What is primary healthcare?

Primary care is usually the first point of contact in the Australian healthcare system. Your care might be provided by a range of health professionals including:

• doctors (General Practitioners — GPs)
• community nurses
• dentists
• pharmacists
• allied health professionals (such as physiotherapists, dietitians and speech pathologists)

You might access primary care in a variety of settings, including at:

• general practices
• community health centres
• pharmacies
• dental practices
• at home

General practice

General practitioners (GPs) are also known as doctors. They work in the community to keep people of all ages healthy. Your doctor can check and treat both your physical and mental health.

Your doctor can also help you access other health services, or specialist care, through a referral.

It can be helpful to have a GP who knows you and your medical history. This is called ‘continuity of care’. A GP you are comfortable with, can:

• improve your care
• understand your community
• connect you to helpful services

Allied health

Allied health practitioners are trained health professionals. They can help you manage different aspects of your physical or mental health. Allied health professionals include:

• diabetes educators and dietitians
• occupational therapists
• optometrists
• physiotherapists
• podiatrists
• psychologists
• speech pathologists

They can provide diagnosis, treatment or rehabilitation services.

Unlike specialist services, you don’t need a referral from your doctor to see an allied health practitioner.

How do I access medical care outside of business hours?

Many general practices are only open during business hours. However, there are several after-hours options if you need treatment.

After-hours services are available at:

• general practices with extended hours
• hospital emergency departments
• Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs)

After-hours GP services

After-hours doctor call-out services are available in major cities and centres. These are private services, where a doctor can come to your home. In some cases, this service may be covered by Medicare.

Learn more about after-hours health services.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse. They may offer you a call back or video call from a GP.

Emergency departments

Emergency departments (EDs) can treat patients who need urgent medical or surgical care for:

• acute (severe and sudden) illnesses
• life-threatening medical emergencies

Most EDs are found in public hospitals in Australia.

Learn more about hospital emergency departments.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics can help if you have an urgent medical problem that can't wait, but doesn’t need a hospital emergency department. For example, minor infections, gastroenteritis, sprains and back pain. They are open early and late, outside of normal business hours and you don’t need an appointment or referral.

Learn more about urgent care clinics.

If you are not sure whether your medical condition is urgent, contact your doctor or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).

When might I have treatment in a hospital?

You might have treatment in a hospital in a few different ways, such as:

• through the emergency department — in the case of an emergency
• when referred by a specialist — for an ongoing issue or for a procedure

What are specialists?

Medical specialists are doctors who work in a specific area of medicine. You will need a referral from your GP (doctor) to see a specialist.

Medical specialists include doctors such as:

• cardiologists
• dermatologists
• nephrologists
• endocrinologists
• psychiatrists
• ophthalmologists
• rheumatologists

How much do health services cost?

Health services in Australia are provided by both the public and private sector, and funded by a range of sources, including:

• the Australian Government
• state and territory governments
• private health insurers
• individuals

The out-of-pocket cost of your healthcare will depend on whether you receive care in a public or private practice.

Learn more about paying for healthcare in Australia.

The Australian Government’s Medical Costs Finder tool can help you find and understand the cost to see a GP or medical specialist.

Medicare

Medicare provides free or subsidised healthcare for eligible Australians.

Medicare is available for:

• Australian residents
• overseas visitors from countries with a reciprocal arrangement

Learn more about Medicare.

Private health insurance

Some people choose to buy private health insurance to help with some healthcare costs not covered by Medicare.

Learn more about private health insurance.

How do I choose the right health service?

Watch these videos to learn which services are best for your health needs.

How do I access health services in Australia?

Your contact with the healthcare system will often begin with a visit to:

• a general practice
• an emergency department (ED)

They act as the main gateways to other health services, including:

• diagnostic tests
• specialist consultations
• hospital admission
• inpatient care
• residential care

How do I access medicine?

To access medicines, it’s best to see your doctor. They can:

• recommend over-the-counter medicines (a medicine that you don’t need a prescription for)
• write you a prescription for a specific medicine

Over the counter medicine

Some medicines are available ‘over the counter’ at pharmacies and supermarkets. This means you can buy them without a prescription from your doctor. They are usually used to manage mild health problems, such as a headache or sore throat.

Common over the counter medicines include paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Prescription medicine

Some medicines are only available with a prescription from your doctor. This might be because they:

• are used for a serious condition that should be monitored by a doctor
• have potentially serious side effects
• must be taken in a complicated way, such as through injection
• can be addictive
• can be misused

These medicines require a prescription (‘script’) — a legal document given to you by a doctor or specialist. Your doctor may also electronically send your prescription to you or your pharmacy.

Your prescription contains important information, such as:

• how to take your medicine
• when to take your medicine
• how many times you can use the same prescription to get more of the same medicine (repeats)

To get prescription medicine, take your prescription to your local pharmacy. The pharmacist will sell you the medicine and give you advice about taking it safely.

Once you have used your repeats, you will need to see your doctor again if you need a new prescription.

How much do medicines cost?

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) ensures that Australians have access to affordable medicines. The PBS covers part of the cost of prescription medicines. This means you can get a wide range of medicines without having to pay full price.

Learn more about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

How do I access my health information?

My Health Record is an online summary of your key health information. It allows you to share your health information with doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers if you want to. The information is private, and you have control over who sees the information.

What are Local Hospital Networks?

Local Hospital Networks (LHNs) are groups responsible for managing healthcare services, such as hospitals, in a local region.

LHNs are known by different names in different states, such as:

• local health districts (LHDs) in New South Wales
• hospital and health services in Queensland
• Tasmanian Health Organisations in Tasmania

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has a Local Hospital (LHN) directory.

Resources and support

You can find more information about the Australian health system at the Department of Health website.

Other languages

Health Translations Victoria has information about the Australian medical system in a variety of community languages.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Learn more about the Australian health system for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people at Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.