ABSTRACT
Australia has a combination of public and private services that work together to deliver healthcare, and is classified as a welfare-orientated healthcare system, similar to those of countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. Approximately one-third of all Australian hospital beds are located in the private sector. Non-Government Organisations play a significant role in health provision in the public and private health systems of Australia. Health expenditure in Australia currently accounts for 9.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. Since the 1940s, healthcare policy has been a key topic debated between Australia’s political parties. Historically, nurses have had little input into state and national health policy. As a new graduate nurse entering the workforce, the readers have the potential for a varied and rewarding career in health. This chapter has outlined the nature of the Australian healthcare system.
