Health in Australia
Australia has a very high standard of hygiene and very safe food and drinking water. As a result special precautions are unnecessary. No vaccinations are required unless some time has been spent in an infected country in the previous two weeks, although immunisation is always a good idea if your international itinerary is broad.

Health Services
Australia offers free service at public hospitals to its own citizens and permanent residents and has universal health care under the Medicare system. This covers most or all of the cost of visiting a general practitioner, depending largely on whether bulk-billing practices are utilised. However, these services only extend to citizens of the United Kingdom and New Zealand. All visitors will have to pay in full and up-front for dental treatment, ambulance charges and medicines. The cost of an unsubsidised, standard visit to a doctor is currently around A$35 but serious illness can be much more expensive. Travelleršs insurance covering medical care and medicines is therefore highly recommended. A personal basic medical kit could also be a good idea.

Quarantine Arrangements
Australia is a beautiful country free from many pests and diseases found elsewhere in the world. Quarantine helps keep it that way.

When entering Australia, it's vital that you declare on your Incoming Passenger Card any food, live plants and animals and any items made from wood, plants or animals.

Quarantine officers use detector dog teams, X-ray machines and random baggage checks to detect undeclared quarantine items. If you conceal itemsof quarantine concern, you may receive an on-the-spot fine or you could be prosecuted.

More quarantine information for travellers is available on the Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) web site: http://www.aqis.gov.au