New patients
New patients welcome.
Our practice is appointment based, however we always welcome and accommodate walk-in patients where we can. Standard consultations are up to 15 minutes. We are currently accepting new patients.
If this is your first visit, please arrive at least five minutes early so reception has time to register you properly — or complete the new patient form online before you come in.
What to bring to your first appointment
- Photo ID.
- A valid Medicare card, plus any concession, pensioner or DVA card.
- A list of your current medicines, or simply bring the boxes.
- Any referral letters, discharge summaries or recent results from a hospital or specialist — helpful, not essential.
- WorkCover patients: notify your employer before the appointment and bring their contact details for verification, so payment can be arranged.
Health assessments, complex problems, skin checks, minor procedures and wound care all need extra time. Ask reception for a longer appointment when you book.
Ready to book your first visit?Online in about a minute, or ring reception and they will walk you through it.
What will it cost?
Find out before you book.
Pick the closest situation. This is a guide rather than a quote — reception will always confirm the exact amount before your appointment.
Nothing to pay on the day
Bulk billing is available to patients with a valid Medicare card. Present your current card at reception at the time of your appointment and there is nothing to pay.
A small number of services sit outside Medicare and attract a fee — they are listed under fees and billing. Where one applies, reception will tell you the amount before your appointment.
Payable on the day
Without a valid Medicare card there is a fee, payable at the time of the consultation. Depending on your cover you may be able to claim part of it back through private health insurance.
Ring reception on (03) 8391 7025 before you book so you know the amount.
Overseas student and visitor cover
Patients holding an OSHC or OVC membership are billed at set rates by consultation length — from $50 for a short consultation to $150 for a prolonged one. The full table is under overseas visitors.
You pay on the day and claim the rebate back from your insurer.
WorkCover and TAC
The full consultation fee is payable at reception on the day. We issue a tax invoice and receipt, and you submit those to WorkCover or the TAC to claim your reimbursement. We do not bill third-party insurers directly.
Notify your employer before a WorkCover appointment and bring their contact details.
Pre-employment, insurance and driver assessments
These are not Medicare services, so a fee applies. The same goes for medical reports and letters prepared for a third party.
Ring reception for the amount and to book the right length of appointment — these always need longer than a standard consultation.
Skin checks, procedures and cervical screening
Skin cancer checks, procedures and cervical screening tests sit outside our bulk billing arrangement and attract a fee, which varies with the complexity of what is involved.
Reception will confirm the amount before your appointment — ask when you book.
Travel vaccines
Privately purchased vaccines and some consumables are charged at cost. Government-funded vaccines on the National Immunisation Program are free to eligible patients.
Ask reception which applies to you when you book — travel consultations need a longer appointment, ideally six to eight weeks before you fly.
Still not sure what something costs?Reception will confirm before your appointment. No surprises on the way out.
Fees & billing
We are a bulk billing practice.
Bulk billing is available to patients with a valid Medicare card. Please present your current card at reception at the time of your appointment.
Services that Medicare does not cover attract a private fee. Where that applies, reception will tell you the amount before your appointment — you will never be surprised by a bill on the way out.
Allied health and specialist consultations may attract a fee, which varies with the complexity of the service or procedure.
A work or transport injury is paid for by the insurer rather than Medicare. You pay on the day, we issue a tax invoice, and you claim it back. How that works →
RHCA cardholders are not bulk billed at this practice. Ring reception on (03) 8391 7025 for the amount before you book.
Procedures take longer than a standard consultation and use consumables, so they are billed privately. The amount varies with what is involved — ask reception when you book.
Billed privately at this practice. Reception will tell you the amount before your appointment. Women’s health →
Requested by an employer rather than for your own care, so Medicare does not cover it. These need a longer appointment — say so when you book.
A licensing requirement rather than treatment, so it sits outside Medicare. Bring the form with you and allow extra time.
Paperwork prepared for an insurer, employer or lawyer is not a Medicare service. Reception will quote before your GP starts it.
Billed privately at this practice. A full check needs a longer appointment — ask reception for the amount and the right slot. Skin cancer checks →
A fee applies, payable at the time of the consultation. Depending on your cover you may be able to claim part of it back through private health insurance. Overseas student and visitor cover has its own set rates.
Privately purchased vaccines are charged at the supplier price we pay. Vaccines on the National Immunisation Program remain free to eligible patients. Book a travel consultation six to eight weeks before you fly.
Not sure whether your appointment is bulk billed? Ring reception on (03) 8391 7025 and ask. They would much rather tell you beforehand.
Overseas visitors
OSHC and OVC members.
If you hold an Overseas Student Health Cover or Overseas Visitor Cover membership, consultations are billed at the rates below. You pay on the day, we issue a receipt, and you claim the rebate back from your insurer.
How much of that your policy covers depends on the insurer and the level of cover, so it is worth checking with them before you come in. Reception can tell you which consultation length has been booked.
