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Australia has an excellent health–care system. It's a mixture of privately run medical clinics and hospitals alongside a system of public hospitals funded by the Australian government. There are excellent specialised public health facilities for women and children in Australia's major centres.
Over–the–counter medications are widely available at pharmacies throughout Australia. These include painkillers, antihistamines for allergies, and skin–care products. You may find that medications readily available over the counter in some countries are only available in Australia by prescription. These include the oral contraceptive pill, most medications for asthma and all antibiotics. If you take medication on a regular basis, bring an adequate supply and ensure you have details of the generic name as brand names may differ between countries. See the Yellow Pages (www.yellowpages.com.au) for a list of medical practitioners, general and specialist, close to you. In an emergency, dial for an ambulance.
Medicare is an Australian government–owned health insurance that covers pre–arranged amounts for different medical services in the public health system. The level of Medicare cover you are generally eligible for will depend on whether you have a permanent or temporary visa. The Australian Government has a reciprocal agreement that provides citizens of certain countries (currently the United Kingdom, Malta, Finland, Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Ireland) with restricted access to Medicare. If you are visiting Australia from these countries, however, you may be generally covered for emergency treatment only in a public hospital.
To enrol for Medicare you will need to visit a Medicare office with your passport and other travel documents. You can find out more about the coverage offered to overseas citizens by visiting www.health.gov.au and following the links to overseas visitors, or by calling the Australian Department of Health and Ageing's 24-hour answering service on . To contact Medicare, call within Australia or visit www.medicare.gov.au.
There are also a number of private health insurers in Australia who offer specific cover for those coming from overseas, and who provide coverage for private hospitals and for many other services including dental insurance. More information can also be found at www.privatehealth.gov.au.
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