Travelling in Australia? Your guide to telehealth appointments

By: MediLeave Editorial Team  |  Medically reviewed by Doron Nadler BPharm, MPS
Last reviewed on 25 July 2026

Healthcare is more convenient and accessible than ever – you no longer need to leave your accommodation and find a clinic just to see a doctor. Telehealth appointments make it straightforward for travellers in Australia to access healthcare online, wherever they happen to be. An online doctor can provide medical advice, eScripts online, referrals, and a sick leave certificate if you need time off work, university, or to care for a loved one.

Telehealth is now a routine part of how Australians access care. The figures below are from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Patient Experiences survey for the 2024-25 financial year.¹

Top 5 benefits of telehealth Australia-wide

Online healthcare gives Australians travelling within the country access to fast, convenient care.

1. Convenient. Receive medical advice or scripts online from wherever you are in Australia.
2. Saves time. No searching for a clinic in an unfamiliar town, no travel to get there, and no waiting room.
3. Medical advice when you need it. Whether it's a minor illness, a travel-related complaint, or a refill for a medication you've run out of or left at home, prescriptions can be sent to you Australia-wide. Telehealth is not for emergencies that require in-person assessment.
4. Flexible. Book an appointment that fits around your travel plans, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
5. Access to specialist services. Request blood tests, get an online referral, or obtain an online doctors certificate.

Telehealth appointments in Australia, explained

The meaning of telehealth is straightforward: consulting a registered health practitioner, such as an online doctor, by phone or video instead of attending a clinic in person. It's a virtual clinic — the same clinical conversation, minus the waiting room — and it gives patients access to medical care from anywhere in Australia. Whether you live in a rural area, travel often, or have limited mobility, telehealth can help.

Telehealth doesn't replace in-person doctor visits. It's an additional option. Many conditions can't be assessed or treated online and still require you to see a doctor in person.

Through telehealth, Australians can access services including general health checks, specialist referrals, online scripts, medical certificates, and carer's leave certificates.

All you need is a reliable internet connection and a smartphone, tablet, or computer — plus a quiet, private space to take the call.

MediLeave telehealth: 7 days a week, 7am–11pm AEST, 365 days a year

• Connect to an AHPRA-registered doctor online. Speak to a GP online with same-day appointments available, at no extra cost on weekends or public holidays.
• Telehealth medical certificates. Get an online medical certificate delivered to your inbox. Single-day and multi-day certificates meet the requirements for evidence of a personal illness or injury under the Fair Work Act 2009. Typically processed within minutes to an hour.
• eScripts online. Whether it's a new medicine or a repeat for a regular one, your prescription is sent to your phone and can be filled at any pharmacy in Australia.
• Referrals. We provide specialist referrals, MRI referrals, and pathology referrals. All are Medicare-compliant and accepted at radiology and pathology centres Australia-wide.

Travelling abroad? MediLeave as your pre-departure travel health clinic

Book your travel health appointment 4–6 weeks before you leave. That lead time matters for three reasons:

• Vaccine courses take time. Several travel vaccines are given as a series of doses spread over weeks, so a single last-minute appointment won't complete them.
• Immunity isn't immediate. Your body needs time after the final dose to build protection, which is why the timing is measured backwards from your departure date, not your booking date.
• Advice is destination-specific. MediLeave's online doctors can assess the health risks for where you're going and what you'll be doing there, and prescribe accordingly — antimalarial medication, travellers' diarrhoea treatment, or altitude sickness prevention.

Leaving sooner than that? Still speak to a doctor before you go. Even a consultation a few days out lets you cover the essentials: precautions for your destination, scripts for regular medicines, and enough supply to cover the whole trip plus a buffer for delays.

When to go in person instead

Telehealth isn't for medical emergencies. If you have chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, a head injury, or you're seriously unwell, go to the nearest emergency department or call 000. Fever after time in a malaria-risk area also needs same-day, in-person assessment — malaria can become life-threatening quickly, and it cannot be diagnosed over a video or phone consultation.

After you get home from your travels

Speak to a doctor if you:

• Still have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, diarrhoea, or breathlessness
• Have signs of infection — a rash, swelling, or pain that isn't settling
• Develop symptoms of an illness you may have been exposed to, such as malaria or dengue fever

It's also sensible to get checked if you visited a high-risk area, drank untreated water, ate food you weren't confident about, or were bitten by insects or animals. Some travel-related illnesses appear weeks or even months after you return, so mention your trip to the doctor even if the connection isn't obvious — where you went, when, and what you did there all change what they'll look for.

A telehealth consultation is a practical first step for a post-travel review. Your doctor can assess your symptoms, arrange pathology or imaging, and refer you on for in-person assessment if that's what's needed.