Anyone have advice for me on options for surgery? Newly arrived in Australia

Not the welcome to Australia you wanted @Janie304,so sorry to hear . I'm in Melbourne and I went public but still used my private health as I'd been paying it for the past 25 years and only ever used it for childbirth.My hospital covered the excess and all out of pocket fees and uses the money they get from the health fund for research etc. I got a private room in a public hospital which was great and other public hospitals might give you a newspaper and discounted parking :D ;)
Good luck with everything x