We’re always happy to see new patients.

Your first visit will be a 30-minute ‘long’ appointment. This way, your doctor has time to review your medical history and background.

Before Your First Appointment

• New Patient Registration Form – please submit this online before your visit.
• Bring your photo ID and Medicare card to your first visit.
• Transferring medical records? Print and complete the transfer form, then give it to your previous clinic.

We require a credit card to secure your first booking. Your card will only be charged after your appointment.

Bringing a Support Person?

You’re welcome to bring a friend or family member to your appointment. We want you to feel safe, supported, and comfortable.

The GPs encourage you to bring companions who can help you get the most from your visit.

When you pay for your appointment, we’ll process your Medicare rebate immediately and credit it back to your debit card or the bank account linked to Medicare.

If you’ve already reached your Medicare Safety Net threshold for the calendar year, your out-of-pocket cost will be lower than the fees listed above.

Patients Without Medicare

If you don’t have a Medicare card (for example, international patients), your fees will vary depending on:

• The reason for your visit

• The length of your appointment

• Whether you hold private health insurance

Our reception team are happy to provide more details.

Repeat Prescriptions

In some cases, your GP can issue a repeat prescription without you needing an appointment.

This depends on factors such as what the prescription is for and when you last saw your GP.

How to request:

• Speak to our friendly receptionists, who will pass your request to your GP.

• You’ll usually receive a response within three business days.

• Please let reception know if your request is urgent.

Your GP will review your medical history before making a decision. If approved, our admin team will prepare the documentation.

Fee: $34 + card surcharge.

Repeat Referrals

As with prescriptions, your GP may be able to provide a repeat referral without a consultation.

These include what the referral is for and whether you’ve recently spoken to your GP about the same medical concern.

How to request:

• Ask our reception team, who will forward the request to your GP.

• You’ll usually receive a response within three business days.

• Please advise reception if the request is urgent.

If approved, your GP will arrange the specialist referral, and our admin team will complete the paperwork.

Fee: $34 + card surcharge.

Test Results

Most test results (blood tests, x-rays, scans) are returned within 2-7 days of being taken.

In most cases, you’ll need to book an appointment with your GP to review your results. This ensures you receive the highest level of care.

For straightforward results, your GP may be able to text your phone if everything is normal—please ask your GP if this option is available.

👉 See our test results fact sheet for more info.

We understand that sometimes plans change. If you need to cancel, please contact us at least two hours before your appointment time.

This helps us offer the time to another patient on our waitlist.

If you cancel with less than two hours’ notice or fail to show up, you may be charged a no-show fee. This fee is equal to the full cost of the booked appointment (no Medicare rebates).

We may also ask you to pay a booking fee to secure a future appointment. This fee is equal to the out-of-pocket costs for the particular appointment time.

This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Running Late for Your Appointment?

If you’re running late, please call us as soon as you can.

We’ll speak with your GP right away to check if they’re still able to see you. However, as the doctors are usually fully booked, you’ll most likely need to reschedule.

Our aim here is to prevent your GP from running late for the rest of the day and from inconveniencing every patient who comes after you.

If they’re unable to fit you in, we’ll happily talk you through your options over the phone, which may include:

• Starting your appointment as a telehealth consultation and continuing face-to-face when you arrive
• Seeing another GP, if available
• Rescheduling for another day
• Speaking with a nurse, if appropriate

We understand that delays happen, and we’ll always do our best to help.

Schedule 8 (S8) medications, also known as drugs of dependence, carry a significant risk of misuse.

For this reason, each GP prescribes these medications strictly in line with the Department of Health’s regulations and clinical best practices.

All S8 prescriptions are managed with care and are recorded in SafeScript, Victoria’s real-time prescription monitoring system. By law, your doctor must consult SafeScript before prescribing any S8 medication.

Clinic Policy

None of the GPs at Doctors of South Melbourne will prescribe you S8 medications during your first appointment with the clinic – under any circumstances.

