time · Year 6 · Suggested learning sequence

Australian time zones

Australia has three standard time zones. Eastern (AEST, UTC+10) covers Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas and the ACT. Central (ACST, UTC+9:30) covers SA and the NT. Western (AWST, UTC+8) covers WA. The sun rises in the east first, so eastern clocks are ahead. Find the difference from the UTC numbers, then add it going east or take it away going west. In summer NSW, Vic, Tas, the ACT and SA use daylight saving: their clocks go forward 1 hour. Qld, the NT and WA do not change.

Sample questions

It is 7:55 am in Brisbane (Qld). What time is it in Perth (WA)? It is June, so no state is on daylight saving time.

Western AWSTUTC+8WACentral ACSTUTC+9:30NT, SAEastern AESTUTC+10Qld, NSW, Vic,Tas, ACT
  1. Brisbane (Qld) is UTC+10 and Perth (WA) is UTC+8.
  2. So Perth is 2 hours behind Brisbane: take away 2 hours.
  3. 7:55 am − 2 hours = 5:55 am in Perth.

Answer: 5:55 am

It is 7:10 am in Perth (WA). What time is it in Hobart (Tas)? It is June, so no state is on daylight saving time.

Western AWSTUTC+8WACentral ACSTUTC+9:30NT, SAEastern AESTUTC+10Qld, NSW, Vic,Tas, ACT
  1. Perth (WA) is UTC+8 and Hobart (Tas) is UTC+10.
  2. So Hobart is 2 hours ahead of Perth: add 2 hours.
  3. 7:10 am + 2 hours = 9:10 am in Hobart.

Answer: 9:10 am

It is 2:30 pm in Melbourne (Vic). What time is it in Perth (WA)? It is June, so no state is on daylight saving time.

Western AWSTUTC+8WACentral ACSTUTC+9:30NT, SAEastern AESTUTC+10Qld, NSW, Vic,Tas, ACT
  1. Melbourne (Vic) is UTC+10 and Perth (WA) is UTC+8.
  2. So Perth is 2 hours behind Melbourne: take away 2 hours.
  3. 2:30 pm − 2 hours = 12:30 pm in Perth.

Answer: 12:30 pm

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