Waiting two weeks to see a GP for something that’s been bothering you for two days feels wrong. For millions of Australians, a telehealth doctors appointment has become the practical answer – a real consultation with an AHPRA-registered GP, done by video or phone, without leaving home.
Whether you need a medical certificate for work, a repeat script, a referral to a specialist, or a second opinion on something that’s been nagging at you, this guide covers exactly how telehealth works in Australia right now — including what bulk billing actually means in 2026 (it’s more complicated than it was a few years ago), what your GP can and cannot do remotely, and how to get the most from your appointment.
What Is a Telehealth Doctors Appointment?
A telehealth doctors appointment is a scheduled or on-demand consultation with an AHPRA-registered GP conducted by phone or video call. It is not a chatbot, not an automated symptom checker, and not a nurse triage line. You speak with a qualified doctor who can assess your symptoms, provide clinical advice, issue prescriptions (e-scripts sent by SMS or email), write medical certificates, and generate specialist referrals – all without you needing to attend a clinic in person.
Telehealth became a permanent feature of Australia’s Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic period during which more than 100 million Medicare-subsidised telehealth services were delivered to around 17 million Australians. That was not a temporary workaround – it permanently changed how Australians access primary care.
By late 2024, telehealth had settled into roughly 15 per cent of all GP consultations nationally, according to data from Health.gov.au reported by the Mudgee Guardian in July 2025. That figure has remained stable, not because Australians have stopped using it, but because it has found its natural place in the healthcare system – handling the volume of consultations that don’t require physical examination.
Who Is a Telehealth Appointment Right For?
Not every medical concern can be handled remotely, but far more can be than most people assume. Telehealth works well when your GP needs to assess, advise, or prescribe based on what you tell them and what you can show or describe – rather than physically examine.
Conditions and needs that are well-suited to telehealth include:
- Respiratory infections – cold, flu, COVID-19 symptoms, sinusitis
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin concerns – rashes, acne, eczema flares (video helps here)
- Mental health – anxiety, depression, stress, burnout; your GP can also initiate a Mental Health Care Plan
- Ongoing prescription management and repeat scripts
- Medical certificates for work, study, or carer’s leave
- Specialist referrals when you already know what you need
- Pathology request forms – your GP can send these electronically before you visit a collection centre
- Blood pressure and chronic disease follow-ups
- Sexual health consultations
- Pregnancy-related concerns (in many cases)
When telehealth is not appropriate:
- Any situation requiring physical examination – abdominal pain with concern for appendicitis, chest pain requiring an ECG, suspected fractures
- Eye, ear, or throat examinations requiring tools
- Wound assessment that cannot be clearly seen on camera
- Paediatric presentations requiring weight, height, or reflex checks in young children
Your GP will always tell you if your concern requires in-person care and help you take the next step.
A Real-World Example
Example: Sarah is a 31-year-old working in Brisbane. On a Wednesday afternoon, she develops symptoms consistent with a UTI – she’s had one before and recognises it immediately. Her regular GP clinic has no same-day appointments and a 40-minute wait for a walk-in. She books a telehealth appointment with an online GP service, waits around 12 minutes, speaks with an AHPRA-registered doctor for 10 minutes, receives an e-script for trimethoprim by SMS, and has the prescription filled at her local pharmacy on the way home from the office. Total time from booking to prescription in hand: under two hours.
This is not an unusual scenario. It is precisely the type of presentation – certain, straightforward, not requiring physical examination – that telehealth handles efficiently and safely.
| Feature | Telehealth GP | In-Person GP |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Certificates | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Repeat Scripts / E-Scripts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| New Prescriptions | ✅ Yes (most medications) | ✅ Yes |
| Controlled Drugs (e.g. benzodiazepines) | ❌ Not routinely available | ✅ With clinical justification |
| Specialist Referrals | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Pathology Request Forms | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mental Health Care Plans | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Physical Examination | ❌ Not possible | ✅ Yes |
| Bulk Billing Eligibility | ⚠️ Restricted (see below) | ✅ Where available |
| Same-Day Availability | ✅ Usually within 15–30 min | ⚠️ Often days away |
| After-Hours Access | ✅ Many services operate 7 days | ⚠️ Limited |
| Location Requirement | None – anywhere in Australia | Must travel to clinic |
Does Bulk Billing Apply to Telehealth in 2026?
This is the question Australians are most confused about, and understandably so. The rules have changed significantly since the early days of pandemic-era telehealth.
The short answer: bulk billing for telehealth is still available, but it now applies in a narrower set of circumstances than it did between 2020 and 2024.
From November 2025, Medicare tightened the rules around which providers can bulk bill telehealth and for which patients. The “eligible telehealth practitioner” framework now requires that for a telehealth consultation to attract a Medicare rebate – enabling bulk billing – specific clinical or patient circumstances must be met.