 They’ll only consider these medications during your second appointment if no clinically appropriate alternatives are available. If your doctor determines that an S8 prescription is necessary, the following conditions must be met:

• You must provide valid photo identification and your Medicare card.
• If you don’t have a Medicare card, your GP is legally required to take a photograph of your face for identification and documentation purposes.

Please don’t take it personally if your GP is hesitant to prescribe S8 medications until they get to know you. It’s all part of our duty of care.

Thanks for your understanding.

If you have a Medicare card and have visited a GP in person at Doctors of South Melbourne at least twice in the past two years, you’re eligible to register with our clinic for MyMedicare.

MyMedicare is a free and voluntary program designed to strengthen the relationships between patients and their healthcare teams.

Consistently visiting your preferred GP at the same clinic enables them to provide you with the best possible ongoing care.

This formalised relationship fosters improved health outcomes for you, largely due to the continuity of care.

The benefits to you include:

• Improved health outcomes thanks to having a formalised relationship with your general practice clinic and GP.
• Access to Medicare rebates for longer telehealth consultations with your GP.
• Being connected to more appropriate care in general practice for people who frequently visit hospital.
• The ability to have chronic disease management plans and mental health care plans* developed (if eligible).

Important to know:

• MyMedicare doesn’t provide discounts on appointment fees or subsidised consultations.
• If you choose not to register for MyMedicare, you’ll still be able to access the same quality of care from your healthcare providers.

For more detailed information, visit the MyMedicare website.

^* From 1 November 2025, mental health care plans need to be done with the clinic a patient has signed up to with MyMedicare.

Here are some handy forms for your convenience. Click on a link below to either complete online or print, fill it out, and bring to the clinic.

• New patient registration form (online)
• New patient registration form (PDF to print)
• Medical history transfer request form (online)
• Medical history transfer request form (PDF to print)

Each GP charges our regular fees for TAC or WorkCover consultations, payable by the patient after each appointment.

Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to claim your rebate from your insurance provider.

New patients: The doctors at the clinic won’t accept existing WorkCover or TAC claim transfers. You’re best placed to continue the process with the GP involved in initiating your claim.

Patients without Medicare cards are most welcome, including international students and travellers. Please speak with our staff about fees.

We recommend that patients take the receipt to their insurance provider for full or partial reimbursement, depending on the provider’s policy terms.

Each doctor charges DVA patients, Health Care, and concession card holders regular fees.

Here is a list of local options if you or a loved one needs urgent after-hours care.

CALL 000 IMMEDIATELY FOR ALL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.

Emergency Departments

Some close-by EDs include:

• Alfred Health (public)
• Epworth Richmond (private)
• The Royal Children’s Hospital (public)
• The Royal Women’s Hospital (public)
• The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (public)

Priority Primary Care Centre Prahran

Providing free medical and nursing care for patients with non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

• Suite 4, 20 Commercial Rd, Melbourne
• Open from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week.
• Book online or call 9119 1000. Walk-ins accepted.

Victorian Virtual Emergency

Access telehealth emergency care for non-life-threatening emergencies from anywhere in Victoria.

• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Register online or call 9485 9070.

Cub Care – kids only

After-hours telehealth urgent care from paediatricians for worried parents and sick kids.

• Open 5 pm to 11 pm, seven days a week.
• Book a visit or call 1800 312 611.

Hello Home Doctor

Patients can take advantage of an after-hours home visit doctor service for non-life-threatening medical issues.

• Open from 6:00 pm – 8:00 am on weekdays, 12:00 pm on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays & public holidays.
• Call 134 100.

• White’s Dispensary
  265 Clarendon Street
  South Melbourne
  (03) 9699 1693

• South Melbourne Pharmasave
  103 Cecil St
  South Melbourne
  (03) 9690 5240

• Chemist Warehouse South Melbourne
  310 Clarendon St
  South Melbourne
  (03) 9699 2042