Health care
Australia’s health system is widely recognised as world class. A universal public health system called Medicare ensures that all Australian permanent residents have access to a broad range of quality health services that are either free at the point of care or subject to substantial government rebates. A private health sector complements this public system. The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides aeromedical evacuation and primary health care to people who live, travel or work in rural and remote Australian communities where the normal medical infrastructure does not exist.
The Australian Government has significant financial and policy responsibility for health services, including hospitals, public health and mental health, while the state and territory governments are largely responsible for the direct provision of such services.