Health care in Australia relies on private and public facilities: a predominantly private medical profession, private and public hospitals, and private and public health financing. Medicare, the national health care system, is funded through progressive income tax and an income related levy (1.5% levy on taxable income plus an additional 1% Medicare levy surcharge on individuals and families on higher incomes - A$50,000 and A$100,000 respectively - who do not have private patient hospital cover).
Medicare provides access to free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital, free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only). Medicare pays 85% of the scheduled fee and the patient pays the difference. The difference between what Medicare pays and the Schedule fee is called the gap amount. Once your gap payments, within a calendar year, total A$306.90*, you are eligible for the Safety Net. From this point Medicare benefits will increase to 100 per cent of the Medicare Schedule fee for any further out-of-hospital services in that year. Most medicines available on prescription are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Most PBS-listed medicines cost the consumer a maximum of A$29.50*.
(*Figures are adjusted annually in line with the rate of inflation). Migrants are eligible for Medicare benefits from the day of arrival and should enrol with Medicare and obtain a Medicare card immediately upon arrival in Australia. About 80% of Australians have some level of private insurance for medical services that Medicare does not cover such as dentistry, glasses or contact lenses, physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment. There are over 70 health funds in Australia, the largest being MBF, HCF and Medibank Private.
EDUCATION
Preschool and school education has a similar structure across
Australia with only slight variations amongst the States and Territories. School education is thirteen years with some variations in
Queensland and
Western Australia. It is divided into preparatory,primary and secondary schooling.
Preschool education commonly starts at five years of age for one year and is not compulsory. Primary schooling beginning at age six provides a general elementary programme lasting for six or seven years. Students enter secondary education in Year 7 or 8. School education is compulsory until students reach school leaving age which varies across states. The current leaving age for each state is 16 yrs for Western Australia, 15 yrs for the Northern Territory, 15 yrs for New South Wales, 16 yrs for Tasmania, 16 yrs for Victoria and from 2007, 15 yrs for Queensland and 16 yrs for South Australia. Students have to sit a Year 12 exam to assess their eligibility to proceed with higher education.
Around 68% of Australian children attend free, government-funded schools which are mostly co-educational and nonreligious. A parallel fee-paying sector also exists, including independent schools and schools run by various religious institutions. Children who need to attend boarding school in their secondary school years because of rural isolation will usually attend schools of this type, and their boarding costs are subsidised by government.
Tertiary education programmes can be divided into two main types, those offered by institutions and industry within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, and higher education programmes which are mainly offered by universities and other higher education institutions. VET is competency-based and offers a wide variety of programmes under the National Training Framework (NTF). There are approximately 4,000 registered training organisations, including TAFE institutes, private training and assessment organisations, enterprises, universities, schools and adult education providers throughout Australia.
DRIVING
Driving is on the left. Each of the states and territories has a separate authority responsible for the issuing of driver's licences which are then valid
Australia wide. The minimum age for driving is either 17 or 18 years, depending on the state or territory. Migrants should apply for an Australian licence as soon as they take up permanent residence, although most states have a grace period of three months. Most holders of a current driver’s licence or an International Driving Permit issued in their home country must pass a written test on the local road rules. In most states it is also necessary to undergo eyesight test.
TRANSPORTS, COMMUNICATION, MEDIA
Great distances in
Australia have led to a significant role for transport and communications.
Australia has about 913,000 km of public roads. Private travel accounts for almost half of all road use. There are rail links between the major cities but no rail service in
Tasmania. Coastal shipping is mainly for freight, with passenger and car ferries operating between
Victoria and
Tasmania. There are about 400 radio stations in
Australia, over half of them commercial, and a number of television channels.
Australia has approximately 12 metropolitan daily newspapers,38 regional dailies and 138 suburban papers.
ELECTRICITY
Australiauses the AC 240 volts 50 cycle electrical system, although many homes also have 110 volt sockets for electric razors.
HOUSING
In
Australia approximately 70% of people either own their own home with or without a loan. The average home consists of three/four bedrooms, combined lounge/dining room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet and separate laundry room. The greatest proportion of Australians live in detached bungalows standing in their own gardens, often with a backyard swimming pool. A combination of both timber and brick dwellings provides character and individuality in most neighbourhoods.
Prices of houses vary considerably depending on factors such as locality, distance from the city and availability of services. Rental accommodation sought through real estate agents is usually for a fixed period of time. A bond equivalent to one month’s rent and two weeks rent in advance is usual.
Copyright (c) 2009 COMPASS AUSTRALIA Consulting Group Pty Ltd
