Here are some guidelines to your health and well-being while in Australia.
When travelling to study in Australia or any other country, you have to get familiar with a new climate and a foreign environment. Illness is unavoidable for all of us including international students. So here are some guidelines to help you take care of your health while in Australia.
8 health principles to remember when studying in Australia
1. Stock essential medicines
Pack essential medicines such as cold, cough, stomach medicines, antipyretics, nose drops and a thermometre. Your latest medical records (translated to English) are also important as they will help general practitioners (GP) to diagnose your current health situation.
2. Learn about Australian medicine regulations
Bring your the medical records and prescriptions with you from your home country. If you run out of medicine when in Australia, you will need to see the doctor here for a new prescription. Make sure plant extracts that you use for medical or health reasons are allowed in Australia as some plants and seeds are prohibited in the country.
3. Get a basic idea of Australia’s health system
You should familiarise yourself with the Australian healthcare system and how it works. It is very beneficial to get a basic idea of it, particularly, the best local hospitals, insurance coverage in case you get sick, and health checkup packages that are most beneficial to international students in Australia.
4. Understand about the treatment cost in Australia
Most of the time, costs of treatment for citizens and permanent residents is Australia is paid by the government. Specifically, the government pays 100% of the hospital based treatment costs. For the remaining treatments, it will subsidise about 75%-80%.
Some health problems will not be covered by the government, for example, teeth, eye related problems and ambulance transport costs. For those with a Lower Income Earner Care Card (i.e. those with earning less than AUD486/week), there will be no charge for these issues.
5. Know how to express symptoms in English when talking to your doctor
If you study abroad in Australia or any other English-speaking country, there will not be too much language interference. Still, many overseas students are not good at medical English words. You should learn some essential words to express symptoms and exchange information with the doctor.
6. Rely on your close friends and teachers
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| Scots students: We come from different countries, but we are the same. |
Studying abroad means being away from your family. That’s when friends and teachers are big sources of motivation for your overseas student life. If you get sick or injured, don’t hesitate to ask them for help or advice, for example, where to go for treatment.
7. Don’t call your parents right away
Unless your parent is a medical professional or you are seriously ill, perhaps it is better not x`call your parents right if you get sick. Your family may become worried about you. This is also when you learn to be mentally strong during difficult times.
8. Be flexible in emergency situations
Many international students live in small city suburbs or live far from city centre. If you have any serious, urgent health problems when being far from a hospital, you should consider calling a taxi instead of the ambulance that may take some time to arrive. Also, let your friends know your health status. They could help you ask your school’s staff for support.
What to do when you get sick?
Continue reading: Study in Australia: A to Z Tips for Good Health
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