FAQs for adolescents and parents

When can I get my own Medicare card?

  • When you turn 15 years old you can get your own Medicare card. The Medicare website explains how here
  • If you don’t have your own Medicare card but need to see a doctor, the clinic should be able to look up your Medicare Number. The Clinic will need your name and date of birth to find your Medicare Number. If you have been to the clinic before they should have your Medicare details on file already

How old do I need to be to see a doctor on my own?

  • There is no age restriction for seeing a doctor on your own. 
  • Depending on your age and the reason for seeing a GP (general practitioner), the Doctor may ask your parents to leave the room for part of the consultation. This will give you a chance to share information that you don’t want to talk with to your parents. 
  • Your doctor should respectfully discuss the benefits of keeping your parents/guardians informed. If you ask your GP to keep the information confidential, they are not allowed to pass the information on to your parents/guardians unless they are required by law or if they think your safety is at risk (see below for further information). 
  • You can make medical decisions about your own health before 18 years of age provided your doctor considers you to be a ‘mature minor’.
    • A ‘mature minor’ is a person under 18 years of age who understands the proposed treatment well enough to make the decision to accept (or refuse) the treatment. In order for your doctor to decide if you are a mature minor they may ask you questions about your understanding of what might happen if you receive treatment, and the consequences if you don’t receive treatment. 
    • Some common examples where young people might make medical decisions on their own if they can be considered a ‘mature minor’:
      • Starting the pill or other contraception;
      • Treatment and testing for an STI (sexually transmitted infection); or
      • Seeing a psychologist for help with mental health.

Will the information I tell my doctor be confidential? 

  • You have a right to confidential health care except when your safety or another person’s safety is at risk. You can ask your doctor to explain when they would need to break confidentiality at the start of any consultation. If someone else needs to be involved in order to protect your wellbeing, your doctor should discuss this with you first. 
  • Know Your Rights, Including Confidentiality from the Royal Children’s Hospital provides a good explanation of confidentiality and consent for young people. See also Reach Out – Confidentiality and Reach Out – What is Age and Confidentiality?
  • The laws are different between Australian States and Territories, so it is always best to ask your doctor about confidentiality if you are concerned. 

Do I have to tell my parents that I am seeing a doctor?

  • No, although they may see that you have attended a GP appointment if you are on the family Medicare Card or if you have not yet taken control of your My Health Record. 
  • If you are 14 years and over, you can take control of your My Health Record, and this will prevent your parents from seeing it, unless you provide consent. You are also able to opt out, cancel or create a My Health Record once you turn 14 years old. See Take Control of Your Record from Age 14
  • Alternatively, when you visit a GP and have tests that you don’t want to be uploaded onto your My Health Record, let your doctor know. See this article from SBS’s The Feed on protecting your information. 
  • Parents/guardians can be a great source of support when you are facing health concerns, if you wish for them to be involved you can tell you doctor that you are happy for them to know what is going on. 

How do I tell a doctor something that I feel embarrassed about? 

  • Doctors are used to talking about sensitive issues with patients and they are bound by confidentiality unless your safety or someone else’s safety is at risk. 
  • It is normal to feel uncomfortable talking about sensitive issues.
  • Make sure that you feel comfortable with the doctor you are seeing, if you no longer want to be seeing the family doctor who treats your whole family, it is fine to change to a new one ‘Choosing a Doctor’.
  • Practise what you want to say by repeating it to yourself. You can try writing it down. 
  • You can ask a friend or family member to come for support but remember, if the information is confidential, you might prefer to see the doctor on your own.
  • Be prepared for your appointment using 6 Tips For a Smooth Doctor Visit

How do I find a doctor that is good with young people? 

  • You can call your local clinic and ask the receptionist for a recommendation of a doctor who sees lots of teenagers. 
  • If you’re in WA here is a list of Youth Friendly Doctors
  • Unfortunately no such list exists for other states and territories, try HealthEngine and Whitecoat to find local doctors and clinics. 

Will I need to pay to see a doctor? 

  • A lot of GPs will bulk bill for young people and students. This means that Medicare will cover the full cost of the appointment. It is always best to ask when you make your appointment. 
  • You may be eligible for a Health Care Card, which will entitle you to cheaper medicines and medical appointments. 

For parents:

Can I speak to the doctor about my teenager’s care?

  • You can discuss your concerns with their doctor, however the doctor will not be able to disclose any information unless consent has been given by the patient. 
  • If their safety or the safety of another person is at risk this confidentiality may be broken. Three circumstances where this might occur are:
    • If they are at risk of serious self-harm or suicide. 
    • If they are (or at risk of) being seriously harmed by someone else.
    • If they are (or at risk of) seriously harming someone else. 
  • See Teenage health care: your child’s rights and responsibilities

Can I see my teenager’s medical records? 

  • Unless your 14-18 year old has opted out of My Health Record before 31st January 2019 or taken control of their record, by default you will be able to access their My Health Record data until they turn 18 years old. 

Should I come in to my teenager’s medical appointments? 

Links to reliable information and support services for young people:

Mental health, anxiety, depression and suicide 

https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/ 

https://au.reachout.com/ 

https://headspace.org.au/ 

https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 

Sexual Health

https://www.fpv.org.au/for-you 

https://www.mshc.org.au/ 

Contraception

https://www.fpv.org.au/for-you/contraception 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/contraception-choices 

Pregnancy

https://www.fpv.org.au/for-you/pregnancy 

Sexuality and gender 

https://www.qlife.org.au/ 

http://www.starobserver.com.au/lgbti-community-services-and-organisations 

https://au.reachout.com/ 

Bullying

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

Young carers

https://youngcarersnetwork.com.au/ 

http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/ 

Domestic violence

https://www.safesteps.org.au/ 

https://www.1800respect.org.au/ 

Disability

https://www.cyda.org.au/ 

Alcohol and drugs

https://au.reachout.com/tough-times/addiction 

https://adf.org.au/ 

Eating disorders and body image 

https://www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/

Sexual assault 

https://www.1800respect.org.au/ 

https://youth.secasa.com.au/ 

General health 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/ 

Other:

https://kidshelpline.com.au/