As an international student in Australia, you are required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your study in Australia.
OSHC helps minimise medical expenses incurred whilst in Australia. Your OSHC fees will be listed on your Letter of Offer and will be based on the full duration of your student visa.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance similar to what Australians receive under Medicare. OSHC covers or partially covers the costs for:
OSHC doesn’t cover treatments such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. You can purchase Extras OSHC from an OSHC provider if you want cover for these.
For how long do you need OSHC?
You should arrive in Australia before your course start date so that you can attend Orientation events. In this case, you must ensure that your health cover commences prior to your arrival in Australia.
Your OSHC must cover the dates of your student visa. So you’ll need to include additional time after your course completion date.
According to Department of Home Affairs requirements, if your course is longer than 10 months and finishes at the end of the Australian academic year (November or December), you should have OSHC until 15 March of the following year.
Example: If your course completion date (in your Offer Letter and Confirmation of Enrolment) is in December 2026, your OSHC must cover you until 15 March 2027.
How to get Overseas Student Health Cover
The easiest way for you to get your OSHC is to ask us to arrange cover for you with our preferred provider, Medibank.
Payments received by ECC for cover provided by Medibank will be paid to Medibank on your behalf.
You can also check out some the other registered health insurers that offer OSHC. You can compare plans and prices by visiting the following websites:
What are Direct Billing Providers?
Direct billing providers are medical providers (e.g. GPs, hospitals) that have an agreement with ECC’s preferred OSHC provider, Medibank. When visiting a participating clinic, show your valid OSHC card and they will send the invoice directly to your OSHC provider.
If students attend the ECU Health Service, the cost of seeing the GP is likely to be covered by OSHC. Learn more about appointment, billing and claim at ECU Health Service.
All Medibank OSHC clients can visit any Perth metropolitan Medibank branch. The branch will help you with:
What's the benefits of choosing ECC preferred OSHC provider?
ECC’s preferred OSHC provider is Medibank. Medibank offers a range of products that meet student visa health insurance requirements and help towards hospital and medical costs. The estimated single cover for 12 months in 2025 is A$769.
We will provide the quote to you in your offer based on the exact duration of your studies with ECC and ECU.
Emergency support for overseas students and their families*
International students enrolled with ECC may be able to access the Medibank Critical Incident Fund, which can assist parents, guardians and hosts with such things as travel, food and accommodation expenses if a member suffers a significant injury and they are assessed as being eligible for assistance.
Obstetrics waiver
Thanks to ECC’s partnership with Medibank, the waiting periods for pregnancy and birth and associated services are waived for ECC students on Medibank Comprehensive OSHC.
On campus support
Medibank has a representative at ECU Joondalup campus every Wednesday, located at Student Hub in Building 34.
More benefits:
The cost of Medibank’s Comprehensive OSHC is detailed in your offer letter. The membership details will be provided with CoE after fee payment.
*Please note that the assessment of eligibility for Critical Incident Funding will be conducted on a case-by-case basis between Medibank and Edith Cowan College. It is subject to change, and the outcome will be determined at the discretion of Edith Cowan College and Medibank.
How to activate my Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)?
There are two ways to active your membership with Medibank
