Improving International Student Health Care

 Improving International Student Health Care

By Paul McCann

Australian citizens are able to access the Medicare system and are able to get free consultations and treatment should they become unwell . It’s a little harder for international students who arrive to do studies . They are not able to get a lot of assistance with primary health care and health specialist treatment . They have to take out and pay for health insurance while they are doing their education here in Australia . There is a great need to provide proper professional health care for all Australians as well as the huge number of international students who arrive in Australia every year to commence their studies .

Here in Australia over 710 thousand international students enrolled in Australian universities in 2023 . They pay tuition fees and rent and other costs with their study in Australia , Life is always full of challenges and as each student would progress in their studies accidents and ill health can happen where they would ended up in hospital and end up paying high costs to receive the proper health care that was required .

Two private health insurance companies in Australia are Medibank and Bupa health care. .Medicare caters for Australian citizens while students rely on Bupa .

For Australian citizens there are services in the public health service that provides free dental services to people who receive an income support payment from the government .

Some citizens pay for their private health care services that would provide surgery for cosmetic purposes surgery as well as the choice of the provider .

Community health care funded services can provide a range of solutions and support for people with alcohol or drug dependency . Other community care services are in mental health and providing post- acute care in community rehabilitation centres .

There are two areas that are provided for in private health cover are in Chiropractic and major dental services . There are many other areas that fall outside those such as mental health , specialised practitioners and intensive surgery and rehabilitation that is required afterwards ..

.International students often suffer in silence during their pursuit to getting the qualifications they require to get into the career of their choice . Some factors to consider are separation from family and friends during their studies that can result in psychological disorders such as anxiety , depression and even post traumatic stress disorder should they have come from a country where there is conflict or problems with racial abuse . War or civil unrest can result in loss of family and friends through violence . This would greatly have an impact on the health of an international student who maybe finding it difficult to research and finish assignments .

Another issue is often language barriers and the lack of understanding Australian slang and as a result there would be a communication breakdown or a miscommunication between the international student and an Australian who is unaware of the problem at hand .

Another factor is an unfamiliarity of the Australian health care system and the services that can be provided in times of sickness or accidental injuries .

Students have private insurance and are able to access a primary health care service such as a doctor as well as go into a public hospital to have treatment .

That insurance will not cover the entire cost should specialised treatment be required and the student would have to pay for that as well as his or her tuition fees and other costs uncured with their course . Further to this if an international student is unable to attend classes due to ill health or be recovering from surgery there could be a danger that he or she would be removed from their course die to falling too far behind with their assignments .

There needs to be a liaison between international students and the Australia health care system in times of crisis to assist and address all the factors students have to face so that they are not suffering in silence .

There is the situation of living and working in regional parts of Australia that can be difficult for many students around the country . The general picture is that there are risks factors moving into communities where their may be a lack of understanding to their situation . Studying and paying tuition fees can be a challenge for many however their is some relief within their own cultural communities to assist with the settling in process to keeping their cultural nutrition and daily lifestyle changes.

There are signs all over the country of the benefit international students bring to the Australian way of life . For all concerned it is a place of hope and growth .

Yes I’m sure that the steady intake of international students will continue here in Australia and some of those may become legal migrants eventually with lucrative careers . The isolated student with ill health is an area where more help should be given more relief from an essential services team within government sectors .

The End