A telehealth appointment in Australia is a video or phone consultation with a GP that works like a regular clinic visit, without the travel. You book online, complete a short clinical questionnaire, join the call at your appointment time, and receive any eScripts, medical certificates, or referrals directly to your phone. For eligible Medicare patients, the whole visit is bulk billed, so there is no out-of-pocket cost.
Step by step: what happens in a telehealth appointment
Every telehealth provider has a slightly different flow, but the broad steps are the same. At NewDoc the process looks like this:
- Book online. Pick a same-day or next-available time from the booking page, enter your contact details and Medicare card, and choose whether you want a video or phone consult.
- Complete the pre-consult questionnaire. A short series of questions about your reason for visit, symptom duration, current medications, and relevant medical history. This lets the GP review your case before the call and keeps the consultation itself focused.
- Join the call. At your appointment time you receive an SMS with a link (video) or a call from the GP (phone). No app download or account is required; the link opens in your phone or desktop browser.
- The consultation itself. The GP takes a structured history, asks follow-up questions, and discusses options. They may examine visible things over video (a rash, throat, eye) or ask you to feel or describe a specific area.
- Receive your outputs. Any eScript, medical certificate, pathology referral, imaging referral, or specialist referral is sent to your phone, usually within minutes of the call ending.
- Follow up if needed. If the GP wants to review blood-test results, adjust medication, or check progress, they book a follow-up appointment, which can also be via telehealth.
Most standard consultations take around 10 to 15 minutes. Longer consultations (such as a new Mental Health Treatment Plan or a chronic-condition review) typically take 20 to 45 minutes.
What you need to have ready
Before your appointment, it helps to have:
- Your Medicare card number (entered at booking so eligibility can be confirmed)
- A quiet space with a reasonable internet connection (for video) or phone reception (for phone)
- Your current medications list, including over-the-counter and supplements
- Any recent test results you would like the GP to see (they can be emailed in or shown on camera)
- Notes on your symptoms: when they started, severity, what makes them better or worse
- A pharmacy preference: most pharmacies accept eScripts by SMS, so you can pick any Australian pharmacy, including home delivery
Video or phone? Which is better?
Both work for most GP consultations. Video is helpful when the GP needs to see something (a rash, swollen eye, stitches, posture for back pain). Phone works well for medication reviews, repeat scripts, test-result discussions, and mental health consultations. If you book video and your connection drops, most platforms let the GP fall back to phone automatically. See What can a telehealth doctor do? for the fuller scope.
What a telehealth GP can do
A telehealth consultation covers most things a standard GP appointment can:
- Diagnose and manage common conditions: colds and flu, sore throat, UTIs, skin conditions, back pain, reflux, mild to moderate mental health, hay fever, migraine, contraception, and many more
- Prescribe medication where clinically appropriate, with the eScript sent to your phone
- Issue medical certificates for work, study, university, or carer's leave
- Order pathology and imaging with referrals emailed to you and the lab/imaging centre
- Refer to specialists and allied health (psychologist, physiotherapist, dietitian)
- Create care plans: Mental Health Treatment Plans, chronic disease management plans
- Review follow-ups after blood tests, medication changes, or specialist visits
What a telehealth GP cannot do
Telehealth is not a fit for every situation. In-person care is needed for:
- Procedures: stitches, skin excisions, IUD or implant insertion and removal, immunisations, ear syringing
- Physical examinations that need touch (abdominal palpation for some presentations, joint examination for complex injuries)
- Acute emergencies: chest pain, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, stroke symptoms, suicidal crisis. In these situations call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department rather than booking telehealth.
- Certain restricted medications (for example benzodiazepines and some stimulants) typically require an in-person prescriber relationship
- Some workplace certifications, such as specific drug and alcohol testing or fitness-for-duty assessments that require physical measurements
Your GP will tell you if your situation is better suited to an in-person visit and, where relevant, help point you to the right next step.
How long does a telehealth appointment take?
A standard telehealth consultation runs about 10 to 15 minutes, similar to a regular GP visit. Simple repeat scripts can be shorter. Longer consultations (20 to 45 minutes) apply to mental health treatment planning, chronic-condition reviews, and complex multi-issue visits. Your booking page shows the expected length before you confirm.
Is telehealth bulk billed?
For eligible Medicare cardholders, NewDoc bulk bills every telehealth consultation, with no out-of-pocket cost for the consult, any eScripts, certificates, or referrals issued during the visit. The full breakdown is in Is telehealth bulk billed in Australia?. If you are not Medicare-eligible, the private fee is disclosed before you confirm the booking.
Ready to try telehealth?
Book at NewDoc bulk billed telehealth. Same-day and next-available appointments are offered seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. For eligible Medicare patients the entire visit is bulk billed.
Frequently asked questions
How does a telehealth appointment work?
You book an appointment online, complete a short clinical questionnaire, and join a video or phone call with a GP at your scheduled time. The GP takes a history, discusses options, and issues any scripts, certificates, or referrals directly to your phone. The visit typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Do I need to download an app for telehealth?
At NewDoc, no. The video link opens directly in your phone or desktop browser. You do not need to create an account or install software. Phone consultations work on any mobile or landline. Some other telehealth providers use app-based platforms; check at the time of booking.
What do I need for a telehealth appointment?
Your Medicare card (for bulk-billing eligibility), a quiet space with a decent internet or phone connection, your current medications list, and notes on your symptoms. Any recent test results you would like the GP to see are also helpful.
How long does a telehealth appointment last?
A standard consultation takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Simple repeat-script appointments are often shorter. Longer consultations (20 to 45 minutes) apply to Mental Health Treatment Plans, chronic-condition reviews, and complex multi-issue visits. Your booking page shows the expected length.
Can the GP prescribe medication during a telehealth consultation?
Yes, for most medications. Where clinically appropriate, an eScript is sent to your phone during or straight after the call. Certain restricted medications (for example benzodiazepines and some stimulants) typically require an in-person prescriber relationship rather than telehealth.
Is a telehealth appointment as good as an in-person visit?
For most common GP issues, yes. Telehealth is well suited to symptom-based consultations, mental health, medication reviews, test-result discussions, and repeat scripts. An in-person visit is needed when a physical examination, procedure, or immunisation is required, and your GP will tell you if that applies.
What happens if my internet or phone connection drops during the call?
Most telehealth platforms will let the GP fall back to a phone call if video is unstable. If the call ends unexpectedly, the GP will usually call you back on the number you booked with. If you miss a reconnection, NewDoc will reschedule at no extra cost for eligible Medicare patients.
Do I need a referral to see a GP via telehealth?
No. You do not need a referral to see a GP. Referrals are only needed for specialists (such as a dermatologist or psychiatrist), and the GP can provide that referral during your telehealth consultation.
Can a family member, carer, or interpreter join the telehealth call?
Yes. You can have a family member or carer with you. Interpreter services are available in Australia through TIS National (131 450) at no cost. Inform your GP at the start of the call if you need interpreter support.
Is a telehealth GP appointment bulk billed?
For eligible Medicare cardholders, yes. NewDoc bulk bills every telehealth consultation, with no out-of-pocket cost for the consult, any eScripts, medical certificates, or referrals issued during the visit. If you are not Medicare-eligible, the private fee is disclosed before booking.
Ready to see a GP?
Book a bulk billed telehealth consultation. Same-day appointments, seven days a week.
Last reviewed 25 April 2026. Editorial policy
Written by
Chief Medical Officer, NewDoc
A practising GP with over a decade of clinical experience, specialising in allergies, metabolic health, and chronic disease management.