Health and safety: the things worth knowing before you need them

000 is the emergency number

Call 000 for police, fire or ambulance in a genuine emergency. It is free from any phone, including a mobile with no credit.

The operator will ask which service you need and where you are. If you are not confident in English under pressure, say so — interpreter support is available. For situations that need police but are not emergencies, there is a separate non-urgent line, and your university will have its own security number for anything on campus.

Seeing a doctor

For anything routine you see a GP — a general practitioner. You book an appointment, and the GP treats you or refers you on to a specialist. Specialists generally require that referral, so the GP is the first stop rather than an obstacle.

Most students are not eligible for Medicare and rely on OSHC instead. Check what your policy covers and whether your clinic bills the insurer directly or expects you to pay and claim back.

Pharmacies handle minor problems without an appointment, and a pharmacist is a good first port of call for advice about whether something needs a doctor at all.

Mental health

Homesickness, isolation and academic pressure are ordinary parts of studying abroad, not a personal failing, and they are more common in the first semester than anyone admits at the time.

Every Australian university has a counselling service, free to enrolled students and confidential. Using it does not affect your visa, your enrolment or your record. There are also free national telephone and online services staffed around the clock.

Sun, water and heat

Australia's UV levels are among the highest in the world and will burn unprotected skin far faster than most new arrivals expect — including on overcast days. Sunscreen, a hat and shade are routine here, not precious.

At the beach, swim between the red and yellow flags. The flagged area is the part that is patrolled by lifesavers and chosen to avoid rips — currents that pull swimmers away from shore and are the main cause of drownings. If you are caught in one, do not swim against it: signal for help and stay afloat.

Everyday safety

• Australian cities are generally safe, and ordinary care at night — busy routes, a charged phone, telling someone where you are — is enough.
• Keep your passport somewhere secure and carry a copy rather than the original.
• You have workplace rights regardless of your visa, including a minimum wage and a safe workplace. An employer who tells you otherwise is not telling the truth.
• Be sceptical of anyone claiming to be from a government agency who calls demanding immediate payment or threatening your visa. That is a scam pattern, not how Australian agencies operate.