Thinking of Moving to Australia

[ebia]

Thank you all again for the advice it has really helped us refine our plans as they look more like we could be moving over. Your answers and more importantly, statements that were just part of posts have pulled us more in this direction.

I have a couple more questions.

First do doctors, medics, normal people get sued when something goes wrong when helping someone that has had an accident and needs medical assistance? Like if a man is choking at a restaurant, someone jumps up and gives him the ab thrust maneuver and cracks a few of the guy's ribs in the process.

No.

Second do they allow animals into all public buildings if the owner calls them a "service animal"? At the moment in the US business's are mandated to allow any "service animal", and are forbidden to ask what the animal is used for. People with seeing eye dogs make sense but we have those that are abusing it by bringing little decorative dogs into places like a movie theater claiming that they need it for some reason that they will not give. I am curious if you have anything like this in Australia?

No. You'd score an awful lot of flack for refusing something like a guide-dog. Why - do you like dragging random animals around?

If your real concern is government b/s you'll find we have it, but I'm not sure you'll find what it is and how the quantity and quality compares to the US by asking that sort of question.

 

[TheDag]

Thank you all again for the advice it has really helped us refine our plans as they look more like we could be moving over. Your answers and more importantly, statements that were just part of posts have pulled us more in this direction.

I have a couple more questions.

glad we are being of help and not just confusing things for you!!!

First do doctors, medics, normal people get sued when something goes wrong when helping someone that has had an accident and needs medical assistance? Like if a man is choking at a restaurant, someone jumps up and gives him the ab thrust maneuver and cracks a few of the guy's ribs in the process.

I am not sure about doctors however the guideline taught in first aid these days is that you ask the person if they need help. I could be wrong but if a person is unable to answer then the law would allow more room for error. With doctors I know that in hospitals they can make a decision if a person is unable to make their own decision. You can get advance health directives so if you should ever be in a condition where you can not make choices then medical staff can look at the directive and use that as a guide. Of course most medical staff have trouble accepting that patients can refuse treatment and will try to provide tratment against a patients wishes.

Second do they allow animals into all public buildings if the owner calls them a "service animal"? At the moment in the US business's are mandated to allow any "service animal", and are forbidden to ask what the animal is used for. People with seeing eye dogs make sense but we have those that are abusing it by bringing little decorative dogs into places like a movie theater claiming that they need it for some reason that they will not give. I am curious if you have anything like this in Australia?

While I am not sure if you can ask (I would think not) assistance dogs (seeing eye, hearing & companion) have recognisable coats that make them clearly marked and easily identified. This therefore would remove the problem.

From time to time you hear a story on the news about someone refusing to allow a assistance dog somewhere usually a taxi. of course I am aware that some owners of these dogs do not follow instructions and let the dogs do things they shouldn't.

 

[TheDag]

No.


No. You'd score an awful lot of flack for refusing something like a guide-dog. Why - do you like dragging random animals around?

If your real concern is government b/s you'll find we have it, but I'm not sure you'll find what it is and how the quantity and quality compares to the US by asking that sort of question.

I think the key word in her post was abuse as in people abuse it to take their pets into places they shouldn't and that concerns/upsets/annoys her

 

[nolongerhome]

While I'm sure someone could find an isolated case of the kind of medical lawsuit that you described, my impression is that we are generally a whole lot less litiguous than Americans. I think, though, that there is a drift towards greater litiguousness.

Guide dogs are definitely taken seriously and will be allowed in anywhere. I haven't ever seen or heard of people carrying around a chihuaua or anything like that as a generic "service animal", which leads me to suggest that, if it does happen here at all, it isn't common enough for it to be a concern to anyone.

 

[Montalban]

While I'm sure someone could find an isolated case of the kind of medical lawsuit that you described, my impression is that we are generally a whole lot less litiguous than Americans. I think, though, that there is a drift towards greater litiguousness.

Guide dogs are definitely taken seriously and will be allowed in anywhere. I haven't ever seen or heard of people carrying around a chihuaua or anything like that as a generic "service animal", which leads me to suggest that, if it does happen here at all, it isn't common enough for it to be a concern to anyone.

