Healthcare in Australia

Australia’s public healthcare system (known as Medicare) provides all Australian citizens, permanent residents and some temporary residents with free hospital treatment and subsidised out-of-hospital treatment.

There are also private healthcare services with shorter waiting times, but these are more expensive. People often have private health insurance to help them with these extra costs. International students are required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their stay in Australia.

Medical practitioners provide services in private practice or in the public system. Most dentists, optometrists and other allied health professionals work in private practice. Check out some of the many health services in Australia and how to access them.

• If you stay in a shared ward at a public hospital, OSHC will cover all of the cost of your accommodation. OSHC will also pay for the schedule fee for the hospital doctor, but if the doctor’s fee is higher than the schedule fee, you’ll have to pay the difference.Treatment and stays at private hospitals are very expensive. OSHC will cover a portion of your costs at most private hospitals, but you’ll have to pay the remainder.Emergency careBecause only a few private hospitals have emergency departments, most Australians go to a public hospital in an emergency.If you go to a hospital emergency department, a triage nurse will immediately ask for information about you, your insurance cover and your condition. The triage nurse will assess the urgency of your condition compared to that of others waiting for care. You may have to wait in the emergency department for several hours.You may need to pay an upfront fee between $400 and $700 before being treated. You can call your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provider to ask if they might offer a hospital guarantee so you don’t have to pay upfront. If you can’t get a guarantee, you can later submit a claim to your OSHC provider for possible reimbursement.Calling an ambulanceIf you need emergency transport to a hospital, you or someone else can call an ambulance.Your OSHC provider will only cover the cost of an ambulance if you’re admitted to hospital. International student visa holders aren’t eligible for cover through Ambulance Victoria.
• In Australia, you don’t have to go to a hospital to see a doctor. The first doctor you usually visit will be a general practitioner (GP) in their private practice, at a medical centre or on a Monash campus. If appropriate, a GP can refer you to another medical professional for specialised care.The University Health Services is a general practice, covering a wide range of areas, including sexual health, family planning, travel health, women’s health, sports medicine and mental health.How to make an appointmentYou usually need to phone ahead for a doctor’s appointment, but some medical centres have a walk-in service where you don’t need an appointment (call them first to check). You can also find and book a doctor or some other medical practitioner on the HotDoc website.If you’ve woken up feeling unwell and would like to see a GP that day, phone early – between 8 and 8.30am – to try to get an appointment. You may have to wait a day or two before you can see a doctor.If you need a doctor on a weeknight, weekend or public holiday, you can use an after-hours doctor service, such as DoctorDoctor (phone 132 660) and 13 SICK (phone 137 425). A doctor can visit you in your home. And your OSHC provider may cover their fee.What to expect at a consultationA GP will ask you questions about your health and may give you a brief physical examination – for example, they might check your breathing, throat or ears. They’ll then give you some advice on how to manage your illness and perhaps give you a prescription for some medicine.If your illness is serious or the doctor is unsure of a diagnosis, they may refer you for further tests (e.g. blood tests or x-rays) or to see a specialist doctor.If you’re dissatisfied with the diagnosis or service of the GP you’ve seen, you have the right to get an opinion from another one.If you’ve had to take time off from your studies or are having difficulties submitting an assessment on time, you’ll need to get a medical certificate from the doctor to apply for special consideration.Some GPs will request immediate payment in full or payment of a gap fee (the difference between what the doctor charges and what Medicare covers). You can then submit a claim (along with your receipt) to your OSHC provider to get back some or all of what you paid. We recommend checking on your OSHC app which GPs in your area have low fees or no gap fees so you can easily find where to go when you’re unwell.
• Take advantage of the free and confidential counselling services on campus. Available to all Monash students, these services offer experienced psychologists and social workers trained to help resolve difficulties related to the demands of University and life in general. You may need to get a referral letter from your GP to see a psychologist.Dealing with a different way of life and the pressures of study can sometimes cause stress or anxiety. Although these feelings will generally pass with time as you adjust, you may initially experience sadness, anger or frustration and an intense longing for home. This is normal and Monash counsellors are here to help.If you prefer, you can contact Counselling Help Online. This service isn’t a crisis helpline, but it’s useful if you can’t get to campus for an in-person appointment. A counsellor will get in touch with you within three working days of your request for help.You can also use an emergency or after-hours mental health service.
• If you need a prescription medicine (one ordered by your doctor), take the prescription to a local chemist. This medicine is only for you. You’ll also need to give the chemist your OSHC card and your full name and address.It generally only takes a short time for the chemist to prepare your medicine. Once ready, they’ll explain how you should use the medicine. They may also ask if you’re taking other medications to understand and explain any interactions.You’ll need to pay for the prescription medicine and later submit a claim for it to your OSHC provider. Check with your provider to see if they’ll reimburse you for the full amount.Over-the-counter medicinesChemists also sell a variety of over-the-counter medicines for treating things like colds, headaches and allergies. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to buy these. Ask the chemist for advice about the best over-the-counter medicine for your symptoms (making sure to mention any other medicines you may be taking).
• If you need to see a dentist or an optometrist, you’ll need to make an appointment. You can search for a local dentist or local optometrist.Dentists are available on the Clayton campus. Phone the Monash University Dental Clinic on 9905 1000 for an appointment. This clinic charges reduced fees for all Monash students.OSHC doesn’t cover dental or optical services unless you take out extra cover.
• In Australia, our healthcare professionals come from many different cultural backgrounds. So you can ask to see a doctor who speaks your first language when you make your appointment. This is a free service when available.If you see a doctor on campus at Monash University Health Services, you can check whether they speak your language on our medical team page.