The public health system – National
The Commonwealth Government health care system, Medicare, covers all Australians, permanent residents and citizens of New Zealand. Medicare is designed to ensure people have free or low-cost access to medical and hospital care. More detailed information can be obtained from the Medicare website.
Temporary visa holders generally do not have access to Medicare and should arrange suitable private health insurance before arriving in Australia. Restricted access to Medicare is available to some temporary visa holders from countries where Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement. You should check your visa conditions as to your entitlements and obligations in relation to healthcare while in Australia.
The public health system – Western Australia
The Department of Health in Western Australia is responsible for the delivery of health services throughout the State. Perth offers a full range of public hospital services. These include small community hospitals, many major teaching hospitals and specialised women’s and children’s hospitals. There are also many private hospital facilities which offer a variety of health care services in modern facilities.
Medical centres offer a range of services up to seven days per week, from general practice to pathology; X rays, physiotherapy. Some specialists are supplemented by small, family-orientated practices.
When making an appointment to see a doctor, check to see if the appointment will incur a fee. Many doctors charge a fee for their time, payable at the end of your appointment. You can claim a percentage of the fee from Medicare once you are registered. You may also hear the term ‘bulk bill’. This means the doctor bills for their time direct to Medicare and you don’t have to pay a fee.
Western Australia also has an extensive range of alternative medical practitioners. Many private health funds offer insurance, which includes cover for a wide variety of alternative therapies such as naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, and remedial massage.
Private health insurance
Australia has an exceptional healthcare system both nationally and Statewide. If you prefer to choose where to have your medical treatment, or who performs your treatment, you may wish to have a private health policy. Private health insurance is not compulsory and is a personal choice in Australia.
There are many private health insurance providers in Australia. The Commonwealth Government has a useful website that allows you to find and compare private health funds, as well as providing information to visitors and temporary residents. Visit PrivateHealth.gov.au for more information.
How do I find a hospital?
Western Australia has many private and public hospitals providing world class medical services. Whether you live in Perth or are based in a region, you will have access to medical care and health services nearby. Remote areas are serviced by the Flying Doctor service.
The Government of Western Australia Department of Health website has an extensive section dedicated to locating your nearest hospital with emergency department or health campus. Take a look to find the hospital closest to your area. Look for careers in the health service and search for health topics.
Find a doctor
When you arrive in Australia, one of the first things you should do is register with a doctor close to where you are living. To find a local doctor, see the Government of Western Australia Department of Health website, where you can find a range of health professionals , including dentists, counsellors and other allied health professionals.
Emergencies
In an emergency, call 000 to request an ambulance, police or the fire service.
General health information
The Government of Western Australia Health Department website offers an extensive range of information with everything you need to know about medical and health care within Western Australia.
For general health information and advice you can use a service provided by the Commonwealth Government called ‘healthdirect Australia’. They can be contacted on 1800 022 222 or via their website.
‘healthdirect Australia’ is a toll-free, 24 hour, seven days a week health advice line to all people calling from within Western Australia. Experienced nurses, answer the call and provide immediate professional advice on how urgent a health concern is and what to do about it. This can be reassuring if you have sick children or family members outside of normal surgery operating hours.