The ‘Swiss Review’ magazine is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA). It was launched in 1973 and appears six times per year in German, French, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. The magazine is published both in printed form and as an online version. It has a total circulation of 418,000, including 223,000 electronic copies. The circulation in Oceania is 20,200 – 11,500 of which are electronic copies.
Free and automatic delivery
All Swiss Abroad who are registered with a Swiss representation receive the magazine free of charge. Its purpose is to provide them with information about Switzerland and keeping them up-to-date about Swiss current affairs. It reports politically neutral on issues that are of interest to Swiss Abroad. Special emphasis is given to politics and government information and announcements, enabling Swiss citizens living abroad to exercise their voting rights in a responsible and informed manner and strengthens their ties with the home country.
Managing your subscription
Your consular representation is responsible for all subscription matters. The editorial team does not have access to your address or administrative details. Therefore, any issue/request should be addressed to the Swiss Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington or to the Consulate General in Sydney, depending on where you are domiciled/registered.
IMPORTANT: To ensure that delivery runs smoothly, please inform your consular representation immediately of any change of address (postal or email).
Regional News Oceania
Eight pages of regional news are included in four out of the six issues that appear per year. The ‘Regional News Oceania’ focuses on the activities of the local community and on providing consular information. The schedule for 2020 is as follows:
The schedule for 2021 is as follows:
Issue
February 1/21
April 2/21
June 3/21
August 4/21
Oct 5/21
Dec 6/21
Editorial Deadline
12.01.2021
09.03.2021
10.05.2021
no regional issue
07.09.2021
no regional issue
Publishing Date
11.02.2021
20.04.2021
11.06.2021
11.08.2021
08.10.2021
15.12.2021
Editorial contributions and advertising from the community are always welcome. Please contact CSA member, Roland Isler who is the regional editor for the ‘Regional News Oceania’.
Online instead of printed
Since 2010, the ‘Swiss Review’ has been delivered as an online edition as standard. This means that anyone whose email address is registered with a Swiss representation will receive the magazine by email unless they have expressly registered for the printed version.
The OSA is encouraging those who currently receive the printed edition to switch to the electronic version. Printing and shipping costs are an enormous expenditure item and shipping is not always the most ecologically sensible option. Apart from doing the right thing by the environment, switching to online also means you will receive the ‘Review’ earlier and have access to all content at any time and from any location. When switching, please ensure you advise your Swiss representation of this. It does not help the environment or save costs if you read the electronic version and afterwards receive the printed version only to discarded it.
Whether on paper or on a screen, the content of the ‘Swiss Review’ is always identical
How do I switch?
The recommended way is to report the change from print to online (or vice versa) in writing (email or letter) to the Swiss Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington or to the Consulate General in Sydney, depending on where you are domiciled/registered.
Another option is to use the online desk of the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs (FDFA), which was created for Swiss Abroad. Then click on > Living abroad > Online desk FDFA. Prior registration is required to use the online desk.
Get it online
For more information about the ‘Swiss Review’ or to download it as a pdf, go to the OSA website and click on the Swiss Review tab on the top of the page, or download the App (see below).
Voluntary subscription fee
As important as it is to keep costs down, the OSA is committed to continue to offer the printed edition of the ‘Review’. Readers who particularly appreciate receiving the printed edition are now able to support it with a voluntary subscription fee. Any support expressed in this way is very much appreciated.
Voluntary subscription fees can be sent to:
Berner Kantonalbank AG, 3001 Bern
Beneficiary: Auslandschweizer-Organisation, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Bern
IBAN: CH97 0079 0016 1294 4609 8
Reason for payment: Support Swiss Review
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News
New procedure for the submission of the AHV/AVS Life Certificate
From 1 May 2021 the AHV/Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva requires again the Life Certificate form to be officially confirmed by a local authority (Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney, Embassy of Switzerland in Canberra, Centrelink, Public Notary, Justice of Peace).
Dispatch of voting material by diplomatic courier: a temporary solution
At the next voting day in June, Swiss Abroad in Australia that are registered in the cantons of Aargau, Ticino and Geneva, will have their voting papers delivered to Australia via diplomatic courier.
Thanks to everyone who provided feedback about the late arrival of voting papers in Australia. Pilot projects like these are the result of Swiss Abroad providing feedback, CSA delegates and media raising awareness and understanding and support by Members of parliament.
Submission of life certificate
Swiss citizens living abroad who receive an OASI (AHV) or DI (IV) pension must submit a certified life certificate to the Central Compensation Office in Geneva (ZAS) every year. Due to the Corona pandemic, it has become difficult to visit authorities, meet deadlines and send documents by post in many countries. For this reason, the Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva is temporarily accepting life certificates by e-mail. These can be confirmed by the insured persons themselves by means of a signature (without an official stamp).
Report on the Council of the Swiss Abroad Meeting – Feb/March 2021
The spring meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad was held online, and split over two sessions. The first one was held on 6 February, the second on 20 March.
Voting in Switzerland
Last Sunday was voting day in Switzerland. For most Swiss in the Oceania region the voting material again did not arrive in time to send back or has not arrived yet at all.
Calling Swiss Students and Graduates
If you are interested in a stay in Switzerland and working as language assistant this might be something for you!
