How the Medicare referral system works in Australia — types, validity periods, and when you need a new one. This page explains Medicare rules, not whether you need to see a specialist (your GP decides that).
| Referral type | Duration | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Standard referral | 12 months | Must see the specialist at least once within 12 months of the referral date |
| Specialist-to-specialist referral | 3 months | One specialist referring you to another. Not indefinite — the second specialist must see you within 3 months. Exception: for an admitted hospital patient, valid for the duration of the admission. |
| Indefinite referral | No expiry | GP must write "indefinite" on the referral |
| Emergency referral | Immediate | For urgent cases — can be verbal or written, valid for the emergency episode |
A referral is a letter from your GP to a specialist or allied health professional. It tells the specialist about your condition, relevant history, and why you're being referred. In Australia, you need a valid referral to receive a Medicare rebate for specialist appointments.
Without a referral, you can still see a specialist — but you will pay the full fee with no Medicare rebate, which can be significantly more expensive.
A standard referral is valid for 12 months from the date your GP writes it — not from when the specialist sees you.
The key rule: you must see the specialist at least once within those 12 months. If you don't attend an appointment within 12 months, the referral expires and you need a new one from your GP.
Once you've been seen, the specialist can continue to see you for the same condition under the same referral — even beyond 12 months. There is no limit on how long the specialist can continue treatment after that first visit, as long as it's for the same condition.
Valid for 12 months (or indefinite if stated). Covers most specialist appointments. This is the most common type.
A specialist can refer you to another specialist. This referral lasts 3 months (not 12) — the second specialist must see you within that time. Exception: for a patient admitted to hospital, it stays valid for the whole admission and ceases at discharge, instead of being capped at 3 months.
Your GP can refer you to a public hospital outpatient clinic. Wait times vary by urgency category and specialty. No out-of-pocket cost at a public hospital.
For Medicare-subsidised allied health (physio, dietitian, podiatrist, etc.), you need a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements — not just a referral.
Yes. Your GP writes the referral, but you choose which specialist to see. You can ask your GP for a recommendation, or search yourself.
A referral can be addressed to a named specialist, a practice, or simply "Dear specialist" (an open referral). An open referral lets you see any specialist in that field.
Keep in mind: different specialists charge different fees. Ask about costs before booking. Some bulk bill, others charge a gap.
For Medicare-subsidised sessions, you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP — this is separate from a standard referral. The GP creates the plan and writes a referral to the psychologist. This gives you up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year.
You can see a psychologist privately without a referral, but you'll pay the full fee (no Medicare rebate).
Pathology (blood tests): Yes, you need a request form from your GP. This is technically a "request" not a "referral," but it works the same way — you can't get a Medicare-rebated blood test without one.
Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT): Yes, you need a request from a GP or specialist. GPs can order most imaging. MRI has restricted Medicare eligibility — most MRI requires a specialist request for a Medicare rebate.
When one specialist refers you to another specialist, that referral is only valid for 3 months (not 12). The second specialist must see you within 3 months.
Exception — admitted patients: if the referral is written for a patient admitted to hospital, it remains valid for the duration of that admission (even if longer than 3 months), and ceases when the patient is discharged rather than continuing on as an outpatient referral.
If you can't get an appointment within 3 months, ask your GP to write a fresh 12-month referral to the second specialist instead.
Source: MBS General Explanatory Notes, GN.6.16 · Services Australia — Referrals for specialist treatment
Yes. Your GP can write a referral during a telehealth (phone or video) consultation. They can email or fax the referral directly to the specialist, or send it to you electronically. The referral is valid regardless of whether it was written during an in-person or telehealth appointment.
Contact your GP's practice — they keep a copy in your medical record. They can print and send a duplicate to the specialist, or email/fax it. You don't need a new appointment just to get a copy of an existing referral.
Private specialist: Usually weeks to a few months. You choose the specialist, book directly, and pay their fee (with or without a Medicare rebate depending on whether they bulk bill).
Public hospital outpatient: Can be months to years depending on urgency category. Referrals are triaged as category 1 (urgent — within 30 days), category 2 (semi-urgent — within 90 days), or category 3 (non-urgent — no guaranteed timeframe). If your condition changes while waiting, contact your GP to update the urgency. See our full Category 1, 2, 3 explainer for state-by-state detail and official wait-time data.
If your referral expires while you're on a public waiting list: Contact the hospital or your GP. Most hospitals will ask for a new referral, but you won't lose your place on the list.