OSHC, Health & Safety
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):
OSHC is compulsory for all international student visa holders.
As international students you are not covered under the Australian Medicare system and you are required to have sufficient health cover while in Australia. OSHC provides international students with coverage similar to that of a local resident under the Medicare system.
When you accept your offer of study through Education and Training International (ETI) they will arrange your OSHC for you in order to make your application process much simpler.
It is a requirement of the Department of Immigration & Citizenship that international students must have OSHC for the duration of their visa. ETI will ensure your cover is for the duration of your initial visa – if you change courses or institutions you will need to ensure you have adequate cover.
OSHC is organised by ETI through World Care Assist Mondial Assistance. Detailed information about their cover can be found at OSHC Worldcare.
OSHC representative on campus:
Challenger Institute has an OSHC representative on campus and can be visited at:
International Student Support Office
Beaconsfield Campus
Room D020
Find a doctor:
Please visit the OSHC website to find your nearest doctor.
Need extras cover?
OSHC Worldcare Student Plus by Peoplecare offers you the option of basic extras insurance for Dental, Optical, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathic services – which you can purchase in addition to your OSHC cover. Visit www.peoplecare.com.au or call 1300 733 676 for further information.
OSHC health and wellbeing information:
Please visit the OSHC website for information on:
GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Think Before (thinkbefore.com):
Think Before understands that leaving home to study overseas often brings great rewards and new life challenges. Some international students in Australia are not aware of the risks in their new environment and a minority of students have been placing themselves in high risk situations. Like most big cities around the world it pays to be aware of your surroundings.
The international student safety campaign thinkbefore.com is designed to sharpen safety skills when travelling late at night. Simply, we want international students to view the attached video and read key messages and then share the information with family and fellow students.
To help distribute the information we offer the thinkbefore.com video through online, mobile (m.thinkbefore.com), social networking channels such as Facebook, Twitter and video sharing websites such as YouTube. Being aware of safety issues will help deliver a positive student experience when studying in Australia.
How are you travelling (perth.wa.gov.au/safecity):
Your guide to night transport and having a safe night out in the City of Perth.
Beach Safe (beachsafe.org.au):
The BeachSafe website is brought to you by Surf Life Saving Australia. The website brings to you current information and conditions for the beach you would like to visit, hazards you might find and services available to assist in your beach choice to let you relax and enjoy your activities during your stay.
Western Australia Police (police.wa.gov.au):
WA Police recognises community and cultural diversity as an enriching and fundamental feature of our society and is committed to providing effective policing services that are accessible, culturally appropriate and equally responsive to all communities of Western Australia's population.
Contact Police on 131 444 for:
Police assistance or attendance and when it is not an emergency, for example:
- Reporting a disturbance or breach of the peace (antisocial behaviour)
- Reporting something which has happened in the past
- Reporting a property-related incident for insurance purposes
- Making a complaint against police or another individual.
Calls to this number from most regional areas are automatically directed to the nearest police station.
Contact Police on 000 for:
An emergency or life-threatening situation, when urgent police assistance is needed, for example:
- A serious crime is in progress, being witnessed or just committed
- Any situation where life or serious injury is threatened
- A car accident where people are trapped or seriously injured
- A serious air, rail or water incident
- Any incident which poses an immediate threat of danger to people or property
- An explosion or bomb incident or threat.
Under Commonwealth and State laws, it is an offence to misuse 000 emergency services number. Action will be taken against those who misuse or make nuisance calls on the 000 line.
More Information:
Anyone with concerns, should firstly contact their local Diversity Officer for assistance via local police on 131 444.
Community Diversity Unit
3rd Floor
WA Police Headquarters
2 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
Tel: (08) 9222 1510, (08) 9222 1576