It is recommended that you have several vaccinations before you take the trip to Australia. A number of factors will be taken into consideration by your doctor including your general health, the vaccinations that you have already had and the type of work that you are planning on doing. You should consult your doctor several months in advance of your trip so that the vaccinations can be administered at the correct interval.

If you are moving to Australia from a country which still has a problem with yellow fever then you need to have a yellow fever vaccination. There are a number of standard vaccinations which should be taken into consideration too. These include flu, chickenpox, polio, MMR and DPT (diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus). Other vaccinations that should be considered include the hepatitis B vaccination and for those who are intending to visit parts of northern Australia, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. It is only essential to have a rabies vaccination if you are going to come into contact with bats or other wild animals.

There are a number of diseases which occur in Australia and for which you can take precautions. There are several which are carried by insects and passed on via bites. Ross River virus is once such disease and you may also hear of the Murray Valley encephalitis. This is a disease which is carried by mosquitoes and can lead to neurological complications and in some extreme cases, death. Barmah Forest virus is another disease carried by mosquitoes. By using insect repellents you can help to reduce the possibility of contracting these.

Insects are not the only creatures which pose a health risk. Australia is home to a number of deadly snakes and spiders and plenty of others that are happy to bite even if they are not poisonous but with vigilance you should be able to avoid the worst of them.

Care should be taken with food and water in Australia. The drinking water is considered to be of excellent quality in the cities but in some rural areas you should be careful. It may be advisable to drink only bottled water when in a remote area.

One of the main health risks is exposure to sunlight. In some areas the temperatures are very high and the sun is very strong. The risk of sunburn and in turn, skin cancer, is high and all those who are exposed to the sun for any length of time should ensure that they use appropriate sun care creams. Those who spend a lot of time in the sun should also wear a hat and sunglasses to help to reduce the possibility of sunstroke.

The best advice can be obtained from the foreign office of your own country’s government and using that advice in consultation with your doctor you can plan the precautions that you need to take.