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After Hours Telehealth — See a GP in Minutes When Clinics Are Closed
Medical issues don't wait for business hours — and neither should you. At Clinic Online, you can speak to a qualified, AHPRA-registered Australian GP via telehealth after hours often within 5 minutes — including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
No pre-booking. No waiting rooms. Just real medical care when you need it most.
See the Next Available GP Now — After Hours Available
After-hours telehealth at Clinic Online means you can speak to an AHPRA-registered Australian GP from home — evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays — for non-emergency concerns, prescriptions, medical certificates and referrals, typically within 15 minutes of requesting a consult.
Most Australian general practices close at 6 pm on weekdays and operate limited (if any) weekend hours — which is exactly when families, shift workers and carers most often need medical advice. Waiting until Monday is not always practical. Going to an Emergency Department for a non-emergency is expensive, slow, and takes time away from people who genuinely need emergency care.
Clinic Online gives you a middle path: one flat price, no subscriptions, no pre-booking, and a real conversation with an Australian-registered GP — at the time of day when it matters most.
NOT SUITABLE FOR EMERGENCIES
After hours telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding or trauma. In these cases, call 000 or attend the nearest emergency department immediately.
What Can an After Hours GP Help With?
General medical advice and assessment
Cold, flu and minor infections
Anxiety or stress-related symptoms
Medication advice and prescription renewals
Medical certificates and sick certificates
Pathology and radiology referrals (where appropriate)
Skin conditions and minor injuries
After Hours Prescriptions & Certificates
Electronic prescriptions (e-scripts) sent to your phone or email
Medical certificates for work or study
Referrals for pathology or imaging
All documents sent electronically — accepted across Australia
Who Uses After Hours Telehealth?
Parents managing sick children at night or on weekends
Workers needing documentation outside office hours
People in rural or remote areas
Shift workers and FIFO workers
Anyone needing fast medical advice when their regular GP is unavailable
Why Choose Clinic Online?
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AHPRA-registered Australian GPs
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After hours, evenings, weekends & public holidays
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Secure video or phone consultations
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Prescriptions and certificates issued online
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Private, secure and confidential
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No pre-booking required — on-demand access
How It Works
1
Click 'Request a Consult'
2
Check current after hours availability
3
Speak to an Australian GP via video or phone
4
Receive advice, prescriptions or certificates electronically
After Hours Telehealth Pricing
One flat consultation price — the same at 9 am or 11 pm. No surcharges for evenings, weekends or public holidays. No subscriptions. Pay per consult.
Up to 10 minutes
AUD$45
Most straightforward GP consultations — prescriptions, medical certificates, single-issue advice and referrals.
- Live video or phone consultation with an Australian GP
- Prescriptions, certificates and referrals at the consulting GP's discretion
- Secure, private and confidential
Beyond 10 minutes
AUD$59
Longer, more complex consultations — mental health reviews, multiple issues, chronic condition management or in-depth investigations.
- Everything in the shorter consult, plus more consulting time
- Time for multi-issue or complex clinical discussion
- Ongoing follow-up arranged where clinically appropriate
Medicare: Medicare rebates may apply for eligible consultations — availability depends on your individual circumstances and current Commonwealth telehealth rules. Your GP will let you know during the consultation whether your consult is rebate-eligible.
No subscriptions. No form-based medicine. You only ever pay for the consultation you have — there's nothing to cancel and nothing recurring.
When After-Hours Telehealth Is — and Isn't — Right for You
Telehealth handles a wide range of non-emergency concerns beautifully. But clarity about when not to use it is just as important.
An after-hours telehealth consult suits you if…
- You have a non-emergency health concern that has come on outside normal GP clinic hours — evenings, nights, weekends or public holidays
- Your regular GP is closed or fully booked, and waiting until Monday is not practical
- You need a prescription, repeat, medical certificate or referral urgently — before the next working day
- You are a parent managing a sick (but not seriously unwell) child and want timely GP advice from home
- You are a shift worker, FIFO worker, parent or carer for whom daytime in-clinic appointments are genuinely difficult to attend
- You are travelling interstate in Australia and need a GP now rather than finding a new clinic
Please call 000 or attend ED if…
- You or someone with you is experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke (facial droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty), severe bleeding, severe allergic reaction or a major injury — call 000 immediately
- You are experiencing suicidal thoughts, a mental-health crisis, or thoughts of harming yourself or someone else — call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or 000 in an emergency
- A child under 2 is significantly unwell, floppy, difficult to rouse, has a persistent high fever, is dehydrated or has a concerning rash — please attend an Emergency Department or call 000
- You need a face-to-face physical examination (for example a serious wound, suspected fracture, testicular pain, or a condition requiring a procedure) — please attend an in-person after-hours clinic, urgent care centre or ED
In a medical emergency, always call 000. Mental-health crisis: Lifeline 13 11 14 · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · 13YARN (First Nations) 13 92 76. Poisons information: 13 11 26.
