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What types of healthcare are available in Australia?

There are many types of healthcare services and information available in Australia. This article explains how to find the right service at the right time.

Services include:

• your general practitioner (GP or family doctor)
• your pharmacist
• after-hours GP clinics or services
• Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
• your local hospital emergency department

Some healthcare providers may also provide services remotely via telehealth.

If you need immediate medical help, you can call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

When should I visit my general practitioner (GP)?

If you have a health problem or concern, it’s usually best to see a general practitioner (GP) first. They will coordinate your healthcare and can refer you to any other doctors or health professionals you need. In some countries, a GP is called a family doctor.

Your GP knows you, and often your family and your community too. They can look after you through your whole life. Take your time to find a GP you like and can talk to honestly.

You can see a GP at a practice. This is sometimes called a family practice or medical centre. Some GP practices and medical centres offer a range of different services at the same place — for example, GPs, x-rays, pharmacists and treatment for minor injuries.

GPs can give you advice about your health and provide legal documents such as medical certificates, or medical reports for insurance purposes, for example if you have had an accident.

Find out more about the role of a GP and making the most of your doctor’s appointment.

What health services can my pharmacist provide?

Pharmacists are qualified experts who give advice and information on medicines and your health. Ask your pharmacist for advice about minor illnesses or injuries.

If your doctor gives you a prescription (a ‘script’) for medicine, you can buy it from a pharmacist. Your pharmacist can give you advice about managing your medicines, any side effects and many other aspects of your physical and mental health.

Pharmacists also sell over-the-counter medicines, perform some health checks and give some vaccinations.

Find out more about getting the most out of your pharmacist.

Where can I go if I'm sick or injured outside of business hours?

After-hours GP services

After-hours services provide care if you need to see someone after your GP or pharmacist has closed. Ask your regular GP if they offer after-hours services, and what you should do if you get sick after they have closed.

You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) to speak to a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will talk to you about your symptoms and may offer you a call back or a video call from a GP.

Learn more about after-hours health services.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

Located across Australia, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide bulk-billed healthcare without an appointment. This is for medical problems that are urgent but not life-threatening, such as:

• minor illnesses and infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), respiratory illnesses and gastroenteritis
• minor injuries
• insect bites
• rashes
• minor eye and ear problems
• mild burns

Learn more about Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

Hospital emergency departments

Many hospitals in Australia have emergency departments. These are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They give emergency treatment to people who have serious illnesses or injuries that need to be treated quickly or may be life-threatening.

Visit a hospital emergency department if you are seriously hurt or sick. If you have a minor illness or injury, it is better to see your GP or visit a medical centre, urgent care centre or pharmacist.

Emergency departments will always treat severely ill or injured patients as soon as possible. If your condition is less serious, you may have to wait.

Virtual emergency departments

Some states provide emergency health services via video consult (also known as ‘telehealth’) for urgent health problems that aren’t life-threatening. If the healthcare provider you speak to thinks that you need to be assessed urgently in person, they will direct you to visit your local hospital emergency department or arrange transport via ambulance.

When should I call an ambulance?

If your illness or injury is serious and urgent, call an ambulance on triple zero (000). You should call an ambulance if you or someone else has:

• chest pain, chest tightness or difficulty breathing
• extreme pain
• large burns
• serious accidents or trauma
• severe bleeding
• sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
• unconsciousness

Find out more about calling triple zero (000).

Help and resources for using health services

Where can I find trusted health information online?

If you need information about a health problem, you can find high quality information online. It is important to know how to search properly, so you find information that is trustworthy.

Make sure you only use information from well-known organisations, such as Australian hospitals or government departments. Always check with your doctor if you're not sure about the information you read online.

healthdirect is a government-owned health advice and information service. It provides safe and relevant Australian health information and links to other sources that you can trust.

You can also download the healthdirect app from Google Play or the Apple App Store, for access to trusted health information on the go.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare has more information about finding good health information online, including in many community languages.

Why might I call the healthdirect helpline?

If you have more questions or want to ask about your personal situation, you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you call the healthdirect helpline, you will speak with a registered nurse who will ask you some questions and advise you what to do next.

Call the helpline:

• if your problem isn't an emergency
• for advice on which health professional you should see
• to be connected to the after-hours GP helpline
• to find your nearest health services

When might I use the healthdirect Symptom Checker?

The healthdirect Symptom Checker is an online tool that can help you understand your symptoms and decide what to do next.

You can use it if your problem isn’t an emergency, or if you’re not sure.

How can I find health clinics near me?

To find health services, you can use healthdirect's service finder.

You can also ask your GP or pharmacist for advice on finding health services in your area.

How can I access an interpreter?

If English is not your preferred language, you can find a translator through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). You can speak to an interpreter immediately by calling 131 450. The service is free and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call TIS when you are with your GP, in hospital or with any other health service.

If it is an emergency, always call triple zero (000) first. The 000 operator will call TIS National and connect you with an interpreter.

Your doctor, pharmacist or hospital can also arrange an interpreter for you.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

Healthdirect offers resources to support culturally and linguistically diverse people understand the Australian healthcare system.

Ambulance Victoria has more information about calling an ambulance, including translations into many community languages.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet provides information and a map of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical services

NACCHO provides access to health care services initiated and operated by the local Aboriginal community to deliver holistic, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate health care.