Do I need a referral to see an ENT specialist in Australia?
Short answer: You can see one privately without a referral, but you need a valid GP referral to claim a Medicare rebate — and many specialists require one.
In Australia you can see an ENT specialist privately without a referral — but you'll almost always want one. A valid referral from a GP is what lets you claim a Medicare rebate on the specialist's fees, usually a substantial saving, and many specialists won't take new patients without one. ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialists manage sinus problems, hearing loss, tonsils and vertigo.
A GP referral to a specialist is valid for 12 months from your first appointment. For an ongoing or chronic condition your GP can write it as indefinite so you don't have to keep renewing. A referral written by another specialist (rather than a GP) lasts 3 months.
Get your ENT specialist referral online
You don't have to wait weeks for a face-to-face GP appointment. Request your referral online, have a short telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered GP, and — where it's clinically appropriate — your referral is issued electronically, ready to book your ENT specialist.
Need this referral? Get it online.
Request online, have a short telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered GP, and get your referral where clinically appropriate — Australia-wide, bulk billing available.
Get a Referral →General information only, current for Australia and not a substitute for personal medical advice. Medicare rules and eligibility can change — your GP will confirm what applies to you.