What about my guide monkey?

 

[Tahoenite]

I think the key word in her post was abuse as in people abuse it to take their pets into places they shouldn't and that concerns/upsets/annoys her

Thank you for the distinction. I think it is wonderful that animals can be trained to help people with impairments such as sight, hearing, mobility, seizures, and anything else that truly improves a persons quality of life.

A few months ago a I had a lady come into the resort I work at, she had a very little dog with a service animal vest on. Since I had never seen that small of a dog as a service animal, I asked her what it did. I was informed that by law I was not allowed to ask her that. I apologized and explained my ignorance about the intricacies of the law. The little dog didn't feel like walking in, so she carried it.

I eventually called the agency that oversees service animals and was informed that there were service animals (animals that actually provide a service such as seeing eye dogs), and support animals (little animals that keep blood pressure down, relieve anxiety, or just make someone happier). Service animals are the only one that can be taken anywhere, support animals do not have that freedom. No one can ask what the animal does so all animals are considered service animals. The guidelines of the animals do not require that they wear special vests or tags, those are optional.

The broad scope of law allows people to say that their animal is a service animal, and businesses can't say anything without fear of being sued. So now we have people bring dogs to restaurants, grocery stores, and even doctor's offices. This frustrates me greatly since animals are given more consideration than some people.

 

[Tahoenite]

While I'm sure someone could find an isolated case of the kind of medical lawsuit that you described, my impression is that we are generally a whole lot less litiguous than Americans. I think, though, that there is a drift towards greater litiguousness.

Guide dogs are definitely taken seriously and will be allowed in anywhere. I haven't ever seen or heard of people carrying around a chihuaua or anything like that as a generic "service animal", which leads me to suggest that, if it does happen here at all, it isn't common enough for it to be a concern to anyone.

Nolongerhomer I agree that the US is an extremely litigious country. The Stella Awards are a great example of that. This is something my wife and I would not mind leaving behind.

 

[Tahoenite]

What about my guide monkey?

Service monkeys are restricted due to their lower than average hearing in urban environments. To maintain use of your monkey you are required to use a service hamster in conjunction. The hamsters have been trained to warn the monkey by biting them. They will warn your monkey in situations such as fire alarms, car horns, or when hungry. To help you maintain compliance we are sending a service hamster with vest bearing the official seal verifying their certification. It should arrive in 3-5 business days. If your hamster should expire, or your monkey gets tired of being warned. We will issue you a new hamster, please retain vest bearing the official seal from your prior hamster. Supplies are limited due to the labor dispute with the cute little elves that perform the exceptional stitch work.


PS, If you receive a package that you believe could be your hamster DO NOT SHAKE THE BOX.

Thank your for letting assist you,
Sincerely...

 

[Montalban]

Service monkeys are restricted due to their lower than average hearing in urban environments. To maintain use of your monkey you are required to use a service hamster in conjunction. The hamsters have been trained to warn the monkey by biting them. They will warn your monkey in situations such as fire alarms, car horns, or when hungry. To help you maintain compliance we are sending a service hamster with vest bearing the official seal verifying their certification. It should arrive in 3-5 business days. If your hamster should expire, or your monkey gets tired of being warned. We will issue you a new hamster, please retain vest bearing the official seal from your prior hamster. Supplies are limited due to the labor dispute with the cute little elves that perform the exceptional stitch work.


PS, If you receive a package that you believe could be your hamster DO NOT SHAKE THE BOX.

Thank your for letting assist you,
Sincerely...

 

[Montalban]

Nolongerhomer I agree that the US is an extremely litigious country. The Stella Awards are a great example of that. This is something my wife and I would not mind leaving behind.

I had to look up Stella Awards

 

[Cooch]

First do doctors, medics, normal people get sued when something goes wrong when helping someone that has had an accident and needs medical assistance? Like if a man is choking at a restaurant, someone jumps up and gives him the ab thrust maneuver and cracks a few of the guy's ribs in the process.

When I did First Aid training, the possibility of being sued was discussed.

Firstly, at least on state (NSW) has a "Good Samaritan" law. That is, someone voluntarily giving help in good faith is protected from such lawsuits.

