Navigating the health system

Navigating the health system

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The health system can be confusing.  If you or someone you care for are sick or injured, it can be difficult to know which health service to use, when you can use it, and how much it will cost.

In the ACT, we have public health services and private health services:

  • Public health services are health services provided by the ACT Government. They include all services at the Canberra Hospital, North Canberra Hospital, Walk-in Centres, and Community Health Centres.
  • Private health services include private hospitals, General Practitioners (GPs), and specialist doctors.

Medicare provides free public health services, public hospitals and bulk-billing by some GPs. It can provide some funding for private specialists, but usually you will pay a fee or need to use private health insurance. Most medicines are subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The Healthdirect website has information about how the Australian healthcare system works, including Medicare and the PBS.

Know where to go for your health care on the Canberra Health Services website can help you find out the right health service for lots of different health issues, including pharmacies, community health centres, walk-in centres and allied health services. Many of the services are free to all ACT residents.

Is it routine, urgent or an emergency?

Emergency care is for life-threatening issues like difficulty breathing, sudden collapse or fall, uncontrollable bleeding and other major injuries.

Urgent care is for illnesses and injuries that are serious enough that you need to see a doctor or nurse and you can’t wait to go see your regular GP. Check the list below for your closest urgent care services.

Routine care is usually done with your GP. It includes diagnosis and ongoing care for general health conditions, screening tests, vaccinations, referrals to specialists and prescriptions of many medicines. You may also see other health workers to help you manage your health, like allied health professionals, community nurses and mental health workers.

This video explains the differences between routine, urgent and emergency care:

Key Health Services in the ACT

Below are the contact details for some of the main health services in the ACT.

You can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) to help you make a health service appointment or to help you talk to the doctor in the appointment. Phone 13 14 50 for a free interpreter. Read more about interpreters here.

If you use the National Relay Service, you can call the Voice Relay number on 1300 555 727 and ask them to help you contact the health service. For more options, including Auslan, visit the website.

Always call 000 or go to an Emergency Department for life threatening conditions like:

  • difficulty breathing
  • sudden collapse or fall
  • chest pain or tightness
  • uncontrollable bleeding
  • severe burns
  • sudden weakness in the face, arm or leg
  • seizures
  • head, neck or serious eye injuries
  • mental health crisis if the person is a danger to themselves or others

There are 2 emergency departments in Canberra:

  • The Canberra Hospital: Yamba Drive, Garran ACT – Take children (aged under 18) here if you can.
  • North Canberra Hospital: Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce ACT

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, phone Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354.

You can call Lifeline for free counselling on 13 11 14 or visit Lifeline Australia for web and SMS chat.

If you think someone has taken an overdose, made an error with medicine or been poisoned, phone the Poisons Information Line on 13 11 26

All of these services are free, even if you do not have a Medicare card or insurance.

You can call 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422) 24 hours a day,7 days a week to get advice from a registered nurse. They can:

  • Talk to you about your symptoms
  • Help you manage illness at home
  • Help you find the right health service in your area
  • Connect you to a GP by phone or video – only between 6pm and 8am

Walk In Centres are run by nurses and offer free help for minor illnesses and injuries like:

  • bites and stings
  • skin infections and rashes
  • gastrointestinal illnesses
  • minor cuts and burns

. They can treat anyone over 12 months of age. There are 5 locations in the ACT:

  • Gungahlin: 57 Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin
  • Belconnen: 56 Lathlain Street, Belconnen
  • Dickson: 111 Dickson Place, Dickson
  • Weston Creek: 24 Parkinson Street, Weston
  • Tuggeranong: Corner of Anketell and Pitman Street, Greenway

They are open 7.30am to 10pm every day, including public holidays.

The Woden Urgent Care Clinic is run by General Practitioners and can treat minor illnesses and injuries. They can also do some things that walk-in centres cannot do, like:

  • treat children under 12 months of age
  • prescribe medicines for more conditions
  • treat flare ups of some chronic health conditions, e.g. migraines
  • refer you to specialists (only if it’s related to the current issue)

They are open 10am-8pm, 7 days a week at Level 1, 33 Colbee Court Phillip.

Healthdirect’s service finder can help you find more urgent and after hours medical, pharmacy and dental services in your local area.

