Managing your health involves knowing where to go for health care, finding the right health information, speaking up for yourself and asking the right questions. Below are some useful contacts and resources for finding your way around the health system. You can also head over to the Canberra Health Literacy Hub to read about:
- communicating with a health provider
- how to manage your medicines safely
- finding trusted health information online
Navigating the ACT health system
This video from ACT Health can tell you some of the options you have.
You can also try Healthdirect, which gives you easy access to health advice, and information about health services in your local area. Phone 1800 022 222. Their symptom checker can also help you understand your symptoms and work out which health services can help you.
Key health services in the ACT
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
Other emergency contacts
- 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 crisis support 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.
Walk-in Centres
Walk In Centres offer free help for minor illnesses and injuries. 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.
Community Pharmacies
Community pharmacies can:
- Help you treat minor cuts, rashes, coughs, colds and sprains.
- Give you health advice about long-term conditions like diabetes and asthma
- Give vaccinations for flu, COVID, shingles and more
- Review the medicines you are taking
Try Find A Pharmacy to search for a pharmacy near you and see what they can do.
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.
Pathology (e.g. blood tests)
ACT Pathology collection centres are based in the hospitals and many community health centres. Phone 02 5124 2816 to be directed to the centre closest to you.
You can contact the Canberra Hospital main switchboard by phone on (02) 5124 0000.
You can contact the North Canberra Hospital (formerly Calvary Public Hospital Bruce) by phone on (02) 6201 6111.
You can learn more about public health services on the Canberra Health Services website.
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.
If you need mental health care, ask your GP about making a Mental Health Care Plan. You can get up to 10 mental health appointments a year bulk-billed or with some money back from Medicare.
Access Mental Health
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.
Medicare Mental Health Centres
Medicare Mental Health (previously known as Canberra Head to Health) 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 them on 1800 595 212.
Mind Map
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.
Interpreting and communication
For help in a language other than English, telephone the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) on 13 14 50.
The National Relay Service can help people who have difficulty speaking or hearing, you can call the Voice Relay number on 1300 555 727. For more options, including Auslan, visit the website.
Disability Gateway
The Disability Gateway can help you to find the right service to meet your needs. They can research and call services for you to make it easier to find accessible health and support services. Call 1800 643 787 or email [email protected]
Find a community group
Community organisations can help you get support and meet other people with similar health conditions. Volunteering ACT’s information hub can help you find community groups on health issues and social interests like sport. You can visit them on the ground floor of 20 Genge Street, City, phone 02 6248 7988 or email [email protected]. You can also search for organisations on My Community Directory.
Resources
- Visit the HCCA Resource Library for our resources, including factsheets, guides and workbooks.
- The Canberra Health Services website has information about what to expect before, during and after your stay in any of their health facilities.
- Healthdirect – offers 24/7 health advice, information and referrals for all Australians.
- You can use their Symptom checker to find out what to do, where to go for help and find out more about your symptoms.
- You can search their list of health topics for factsheets and articles to learn more about your health.
- Better Health Channel – a website funded by the Victorian government to provide reliable health information. This includes information about common medical conditions, treatments and healthy living.
- MyDr – an Australian healthcare website that posts:
- articles about health conditions, tests and treatments,
- news about health and fitness issues,
- health tools and calculators,
- and free eBooks on health topics.
- Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care – creates and monitors standards for safety and quality in health care. They publish resources to help consumers know their rights and how to stay safe in health care.
- 10 Tips for Safer Health Care Booklet – this booklet is designed to help consumers, their families, carers and other support people get the most out of their health care.
- Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights – this poster describes the rights that consumers, or someone they care for, can expect when receiving health care. These rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia.
- Health Translations Directory – a library of translated health and wellbeing resources from Australian sources. You can find reliable information here in over 100 languages.