This Department of Health and Ageing website contains information that was available before the swearing in of the new government, following the 24 November 2007 federal election. Content on this website will be reviewed and progressively updated from 3 December 2007.

Work as a Doctor in Australia

Support for families

Settling in | Housing | Family healthcare | Education | Taxation and finance | Support for families | Help with English | Employment for partners

There are many resources and networks upon which families may draw for help or information. Some of the most common ones that you may wish to use are listed below. If you need help with English, then you will find valuable information in this section.

There is a website on which you can find the most appropriate contacts for any government information and services, including public transport, car registration and licences, public libraries, post offices, legal issues and community services

Migrant Resource Centres provide information and support for overseas born residents of Australia, particularly recent arrivals.

Rural Medical Family Networks operate in every state within Australia and provide support, information and assistance to rural medical families, including medical registrars and their families. The state networks can be contacted through the following links:


The Government Portal for Women provides a directory of government services for women.

In Australia, Emergency Services are accessed through a single national phone number, which is a free call. If you need the Police, Ambulance or Fire Brigade to attend an emergency situation, you should dial 000 and ask for the particular emergency service you require.

For less urgent situations, such as reporting stolen goods, you can ring the local police (or other relevant organisations) on their direct number, which is listed in the front section of local phone directories.

You can search for residential home phone numbers and postcodes through the White Pages, or for business information and contacts through the Yellow Pages directories. You can also find other information from these sources, such as postcodes and local maps.
Last updated 10/12/2007