Maintaining your health and wellbeing can improve your mood, concentration and energy. Bust most of all, it helps you stay on track with your studies. UNSW Health & Wellbeing are here to make sure that you don’t have to do it alone.
1) Register your Overseas Student Health Cover Card
Oversears Student Health Cover (OSHC) is your health insurance while you’re in Australia on a student visa and is needed 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 within australia.
To activate your OSHC view this guide or visit the UNSW Health Services at O-Week or on campus throughout the year
2) Do you have your own Medicare Card?
Medicare is the scheme that gives Australian residents access to healthcare. It gives all Australians and some people from overseas a wide range of health and hospital services at no cost or low cost.
There are a bunch of advantages to getting your own Medicare card: You'll be able to get support for your own wellbeing – like going to a psychologist or getting a sexual health check-up – with less worry about who can see that you've had the appointment. You'll get a sense of independence by having a card of your own.
The government only issues up to three copies of the one card, so if there are four or more people in your family, getting your own card will be more convenient. A Medicare card can also count as ID evidence for all sorts of things, like applying for a passport
If you’re looking to get your own Medicare card, follow the link below.
3) Sign up with a GP
If you move to a new city, country or just want a new General Practitioner you can sign up with the UNSW Health Serives to make sure you have a place to receive medical treatment when you need it.Make sure your doctor knows about any prescriptions you need and check that your current prescriptions are up to date.
4) Have a Health Check
Having a health check-up is a great way to introduce yourself to your new GP and also stay on top of your health while studying. As the saying goes prevention is always better than a cure so if you’re unsure just what you should be asking your GP about in your health check Medibank has this guide to help you
If you move to a new city, country or just want a new General Practitioner you can sign up with the UNSW Health Serives to make sure you have a place to receive medical treatment when you need it.Make sure your doctor knows about any prescriptions you need and check that your current prescriptions are up to date.
5) Get a Sexual Health Test
Just like a physical health check, a sexual health check should be part of your routine health care. Getting tested regularly is quick and easy and provides valuable peace of mind for you and your partner/s. If you're new to STI testing or want to know more, see below for answers to our frequently asked questions about testing, symptoms and services available to the UNSW community.
Who needs STI Testing?
STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing is recommended:
- Once a year, if you are sexually active,
- When you change sexual partners, or
- If you have unprotected sex or your condom breaks.
For more information about sexual health, visit our resources page here.
6) Book your COVID-19 Booster or Flu Vaccine
Staying up to date with your vaccines is a vital aspect of keeping yourself and our UNSW community safe. The Flu Vaccine and COVID-19 Booster is free for all current UNSW students and you can receive both at the same time.
7) Follow UNSW Health on Social Media
Stay up to date with all of UNSW Health events, workshops and support services by following us on social media.
8) Download the Talk Campus App
It’s tough being a student, and we know it can be hard to reach out when you need it most. That’s why we’ve launched TalkCampus. An app where you can talk with other students worldwide if you’re struggling, feeling overwhelmed, homesick or just want to feel seen and heard.
TalkCampus is anonymous, it isn’t run by UNSW, and we won’t be able to see if you are using it, or what you post. You also won’t be able to see where other students are from but will be able to connect with others going through similar experiences to you 24/7 across the globe. TalkCampus is based around peer support; you can use it if you need some help yourself, or you can go on there and listen and support others.
The platform is safe and moderated externally and is designed as a place where you can just be yourself and talk about how you’re really feeling. It’s a place just for you, no staff, no fear of judgement, just instant ongoing support.
9) Become a Health & Wellbeing Ambassador
Are you passionate about Health & Wellbeing?
If you're looking to make new friends, develop new skills and become part of a community of people dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of UNSW students then this is the program for you. Our UNSW Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors have the opportunity to develop skills in health literacy, marketing and communications, event management and end to end project management.There are also plenty of social events throughout the year for you to engage with and make new friends.