General Practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for all health concerns – unless it’s an emergency. GPs are also known as family doctors. They can work in medical centres, their own practices, private clinics, government health centres and some work in their own office. Your GP can be your first point of access to check, diagnose, manage, prevent and treat your:
GPs can help with immediate health problems, as well as understanding your physical and mental health needs over the long term.
GPs can:
Most GPs charge fees. Some GP fees are covered by Medicare either partially or completely. You are likely to have an out of pocket cost. You can ask if the doctor can bulk bill you.
Women’s Health Service and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services are both government-funded health services in the ACT that have free access to GPs for Medicare card holders and if you meet the patient eligibility criteria.
It can be difficult to find a doctor that bulk bills in the ACT. You can ask if the doctor bulk bills when you make an appointment. Some doctors work in mixed billing clinics which means they choose to bulk bill certain patients like:
GPs work in private clinics, practices, medical centres, residential care facilities or government health centres.
There are many different medical centres and doctors’ offices in the ACT. You can choose your GP by gender and language spoken.
To find your nearest doctor, phone Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 or visit the website.
If you are an asylum seeker, refugee, or a new arrival to Australia, you can see a doctor at Companion House for free without a Medicare card for your first 12 months in Australia.
You can also make an appointment at the Women’s Health Service that offers free services for vulnerable women in the ACT and region.
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services is operated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the ACT and offers free healthcare services for all who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
If you cannot find a doctor who speaks your language, you can call 131 450 for an interpreter. It is your right to have an interpreter. Doctors can phone the TIS Doctors Priority Line for free interpreting services 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
If you need a doctor after-hours, or at a time when your GP is not available, look at our after hours information.
You can make your own appointment with the doctor when you are sick, or if you feel healthy but want a health check or a “checkup”. Most appointments last 10-15 minutes, but you can request a longer appointment for complex health issues. Some GP medical centres offer walk-in (no appointments) but there is generally a longer waiting period so it is best to ring in advance to check and book an appointment.
If you have visited a GP once before, you can request for a TeleHealth appointment if it is more convenient than visiting the GP.
If you want to, you can bring along a support person such as a family member or friend.
If you are seeking a simple medical appointment such as for a medical certificate or for a repeat prescription, you can visit any GP if you are unable to see your regular GP, your GP is unable to see you, or you don’t have a regular GP.
You can change your doctor at any time. If you want to go to a different medical centre or doctor’s office, then you should give your new doctor a list of the medicines you are taking and a copy of your medical records. You can ask for a copy of your medical records from your doctor, but you should ask if you will need to pay for this.