Clinic Online After-Hours vs Waiting for Your GP vs Emergency Department
Straightforward comparison so you know the right door to knock on, whatever time it is.
| What matters | Clinic Online | In-person GP | Form-based telehealth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability after hours | Evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays | Closed outside business hours | Forms submitted anytime but no live GP conversation |
| Wait time | Usually within 5 minutes | Wait until next business day, or ED/urgent care | Questionnaire response times vary; no conversation |
| Real conversation with an AHPRA-registered GP | Yes — live video or phone | Yes, during open hours | No |
| Prescriptions and e-scripts | Issued during the consult and sent to you | Not available after hours | Limited to the specific product the site sells |
| Medical & sick certificates | Issued where clinically appropriate — backdated only per AMA guidance | Not available after hours | Rarely offered |
| Referrals for pathology or specialists | Issued where clinically indicated | Not available after hours | Yes |
| Appropriate for life-threatening emergencies | No — call 000 | No — call 000 or attend ED | No — call 000 |
| Price (per consultation) | From $45 up to 10 minutes; $59 beyond 10 minutes | N/A after hours (or ED wait) | From $35 to $90 on average - if available |
Comparison reflects typical patient experience — actual times, fees and availability vary by clinic, location and clinical circumstances.
After-Hours Telehealth — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about availability, pricing, certificates, prescriptions and when to choose ED instead.
What hours does Clinic Online operate?
Clinic Online offers on-demand access to AHPRA-registered Australian GPs across extended hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. Actual GP availability at any given moment is shown live when you request a consultation, so you always see current wait times before committing. For the absolute latest availability, open the request consult page — it updates in real time.
Is an after-hours telehealth consult appropriate for my child?
For mild, non-urgent concerns (a cold, mild viral symptoms, skin rash that is not spreading rapidly, minor questions about feeding or sleep) telehealth can be very helpful. For any child who is very unwell, lethargic, difficult to rouse, has a persistent high fever, a concerning rash, breathing difficulty, or is under 3 months old with a fever, please go directly to an Emergency Department or call 000 — a physical examination is essential in those cases.
Can I get a medical certificate at 11pm on a Saturday?
Yes, where clinically appropriate. After-hours telehealth consultations can result in a medical certificate being issued if the consulting GP determines one is justified. Certificates are issued electronically, are accepted by Australian employers, educational institutions and Centrelink (subject to their own rules), and cover the dates clinically supported by your assessment — in line with AMA guidance on certification.
Can I get a prescription filled overnight?
Your Clinic Online GP can issue an e-script after hours. Whether a pharmacy is open to dispense it depends on your location — many capital cities have 24-hour pharmacies, and most major suburbs have after-hours pharmacies until late evening. Your e-script is stored and can be taken to any Australian pharmacy once one is open; the GP will discuss urgency during the consult.
Is after-hours telehealth covered by Medicare?
Since Medicare telehealth reforms, most MBS-funded telehealth items require an existing relationship with a GP or practice. Clinic Online operates primarily as a private telehealth service — you pay a transparent consultation fee ($45 up to 10 minutes, $59 beyond 10 minutes) and no gap, no bill-shock. If you have questions about Medicare eligibility, the GP will explain during the consultation.
What should I do in a real emergency?
Call 000 immediately, or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Symptoms that need 000 include chest pain or pressure, sudden severe headache, signs of stroke (facial droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty), difficulty breathing, severe allergic reaction, severe bleeding, suspected overdose, suicidal thoughts with a plan or intent, and any suspected serious injury. Telehealth — including Clinic Online — is never a substitute for emergency care.
Can I use after-hours telehealth while travelling within Australia?
Yes. Clinic Online is accessible from anywhere in Australia with a stable internet or phone connection, which makes it useful if you are travelling interstate, staying somewhere without a regular GP, or between moves. Prescriptions and medical documents are issued electronically and accepted nationally.
Is the service secure and confidential?
Yes. Clinic Online uses secure consultation technology and follows the Australian Privacy Principles. Your health information is treated confidentially, and — as with any Australian GP consultation — information is only shared with others (your regular GP, a pharmacy, a pathology provider, a specialist) where you consent or where there is a legal or safety obligation.
Related Telehealth Services
Everything you might need in one after-hours visit — prescriptions, certificates, referrals or a focused mental-health conversation.
Last clinically reviewed: by Dr Bani Kaur, MBBS, DCH, FRACGP (AHPRA MED0001787297).
The information on this page is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Whether a prescription, medical certificate, referral or test is clinically appropriate for you is a decision your consulting GP will make during your telehealth appointment. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.