More information and contact details can be found on the website of Movetia, click here!
Update on E-Voting | 16.12.2020
Many Swiss in Oceania have expressed their frustration and disappointment on the late or non-arrival of their voting material sent by regular mail from Switzerland.
CSA Delegates Elections 2021
The term of your current four CSA Oceania Delegates ends mid 2021, and elections are being held in Australia starting the process early in 2021.
Calling Swiss Students and University Graduates!
If you are interested in a stay in Switzerland and working as language assistant then this might be something for you!
More information and contact on the website of Movetia
#Swissabroad #bridgebuilders #swisscommunity #movetia
Report on the Council of the Swiss Abroad Meeting – July 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress of the Swiss Abroad and the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) that were to be held in Lugano this August had to be postponed to next year. As a consequence – and as a first of its kind – the CSA meeting was conducted virtually, utilising the online conference system ‘Demio’. It took place on 10 July 2020 and a total of 86 delegates participated.
Council of the Swiss Abroad Spring Meeting 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) on 14 March 2020 in Berne had to be cancelled. As a consequence - and as a first in the history of the organisation – the 127 delegates were asked to cast their votes electronically in matters that couldn’t be postponed until the next meeting.
2020 without any Council of the Swiss Abroad assembly
Sadly, the Congress of the Swiss Abroad that was to be held in Lugano from 21 to 23 August 2020, and with it the CSA summer assembly, had to be cancelled.
Coronavirus – a message from the Swiss Government
Dear fellow Swiss
As you are all aware the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is quickly spreading around the world but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not changed its warning level (public health emergency of international concern) since January 30, 2020.
An update on e-voting and the federal election 2019
A lot has happened lately with regards to e-voting. There has been growing resistance and a fair bit of scare-mongering in Switzerland regarding the introduction of e-voting. Whilst the advantages are obvious to the government and the Swiss Abroad, sceptics argue that the trust in the democratic process is compromised due to e-security uncertainty and the cost of developing a secure system is also a concern. Earlier this year, a broad alliance of political parties has been collecting signatures for a popular initiative. Their aim is to ban the introduction of e-voting for at least five years.
Report of the Spring Meeting 2019
The legislative body of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), met for its biannual meeting at the town hall in Bern on 23 March 2019. For the second time, the meeting followed on an exchange with Swiss parliamentarians for an update on political issues with relevance for the Swiss Abroad.
Geneva shelves e-voting platform on cost grounds
Canton Geneva has announced it can no longer afford to bear the cost of an e-voting system and plans to abandon the project, according to Swiss public radio, RTS. This leaves only one other e-voting project still standing in Switzerland run by Swiss Post.
Read the full Swissinfo report here
Banking problem: No solution for the Swiss Abroad
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 13 June 2018 – The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) representing the interests of 751,800 compatriots living abroad, is disappointed that the Council of States today rejected Motion 17.3626 by 30 votes to 9 with 4 abstentions. The Council of States has decided not to follow the majority of its Foreign Policy Commission (APK-S) and has rejected a motion calling on PostFinance to accept Swiss Abroad on similar terms as citizens residing in Switzerland. The problem that has existed for our compatriots living abroad for ten years remains unresolved.
Council of States decides against discriminatory social security changes
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 30 May 2018 – The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) is relieved that the Council of States has today decided to follow the recommendation of its Commission on Social Security and Health (SGK-S) to delete the amendment to Article 4 (1) in the context of the supplementary benefits reform. This means that the current rules remain in place. Last March, the National Council approved an application whereby Swiss Abroad would have had to pay social security contributions (AHV) for at least ten years in order to qualify for supplementary benefits, which would have discriminated against Swiss Abroad.
New Partnership with Geneva Cantonal Bank
On 10 March 2018, at he CSA meeting in Bern, the executive of the OSA announced that it had entered into a partnership with the Geneva Cantonal Bank (BCGE).
More information is available under the topic Swiss Banks.
Health insurance: we’re interested in your experiences!
The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) would like to know about difficulties you have encountered in the area of health insurance and the practical problems that you face as a Swiss person living abroad. This may be of specific relevance to those living temporarily in the Oceania region or those in need for travel insurance when visiting Switzerland. By the same token, if you have had positive experiences or wish to share good practices, please do so!
The purpose is to look at ways of improving the situation of Swiss people living abroad in this regard.
You can send your experiences and suggestions to us delegates and/or directly to the head office in Bern: info@aso.ch
Automatic Exchange of Information with New Zealand
The Swiss Parliament voted for the Introduction of Automatic Exchange of Information with New Zealand. A summary and comments by Peter Ehrler, New Zealand Member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad.
Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with New Zealand – Swiss National Council says NO!
On 27 September, the National Council (Nationalrat) followed the recommendation from the Economic Commission of the Lower House and rejected implementing the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with New Zealand. The majority of the members are of the opinion that the Swiss in New Zealand are disadvantaged over other Swiss living abroad, because of the Swiss pension (AHV) being confiscated by the New Zealand Government.
Claiming a tax deduction from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on a pension paid by the Swiss Social Insurance
Are you receiving an income from the Swiss Social Insurance (AHV/AVS or IV/AI)?
You may be entitled to claim a tax deduction in Australia for personal contributions paid into the insurance.
For more news please check our News Archive