Are there any vaccinations I should get or other health precautions to take as I prepare for my move to your city?
Please check with your local Australian Consulate or Embassy to confirm medical requirements for entry into Australia.

Before I get sick, what should I know about seeking medical care in your city as an expat?
Medicare is a government health insurance scheme that takes a percentage of annual taxable income from all employees in Australia to cover the costs associated with being treated as a public patient in a public hospital.

The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the many countries which may entitle visitors from these countries limited subsidised health services for any necessary ill-health or injury treatment in government hospitals only, while visiting Australia. Countries covered under the RHCA Agreement include: the United Kingdom, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Malta, Italy, Ireland and New Zealand. Please note certain conditions apply. To ascertain your eligibility and period of coverage, please visit the Medicare website:
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/ or contract Medicare Customer Service on 132 011.

To be treated as a private patient in a hospital, you will have to pay the associated costs or obtain private health insurance. While private health insurance is not mandatory in Australia, it is strongly recommended. If the insurance policy you held in your home country is a member of the International Federation of Health Plans, you may be able to transfer your policy to Australia without penalty - at a similar level of cover. Check with your insurance provider for details.

What is the word for "doctor" in the local language?
"Doctor" (also known as a medical practitioner) or 'GP'

What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider?
Telephone numbers for doctors may be found in the telephone directory under "M" for Medical Practitioners.

Do expats in the area tend to leave the city/area/country to seek medical care? If so, why and where do they go?
Medical care and facilities are of an extremely high standard in Australia.

What is the number to call to summon help in an emergency? List medical/fire/police.
Dial 000 for life-threatening emergencies requiring medical, police or fire assistance.
The Poisons hotline is 13 11 26

What do I do if there's an emergency in the middle of the night—or at another time when my normal doctor/clinic is unavailable?
Major hospitals have 24-hour emergency clinics. Some suburbs will also have 24-hour doctor clinics.
Identifying your closest 24-hour emergency clinic is an important first task once you have found a new neighborhood in Melbourne.

How will I recognize a pharmacy? What is it called in the local language?
Pharmacies (Chemists) are located in all suburban shopping localities.

Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. Melbourne has very good drinking water.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.