Secondly, at the time there was no known case of a qualified First Aider being successfully sued for an act carried out in good faith.

In other words, if you have good reason to do what you did, and are following training then you are pretty safe. If you have absolutely no idea, then it is probably not a good idea to get involved.

Incidentally, current thinking as I was taught it is that the cough reflex is generally more effective at doslodging an obstruction than anything that we can do.... so sit back and "enjoy the show". (Instructor's words) If the patient lapses into unconsciousness, THEN is the time to take action.

All the best.....Peter

 

[Montalban]

When I did First Aid training, the possibility of being sued was discussed.

Firstly, at least on state (NSW) has a "Good Samaritan" law. That is, someone voluntarily giving help in good faith is protected from such lawsuits.

Secondly, at the time there was no known case of a qualified First Aider being successfully sued for an act carried out in good faith.

In other words, if you have good reason to do what you did, and are following training then you are pretty safe. If you have absolutely no idea, then it is probably not a good idea to get involved.

Incidentally, current thinking as I was taught it is that the cough reflex is generally more effective at doslodging an obstruction than anything that we can do.... so sit back and "enjoy the show". (Instructor's words) If the patient lapses into unconsciousness, THEN is the time to take action.

All the best.....Peter

*cough*

 

[Cooch]

*cough*

<opens packet of Jaffas>

 

[Montalban]

<opens packet of Jaffas>

Can't roll them down the aisle because they've been carpeted for ages. But when the floors were wooden they would make a lovely sound

 

[Tahoenite]

Hello again, I was looking at the other thread from an American thinking of migrating over and noticed someone mention that in general Aussies were not as patriotic as Americans.

I know after 9/11 a lot of Americans wear there patriotism as a badge of honor, but with Aussies it has seemed to me they are just as patriotic they just don't jump around scream about it

Is this even close to being accurate?

 

[ebia]

As neither an Australian nor American I would say that Australians are nothing like as obsessed with their country over against other countries as Americans. Remember that it's not many generations ago that Australians looked on another country entirely as "the mother country".

 

[Montalban]

Hello again, I was looking at the other thread from an American thinking of migrating over and noticed someone mention that in general Aussies were not as patriotic as Americans.

I know after 9/11 a lot of Americans wear there patriotism as a badge of honor, but with Aussies it has seemed to me they are just as patriotic they just don't jump around scream about it

Is this even close to being accurate?

We don't express our patriotism like Americans. I've seen scenes from America where people have flags flying from their houses. Nothing like that here. There's no houses anywhere near me with an Aussie flag.

We don't have to outwardly express our patriotism.

If you want to know about outward expression one only needs to look at Australia Day or ANZAC Day

Another thing too is we're not as outwardly militaristic. Every president of the USA from Truman to George Bush Snr. had connections with the military. Here in Australia we've not had a PM from the military for a while.

Truman - army
Eisenhower - army
JFK - navy
Johnson - navy
Nixon - navy
Ford - navy
Carter - navy
Reagan - army
Bush Snr. - navy

Comprable period for Australian PMs
Curtin - no military service
Forde - no military service
Chifley - no military service
Menzies - no military service
Holt - no military service
Gorton - air force
McMahon - army
Whitlam - air force
Fraser - no military service
Hawke - no military service
Keating - no military service
Howard - no military service

 

[Montalban]

We're proud of being a plural society in reality, not just in theory:

Australia's also had several Catholic Prime Ministers. And a few Jewish Governors-General.

Currently my state member of parliament is a woman. The state's Premier is a woman (born in the USA). The state's Governor is a
woman

My federal member of parliament is a woman, the Prime Minister is a woman (an atheist). The Governor General is a woman (a Catholic).

 

[ebia]

All that said, Aussies don't take other people critisizing their country well. You've got to earn the respect before you can be even constructively critical if you're an outsider. A visitor or new arrival is more or less expected to say nice (if vague) things about the place.

 

[AnthonyB]

Isn't that part of our incessant need to feel recognized and liked. Aussies always seem to ask foreigners (especially famous foreigners), if they like our country or what do you think of us. It generaly seems to matter to us what others think of us.