The Access Equation: What accessible healthcare looks like for international students

By Amanda Seek, Program Manager

Everyone thinks going overseas to study is a luxury, but the reality is far more complex.

For many international students in Australia, navigating a new system can feel like an equation that doesn’t quite add up. And while academic challenges are expected, what often goes unnoticed is how difficult it can be to access something as basic as healthcare.

My own experience as an international student came with navigating a healthcare system that I wasn’t fully a part of, and it was overwhelming. Making doctor’s appointments was confusing, waiting times were long, and the language used by healthcare professionals was often jargon-heavy and hard to understand. On top of all of this, there was another layer – the fear of being judged or asking the “wrong” question.

I remember going to a clinic and being asked if I had a Medicare card. I didn’t know what that was. The only card I had was my Medibank card, which I knew I needed as a student.

I worried that I didn’t have the right paperwork, and that it might mean I couldn’t see a doctor at all. It was experiences like this that made me feel completely lost.

Even after my appointment, I was confused. I didn’t understand why my medication wasn’t provided at the clinic, and why I had to go to a pharmacy to collect it. Everything was different from my experience in Singapore, where I would usually receive medication immediately after a consultation at the same clinic.

This experience isn’t unique, and it doesn’t just affect international students. Healthcare systems vary widely across countries, and those differences are rarely explained when people move between them. For many migrants, navigating a new healthcare system is intimidating and confusing. Yet there’s an unspoken expectation that you have to adapt, figure it out, and fit in, or risk being left behind.

If we want to improve health equity, we need to recognise that access to healthcare depends on whether people feel comfortable using it. This is the part of the equation that’s currently missing.

A system that adapts to people, not the other way around

Healthcare isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it shouldn’t be treated that way.

People come from different cultural backgrounds, speak different languages, and have different levels of familiarity with the Australian healthcare system. These are all variables shaping the equation of access. So, while a rigid, universal approach might seem efficient, it creates barriers.

Instead of expecting individuals to adapt, we need to design systems that actually respond to the people they serve.

This starts with building a bilingual and culturally responsive workforce. Being able to communicate in your own language reduces fear and confusion, and builds trust.

The way healthcare providers interact with patients matters just as much. A non-judgmental and culturally safe approach can determine whether someone feels comfortable enough to seek help. For many international students, their confidence is already fragile in such an unfamiliar environment, and the system should support them, not discourage them.

Access to information is another critical issue. Healthcare information should be simple, clear, and available in multiple languages. More importantly, it should be tailored to different communities. What works for one group might not work for another.

And just as important as what is shared is where and how it’s shared.

We shouldn’t expect students to dig through confusing websites or dense brochures for answers. Information needs to reach them in spaces they already trust and feel comfortable in, like community centres, student hubs, and on-campus events.

These are the places where people feel safe asking questions, where relationships are built, and where understanding can be fostered.

The key to accessible healthcare is recognising that providing services is only one part of the equation.

Real accessibility means creating a system that makes people feel safe, understood, and not out of place when seeking care. That’s what needs to be built in from the start.

Amanda Seek is the Collaborative’s Program Manager. She is a public health professional specialising in health equity, cultural inclusion, and community engagement.