Health & Welfare

Health and Welfare

The federal and state governments of Australia have played an important role in advancing social services. There are benefits for people who are sick, aged, widowed, orphaned, disabled, or unemployed. A maternity allowance is paid to mothers irrespective of income, and a means-tested family allowance for all children under 16 years of age is payable to the parent or other person with custody. In 1984 the federal government introduced a universal health scheme known as Medicare, financed in part by a 1.25 per cent levy on taxable incomes above a stated minimum. It covers automatic entitlement to subsidized medical benefits and free hospital, in-patient, and outpatient care. A home and community care programme was initiated in 1985 to provide support services to help the elderly and disabled stay in their own homes. 

The most famous aspect of Australia’s health services is the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which provides medical services for people in remote areas. The service covers two-thirds of Australia, with doctors operating from bases equipped with radio stations for communicating with distant stations and settlements, and a hospital, air-ambulance, and nursing staff. Australia has more than 2,500 hospitals and nursing homes and some 38,800 doctors.