Home › Travel Guides › Oceania Travel Guide › Australia › Australia health care and vaccinations
Image gallery

Ayres Rock, Australia

© 123rf.com / Ron Summers

Australia health care and vaccinations

Vaccination identifier Special precautions
Diphtheria

No
Hepatitis A

No
Malaria

No
Rabies

No
Tetanus

Yes
Typhoid

No
Yellow Fever

No*

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age entering Australia within six days of having stayed overnight or longer in an infected country.

There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, in emergencies only, which allows residents from the UK free hospital treatment. Prescribed medicines, ambulances and treatment at some doctors' surgeries must be paid for. Personal insurance for illness and accidents is highly recommended for all visitors, including UK nationals.

Food and drink: 

Standards of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised and meat and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Care should be taken, however, when sampling 'bush tucker' in outback areas as some insects and fauna are highly poisonous unless properly cooked.

Other risks: 

Outbreaks of dengue fever occur in northern Queensland, especially during the wet season (Oct-Mar), and Ross River fever virus is widespread in Australia. There have been reports of Murray Valley encephalitis in northern Australia and in the northwest of Western Australia. Corals, jellyfish and fresh water crocodiles may prove a hazard to the bather, and heat exhaustion is a hazard in most parts of the country. Insectivorous and fruit-eating bats have been found to harbour a virus related to the rabies virus and should be avoided. Venomous snakes and spiders exist throughout Australia and can be extremely dangerous. Medical assistance should be sought immediately if bitten.

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.