Medicare Essentials
Tick through the enrolment steps, documents, and timelines that activate universal cover.
Turn to page →Healthy Start Healthcare Guide
Follow a structured checklist for enrolling in Medicare, assessing private cover, and identifying day-to-day services before you need them. The guidance below clarifies eligibility rules, typical waiting periods, and the documentation to bring when booking your first appointments or seeking urgent care.
Your guide to staying well in Australia
Australia's healthcare system blends universal Medicare cover with private options and community programs. This guide sets out the agencies that manage each service, the level of coverage to expect, and the practical steps for organising family care, prescriptions, preventive screenings, and emergency contacts in your area.
Private Cover Overview
Understand hospital versus extras policies, loading rules, and how to compare newcomer plans.
Turn to page →
Family & Community Care
Tap subsidies, early childhood centres, and mental health support tailored for families.
Turn to page →Core health services to set up first
Prioritise these services within your first weeks. Each step unlocks access to routine care, prescriptions, and emergency support.
Medicare
Australia's publicly funded healthcare program covers hospital treatment, GP visits, and key allied health services.
Medicare covers: public hospital stays, doctor visits, imaging, and essential procedures.
Eligibility: Citizens, permanent residents, some temporary residents, and visitors from reciprocal countries.
General Practitioners
GPs are your first point of contact and coordinate referrals to specialists when required.
Bulk billing clinics charge $0 when the practice bills Medicare directly.
Settling in tip: Register with a local GP soon after arrival and book longer appointments for complex issues.
Public & Private Hospitals
Public hospitals provide free emergency and inpatient care with Medicare, while private hospitals offer shorter waits and more specialist choice.
Emergency departments treat everyone — bring your Medicare card and identification.
Private cover: Consider extras for dental, optical, and physiotherapy services.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
The PBS subsidises hundreds of prescription medicines so you pay a capped amount at the pharmacy.
Standard PBS co-payment: up to $31.60 • Concession: up to $7.70 per script.
Budget hack: Track spending to access PBS Safety Net discounts sooner.
Dental & Allied Health
Dental, optical, and many allied health services are not fully covered by Medicare.
Expect private fees of $150–$300+ per visit without extras cover.
Options: University clinics, state dental schemes, or extras policies for better coverage.
Mental Health Support
Access subsidised psychology and counselling sessions through a GP mental health care plan.
Up to 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions per calendar year.
Need urgent help? Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
🚨 Emergency & urgent support
000
Police • Fire • Ambulance
Call 000 in any life-threatening situation. For non-urgent medical advice, contact the 24/7 healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222.
Understand private health cover
Layer private insurance on top of Medicare to skip elective surgery waitlists, access private maternity care, and claim extras like dental or physiotherapy.
How to choose the right policy
- Hospital cover: Focus on tiers (Basic to Gold) and check exclusions before you sign.
- Extras cover: Bundle services like dental, optical, and physio to match your household needs.
- Waiting periods: Most policies apply 2–12 month waits for new members — plan ahead for maternity or elective surgery.
- Lifetime Health Cover loading: If you’re under 31 and hold a permanent visa, take out cover within 12 months to avoid future surcharges.
- Compare & claim: Use government comparison site privatehealth.gov.au and set up the insurer’s app for fast claims.
Child and family health support
Australia offers generous childcare subsidies, maternal health nurses, and early learning programs that help your family thrive.
Early Childhood Centres
Long day care, family day care, and preschool programs blend education with play-based learning.
Average daily fees: $80–$150 before subsidies.
Included services: Meals, nappies, accredited educators, developmental assessments, and out-of-school-hours care.
Child Care Subsidy
The Australian Government pays a percentage of approved childcare fees based on household income and activity hours.
Families can receive up to 90% of fees covered for the first child.
How to claim: Create a Centrelink online account, submit proof of income, and report your activity hours regularly.
Maternal & Child Health Nurses
Free check-ups for babies and toddlers track development and provide parenting guidance.
Book through your local council for home visits or centre appointments.
Bring along: Child Health Record book, Medicare card, and any vaccination updates.