Time running out to get Christmas presents delivered to loved ones on time

The pressure is on to have your gifts wrapped and in the mail so Australia Post can deliver them on time for Christmas Day.

The deadline has already passed to deliver parcels by standard post for most locations; however, Express Post is still an option until Monday, 19 December.

Australia Post customer and commercial executive manager Gary Starr said it was shaping up to be another busy December.

“Many customers have already taken advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday for their Christmas shopping,” he said.

“The earlier you can get it done the better, to ensure all parcels make it under your Christmas tree in time.”

Extra staff, delivery vehicles and freighter aircraft have come online to deal with the Christmas rush, with deliveries also extended into Saturdays and later hours during the week.

Some 52 million parcels were delivered last December, and we’re on track to have just as many zipping across the country for 2022.

“We’ve handled significant volumes at this time of year before and we’ve been preparing all year for another big Christmas to ensure things run as smoothly as possible,” Mr Starr said.

“If you miss the deadlines, we will still do our very best to get those presents delivered in time, but it’s important to know that they may not arrive until after Christmas.”

If you’re planning on sending a card instead, you have a bit more time to pick the perfect one.

You have until Monday, 19 December, if you’re sending a card within the same state or territory in which you reside.

If you’re sending it interstate, it needs to be popped in the post by Thursday, 15 December, to arrive before Christmas Day.

For those receiving deliveries, Australia Post has urged pet owners to ensure their animals are safely secured before posties arrive.

Nearly 1000 postal workers across the country have been attacked by pet dogs in the past five months, averaging almost seven incidents each day since July 2022.

Australia Post people and culture executive general manager Susan Davies said there had also been an increase in the severity of injuries sustained from the attacks.

“Dogs are territorial by nature, so even the sweetest dog can be a danger to our posties,” she said.

“We’ve had posties sustain a range of injuries including puncture wounds, lacerations, scratches and bites. Sadly, team members have also suffered from long-term psychological impacts following an attack.”

If postal workers don’t feel a situation is safe, they won’t attempt to complete their delivery.

Some tips to keep pets feeling safe and comfortable during a delivery, and therefore keeping posties safe as well, include:

• Keep your dog occupied with treats, chews and toys such as lick mats, snuffle mats and interactive puzzle feeders if you know a parcel is on its way
• When opening your front door if taking delivery of a parcel, be careful to make sure your dog doesn’t run out, or keep it in another room when answering the door
• Keep your gates securely closed when your dog is in the backyard so it doesn’t have access to where a parcel would be left.

RSPCA NSW senior manager of animal behaviour Georgie Caspar said it was important to remember that, like people, animals have different personalities and needs, and could experience stress, fear, anxiety or frustrations in certain situations.

“If you find that your pet is continuously stressed by the presence of a postie and you’re not sure how to help them, we recommend engaging the services of a qualified behavioural trainer that uses force-free and reward-based approaches, or a veterinary behaviourist,” she said.