These qualities and more are part of what studying in Australia is all about. Studying for a career in health in Australia will put you in the forefront and make you a winner!

Health is a major concern facing citizens the world over - there are real issues facing both developed and developing nations - and studies in Australia ensure that these issues are addressed at various levels. Whether you are looking for an undergraduate course, postgraduate course, postgraduate research opportunities, partnerships and collaboration in academic activities, short courses, conference partners and facilities, professional development, study abroad, clinical placements or electives and other pharmaceutical and health related activities - you need look no further.

Already Australians in various health professions have contributed greatly to the world's knowledge of medical and health sciences. The Royal Flying Doctor Service, for example, led the world in its innovative approach to the health care of remote and scattered communities. Australian researchers have made outstanding contributions to world knowledge. Two Australian scientists, Sir Frank McFarlane Burnet and Sir John Eccles, were awarded Nobel Prizes for their research in acquired immunological responses research in nerve cell membranes. Fenner made perhaps the most exciting development of the last twenty years, the global eradication of smallpox. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), which has become the major founding body for medical, dental and health research in Australian Universities, funds research grants, fellowships and numerous research programs to the tune of millions of dollars every year. Pharmaceutical companies and other industries also work in close collaboration with Australian universities. The rewards for doing research and contributing to better ways of delivering good health to the world's population are enormous.

According to recent economic analysts, health science is a major area of growth for job prospects and furthering a career. In Australia, currently the forecast for the next five years is for an increased demand for registered nurses, midwives, mental health nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical imaging professionals and pharmacists, to name just a few. The variety of careers is so vast that anyone wishing to work in this exciting and fast-changing environment should be investigating the many options and pathways available, and ensuring that the courses they choose are well-designed and well-recognised.

Australian universities keep in close contact with professional associations to ensure that courses keep up with these requirements. The Australian Government also maintains a register of courses to ensure that they comply with accreditation requirements. Thus, students are well placed when they return to their home countries, having had a professional experience in academic institutions, as well as experiences in field placements, practicals and formal associations with teaching hospitals and clinics.

There are 37 public universities in Australia and two private universities. Most have a variety of health sciences offerings, but not all offer Medicine and Dentistry, for example. Four Australian medical schools are now offering graduate entry into Medicine, which is a pattern of admission common to North America - the Universities of Queensland, Sydney and Flinders offer graduate entry only, and the University of Melbourne offers both undergraduate and graduate entry. Thus, there is the exciting possibility of becoming a medical doctor or doing medical research, even if you have already started a career in another discipline. The graduate entry scheme allows for flexibility, but it also ensures that the decision is well-considered, taking into account the level of commitment required to be a doctor. Dentistry is taught at several universities, but the University of Sydney is the first and only Australian university to introduce graduate dental entry as from 2001. Nursing and allied health programs are offered in all states of Australia. These professions are at the cutting edge of professional education and scholarship, offering programs that are acknowledged worldwide as being comprehensive, challenging, dynamic and of high academic standard.

How do you choose? When choosing your career in the health sciences, look for flexibility, quality teaching and research facilities, optional entry pathways, ease of research and support structures, international recognition of the degree, high job satisfaction rates, variety in specializations, and above all, student friendliness! Australia is known for its:

• great climate
• friendliness
  
• safety
  
• great choice
  
• high standards of living and academia
  
• cultural diversity

The total Australian experience comes complete with an exciting, vibrant and welcoming environment in which to live and study.

With thanks to
Robyn Murphy
University of Sydney

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