How to find the right health professional

Many people find health professionals by asking people they trust. You can ask for recommendations from your:

• family members
• friends
• colleagues
• other health professionals (general practitioners)

In cases where you need to see a specialist, your general practitioner (GP) will give you a referral. You can choose which specialist you want to be referred to or ask your doctor to recommend someone.

Australia's healthcare system allows Australians to access many types of care in a range of locations. When you are seeking health care, there are many health professionals to choose from. It's worth thinking about which type and who is best for you. Knowing which questions to ask, and how to search for the right professional, can help you make the right decision.

Read more on the type of healthcare you may need.

Watch this video to learn which services are best for your health needs.

There are several things to think about when you're looking for a health professional:

• the service location
• the services they offer
• their opening hours
• the doctor's sex or gender
• the language they speak
• how you can pay for your appointment

Where is the service located?

Some health services might be easier to travel to than others. You might find it easier to visit a health professional closer to your home or work.

If you live in rural or remote Australia your healthcare options are often more limited and travel costs can be expensive. Find out more about travelling to your appointment and any travel assistance schemes.

What services do they offer?

It is important that you see a professional that is experienced in an area or specialty that you need. Some types of services might suit you better, so it helps to do as much research as you can.

For example, if you need psychological treatment, the appointment can be done in different ways, such as:

• working one-on-one with a health professional
• in a group setting
• via telehealth or online as opposed to in person

Choose a health professional that offers something you're most comfortable with. You might need a referral from your general practitioner (GP) to see a specialist.

When do they open?

To help you choose a health professional who will suit your needs and your availability, you can ask about:

• opening hours
• after-hours care
• home visits
• longer appointments

The doctor's gender or sex

All qualified doctors deliver professional and quality services, but some people may feel more comfortable seeing a doctor who is a female. Others may feel more comfortable with a health professional who is a male. For many people, it doesn't matter.

While sex and gender do not reflect the ability of a health professional to provide care, you may choose the doctor or other professional that you are most comfortable with.

What language do they speak?

If you speak a language other than English, you might be more comfortable seeing a health professional who speaks your language. Some healthcare professionals might also understand your cultural needs better than others.

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) (Opens in new tab) is a national translation service that helps patients and healthcare providers communicate when the patient is more comfortable in a language other than English. You can book an interpreter on their website (Opens in new tab) or call the Automated Telephone Interpreting Service (ATIS) (Opens in new tab) on 1800 131 450.

If you have difficulty hearing or speaking to people on the phone, you can use the National Relay Service (NRS) (Opens in new tab). Services to help you communicate with your healthcare provider are available.

How can I pay for my appointment?

Depending on whether you are using the public or private healthcare system, the way that you pay for your service can differ. You should ask how much your treatment will cost when making the appointment and how you will be billed for your treatment.

Some health professionals bulk bill through Medicare. This means you won't have to pay them for your treatment.

If you have private health insurance, your insurance might cover some of the costs of your care. It's best to speak to your health insurer.

Learn more on how to pay for healthcare.

After your first visit, you might like to ask yourself these questions about your health professional:

• Did I feel comfortable with them?
• Did I feel comfortable asking questions?
• Did they listen to me?
• Do I feel like they are taking my concerns seriously?
• Do I trust them to give me the best advice?

It's important to feel heard and comfortable with your healthcare professional. They have a professional obligation to provide good care. This is especially important if you need ongoing care with them.

You may also want to find out how easy it is to get an appointment with them in the future. Some specialists can have long waiting times for an appointment.

Sometimes you might need to see a new healthcare professional, such as if you:

• change where you live
• no longer want to see your previous healthcare professional
• need to see someone for a different health problem
• want a second opinion

If you change providers, it's important to get your medical records transferred to your new provider. In Australia, your My Health Record allows you to share your health information with your:

• doctors
• hospitals
• other healthcare providers

This helps them get to know your medical history and treat you effectively. Here are some more questions you may want to ask your doctor. They include questions about health problems, treatments, medicines and tests.

The Easy Read health fact sheet provides more information on choosing a doctor and your right to good healthcare (Opens in new tab).

For tips on choosing a GP (Opens in new tab), visit the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne website.

You can decide to find your own GP as opposed to using your family GP. Information is available in the factsheet on Finding your own GP for young people (Opens in new tab).

For information on types of mental health professionals (Opens in new tab), visit the Head to Health website.

Watch this video on maternity care in Australia.