Can I get a specialist referral?

How to get a specialist referral online in Australia

Yes — to get a specialist referral online in Australia, book a telehealth consult with an AHPRA-registered Abby GP. They will assess your concern, decide whether a specialist review is the right next step, and, if it is, write a referral letter delivered by email. A standard GP referral to a specialist is generally valid for 12 months; an indefinite referral is possible in limited circumstances. The Medicare rebate for the specialist appointment depends on the referral being current.

What does a specialist referral consult look like?

The consult is a structured clinical conversation. Your Abby GP will ask why you think a specialist review is needed, what symptoms you have, what has been tried already, and any relevant test results or prior referrals. Sometimes the right next step is a specialist; sometimes it is a different test, a different management plan, or a fresh look at the issue from a generalist. The decision belongs to the clinician.

If a referral is the right call, it is written into a formal letter and sent to your email. You take the referral with you to the specialist's clinic — almost all Australian specialists require a current GP or NP referral to charge a Medicare-rebatable consultation. Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, surfaces relevant prior consults and any tests you have already had, so the GP can write the referral with full context.

Which specialists can I be referred to?

An Abby clinician can refer to the full breadth of Australian specialists, including:

• Dermatology
• Endocrinology (thyroid, diabetes, hormones)
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Gynaecology and women's health
• Urology
• Respiratory medicine
• Neurology
• Rheumatology
• Psychiatry (also see the Mental Health Care Plan pathway)
• Paediatrics
• ENT, ophthalmology, and surgical specialties

For more on online specialist referrals — including how to choose your specialist and what to bring — see specialist referrals online Australia.

How long does a doctor's referral last?

Under Medicare rules, a standard GP referral to a non-GP specialist is generally valid for 12 months from the date of the first specialist appointment. An indefinite referral can be issued by your GP in limited situations — typically for chronic, ongoing conditions where ongoing specialist input is clinically necessary — but most referrals are time-limited so your GP stays in the loop.

If your referral is older than 12 months, you can ask your GP for a new one. The framework is published by the Department of Health and item numbers sit at MBS Online.

Can I choose my own specialist?

Yes. The referral is written to a named specialist or to a specialty (e.g. "Dear Dermatologist"). If you have already chosen a specific specialist — for waiting time, location, public vs private, or a personal recommendation — your Abby GP will address the referral to them. If you have not, the referral can be addressed generically and you can take it to the specialist of your choice.

Some specialists have very long public wait lists; others have shorter private wait lists with a gap fee. Your GP can help you weigh that trade-off. Your appointment with the specialist is rebatable through Medicare, with the size of the rebate set by the MBS — see MBS Online.

Can I get a specialist referral entirely by telehealth?

Yes. There is no requirement to see a GP in person to receive a referral, provided your GP is comfortable with the clinical assessment and you meet the standard telehealth eligibility rules. For ongoing care this often makes sense — your Abby GP holds the rest of your record and can refer in the context of your full history. Around 71% of Abby patients book back with the same clinician on their next visit (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026), which means follow-up referrals tend to come from someone who already knows your story.

For the broader picture of what telehealth covers and where it has limits, see what telehealth can't do — the safety limits.

What if I want a second opinion?

You are entitled to a second opinion. Your Abby GP can write a referral to a different specialist, or to a generalist for a fresh review. See telehealth second opinion.

How Abby can help

If you have been waiting too long to start a specialist pathway because the GP queue feels too long, an Abby clinician can usually see you in minutes through the First Available queue. Our clinicians are AHPRA-registered, with registrations on the AHPRA register. Start at abbyhealth.app/services/general-practice. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card.