Health, medicine and psychology

Why Australia?

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Qualifications designed for your future career

Australia’s health, medicine and psychology courses are designed to give you the right technical skills, knowledge and communication skills to succeed in your career. Because course designers work closely with industry, what you learn is what you need to start looking for work.

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A world-leading healthcare environment

Because Australia has strict regulations in place to make sure people receive quality health care, all medical professionals have to go through approved training and testing. By holding professionals to such high standards, and by making sure medical practices follow strict rules, Australia has built a reputation for providing high-quality health care – your learning will reflect this too.

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Hands-on learning to make you an in-demand graduate

Australian graduates are in demand in research and healthcare institutions across the world. Work-integrated learning, including work experience, is part of most courses, so you can build confidence to start your career as soon as you graduate.

Study options

Studies in health, medicine and psychology are designed to give you the knowledge and skills to maintain, restore and improve people’s physical and mental health. 

Your studies will give you a deep understanding of the human body or mind, healthcare services and the Australian healthcare system. Courses are structured to give you important practice in solving problems, communicating effectively and adapting to different settings and situations. Many courses also include hands-on opportunities to use the latest technologies for health diagnosis and treatment.

In the health, medicine and psychology field, you can choose from a wide range of specialisations at different qualification levels. Some of these include:

nursing
nutrition and dietetics 
health informatics
physiotherapy
speech pathology
complementary medicine (including Chinese medicine, osteopathy and acupuncture)
counselling
applied psychology
psychiatry
midwifery
physiology
dentistry
health promotion.

As part of your studies, you might have the chance to take part in one of Australia’s international volunteer programs, where you can gain important practical experience and help communities in need. Most students will take part in work experience placements too. 

A health, medicine or psychology qualification from Australia will prepare you to help solve some of the world’s most challenging health issues and directly improve the lives of individuals. If you have a strong work ethic, are compassionate and you want to improve people’s health and wellbeing, then you might find your calling in this field of study. 

Fast facts

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Quality education

12 Australian universities are ranked in the world's top 50 for Nursing courses. (Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).

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World-leading courses

Monash University in Melbourne is ranked #2 in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology courses.

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Australia’s largest employing industry

Around 15% of people who work in Australia have their main job in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

Career options

Becoming a healthcare professional can open up exciting career options, opportunities for travel, and the chance to help people in life-changing ways.  

You’ll be part of a fast-growing, dynamic industry that is always adapting to world changes: ageing populations or increases in birthrates, disease and virus outbreaks, and many other challenges. Healthcare professionals who can adapt to these are highly valued, and those who want to travel can often find opportunities to take their careers to different places where extra help is needed.

Many people pursue their dream of becoming a doctor, nurse, psychologist or surgeon, but there are also many other fulfilling careers to consider, depending on what interests you. You might choose a career that focuses on:

a specific area or system of the body (e.g. dentistry)
a healthcare approach (e.g. Chinese medicine)
treating specific types of illness, injury or disease (e.g. oncology – for cancer)
providing support (e.g. counselling or palliative care)
treating particular groups (e.g. aged care for the elderly, or paediatric care for children)
care at particular life stages (e.g. midwifery for pregnancy and birth)
promoting health (e.g. public health promotion)
maintaining or improving health (e.g. nutrition and dietetics)
the healthcare system (e.g. health laws, policy and ethics)
research or testing (e.g. immunology or pathology)
health in different settings (e.g. occupational health and safety for workplaces).

There are also many more options that your studies could introduce you to. 

Whichever type of healthcare career you might find yourself in, you could be part of a worldwide team of people helping to maintain and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities. Every role plays an essential part.

Jobs in demand

Australia’s healthcare industry is the largest employing industry in Australia. It’s set to grow even more in the near future, and new opportunities are opening up in digital health (where diagnosis and treatment can be provided at a distance). 

Forecasts show that between 2021 and 2026 there will be an increase in demand for healthcare professionals. Across the health, medicine and psychology sectors, the number of jobs is set to increase most for: 