Health advice and information

While living in another environment is a good way to change a daily routine, it is important for students who are experiencing difficulties in their own country (relationship, health, emotional, substance abuse, etc.) not to expect a vacation from their problems.

Attending an Australian hospital

There are both public and private hospitals all over Australia. Few private hospitals have emergency departments, so, in an emergency, most Australians rely on the public hospital system. If you attend an Emergency Department in a hospital you will be attended to immediately by a triage nurse for information about you, your cover, and your current health condition. The triage nurse will determine the urgency of your condition in comparison to others in need in the emergency room and it is likely that you will remain at the emergency room for several hours.  Whether you are seen immediately by a doctor, or have to wait, it is customary to keep you in the emergency room for several hours to monitor your condition before releasing you to go home, or admitting you to hospital in more severe cases.

For more information on medical centre and hospitals nearby to La Trobe University campuses visit the Health care and emergency services page.

General Practitioners (GPs)

In Australia you do not have to go to a hospital to see a doctor. You can see a doctor (also known as a GP – General Practitioner) in their private practice or medical centre, with part or the entire doctor’s fee being covered by Medicare or OSHC by Medibank. You must make an appointment to see a GP. It is important to note that some GP surgeries will request full payment from you at the time of consultation and you will need to present the receipt to claim the rebate back from your health cover provider.

To find a GP or medical practice near to where you live visit the Find a Provider section of the OHSC by Medibank.

It is highly recommended that you identify a doctor or medical practice nearby to your home and make an appointment to see them before you get sick, so that in the event you do need to see them you know where they are, and they have a basic medical history on file already.

24-hour general health advice and information contact

NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 60 60 24 for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Victoria. (Calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate.)