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New to AU

koalavikingNew Contributor

New to AU

Hello,

I've recently moved to AU from New Zealand in the last few weeks and my normal support structures are either gone or less accessible. I have been managing my diagnosis of PTSD through frequent psychology sessions funded through the NZ government. However, now I am in Australia this is no longer the case. It has been so hard going from having my main support system accessible to now being on my own. I have a really supportive partner which helps. I am just struggling to adjust. I know I am strong enough to do this but recently I have been having moments of doubt and tears. It is overwhelming moving to a new country and becoming established. There is a lot more friction that I didn't expect with accessing health services here. Things I took for granted back home are starting to become a reality. Accessibility to services here seems slower and layered with multiple steps. I received my medical notes today from NZ to take with me to a new GP. Reading these were very confronting because there was a lot of information which I hadn't seen before in relation to previous doctors visits relating to my PTSD from upwards of 5 years ago. I now have the challenge of finding a medical provider who I feel safe to share this with and be vulnerable about some of the hardest times of my life.

Today has been a hard day. I know that tomorrow will be different. Just being able to write this out has already made me feel lighter and calmer.

3 replies

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In response to: New to AU

EternalFlowerSenior Contributor

Re: New to AU

@koalaviking the system is clunky

there are public and private pathways to care and both have pros and cons - we do have the 10 subsidised medicare sessions( did you know its 40 with an eating disorder plan) and a few public points of call for free mental health care for certain problems.

Re cptsd, its my diagnoses too, i get triggered all the time, and kind of disassociate.

I find certain therapies haven't helped , in the public system we did a lot of ACT, and i really liked tht.

I hope you are doing ok. Do u have any questions about how the system works? welcome to this space. It is going through a little b it of a change, so there isn't moderation anymore, but there are amazing peers. if you'd like to say hello on my own thread Locked out/in you're more than welcome.

In response to: Re: New to AU

DogMan79Senior Contributor

Re: New to AU

@EternalFlower wrote:

@koalaviking the system is clunky

there are public and private pathways to care and both have pros and cons - we do have the 10 subsidised medicare sessions( did you know its 40 with an eating disorder plan) and a few public points of call for free mental health care for certain problems.

Re cptsd, its my diagnoses too, i get triggered all the time, and kind of disassociate.

I find certain therapies haven't helped , in the public system we did a lot of ACT, and i really liked tht.

I hope you are doing ok. Do u have any questions about how the system works? welcome to this space. It is going through a little b it of a change, so there isn't moderation anymore, but there are amazing peers. if you'd like to say hello on my own thread Locked out/in you're more than welcome.

The last I heard @EternalFlower if a kiwi moves here, or an Aussie moves there-It's a 2 year wait for medicare and other benefits

No need to apply for visas etc, but government benefits require you to reside here 2 years to my knowledge

In response to: Re: New to AU

EternalFlowerSenior Contributor

Re: New to AU

@DogMan79 @koalaviking thank you i didn't know that.

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