Children and wellbeing
Health, Medicare and dental care
Find medical and dental help, protect shared records and check local services and travel assistance.
Protect records before changing details
Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support records need their own attention. Before adding a new address, contact or bank details, ask how to separate records safely. A new Medicare card or changes to representatives can have visible consequences. Get specialist advice if a partner monitors accounts.
Ask a GP about appointments, fees, bulk billing, referrals and mental-health support. A Medicare rebate does not mean every visit is free. Let the practice know which contact method is safe for reminders and results.
Ask before booking dental treatment
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule has age, Medicare and benefit-related eligibility conditions. Check eligibility and the remaining benefit before treatment. Ask the provider whether they bulk bill, which services are covered and what you may need to pay.
State public dental services have different eligibility and waiting arrangements. Your state page provides the local route. Dental treatment through a private provider, a federal benefit and public dental care are separate options.
Use the right local health route
Ask about child and family health nurses, public mental-health services and community health support. Interpreter, hearing, mobility and communication needs can affect how you access care; ask for adjustments when making contact.
Patient-travel schemes depend on local rules about residence, referral, approved treatment and travel. Do not assume a trip qualifies because it is long. Ask the administering scheme before booking, including whether prior approval or receipts are required.
Your next step
Use the official links above, or find local services in your state.
Sources for this guide
- Protect information when leaving a relationship (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Check Child Dental Benefits Schedule eligibility (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Ask about covered dental treatment and costs (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Understand dental costs and public services (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
Related guides
Wording reviewed 5 October 2026. Numerical rules have separate verification dates on Sources and updates.