Medical

At a bare minimum you should visit your doctor for a check-up or consult before you travel overseas. Some countries may require you to include a valid recent health check with your visa application (for example, Japan and South Korea usually require this, but there may be more, so make sure to check!). You’ll need to factor this into your planning, so you don’t find yourself short on time.

So, what are you going to talk to your doctor about? Immunisations, prescriptions, allergy medication, mental health care plans and more:

• Where you’re going – Tell your doctor exactly where you’ll be travelling to; they’ll have access to any relevant medical information for your destination(s)
• Immunisations – Many destinations don’t necessitate specific immunisations, though some do. It’s also a good opportunity to get yourself up to date in case any of your older vaccinations have expired. Trust us, it’ll be far easier to get a tetanus booster from your local GP than trying to negotiate one from a new doctor overseas! Some immunisations require multiple shots, several weeks or months apart. Plan ahead.
• Prescription medication – Do you take any regular or prescription medications? How about the Pill? (more on prescription medication below)
• Allergies – Do you have any allergies that may require medication in extreme situations?
• Mental health – if you have any doubts or concerns at all, take the opportunity to discuss with your doctor in a safe, confidential environment.
• Further referrals – If you need anything further than a general check-up/statement of health, you might need a doctor’s referral to be able to book in.
• Specialists – you should also book in appointments with any specialists related to any existing or potential health issues you have. This could include a check-up at the dentist, an appointment with your optometrist, or consulting your physiotherapist or chiropractor for an exercise plan or care plan.

You can visit your regular GP, or you might prefer the UniSA Medical Clinic. The UniSA Medical Clinic is for all UniSA students and has locations at City West and City East.

It’s important to know exactly what (if any) medical prescriptions you require and to do your research on any medication you’re taking with you overseas.

Did you know that taking medicine out of Australia could be illegal under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), unless it’s for your personal use, or the personal use of someone travelling with you? Fines are steep and prison time may apply.

Before sending or taking medicine or prescriptions subsidised under the PBS, you should:

• Check with the embassy, high commission or consulate (located in Australia) of the country you’re heading to, to see if the medicine is legal in that country.
• If it’s legal, get a valid prescription from an Australian doctor and take it with you. If you can’t do this, print and fill in the Medicine Export Declaration form. Take it with you when you go through customs.
• Make sure to carry a doctor’s letter listing your medications (the trade and generic names) and dosages. Leave the medicine in the original packaging.
• Take any prescription medication with you in your carry-on luggage, not your check-in. If your suitcase gets lost or delayed, you don’t want to be without medication during the first days of your journey.
• Carry a supply to cover the period you are away as it may be difficult to obtain similar medication in your host country.
• If your specific medication can’t be purchased ahead in larger quantities, have a serious chat with your doctor about what options you have.
• If taking large amounts of medication with you, check with the consulate to see if there are customs limits at your destination

If you have any concerns about any medicine or prescriptions you plan to take with you, go to the Smartraveller website. Search for your destination(s), click on the country information page, and look under ‘Health > Medications’. Otherwise, you may find more information on the website for the destinations embassy or consulate, or if the destination's government has an official website for tourists and visitors.

Depending on where you’re going, you may be required to be immunised against certain diseases. Some immunisations are mandated by the destination country for all incoming visitors, while some immunisations might be recommended as a precaution.

The UniSA Health Medical Clinic, and any travel doctor, can give you advice on what immunisations you’ll require, as well as provide the immunisations or medications themselves. We strongly recommend that you make an appointment to discuss any required or recommended immunisations for your destination(s). You should also ensure that you are up to date with routine immunisations e.g. tetanus.

You can ring your local GP to see if they offer these services as well, but they might refer you to another clinic if they don’t have these travel immunisations services available.

Check out the Australian government’s Health Direct site on Travel Vaccinations for further details on this topic.

Remember that managing mental health is no different to, and no less important than, managing your physical health. So, if you are concerned about your mental or emotional wellbeing, it’s vital you seek help early.

As you’ll be in a new environment and culture, the challenges you’re likely to face may be different to those faced at home. Unfamiliar, new, or challenging situations can exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues, and can cause distress even if you haven’t experienced mental health difficulties previously. It’s important to be able to recognise when things are taking a turn for the worse and to be prepared to implement some strategies to help mitigate the symptoms.

It’s not uncommon for students on an international study experience to report that they’re struggling with their mental health or are experiencing feelings of homesickness or culture shock. This is particularly true for students undertaking a longer-term international program, such as full semester exchange. Common symptoms to watch out for are any increases in stress or anxiety, or feeling overly tired, overwhelmed, helpless, or lonely. The symptoms (and triggers) are different for everyone; it’s important to watch out for any potential symptoms.

The University’s travel insurance provides cover for unexpected medical expenses incurred to treat mental health issues whilst travelling overseas. Every claim will be assessed on its individual merits; and a doctor’s referral will be required before obtaining these services.

Support is always available. Reach out, even if it’s just to family and friends for a chat. You can also seek advice and support from the following resources:

• UniSA’s various wellbeing online resources
  • Wellbeing at UniSA
  • Healthy Mind
  • batyr
• The Global Opportunities Team or any UniSA Staff travelling with you (e.g. during Study Tours)
• Healix International (the University's Emergency Travel Support company)
• Counselling or international student support staff at your host institution
• Local mental health services in your host country
• Australian Government Consular Services for advice on available services

You might also find it useful to implement the following strategies to prepare in advance, such as:

• Take certain items from home with you to lessen homesickness or culture shock pangs. Some examples include:
  • Non-perishable food items (e.g., milo, vegemite, nutri-grain)
  • Comfort items such as a blanket or pillow
  • Pictures of your loved ones to decorate your new space with
  • Something small that reminds you of a close friend or loved one
• Create a mental health care plan with your doctor or mental health care professional, such as strategies to use when you are feeling stressed or sad
• Organise to continue existing therapy via an online or phone format.
• Make sure to look for exercise you can do once arrive at your destination. Exercising and being active can have a positive impact on your mental health. For example, you could find a gym or a class or research potential walking routes.