Insider Guides International Student Guide to Sydney | Page 38

HEALTH & FITNESS

38

First Steps

STATE New South Wales
CITY Sydney

Taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing is vitally important so
read on to discover how to do just that. Remember, in a non-emergency
situation you should attend a health clinic and not a hospital.

Hospitals
If you need to go to a public hospital in a non-emergency situ­ tion or for an elective procedure, then
a
call your OSHC provider and check that you will be covered. Remember to ask your OSHC provider
where their nearest agreement hospital is. You should then give that hospital a call to confirm that you
will be accepted as a patient with OSHC. There is nothing worse than getting some nasty administrative
surprises when all you want is medical treatment! Remember, your OSHC may not cover you for private
hospitals.
Sexual health
You can get contraceptive medications and devices very easily and cheaply in Australia. Condoms are
available from supermarkets and pharmacies. Emergency contraceptives are available from pharmacies
if you need them. Take them within 24 hours for the most effective result.
Mental health
Remember to take time out for yourself. If things seem too hard, talk to friends and family. Universities
and colleges often have counselling services or you can use free services Beyond Blue and Lifeline. Make
sure you talk to someone as soon as you feel like things are getting too hard to handle.
beyondblue.org.au - lifeline.org.au
Clinic hours
Very few medical clinics are open seven days or have 24-hour services (and those that do can be
expensive). If you need a medical certificate or you have a minor illness, wait until the doctor’s offices
are open. You can also ring Healthdirect Australia to get advice on treating non-life-threatening
illnesses:
Contact: 1800 022 222

Complaints
If you face a situation where you feel like you’re being ripped off or unfairly treated in regards
to your OSHC, you can call the Private Health Ins \