Seeking Medical Attention
Same-day or non-urgent treatment required
Costs for residents of Australia
Costs for residents of countries other than Australia
Urgent attention - emergency or hospital
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Phone an ambulance. Dial 000 (Emergency ambulance services are free to all Queensland residents.)
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Go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital (Note: Emergency Departments are busy places and patients are treated on a needs basis – emergencies and severe illnesses will take priority over more minor complaints.)
Same-day treatment or non-urgent treatment required
To avoid delays to yourself and other patients in more urgent need, minor illnesses or injuries may be better treated by a general practitioner (GP) or at an after hours medical centre.
To find a general practitioner (GP) or an after hours medical centre:
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Ask at the staff at your accommodation to recommend someone
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Search online:
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Cairns - see Cairns Health On Line for Lists of GPs and other health providers
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Townsville - see Townsville Division of GPs website for directories of GPs and specialists
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Whitsundays - see the Mackay Division of GPs website for an online practice directory.
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Other medical advice
Alcohol & Drug Information Service: Ph: 3236 2414
Kids Help Line: Ph: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: Ph: 131114
Poisons Information Centre: Ph: 131126
Riverton Early Parenting Centre – Child Health Line: Ph: 3862 2333
Statewide Sexual Assault Help Contacts
How much will medical attention cost?
Residents of countries other than Australia
Costs for residents of Australia
Medicare
If you are a new resident of Australia, you will need to register with Medicare.
Ambulance
People who are not residents of Queensland will be charged a fee to use the ambulance service. People who can demonstrate they have taken up residency in Queensland are covered from the day they arrive. See the more information or the document Community Ambulance Cover and Exemptions on the Queensland Ambulance website. The arrangement between Australian states depends on how the ambulance service works in their home state.
Hospitals
Hospital cover is free to residents of Australia with a medicare card.
GPs
Many General Practitioners charge for consultations and a scale of fees is available from the practice staff. Fees charged by General Practices vary. Some will bulk bill some or all patients. Bulk billing means services are free of charge to Medicare cardholders. Some practices may only bulk bill children and pensioners with a current Australian Health Care Card. Some General Practices will charge more than the Medicare rebate. In this case the patient will be charged the full amount with a certain portion being refundable when the patient makes a Medicare claim. A separate fee schedule may apply for patients from overseas. All enquiries on General Practice fees should be directed to the practice staff.
Helicopter evacuations
Helicopter evacuations are free to residents of Australia with a Medicare card.
Costs for residents of countries other that Australia
Ambulance
People who are not residents of Queensland will be charged a fee to use the ambulance service. See the See the more information or the document Community Ambulance Cover and Exemptions on the Queensland Ambulance website for more information.
Hospitals
There is a reciprocal health care agreement for public hospital cover for residents of the following countries:
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Finland
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Ireland
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Italy – for the first six months after arrival in Australia
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Malta – for the first six months after arrival in Australia
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Norway
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Sweden
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United Kingdom
This allows for limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. For more information see the Medicare webpages Healthcare for visitors to Australia. If you are visiting Australia on a student visa you are not covered by Medicare and should take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). All other overseas patients have to pay for hospital costs depending on the condition and what treatment is required.
GPs
GPs have a list of charges for their services. Patients will be issued with a receipt which can be taken to Medicare or their private insurance company.
Helicopter evacuation
Charges for residents of countries other than Australia will apply for helicopter evacuation according to engine time.
Queensland Health recommends that all visitors to Australia have travel health insurance which includes cover for medical evacuations.
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