Telehealth consult
Specialist Referral Online
Yes, you can get a referral to a specialist through a telehealth consult. Book a $50.95 phone consult with an AHPRA-registered doctor.
The doctor asks about your symptoms, history and why you need a specialist. If a referral is clinically appropriate, they write one for you to take to the specialist. A referral is only written when the doctor decides it’s appropriate.
Telehealth consults aren’t an emergency service. In an emergency, call 000.
At a glance
- Price: $50.95 for a 10-minute phone consult. The specialist charges their own fees. There's no card surcharge: the price shown is the price you pay.
- Who treats you: an AHPRA-registered doctor. Referral consults are always with a doctor.
- How it works: the doctor phones you at your appointment time. Calls may come from a private number.
- Hours: 7am–9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays, Brisbane time
- Medicare: Medicare rebates for telehealth consults are only available in limited circumstances. Ask your clinician whether you're eligible. A valid referral lets you claim a Medicare rebate for the specialist's fees.
How it works
- Book a time with a doctor on our booking page.
- Have your details ready. Why you need a specialist, the specialist’s name if you have one in mind, and any letters, results or old referrals.
- Take the call. The doctor asks about your symptoms and history and decides whether a specialist referral is the right next step, or whether you need an examination, tests or urgent care first.
- Get your referral. If a referral is appropriate, the doctor writes it and sends it to you, ready to give to the specialist’s rooms.
Referrals and Medicare
To claim a Medicare rebate for a specialist’s fees, you usually need a valid referral.
- From a doctor: valid for 12 months from your first appointment with the specialist, unless the doctor writes a different period, such as 3 or 6 months, or "indefinitely" for an ongoing condition.
- From a nurse practitioner: also attracts Medicare rebates for specialists and consultant physicians, and is valid for 12 months from your first appointment with the specialist.
- From one specialist to another: valid for 3 months.
Our referral consults are with doctors, so the referral period can be set to suit your condition. Read more about what a nurse practitioner can do.
Common reasons people ask for a referral
- Your referral has expired and you still see a specialist for an ongoing condition, such as diabetes, a thyroid condition or arthritis.
- Your regular doctor isn't available and you need a referral to book a specialist appointment.
- You've been advised to see a specialist and need the referral to make the appointment.
When telehealth isn't suitable
A referral isn’t the right step for urgent symptoms. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe pain, or you feel very unwell.
We also can’t write referrals for workers’ compensation or insurance claims. If you need a physical examination before a referral, such as for a new lump or a skin spot, the doctor will tell you and recommend in-person care. If the clinician decides a telehealth consult isn’t suitable and you need to be seen in person, you’ll get a full refund (clause 6 of our Terms).
Can I get a referral from a telehealth doctor?
Yes. A doctor can assess you in a telehealth consult and, if seeing a specialist is clinically appropriate, write a referral. A valid referral lets you claim a Medicare rebate for the specialist’s fees.
Can a nurse practitioner refer me to a specialist?
Yes. In Australia, a nurse practitioner can refer you to a specialist or consultant physician, and Medicare rebates apply to the specialist’s fees. The referral is valid for 12 months from your first appointment with the specialist. At My Telehealth Clinic, referral consults are with doctors, who can also write a referral for a longer period when that suits an ongoing condition.
How long is a referral valid?
A doctor’s referral is valid for 12 months from your first appointment with the specialist, unless the doctor writes a different period, such as 3 or 6 months, or “indefinitely”. A nurse practitioner’s referral is valid for 12 months. A referral from one specialist to another is valid for 3 months.
How much does a referral consult cost?
The consult is $50.95. There’s no card surcharge: the price shown is the price you pay. Medicare rebates for telehealth consults are only available in limited circumstances. Ask your clinician whether you’re eligible. The specialist charges their own fees. With a valid referral you can claim a Medicare rebate for those, but many specialists charge more than the rebate.
My referral has expired. Can I get a new one online?
Yes, if you still need to see the specialist. The doctor asks about your condition and your last specialist letters, and writes a new referral if it’s clinically appropriate.
Can you write a referral for psychology or allied health?
This consult is for referrals to medical specialists. Medicare-funded psychology and allied health usually need a plan from your regular GP practice, which this consult doesn’t replace. Nurse practitioner referrals to allied health don’t attract Medicare rebates.
Should I see my regular GP instead?
If you have a regular GP, they know your history and can coordinate your care, so they’re often the best choice. A telehealth consult is useful when they’re not available. Ask the specialist to send their letters to your regular GP as well.
Can you refer me for an X-ray, scan or blood test?
The doctor can request tests if they’re needed before or alongside your referral. Read more about blood test requests.
Related: All telehealth consults · Blood test request · Telehealth for a sick child
Sources: Medicare Benefits Schedule explanatory notes GN.6.16, Referral of patients to specialists or consultant physicians and MN.14.15, Referral requirements (nurse practitioners) (checked 17 October 2026). This page is general information, not medical or financial advice.
Clinically reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Christopher O’Donnell, Nurse Practitioner, FACN (AHPRA NMW0001453715). Last reviewed 18 October 2026.
Telehealth consults aren’t an emergency service. In an emergency, call 000. Referral consults are with AHPRA-registered doctors, who decide whether a referral is appropriate.