Health Care
There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, in emergencies only, which allows residents from the UK free hospital treatment. Prescribed medicines, ambulances and treatment at some doctors' surgeries must be paid for. Personal insurance for illness and accidents is highly recommended for all visitors, including UK nationals.
Some visitors seem to arrive in Australia expecting danger at every turn, which is far from necessary. The standard of health care is in general very high, and despite considerable parts of the country being in the tropics, diseases like malaria or yellow fever are unknown.
The picture becomes riskier when visiting the country’s most remote and unpopulated areas, where it’s likely to take considerable time for the emergency services to reach travellers. Self-reliance is an important skill to have, so it’s worth looking into wilderness first aid techniques.
Attacks by sharks, crocodiles and the like might draw plenty of headlines on the rare occasions they occur, but are by no means a common occurrence.
Note
* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age entering Australia within six days of having stayed overnight or longer in an infected country.
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