As part of Bupa's best blog competition for 2015
Students sometimes don't know who to turn to if they get sick. We explain some of the options.
Often during the uni year students can get sick, whether minor or major illness. Many of them don't know who to turn to so here is a guide.
Your parents
Many students go to their parents for help as they know their own son or daughter well and think they know how to treat them. They also speak the student's language. The student feels comfortable talking about how they are feeling.
Your uni
The health service is free for advice and students can just get some advice. Sometimes symptoms can a bit hard to describe. You can ask your union as to where that is.
But sometimes students feel a bit scared about going to see their health service as they might be a bit shy.
Under the ESOS Act the university must provide you with a emergency contact number if you need an ambulance. The 000 number is free to call only in need of an emergency.
Also if the health problem affects your visa and study you should see your uni for advice.
Your doctor
Generally this can be expensive and there are forms to fill out. Your doctor may not know you all that well and for some students English is their second language and they may have some trouble talking about how they are feeling.
And then you would have to claim on your Overseas Health insurance for any doctors visits.
Online
Online advice is free but sometimes though it can be the wrong advice. Just recently it was reported that the Bella of the Whole pantry posted some very bad advice. But if you have to go online I'd recommend the government health sites such as betterhealthchannel.com.au or you provider's site as they have lots of good advice.
Here RNIS has some good advice too for minor things like colds and flus and looking after yourself. However we don't have advice for people with major illness such as cancer. For that you'd have to see your doctor.
Self medicating is never a good idea. Although cheap it is very risky.
Students sometimes don't know who to turn to if they get sick. We explain some of the options.
Your parents
Many students go to their parents for help as they know their own son or daughter well and think they know how to treat them. They also speak the student's language. The student feels comfortable talking about how they are feeling.
Your uni
The health service is free for advice and students can just get some advice. Sometimes symptoms can a bit hard to describe. You can ask your union as to where that is.
But sometimes students feel a bit scared about going to see their health service as they might be a bit shy.
Under the ESOS Act the university must provide you with a emergency contact number if you need an ambulance. The 000 number is free to call only in need of an emergency.
Also if the health problem affects your visa and study you should see your uni for advice.
Your doctor
Generally this can be expensive and there are forms to fill out. Your doctor may not know you all that well and for some students English is their second language and they may have some trouble talking about how they are feeling.
And then you would have to claim on your Overseas Health insurance for any doctors visits.
Online
Online advice is free but sometimes though it can be the wrong advice. Just recently it was reported that the Bella of the Whole pantry posted some very bad advice. But if you have to go online I'd recommend the government health sites such as betterhealthchannel.com.au or you provider's site as they have lots of good advice.
Here RNIS has some good advice too for minor things like colds and flus and looking after yourself. However we don't have advice for people with major illness such as cancer. For that you'd have to see your doctor.
Self medicating is never a good idea. Although cheap it is very risky.
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