These resources provide information about Medicare UCCs, including:
- what a Medicare UCC is
- why and when to visit a Medicare UCC
- what to expect when you visit a Medicare UCC.
Animated videos
When you need stitches not surgery
If you have a cut not chest pain
Or if you've hurt your hand not your head
That's a case for a bulk billed
Walk-in Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
Find locations and opening hours at
That's a case for a Medicare UCC – 30s ad
When you need stitches not surgery. Or if you have hurt your hand, not your head. That’s a case for a bulk billed, walk-in Medicare UCC.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries.
Going to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic means you don’t have to wait at your local emergency department.
They are:
- bulk billed, so bring your Medicare card
- walk-in, so you don’t need an appointment or referral
- open early and late every day
- staffed by GPs and nurses.
Visit your local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic if you have an illness or injury that can’t wait for a regular appointment with a GP, but doesn’t require a trip to hospital.
If you or a loved one has a life-threatening injury or illness, call triple zero or go straight to your nearest emergency department. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC.
What do Medicare UCCs offer
When you need stitches not surgery. Or if you have hurt your hand, not your head. That’s a case for a bulk billed, walk-in Medicare UCC.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries. But how do you know what’s urgent and what’s not?
If you have an injury or illness that needs medical attention, there are three questions you can ask yourself before deciding where to go for help.
- Is it life-threatening and do I need emergency care?
- Is it something a GP or nurse can treat?
- Can it wait until I can get an appointment to see my local GP?
If it’s not an emergency but you can’t wait for a regular appointment with your GP … that’s a case for a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open early and late every day, services are bulk billed and you don't need an appointment or referral. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC
When should you visit a Medicare UCC
Medicare UCCs are located across Australia, making it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries.
Video resources
My name's Sarah Hunstead. I'm a paediatric nurse and I teach families how to care for their children.
I came and used the facilities at the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic when I broke my foot. I knew that I couldn't wait to see the GP. It wasn't bad enough for the emergency department, so I came here.
The experience was great. The fact that I was able to see a nurse quickly and given the pain relief, that was the best part, because I was much more comfortable to be able to wait for the X-ray. And then, of course, being able to see the doctor, the doctor being able to talk me through exactly what I needed, and I was seen, I was treated. I got referred for an X-ray.
I left with a boot on my foot and crutches. And I would recommend. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC
Sarah Hunstead’s visit
Medicare UCCs are located across Australia, making it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries. In this 57s video, Sarah Hunstead shares her experience visiting a Medicare UCC.
I'm Teresa. I'm 66 years old. I like to spend lots of time with my children. Well, I had a difficult moment when I was waiting for the train in Redfern.
When I tried to board the train, I stumbled and my right leg slipped into the gap between the platform and the door. My eldest son, Herman, knew about the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, so the clinic seemed like the most appropriate place to go rather than a hospital.
It was something that had to be taken care of urgently, but it wasn't an emergency. When we arrived at the clinic, we were treated with great kindness by the receptionist and put on the list to be seen by a doctor.
The nurse called my name and then took me to the first room where they examined my injury and cleaned it up before the GP came into the room. Because There was metal involved in the injury, there was the risk of an infection.
That was something the nurse brought up, and there was discussion about getting vaccinated against tetanus. When we spoke to the doctor, I was treated with the same caring, kind attitude.
It made me feel as if my health was important, even though he sees many people every day.
Teresa's story
Teresa shares her experience of visiting a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) after injuring herself at a train station. Medicare UCCs are located across Australia, making it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries.
At the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, we get a lot of questions about what we can and can't do.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are for everybody. It's a place where people who need to be seen today can be seen today.
Patients who have urgent cases but not urgent enough for the hospital. So we are that in between.
Could be burns, you might have broken something, you're bleeding, and you need help.
We're a free bulk-billed clinic that take walk-ins.
You'll be triaged on arrival, and we will assess how urgent your need is to see the GP.
You won't be seen in order that you arrive. You'll be seen in the order of the urgency.
They'll be seen by a highly trained GP or nurse. And we can also organise tests such as pathology or imaging if required.
Medications would be prescribed that are urgently required.
And thereafter, we refer you back to your GP for management.
So, if you're not sure about coming to Urgent Care, I'd recommend looking at the government resources that are online.
They can still phone the Urgent Care Clinic, ask the questions that need to be asked.
If you think that you need to be seen, please come here. We'll triage you, assess you, and we'll let you know what you should do.
