Healthcare in the ACT comes in different formats, and it is important to understand the different roles providers have in your health care. The ACT has an integrated healthcare model, which means that you are at the centre and a team of different health professional work with you for your health needs.
These professionals can be from different parts of the health system. The healthcare system in Australia is made up of both government funded and private organisations. The cost of these services varies depending on whether you are eligible for Medicare. Find out more about costs.
Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system which provides access to free healthcare treatment as patients in public hospitals, reduced costs for out-of-hospital care and reduced costs of prescription medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Head to our Medicare page to see who is eligible and what is covered.
You can download the following reports to find out what we have learned from victim survivors in the ACT community so far:
Primary care is care provided in the community. It is for when you are first seeking help with your health as well as focusing on early intervention and prevention.The most common kind of primary care is General Practitioners (GPs). These are doctors who look after general health and health checks. GPs also help you get other services when you need them.
You should access primary care for illness, injury, acute medical programs, and referrals.
Examples of primary care:
Secondary healthcare is provided by a medical specialist or other health professional that is not the first point of contact.
Secondary healthcare is specific expert care that may be provided in a hospital or clinic but may also be community-based and is focused on helping patients with more severe or chronic health conditions.
You should access secondary health care when you require care form specialists with specific expertise in health issues.
Examples of secondary health care:
Tertiary healthcare is the most specialised and advanced level of healthcare, mostly provided as a hospital in-patient from referral of a primary or secondary healthcare practitioner.
In an emergency, a patient may be admitted directly to a tertiary hospital via the emergency department.
Tertiary care requires highly specialised equipment and expertise.
Examples of tertiary care:
There are other kinds of primary care you might need for different reasons. You can find out more here.
