Medical & Health

Australia has one of the highest standards of health care in the world. It has been responsible for many of the ground breaking research, and treatments of many of the worlds health problems. What started out as a country where only the fittest survived, it has wedged itself a place into being a place where you can live to a grand old age.

While there are still waits for elective surgery and emergency rooms in hospitals can be busy, but in general Australia dispenses excellent medical care.

Emergency Services

Testimony to the commitment put in by our medical profession, are the amount of doctors, nurses, dentists, etc, who have without hesitation volunteered their services in some of the most hazardous situations. Two of the most recent being the Bali terrorist bomb attack and the tusnami that hit many Asian countries.

Bali Bombing : As soon as word hit Australian shores about the Bali bombing, medical crews swung into action. These consisted of many various forms of medical expertise to cater to admistering triage to identifying body parts, to counselling those affected.

Asian Tsunami : The same applied when news of the tsunami hit. Medical crews and supplies were dispersed throughtout the affected areas. Conditions were appalling, yet they persisted and performed above their abilities.

Many of these volunteers continued to stay in the affected areas for months. They worked long hours, with little and uncomfortable sleeping condiitions.

Street Care

Like any other country, Australia also has problems with it's street dwellers, druggies and prostitutes. Many programs exist in many cities to curb the spread of infectious diseases such as heptititus, HIV and other highly spreadable diseases. Safe needle depistories are found in most public toilets. Clean needle exchanges exist in most cities. Various health departments provide the issue of free condoms, some even have programs where they are offered at the door upon exit from nightclubs, etc. Emergency clinics exist nearly everywhere.

There are also hundreds of refuge and rehabilitation resources avaiable. While most are provided by street care organisations and the Good Samaritans and other welfare organisations, they are nearly all backed by the health care system for treatment.

Schools

All schools have provisions for medical and health treatment. Most schools have resident nurses and first aid rooms. Free dental care is provided at schools for primary school aged children (1 - 12yr old). Health & sex education is taught at all government and most private schools. Psychological and social programs and counselling are also available at most schools. In many cities there are also breakfast programs running, to ensure that children get a healthy breakfast to start the day.

Domestic

Australia has a high incidence of domestic abuse. Previously the answer to this used to only be refuges, legal intervention, or worse. In recent years there have been programs started that examine the route of the problem. What once used the be a female problem to be addressed, has now become a unisex problem to be addressed. Many programs and clinics have now surfaced for men. It's no longer a problem that is swept under the carpet or hidden behind closed doors, it's now a problem that has avenues to be addressed.

Remote & Outback

One of the finest and most respected medical organisations in Australia is the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the RFDS. They have been responsible for saving many lives all around Australia. Because of the vast distances around Australia, and in many cases thousands of kilometers from major metropolitan centers, they are the lifeline of Australia. Whether its transportation between health care institutions, or administering care to the thousand of people who live in rural or outback Australia, they know they are in good hands.