So, there are a number of things that can't be treated in a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
If you needed a mental health care plan or your routine immunisations, those types of things, we would refer you back to your GP for. But if it's a minor infection and injury especially, it's a great option to consider.
Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at health.gov.au/MedicareUCC.
Frequently asked questions
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs) are located across Australia. In this video, Medicare UCC staff answer some frequently asked questions and explain how the clinics make it easier for patients to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries.
Auslan videos
Watch the Medicare UCC video resources communicated in Auslan.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access care for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries.
Going to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic means you don’t have to wait at your local emergency department.
They are:
- bulk billed, so bring your Medicare card
- walk-in, so you don’t need an appointment or referral
- open early and late every day
- staffed by GPs and nurses.
Visit your local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic if you have an illness or injury that can’t wait for a regular appointment with a GP, but doesn’t require a trip to hospital.
If you or a loved one has a life-threatening injury or illness, call triple zero or go straight to your nearest emergency department. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC.
What do Medicare Urgent Care Clinics offer?
Medicare UCCs are located across Australia and provide urgent, bulk billed health care.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access bulk-billed, urgent health care.
They’re open early and late every day, and you don't need an appointment or referral. Urgent care is when you need medical attention for an illness or injury that can’t wait for a regular appointment with a GP, but doesn’t require care for emergency or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Things that may need urgent medical care include minor fractures, sprains, minor infections; respiratory illnesses; mild burns; severe stomach pains; or urinary tract infections.
Emergency or life-threatening illnesses or injuries require immediate medical attention by an emergency department or hospital. For example, things like chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe burns, poisoning, loss of feeling, and seizures.
Your local GP is your first point of contact for routine and preventative health care. Some GPs also offer same day appointments. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC.
Understanding the difference between routine, urgent and emergency care
Learn the difference between routine, urgent and emergency care.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are located across Australia and make it easier to access bulk-billed, urgent health care.
They’re open early and late every day, and you don't need an appointment or referral. Urgent care is when you need medical attention for an illness or injury that can’t wait for a regular appointment with a GP, but doesn’t require care for emergency or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Things that may need urgent medical care include minor fractures, sprains, minor infections; respiratory illnesses; mild burns; severe stomach pains; or urinary tract infections.
Emergency or life-threatening illnesses or injuries require immediate medical attention by an emergency department or hospital. For example, things like chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe burns, poisoning, loss of feeling, and seizures.
Your local GP is your first point of contact for routine and preventative health care. Some GPs also offer same day appointments. To find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, visit health.gov.au/MedicareUCC.
When should you visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic?
Information to help you decide where to go when you have an illness or injury.
Fact sheets
When to visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
Learn the difference between routine, urgent and emergency care.
Deciding where to go when you have an illness or injury
Information to help you decide where to go when you have an illness or injury.
Posters
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics – When you need treatment the same day location poster
7 February 2025 | Poster
This poster gives examples of care that can be provided on the same day at a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and can be edited to include the name of your local UCC.
Free walk-in medical care for when it’s urgent, but not an emergency
16 December 2024 | Poster
This poster can be displayed to promote your local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Cuts, breaks and sprains are sometimes part of the game
1 March 2024 | Poster
This poster can be displayed in sporting clubs to promote nearby Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
How we decide who’s next – Triage poster
15 March 2024 | Poster
This poster explains how we decide who is seen next at a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic using a 'triage' system.
Easy Read
Simple and easy to read fact sheet and poster about Medicare UCCs.
What they are and how they can help you – Easy Read
8 January 2024 | Fact sheet
This fact sheet tells you about the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, what they are and how they can help you.
Where to go if you are sick or hurt flyer – Easy Read
8 January 2023 | Flyer
Information to help you decide where to go when you are sick or hurt.
First Nations
Posters, videos and translated videos in Eastern Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara and Warlpiri.
For the in-between stuff
8 December 2023 | Digital posters
Find out more about visiting a Medicare UCC for the in-between stuff.
- Poster 1 - For the in-between stuff
- Poster 2 - For the in-between stuff
- Poster 3 - Free walk-in medical care for when it's urgent, but not an emergency
For when it’s urgent, not an emergency
8 December 2023 | Digital posters
Learn more about where to go when you've got a medical problem that can't wait for a regular doctor’s appointment, but isn't a full-blown emergency.
Where should I go if I’m sick or hurt?
8 December 2023 | Digital posters
Information to help you decide where to go if you are sick or hurt.