How NewDoc serves Victoria
NewDoc is a 100% telehealth general practice service. Consultations are delivered by AHPRA-registered Australian General Practitioners with FRACGP fellowship, by phone or video, and are bulk billed directly to Medicare for eligible cardholders. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation, and any eScripts, medical certificates, or specialist referrals issued during the appointment are included.
Victoria has approximately 7.10 million residents (Australian Bureau of Statistics, September 2025). NewDoc telehealth is available statewide for eligible Medicare cardholders, regardless of suburb. There are no catchment restrictions and you do not need to be an existing NewDoc patient.
Bulk billing in Victoria
Victoria recorded the highest GP bulk billing rate of any state or territory at 89.4% for the November 2025 to January 2026 quarter (Department of Health), up 13.2 percentage points year-on-year and the largest improvement in the country. The jump reflects the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program that launched on 1 November 2025. Even at that strong statewide rate, individual practice billing varies, and telehealth offers a consistent fully bulk billed pathway for eligible Medicare patients regardless of suburb.
The 89.4% figure for Victoria is the highest of any state or territory and reflects all GP attendances in the November 2025 to January 2026 quarter, as reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. NewDoc consultations are bulk billed for every eligible Medicare cardholder, so the state-level distribution does not affect what you pay for a NewDoc consult.
Geography and GP access in VIC
Victoria has roughly 7.1 million residents (ABS, September 2025), with the population concentrated in metro Melbourne but a significant footprint across Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, the Latrobe Valley, and the Mornington Peninsula. Travel times within metro Melbourne for after-hours or same-day GP appointments are a routine pain point, and regional Victoria has well-documented GP workforce constraints in parts of the north-west, south-west, and Gippsland.
Cities and regions covered
Melbourne
Melbourne patients across the CBD, inner suburbs, and the broader metropolitan area can book a same-day or next-day NewDoc telehealth appointment without traffic, parking, or waiting room time. Useful for inner-city workers, parents managing school pick-ups, and residents in suburbs with limited bulk billing GP availability.
Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo
Patients in Greater Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and the surrounding regions can access a NewDoc telehealth GP without travelling to a major metro centre. Routine prescriptions, certificates, and pathology referrals can be issued from a single appointment.
Regional Victoria
Regional Victorians, including the Latrobe Valley, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, and Wodonga, often face longer waits or further travel to find a GP with current bulk billing capacity. Telehealth removes that travel and makes routine GP care accessible from home.
Live ED wait times in VIC
Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies. NewDoc publishes live ED wait times for 3 private VIC hospitals (operated by Healthscope) where the data is publicly available. Public hospital ED data is not currently published live in Victoria.
View live ED wait times for Victoria private hospitals. Out-of-pocket fees apply at private emergency departments. For public emergency care, attend your nearest public hospital ED or call 000 in a life-threatening situation.
VIC health resources and hotlines
Telehealth complements, but does not replace, the public health services in your state. The following resources are operated by Department of Health Victoria and partner organisations and may be useful alongside a NewDoc consultation.
- NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 60 60 24. Free 24/7 phone advice from a registered nurse for any health concern, available from anywhere in Victoria. Funded by the Victorian Government.
- healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222. 24/7 phone advice from a registered nurse for any non-emergency health concern. Funded by the Australian Government.
Common conditions managed via telehealth
A NewDoc telehealth GP can assess and manage a wide range of common conditions for Victoria residents, including respiratory and urinary tract infections, anxiety, depression, hay fever, UTIs, insomnia, skin conditions, and ongoing management of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The full list is available on the conditions page.
References
- National GP Bulk Billing Snapshot, 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- National, state and territory population, September 2025, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- NURSE-ON-CALL, Department of Health Victoria
This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.
Last reviewed 22 April 2026. Editorial policy