WorkCover & TAC
Work and transport accident claims.
Our current policy for WorkCover and Transport Accident Commission consultations, in three steps:
The full consultation fee is payable at the reception desk at the time of service. Ring ahead if you would like to know the amount first.
After payment we give you a formal tax invoice and a receipt — everything the insurer needs to process the claim.
Submit the invoice and receipt to WorkCover or the TAC for your reimbursement. The clinic does not bill third-party insurers directly.
Before a WorkCover appointment: notify your employer and bring their contact details for verification.
Appointments
Booking an appointment.
Book online through HotDoc using the button on this page, or ring reception on (03) 8391 7025. You are also welcome to book in person at reception.
Standard appointments are up to 15 minutes. If you have more than one thing to raise, say so when you book and reception will set aside a longer slot.
Opening hours
| Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 8:00pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00am – 5:00pm |
| Sunday | 9:00am – 5:00pm |
| Public holidays | 9:00am – 4:00pm |
Book while you are here.Say what it is about and we will set aside the right amount of time.
Cancellations
Late, cancelled and missed appointments.
We understand that circumstances can change and you may need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
To ensure appointment times remain available for other patients, we require a minimum of 2 hours' notice for all appointment cancellations or rescheduling requests
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact our reception team on (03) 8391 7025 or cancel through the booking platform used to make your appointment. Providing at least 2 hours' notice allows us to offer your appointment to another patient who may be waiting for care.
If unexpected circumstances prevent you from attending or providing sufficient notice, please contact our reception team as soon as possible.
How results are given.
Results are discussed in a booked appointment rather than read out over the phone, so there is time to explain what they mean and what happens next. Book the follow-up when the test is ordered and it is already in the diary.
We will attempt to contact you about anything urgent. Systems are not perfect though — if you have had a test and heard nothing, please ring us rather than assuming all is well.
Australian Clinical Labs collects on site, so in most cases bloods can be done straight after your appointment.
Telehealth
Phone appointments.
We offer telehealth consultations. Medicare generally requires that you have had a face-to-face appointment with one of our doctors in the previous twelve months, so if you are new to the practice your first appointment needs to be in person.
Telehealth suits results, scripts, referrals and follow-ups. Anything that needs examining — a chest, an abdomen, a lump, a rash, an ear, a blood pressure — is better in person.
If you have a cough, cold, sore throat or fever, please ring us and ask about a telehealth appointment rather than sitting in the waiting room.
Book a phone appointment.For results, scripts, referrals and follow-ups.
After-hours care
When we are closed.
In an emergency, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department. Do not wait and do not drive yourself.
When you need urgent medical care and Ballarat Doctors is closed, 13SICK National Home Doctor Service booking lines on 13 74 25 are open from 6:00pm on weekdays, from 12:00pm on Saturdays, and all day Sundays and public holidays.
Their doctors treat common, non–life threatening acute conditions such as respiratory infections, skin infections and rashes, migraines, gastro, ear infections, fevers, urinary tract infections, and injuries from falls.
For nurse advice at any hour, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or use the National Health Services Directory at healthdirect.gov.au to find an after-hours service near you.
Nearest hospital
- Grampians Health Ballarat (Ballarat Base Hospital)
1 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
Phone (03) 5320 4000 · Fax (03) 5320 4826
Communication assistance
Interpreters and support.
If you need help with communication — a language interpreter, for instance — please tell reception when you book, or on arrival. A phone interpreter may be available.
If you need an Auslan interpreter during your appointment, a booking can be made through the National Auslan Booking Service at nabs.org.au or by phoning 1800 246 945.
Our doctors between them speak a number of languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Punjabi, Tamil, Sinhala, Bengali, Arabic and Farsi. Ask reception if you would prefer to see someone who speaks your language.
Privacy & confidentiality
Your record is confidential.
Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain the security of personal health information at all times, and to ensure it is accessed only by authorised staff for the purpose of your care.
Your information is not shared with your employer, your family or anyone else without your consent, except in the narrow circumstances required by law. If you would like a copy of your own record, ask reception.
Health information is handled under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Our full privacy policy is available to download below and printed copies are available at reception.
Compliments & complaints
Tell us either way.
We would rather hear it. If something has gone well, telling us means we keep doing it. If something has not, please raise it with reception, with our practice manager, or in writing, and give us the chance to put it right.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can take the matter to the Health Complaints Commissioner (Victoria) on 1300 582 113 or at hcc.vic.gov.au, which is independent of this practice. Concerns about a practitioner’s registration or conduct can be raised with AHPRA on 1300 419 495.
Location & parking
Finding us.
We are on the ground floor of the Learmonth Road health precinct at T5, 21-53 Learmonth Road, Wendouree VIC 3355. Look for the Ballarat Doctors sign above the entrance.
There is free on-site parking directly in front of the entrance — no ticket, no time limit — with accessible bays closest to the door and additional parking at the rear of the precinct at busy times.
