Your health checklist
Moved to Sydney from another city or country? Here's how you can stay on top of your health & wellbeing during your studies
Monitor your progress here with our handy tracker. Your browser will remember what steps you've completed from our detailed health checklist below.
Your health and wellbeing should always come first ❤️
How well you take care of yourself directly affects your quality of life. Maintaining your health and wellbeing can improve your mood, concentration and energy, helping you stay on track with your studies.
ʹڲƱ Health & Wellbeing are here to make sure that you don’t have to do it alone. Support is always available!
Follow our health checklist below and tick off each step as you complete it.
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- International
- Domestic
For international students
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is your health insurance while you’re in Australia on a Student visa. You will need to be registered for OSHC before you apply for a Student visa.
You will need to activate your OSHC card (virtual or physical) to attend a doctor appointment or hospital in Australia. To learn more, view our OSHC guide.
For assistance in person, you can also visit the ʹڲƱ Health Service on campus throughout the year.
For domestic students
Medicare is the national scheme that gives Australian residents free or subsidised access to healthcare. It is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents and certain temporary residents.
If you are enrolled in Medicare, there are a bunch of advantages to getting your own Medicare card:
- Accessibility & convenience
- The government only issues up to three copies of one card, so if there are four or more people in your family, getting your own card will be more convenient for individual access.
- Independence & privacy
- You won't have to worry about anyone else having access to your appointment history – especially for more personal appointments such as visiting a mental health professional or getting a sexual health check-up.
- Identification
- Your Medicare card can also count as ID evidence for all sorts of things, including applying for a passport.
See how you can get your own .
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If you've moved to Sydney from another city or country, or just want a new General Practitioner for regular doctor's appointments, having a health check-up is a great way to introduce yourself to your new GP.
In Australia, a General Practitioner, commonly referred to as a GP, is the equivalent of what you might call a family physician or family doctor in your home country. They’re your first point of contact for most medical concerns, including routine check-ups and prescriptions.
If you’re unsure about what you should be asking your GP, see Medibank's guide for to keep in mind.
Also make sure to let your doctor know about any prescriptions you need and check that your current prescriptions are up to date. This will help you stay on top of your health while studying.
ʹڲƱ Health Service
We have a medical centre right here on campus! The ʹڲƱ Health Service has a range of General Practitioners you can book your health check-up with.
You can also book regular or specialist doctors appointments at the ʹڲƱ Health Service and receive medical treatment when you need it. It's conveniently located at the heart of Kensington campus on the ground floor of the Quadrangle building.
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Stay up to date with important health notices and events by following ʹڲƱ Health on social media and bookmarking our Health alerts貹.
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TalkCampus is an that lets you chat with other students worldwide. If you’re struggling, overwhelmed, homesick or just want to feel seen and heard, the TalkCampus platform is a great place to find some peer-to-peer support.
The platform is exclusively for students, safe and moderated externally. You remain anonymous when using TalkCampus and ʹڲƱ won't know if you're using it or what you're posting, allowing you to be yourself without fear of judgement. The global network of students and TalkCampus buddies also means you can connect with others 24/7 across 25 languages.
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Are you passionate about health & wellbeing?
If you're looking to make new friends, spread awareness about health and become part of a community dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of ʹڲƱ students, then you should keep your eye on our .
We have plenty of social events, volunteering opportunities and workshops throughout the year for you to get involved in.
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Just like a physical health check, a sexual health check should also be a part of your routine health care. Getting tested regularly is quick and easy and provides valuable peace of mind for you and your partners.
The ʹڲƱ Health Service has an STI Clinic where you can book STI testing. You can also book an appointment with a GP to discuss your sexual health confidentially.
Who needs STI testing?
STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing is recommended:
- Once a year, if you are sexually active
- When you change sexual partners
- If you have unprotected sex or your sexual protection (such as a condom) breaks or malfunctions.
New to STI testing or just want to learn more? See our guide to Sexual health, sex & healthy relationships, which includes information about testing, symptoms and the services available to the ʹڲƱ community.
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Staying up to date with your vaccines is vital to keeping yourself and our ʹڲƱ community safe. The Flu vaccine and COVID-19 Booster is free for all current ʹڲƱ students at the ʹڲƱ Health Service. You can receive both at the same time.
Need more support? We’re here to help.
Whether you're feeling unwell, overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, support is always available at ʹڲƱ.
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If you or someone else are in immediate danger or need urgent medical or psychological help, please seek emergency support right away.
This includes contacting emergency services (000), attending your nearest hospital or using after-hours crisis lines.
If you require emergency support while you're on campus, access our 24/7 services below.