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In Australia, most specialist referrals are valid for 12 months, counted from your first appointment with the specialist rather than the date the referral was written. This applies whether the referral is provided in person or through a telehealth service like Doccy. If ongoing treatment is needed after 12 months, your doctor can assess whether an extended or new referral is appropriate.

Yes, you can request a specialist referral online through telehealth providers such as Doccy. After a consultation with an AHPRA-registered doctor, a referral may be issued if clinically appropriate. Once approved, the referral is delivered electronically, allowing you to book directly with your preferred specialist.

Yes. After you submit your request, you'll get a phone call to collect your medical history and symptoms, then speak with an AHPRA-registered doctor who decides whether a referral is appropriate. Australian telehealth rules require a real conversation with a doctor before any referral is issued, so there's no questionnaire-only shortcut.

For Medicare purposes, yes. Any registered doctor who isn't a specialist can write a referral, and specialists, private clinics and public hospitals accept it just like one written in a GP clinic. Doccy referrals are issued by AHPRA-registered Australian doctors after a consultation.

Online specialist referrals are legally valid in Australia when issued by an AHPRA-registered doctor following a proper consultation. Referrals provided via telehealth services like Doccy are recognised by specialists, private clinics, and public health services in the same way as traditional in-person GP referrals.

You generally do not need a new referral for each visit if the appointment relates to the same condition and the referral is still valid. A single referral covers multiple appointments within its validity period. If the referral expires or a new health issue arises, a new referral will be required.

Yes, specialist referrals can be written as open referrals, meaning they are not addressed to a specific specialist. This gives you flexibility to choose any appropriate provider. Telehealth services such as Doccy can issue open referrals where clinically suitable, allowing easier access to specialist care.

If your specialist referral expires, you will need a new or extended referral before continuing treatment. This is a standard requirement across Australia and applies to both private and public specialists. A doctor can review your situation and issue an updated referral if ongoing care is needed.

Most Doccy referrals are emailed the same day, often within a few hours of your conversation with the doctor. Timing depends on demand and on whether the doctor needs more information from you. A referral is only issued when the doctor decides it is clinically appropriate.

A specialist may decline a referral if it does not meet their clinical requirements or lacks necessary information. If this happens, your referring doctor can update the referral or provide further details. Telehealth providers like Doccy can assist with revising referrals when appropriate.

No. Doccy charges a flat $32 for the consultation and referral, and that fee isn't bulk billed or claimable from Medicare. The referral itself is what lets you claim Medicare rebates on your specialist appointments.

No. Doccy referrals are for medical specialists like dermatologists, gastroenterologists and psychiatrists. Imaging is a separate request from a doctor to a radiology practice, and Medicare rebates for some scans, MRI especially, depend on who requested them and why.

Your referral arrives as a PDF by email, signed and dated by the doctor, with the reason for the referral and your relevant history. Send it to the specialist's rooms when you book, or bring a copy with you. Medicare needs them to have it on or before your first appointment.