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If you have ever wondered whether your health concern can be handled through a screen rather than from a doctor’s consultation room, you are not alone. Telehealth has become a practical part of healthcare in Australia. It can make follow-up appointments easier, reduce travel and give people another way to speak with a clinician. But convenience should never come at the expense of safe care.
Some concerns may be suitable for a video or telephone consultation. Others need a physical examination, testing or hands-on treatment. If symptoms suggest an emergency, waiting for a telehealth appointment may not be appropriate.
So, what can be treated by telehealth in Australia?
The answer depends on the individual situation. Your symptoms, medical history, medications, age, risk factors and whether a physical examination is necessary can all influence what a clinician recommends.
Healthdirect advises that virtual care should be used when it is safe and appropriate, while recognising that some health concerns require in-person assessment.
When telehealth may be suitable
Telehealth can be useful when a clinician can gather enough information remotely to make a safe clinical assessment. Depending on the circumstances, an online doctor in Australia may be able to assess or manage concerns such as:
- coughs, colds and some mild respiratory symptoms
- some minor infections
- certain skin concerns
- follow-up appointments for previously assessed conditions
- stable chronic disease reviews
- some mental health consultations
- medication reviews and repeat-prescribing decisions where clinically appropriate
- medical certificates
- discussion of test results
- advice about whether further testing or an in-person appointment is needed
This is not a universal list of telehealth suitable conditions. A mild cough in one person may be straightforward. In another, it could be a sign of something requiring closer examination. The same applies to skin problems, pain, infections and many other complaints. That is why responsible telehealth care starts with clinical assessment, not a promise that a particular condition will be treated online.
Australian guidance recognises virtual care as a way of providing appropriate healthcare while allowing clinicians to direct patients to face-to-face services when remote assessment is not enough.
Read: Top 5 Reasons Why Telehealth Appointments Are Right For You?
Understanding the limits of telehealth in Australia
Telehealth has its boundaries. A doctor can ask questions, observe visible symptoms and review relevant information remotely, but a screen cannot provide the same hands-on examination as an in-person consultation.
For example, a clinician cannot remotely use a stethoscope to listen to your chest, palpate your abdomen or examine your ear with an otoscope. If those assessments are important to reaching a safe clinical decision, you may be advised to attend a medical practice, urgent care service or hospital.
You may need in-person care when:
A physical examination is important. Some symptoms cannot be adequately assessed without examining the affected area or checking physical signs.
A procedure is required. Telehealth cannot provide hands-on procedures such as wound closure or removal of a foreign object. Procedures requiring direct examination or physical treatment will generally need to be performed in person.
Further testing is needed. Blood tests, pathology, diagnostic imaging and other investigations may require attendance at an appropriate healthcare facility.
Your condition is becoming more concerning. A consultation that begins online can still end with a recommendation to seek face-to-face care. That is not a failure of telehealth. It is part of safe clinical decision-making.
These are key telehealth limits in Australia patients should understand before booking an online appointment.
The RACGP’s current position is that telehealth should complement comprehensive GP-led care rather than replace routine face-to-face healthcare. It also emphasises continuity of care and appropriate clinical assessment.
Also read: How To Make The Most Of A Telehealth Consult And When To See Your GP In Person?
Can an online doctor prescribe medication?
Possibly, but a prescription should never be treated as an automatic outcome of an online consultation. A doctor needs to consider your current symptoms, medical history, allergies, existing medicines and whether the requested treatment is clinically appropriate. A medicine prescribed previously by another doctor does not necessarily need to be prescribed again.
The RACGP’s May 2026 position statement says prescribing for telehealth-only services should be based on a real-time consultation. It also raises concerns about questionnaire-only or asynchronous prescribing models outside an appropriate therapeutic relationship.
In practical terms, the doctor may prescribe a medicine, recommend another approach, request further assessment or suggest an in-person appointment. Good medical care leaves room for that judgement.
Scans, pathology and referrals
A telehealth consultation does not mean everything has to happen online. If further investigation is appropriate, your doctor may provide a pathology request, diagnostic imaging request or referral, depending on your circumstances and the type of care required.
The appropriate investigation is a clinical decision based on your symptoms, history and assessment. It is not simply a matter of choosing a scan or test from a menu.
