Request a consult with an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor. If suitable, your referral letter is delivered by SMS and email, usually within the hour.
Skip the clinic and the waiting room. With Updoc, an AHPRA-registered Partner Doctor can review your specialist referral request within 60 minutes on average, 100% online, from anywhere in Australia.
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While few specialists may see you without one, a referral letter is generally required by specialists and Medicare may not cover any of your costs if you attend without a referral.
Save the travel time and waiting. Consult online when it's convenient for you.
A letter from a doctor to a specialist health practitioner or service, asking for expert help with a diagnosis or treatment.
Three short answers. Step through them.
While few specialists may see you without one, a referral letter is generally required by specialists and Medicare may not cover any of your costs if you attend without a referral.
Save the travel time and waiting. Consult online when it's convenient for you.
A letter from a doctor to a specialist health practitioner or service, asking for expert help with a diagnosis or treatment.
Specialist referrals often include the following information:
Sometimes the referral is general in nature, which means it doesn’t include the name of a specific specialist. You can always ask your Partner Doctor for recommendations, or you can let them know the specialist you would like to be referred to.
If you have any questions, your Partner Doctor will be happy to answer them.
Health professionals can make referrals.
With Updoc, AHPRA-registered Partner Doctors are online 24/7, including public holidays. They’re also available after hours and on weekends at no extra cost.
This makes it quick and easy to consult with a Partner Doctor. It’s no wonder more and more Australians are choosing Updoc for their specialist referral letters.
Yes! With Updoc, you can get a specialist referral online. If approved and suitable, your online referral will be delivered straight to your phone. Once you have your online specialist referral, you can make an appointment to visit your preferred specialist.
If you miss a call from your Partner Doctor, you'll return to the virtual waiting room and your Partner Doctor may try to call you again. You may also get a text message before the call so you're ready to answer.
Many requests are reviewed within an hour, but wait times vary with demand. Not every consultation requires a call - if your Partner Doctor needs to speak with you, they’ll call you. At busy times, this may be the following day.
Many requests are reviewed within an hour, but wait times vary with demand and aren't guaranteed. At busy times, your Partner Doctor may contact you the following day.
A referral from a GP to a specialist is generally valid for 12 months for Medicare purposes, unless the doctor specifies a different period. If you need longer-term care, you can discuss an extended or indefinite referral with your Partner Doctor, who will decide whether it's appropriate. A new health issue will usually need a new referral. Through Updoc, you can request a consultation for an online referral to a specialist, and a Partner Doctor will decide whether one is suitable.
No, you can book a psychologist directly without a referral, but you won't get a Medicare rebate. To claim rebates under the Better Access initiative, you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from a GP, or a direct referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician. Since November 2025, GP plans and referrals generally need to come from your usual GP or the practice where you're registered for MyMedicare. You may be eligible for rebates for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions a year.
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