What do I do if I get sick?

Seeing a Doctor

If you feel you need to see a doctor, using the internet or the Yellow Pages find a doctor close to where you are staying and ring them for an appointment. If you want to make an appointment for that day it is best to call before 8:30am. However, depending on where you are at the time you get sick it could be up to a week until you are able to get an appointment if you are in a rural or isolated area.

Much the same as in other countries, when you see a doctor, they will ask about your symptoms, give you a prescription, and diagnose the problem with a prescription or more tests.

Many Medical Services provide student/traveller rates such as the Hyde Park Medical Centre, in Sydney and the Sydney CBD Medical Clinic. The Sydney Sexual Health Clinic provides services for all matters relating to sexual health, as. well as a Thai, Korean, and Chinese language clinic. 

Immediate Care

If you feel you need immediate care, head to a hospital, many of which have a general clinic attached. However be prepared to wait a LONG time. Waits of between 3 and 6 hours are not uncommon, depending on the cause of your visit. Patients are prioritised based on symptoms and illness rather than who arrived first. 

Prescriptions

To collect a prescription head to a pharmacy or chemist. You will need to provide your prescription, identification, and insurance card. Prescriptions are not free. You will need to pay the pharmacy/chemist when collecting your medicine. You may be able to claim back part of the cost from your insurance provider. Contact your insurance provider for more details. 

Specialised 

Dental or Optical visits are often not covered by insurance providers, so you will have to pay the full cost. See your insurance plan for more information. 

If English is not your first language and you are worried about communication with a doctor, the Translation and Interpreter Service is available. Contact: 131 450 for more information or visit www.immi.gov.au

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