Who is generally eligible for bulk billed telehealth in 2026:
- Children under 12 months of age
- People experiencing homelessness
- Patients with certain sexual health concerns where privacy or limited local GP access is a factor
- Pregnancy-related consultations for concession card holders
- Mental Health Care Plan consultations (broader eligibility applies here)
- Patients with an established relationship with the provider (MyMedicare-registered or 12-month prior relationship in many cases)
What this means in practice:
If you are a new patient with no existing relationship with a telehealth provider and you do not meet one of the above criteria, your consultation will likely be a private fee – typically in the range of $49 to $70 for a standard 10-minute appointment, depending on the provider. Many services will submit a Medicare claim on your behalf if you are eligible for a partial rebate.
It is worth checking your eligibility before booking. Most reputable telehealth platforms – including those available through theaminohub.com.au – will confirm bulk billing eligibility during the booking process.
Practical tip: Registering with a telehealth provider through MyMedicare can help establish the ongoing relationship that makes future bulk billing accessible.
What Happens During a Telehealth Doctors Appointment?
Most consultations follow a clear and simple structure. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
- Book your appointment Choose a time slot (or join a virtual queue for on-demand services). You’ll typically provide a brief reason for your visit, your Medicare number, and basic contact details.
- Prepare before you start Have your Medicare card ready. If you’re discussing a skin concern, make sure you’re in good lighting. For repeat prescriptions, have the name of your current medication and the dose you’re taking. If you’ve had recent blood tests or imaging, note the results if you have them.
- The consultation Your GP will call you by phone or initiate a video call. A standard consultation runs 10 to 20 minutes. The GP will take a history, ask follow-up questions, and – if the concern is visual (skin, eye, wound) – may ask you to show them on camera.
- Outcomes sent directly to you
- E-scripts are sent to your phone by SMS and can be taken to any pharmacy in Australia
- Medical certificates are emailed as PDF documents, typically accepted by employers and educational institutions across Australia
- Pathology requests are sent electronically for you to use at any collection centre
- Specialist referrals are generated and sent by email or through the platform’s secure messaging system
The whole process – from opening the app to receiving your certificate or script – commonly takes under an hour for straightforward presentations.
Can You Get a Doctors Certificate from a Telehealth Appointment?
Yes. A medical certificate issued by an AHPRA-registered GP via telehealth carries the same weight as one issued in person. Most Australian employers and educational institutions accept telehealth certificates, provided the issuing doctor is registered with AHPRA.
The GP will assess whether a certificate is clinically appropriate based on your reported symptoms and history. A certificate cannot be guaranteed in advance – but for most straightforward illnesses (respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, mental health flares, recovery from injury), a telehealth GP can assess and certify remotely.
Mental health certificates are also available through telehealth. Your GP can assess your condition and issue a certificate for work or study absence if clinically warranted.
What About Prescriptions?
A telehealth GP can prescribe the vast majority of medications available in general practice. After your consultation, your prescription is issued as an electronic script (e-script), sent to your phone or email. You take that e-script to any pharmacy in Australia – e-scripts are accepted nationwide.
There are limitations. Schedule 8 controlled drugs – including strong opioids, benzodiazepines, some sleep medications, and certain weight-loss medications – are not routinely prescribed through telehealth. These require an established in-person relationship with a GP and, in most cases, state-level authority. If you require ongoing management of these medications, telehealth can complement but should not replace your regular GP relationship.
The Bottom Line
- A telehealth doctors appointment is a real medical consultation with a qualified Australian GP – not a chatbot or symptom checker.
- Telehealth handles a wide range of everyday health concerns effectively: scripts, certificates, referrals, mental health, chronic disease management, and more.
- Bulk billing for telehealth exists in 2026, but applies in a narrower set of circumstances than during the COVID era. New patients without an established provider relationship will typically pay a private fee.
- Medical certificates issued via telehealth are valid and widely accepted by Australian employers.
- E-scripts sent after your telehealth appointment are accepted at any pharmacy in Australia.
- If your concern requires physical examination, a good telehealth GP will tell you and help you navigate next steps – they won’t leave you without a care pathway.
If you’re ready to book a telehealth GP appointment, theaminohub.com.au connects you with AHPRA-registered doctors available across Australia. Same-day slots are available for urgent concerns, and our team can confirm your bulk billing eligibility before you book.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Patient Experiences, 2024–25. ABS, 2025. Available at: abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-services/patient-experiences/latest-release
- Australian National Audit Office. Expansion of Telehealth Services. ANAO Auditor-General Report No. 10 of 2022–23. Available at: anao.gov.au
- Mudgee Guardian. Australia’s digital health boom: What the rise in telehealth appointments says about our post-pandemic future. July 2025. Available at: mudgeeguardian.com.au
- Doccy.com.au. Are online telehealth and after-hours doctors still free in 2025? December 2025. Available at: doccy.com.au/blog/is-telehealth-still-free-bulkbilled
- Woon LS, et al. A time series analysis of Medicare-reimbursed telepsychiatry consultations across Australian states and territories before and after telehealth item expansion. Published online January 2025. PubMed PMID: 39828938. doi: 10.1097/available via PubMed
Last reviewed: June 2026 | Written for theaminohub.com.au | Medical content is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified health professional. Always consult an AHPRA-registered GP for your individual health concerns.