It is also useful to know that an imaging request and a referral are not necessarily the same thing. An imaging request relates to diagnostic imaging, while a referral generally relates to seeing another healthcare professional, such as a specialist.
Medicare and telehealth in Australia
Medicare rules are another area where outdated information can cause confusion. The Australian Government’s Medicare Benefits Schedule provides telehealth items for a range of services, but eligibility depends on the particular MBS item, practitioner, patient circumstances and applicable requirements.
Changes introduced from 1 November 2025 also affected eligibility pathways for certain non-referred telehealth services. For eligible patients registered with MyMedicare, relevant services provided by their registered practice can qualify under the applicable arrangements. Other pathways and exemptions may apply depending on the service.
For that reason, do not assume every online appointment will attract a Medicare benefit or be bulk billed.
Before booking, ask the provider about Medicare eligibility, fees, possible out-of-pocket costs and whether your circumstances meet the relevant requirements. The MBS also requires appropriate financial consent processes for relevant services.
Is telehealth suitable for children?
It can be suitable for some straightforward concerns, but children may need closer assessment depending on their age, symptoms and medical history.
Parents should take particular care with very young babies. Healthdirect advises that a baby under three months old with a temperature of 38°C or higher should be taken to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
If you are worried about a child’s condition, seek appropriate medical advice rather than relying on an online article to decide whether telehealth is enough.
When should you seek urgent care?
Some symptoms should not wait for a routine telehealth appointment. If you or someone with you has potentially life-threatening symptoms, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
This can include severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, a seizure, heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, severe confusion, or symptoms that are rapidly worsening and appear life-threatening.
Also read: How To Choose Between Telehealth Consultation And Urgent Care
How to choose an online doctor in Australia
A responsible telehealth service should make its healthcare arrangements clear.
Before booking, check:
- who provides the consultation
- whether the healthcare professional is appropriately registered
- how the consultation is conducted
- what happens if you need an in-person assessment
- whether Medicare benefits may apply
- what fees you may have to pay
- how your health information is handled
- whether the service supports continuity with your usual GP
The RACGP’s current guidance highlights appropriate practitioner qualifications, registration, clinical governance and continuity of care for telehealth-only services.
Australian health-service advertising also has important boundaries. Ahpra’s advertising guidance says regulated health-service advertising must not be false or misleading, create unreasonable expectations of beneficial treatment or encourage unnecessary use of health services.
So be cautious of services promising guaranteed diagnoses, prescriptions or results.
Read: A Guide To Accessing General Practitioners After Hours In Australia
The bottom line
Telehealth has become part of everyday healthcare in Australia, and for many people it can make accessing a clinician simpler. But the best telehealth service is not the one that promises to solve everything online. It is the one that knows where the screen stops being enough.
If you are unsure whether your health concern is suitable for telehealth, you can book an online consultation with Doctor Help and discuss your symptoms with a doctor. The consultation can help determine whether your concern can be appropriately assessed remotely or whether you may need an in-person appointment or further care.
There is no guarantee that a particular treatment, prescription, referral or medical certificate will be provided. The appropriate next step is determined by the doctor based on your individual circumstances and clinical assessment.
Disclaimer: This article is general health information only. It does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medicare requirements, clinical guidance and healthcare regulations can change, so confirm current requirements with your healthcare provider and the relevant Australian Government sources.
References:
- Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service. (n.d.). Ahpra & National Boards.
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Advertising-guidelines-and-other-guidance/Advertising-guidelines.aspx - Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Virtual care clinics. Healthdirect.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/virtual-care-clinics - Healthdirect Australia. (2024, March 28). Fever in children.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/fever-and-high-temperature-in-children - Medical Practitioners – Non-Referred MBS telehealth services. (2025). In Australian Government Department of Health.
https://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/650f3eec0dfb990fca25692100069854/38ca335b16bb8661ca25897300829588/$FILE/PDF%20Version%20-%20Medical%20Practitioners%20%E2%80%93%20Non-Referred%20MBS%20Telehealth%20Services.pdf - RACGP – Telehealth only services. (n.d.).
https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/position-statements/clinical-and-practice-management/telehealth-only-services
Reviewed By: Dr. Momal Ahmad.