  • You can contact the Canberra Hospital main switchboard by phone on (02) 5124 0000.
  • You can contact the North Canberra Hospital by phone on (02) 6201 6111.

You can learn more about public health services on the Canberra Health Services website.

GPs give you ongoing health care and can refer you for testing or to specialist doctors to care for major health problems.

Healthdirect’s service finder can help you find a GP, specialist or other health service near you.

Some services have bulk-billing GPs for specific communities:

  • People who are homeless: Early Morning Centre, 69 Northbourne Ave, City. Drop in 9-11am Wednesdays.
  • People aged 12-25: The Junction Youth Health Service, Level 2, 30 Scotts Crossing, City. Phone 02 6232 2423
  • Women with barriers to accessing health care: Women’s Health Service Clinics in City, Gungahlin, Belconnen, Phillip, and Tuggeranong. Phone 02 5124 1787
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Winnunga Nimmityjah, 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah. Phone 02 6284 6222
  • Asylum seekers and refugees: Companion House, 41 Templeton St Cook. Phone 02 6251 4550

After Hours GPs

These GP services are open after 6pm at night and on weekends when your regular doctor is closed.

National Home Doctor Service
Bulk-billed GP service for anyone with a Medicare card with home visits or telehealth on weeknights, weekends and public holidays. Book online or call 13 SICK (13 74 25)

Canberra After-Hours Locum Medical Service (CALMS)
CALMS clinics are open after hours on weekdays and weekends. A fee applies for consultations. They are located at North Canberra Hospital, The Canberra Hospital and the Tuggeranong Community Health Centre. Book online or call 1300 422 567.

  • Access Mental Health is the central point of entry to access mental health services in the ACT. This includes the community mental health teams. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065.
  • The Canberra Head to Health Centre is an adult mental health centre that provides free mental health support and referrals. You don’t need an appointment or a referral. Drop in from 8.30am-4:30pm weekdays (8:30am-7pm on Wednesdays) at Shop G7 (Ground Floor), 14 Childers Street, Canberra City. You can also call 1800 595 212.
  • Mind Map is a website for young people and their families to find mental health support in the ACT. You can also phone them from midday to 11pm every day on 1800 862 111.

Allied health services are health services delivered by a health professional who is not a doctor, dentist, or nurse. This includes things like:

  • physiotherapy
  • nutrition
  • dietetics
  • optometry
  • audiology
  • occupational therapy
  • psychology

If you have a health condition lasting more than 6 months, you can ask your GP to make a Chronic Condition Management Plan. This plan can include up to 5 bulk-billed allied health services a year to manage your condition.

Some community groups may have allied health services for people with specific health conditions.

Community Health Centres

Offer free or low-cost allied health care at 8 centres around the ACT. You don’t need a doctor’s referral for many services. Some services like dental are only free for children under 14 or concession card holders.

Take the Know Where to Go quiz to find out what services can help you.

Central Health Intake (CHI) is the main booking line for all community-based ACT Health services and some outpatient services.

  • For services in the community, like clinics at Community Health Centres, phone 02 5124 9977
  • For services at the Canberra Hospital (sometimes called Outpatients Clinics), phone 02 5124 2415
  • You can also cancel an appointment online.

University of Canberra Health Clinics

Students provide low-cost care under supervision from qualified professionals. Services include physiotherapy, nutrition, dietetics, counselling, exercise physiology and occupational therapy.

Call 02 6201 5843 or visit the UC Health Clinic website.

Information about health services in your language

Canberra Health Services provides information about health services in Canberra in the following languages:

You can find translated health and wellbeing information in over 100 languages on the Health Translations website. You can search for resources by language, topic, organisation, keyword and file type. It is supported by the Victorian Government and managed by the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health.

For refugees and asylum seekers:

If you are an asylum seeker and do not have a Medicare card, you can still use health services in ACT public hospitals for free, and ACT public dental and community health services for free or at a reduced cost. You will need to get an ACT Services Access Card through Companion House. To apply phone 02 6251 4550 or email [email protected].

Companion House also provides doctor’s appointments and other medical care for refugees who are new to the ACT. They can help you find a GP in your local area.

Resources

Websites to help you find more services

Last Updated on 21 January, 2026.