Western Australia's Indigenous people are embracing tourism opportunities as a means of economic sustainability for their families and communities. Increasingly they are inviting Western Australians, as well as national and international tourists, onto their lands to experience Indigenous culture and lifestyle and the breathtaking beauty of remote and regional Western Australia.

Permission to visit and/or film these communities is granted through the Aboriginal Lands Trust at the Department of Indigenous Affairs. Transit Permits are designed to protect the privacy of Aboriginal communities, preserve Aboriginal heritage and culture and safeguard the natural environment. Importantly, they assist in ensuring visitor safety.

There is no cost for the permit, which is a legal requirement under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (AAPA).People of Aboriginal descent, members of either House of Parliament in both the State and Commonwealth Governments and others authorised by the AAPA are exempt.
Permits are granted for a period of time sufficient to allow travel through the reserve by the most direct route. Permission can also be obtained from the resident Aboriginal communities for applicants who want to travel off the main road.

Permits are not required for travel on public roads.

The Department of Indigenous Affairs can be contacted via telephone on +61 8 9235 8000 or online.

Western Australian public holiday dates can be found at the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection website .

The Tourism WA website has more information.

For all other inquiries contact the local shire or council in the area you are filming.

If you are intending to bring film equipment into Western Australia for the duration of your shoot please note that goods may be brought into Australia on a temporary basis without the payment of Customs duty or taxes for a period of up to 12 months.

The Australian Customs Service has more information.

International passports and visas are required by all international visitors (except New Zealanders). To secure the appropriate papers, apply at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate.

In 1996, Australia introduced the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system with Singapore, the US and Japan. This system enables visitors to obtain Australian visas in a fast and efficient manner through nominated travel agencies and airlines. The ETA system will be extended to selected European countries in the near future. Health certificates are not required for short-term visitors. If you are intending to permanently reside in Western Australia you will require a health certificate if arriving from an infected area. For a short business trip you may be able to obtain your Business Visa (short stay) when organising your airline ticket, or contact your nearest Australian diplomatic office. Sponsorship is required for all stays in Australia that are longer than three months. A successful applicant for Temporary Entry will usually need to be sponsored by a person or organisation in Australia that must:

• Have good professional and financial standing;
• Have not defaulted on any previous sponsorship;
• Hold any necessary licenses in respect of the work to which the application relates;
• Have consulted with relevant Australian unions;
• Prove that the applicant is to be employed in accordance with Australian working conditions and wages.

Requirements for temporary entry will vary depending on whether or not the applicant is an entertainer (e.g. a performer).

Performers: In addition to the sponsorship requirements, an applicant for Temporary Entry into Australia as a performer will need a certificate from the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts indicating that the requirements, set out in their Casting Guidelines, have been satisfied. Sponsorships for performers entering Australia for non-commercial engagements of a cultural or educational nature, do not require union consultation.

Persons other than performers: In addition to sponsorship requirements, an applicant for Temporary Entry into Australia as crew, will need to demonstrate that the applicant's working on the project would lead to greater employment of Australians, than if an Australian worked on the project in the applicant's place.

The Western Australian electricity supply is 240v AC (alternating current), 50 hertz using an earthed 3-pin plug.

PAL 625 lines (many companies have NTSC facilities).

From cool temperate zones to spectacular arid desert regions and monsoonal tropics, Western Australia offers a diverse range of climates.

Summer and spring in Perth provide the most daylight hours in Australia. Winter and autumn are mild with many days of brilliant sunshine. Perth has almost 25% less rain days than Sydney or Melbourne and less than half the amount of cloud cover.

The Bureau of Meteorology has more detailed weather information and climate averages and statistics for all major towns in Western Australia.