Everything is on one level, with step-free entry, an accessible bathroom, and consulting rooms with room for a wheelchair, walker or pram. Tell reception when you book if you would like extra assistance on arrival.
Being on Learmonth Road makes us a short drive from Wendouree, Ballarat Central, Alfredton, Delacombe, Miners Rest, Lake Wendouree, Invermay Park and Sebastopol.
Book before you drive over.T5, 21-53 Learmonth Rd, Wendouree.
MyMedicare
Strengthen your care — register for MyMedicare.
Free, voluntary, and it links your family’s care to this practice. If you already think of Ballarat Doctors as your regular clinic, registering simply makes that formal.
What is MyMedicare?
MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration model introduced by the Australian Government. It lets you register with your regular general practice and nominate your preferred GP, which strengthens the relationship between you and the team looking after you.
Register in a couple of minutes.Or ask our team and they will walk you through it.
Registration is not compulsory, and it does not affect your Medicare rights or benefits. You can change your mind and leave the program at any time.
Practice policies
Our written policies.
Each of our policies is here to download and read in full. Printed copies are also available at reception — just ask, and we will print or email you whichever one you would like.
Useful resources
Where to read more.
Reliable, plain-English health information from Australian organisations we trust. These links open in a new tab and are not a substitute for seeing your doctor.
Children’s health
Contraception & sexual health
Men’s health
Chronic conditions
Mental health
Preventive health
Women’s health
Questions
Patient questions, answered.
The things reception is asked most often. If yours is not here, ring us on (03) 8391 7025.
Yes. Bulk billing is available to patients with a valid Medicare card — please present your current card at reception. A small number of services sit outside Medicare and attract a fee, and reception will tell you the amount before your appointment.
No. WorkCover and TAC consultations, RHCA patients, procedures, cervical screening tests, pre-employment medicals, driver assessments, medical reports, skin cancer checks and travel vaccines all attract a fee. We will always tell you upfront if one applies.
A fee applies, payable at the time of the consultation. Depending on your cover you may be able to claim part of it back through private health insurance. Ring reception on (03) 8391 7025 before you book so you know the amount.
Book online through HotDoc using the button on this page, ring reception on (03) 8391 7025, or come in and book at reception. We are appointment based, though we always try to accommodate walk-ins.
Photo ID and a valid Medicare card, plus any concession, pensioner or DVA card. Bring a list of your current medicines or the boxes themselves, and any referral letters or recent results. Arrive five minutes early so reception has time to register you.
Up to 15 minutes. If you have several things to raise, ask reception for a longer appointment when you book. Health assessments, skin checks, minor procedures and care plans all need extra time.
Yes, we are currently accepting new patients.
Monday to Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 5:00pm, and public holidays 9:00am to 4:00pm. We are open seven days.
T5, 21-53 Learmonth Road, Wendouree VIC 3355, on the ground floor of the Learmonth Road health precinct. There is free on-site parking directly in front of the entrance, with accessible bays closest to the door.
Yes. Medicare generally requires that you have had a face-to-face appointment with one of our doctors in the previous twelve months, so if you are new to the practice your first appointment needs to be in person. Contact reception for more information.
Book a follow-up appointment, ideally at the same time as the test is ordered. Results are discussed in an appointment rather than read out over the phone. We will attempt to contact you about anything urgent.
Yes. Australian Clinical Labs collects on site, so in most cases bloods can be done straight after your appointment. Check the current collection hours with reception.
OSHC and OVC members are billed at set rates: $50 short, $75 standard, $120 long and $150 prolonged. You pay on the day, we issue a receipt, and you claim the rebate back from your insurer.
Yes, if you consider Ballarat Doctors your regular practice. It is free and voluntary, does not affect your Medicare rights or benefits, and you can leave at any time. Register through the link on this page, or ask our team and they will help you.
Yes, and it usually helps. Mention who you would like to see when you book — continuity does a lot of the work in general practice.
Tell reception when you book or on arrival and a phone interpreter may be available. For an Auslan interpreter, a booking can be made through NABS at nabs.org.au or by phoning 1800 246 945.
Please raise it with reception, with our practice manager, or in writing, and give us the chance to put it right. If you are still not satisfied you can take it to the Health Complaints Commissioner (Victoria) on 1300 582 113, which is independent of this practice.
In an emergency, call 000. Otherwise call 13SICK National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6:00pm weekdays, 12:00pm Saturdays and all day Sundays and public holidays, or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for nurse advice at any hour. The nearest hospital is Grampians Health Ballarat, 1 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central.
This page is general information for patients of Ballarat Doctors. It is not advice about your situation and it does not replace a consultation. If you are worried about a symptom, book an appointment or call us. In an emergency, call 000.
Ready to book?
Online through HotDoc, or ring reception and tell them what it is about so they can set aside the right amount of time. Bulk billing is available to patients with a valid Medicare card.