asked to sign a statement confirming their respect for concepts like the freedom and dignity of the individual, equality of men and women and the importance of English language as a "unifying element of Australian society". They are told Australians value the precept of a fair go: that what someone achieves in life should be a product of their talents, work and effort rather than their birth or favouritism.

But that does not mean everybody has equal wealth or property and "the cost of houses and apartments … is relatively high, particularly in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Canberra". Illustration: Cathy Wilcox Settlement Services International humanitarian services manager David Keegan said refugees can find it difficult to find shops, recreation facilities and churches, and may also struggle with language, using transport and buying groceries. "Understand[ing] how life works in Australia and the expectations of Australian residents are something that refugees are keen to learn more about," he said. The guide says it is forbidden to kill animals on someone else's property and that "people who do not know each other generally do not kiss or hug when meeting".

Being on time for meetings and other visits is important. Most Australians "blow their noses into a handkerchief or tissue, not onto the footpath. This is also true for spitting". There are some cultural differences but it doesn't take people long to work them out "When sharing food with others to prevent the spread of germs, it is usual practice to pick up food using the utensils provided. This might be tongs, a spoon or fork, chopsticks or salad servers," the document instructs. New residents are encouraged to use niceties when dealing with other people, such as "yes please" when accepting the offer of a cup of tea and '"sorry" if they bump into someone.

Australians also say "pardon me" if they burp or belch in public or in a person's home, and line up when waiting to be served, the document advises. Many Aussies dress scantily at the beach – some even go nude – but this does not mean they have "low moral standards" and people from other countries can dress as they like, migrants are told. Mr Keegan's organisation provides community orientation programs including topics on Australian norms and expectations. "What we find is the cultural differences are not so significant that they find themselves in difficult situations," he said. "Many Syrian refugees have been living in urban areas and are used to urban lifestyles. There are some cultural differences but it doesn't take people long to work them out."