There are now dozens of telehealth platforms in Australia, and from the outside they can look much the same. A few quick checks can tell you a lot about who you’ll actually be speaking with and how your information is handled. Here’s a simple checklist to run through before you book.
1. Are the practitioners named and AHPRA-registered?
Every health practitioner in Australia must be registered with AHPRA, whether they see you in person or by video. A good provider makes it easy to see who its practitioners are. You can check any name on the free public AHPRA register in under a minute. Read more in what AHPRA registration means.
2. Is the pricing clear up front?
You should know what a consultation costs before you enter card details. Look for one clear price for the first appointment and one for follow-ups, with no surprise add-ons. At CannElevate an initial 20-minute consult is $29 and follow-ups are $19.
3. Is there a real clinical conversation?
A proper telehealth consultation is a conversation with a practitioner, not a form that approves itself. Expect questions about your history and what you’d like to discuss, and expect your practitioner to suggest seeing your regular GP or an in-person service when that’s the better path.
4. How is your privacy protected?
Australian providers are bound by the Privacy Act 1988. Look for encrypted video, a clear privacy policy, and a straight answer about whether your records are shared with your GP (only with your consent).
5. Do you need a referral?
Many telehealth services let you book directly online without a GP referral. Check the provider’s FAQs so you know what to have ready.
6. Where is the practice based?
Telehealth means your practitioner doesn’t have to live in your suburb. It’s still worth knowing where the practice operates from. For CannElevate: the practice is run from WA. Your practitioner may be based interstate.
Quick checklist
- Named, AHPRA-registered practitioners
- Clear pricing for first and follow-up consults
- A genuine two-way consultation
- Encrypted video and a clear privacy policy
- Simple online booking
Want to see how it works in practice? Read what to expect from your first telehealth consultation or visit how it works.
