Free STI/STD Testing in Australia
With a Medicare card, STI testing is free. The Specialist GP telehealth consult is bulk-billed and pathology tests are covered by Medicare — no out-of-pocket cost at any stage. The free pathway covers the standard 5-infection STI screen plus optional throat, anal, and vaginal swabs at no extra cost.
No Medicare card? Two paid pathways. The $39
online STI test (SMS pathology referral, no consult) suits routine asymptomatic screening — same Specialist GPs, same labs. The $59
telehealth consult suits anyone with symptoms, exposure questions, or who wants to talk to a Specialist GP first. Additional pathology lab fees may apply without Medicare; most Private Health Insurers cover them — check with the lab you attend.
What you get on the free pathway. A Specialist GP telehealth consult plus the standard STI screen — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B from one blood test and a urine sample. Throat, anal, and vaginal swabs can be added at no extra cost; the Specialist GP advises which are right for you on the call based on your sexual history.
How it works. Book a Specialist GP telehealth consult online — free with a Medicare card. The Specialist GP reviews your situation on the call and sends an electronic pathology referral by SMS within minutes. Walk into any Australian pathology lab at a time that suits you, no appointment needed. Results return by SMS within 24-48 hours.
If you have symptoms. The free pathway suits routine screening when you have no symptoms. If you have any symptoms — discharge, sores, pain, unusual bleeding, or a rash — book a telehealth consult and mention the symptoms on the form so the Specialist GP can take a history, choose the right tests, and arrange treatment if you need it.
Who is eligible. Anyone in Australia with a Medicare card. The pathway works Australia-wide via telehealth, so you do not need to live near a Clinic365 location. There is no age restriction — the same confidentiality applies for patients under 18.
If a result is positive. A Specialist GP calls you to talk it through and arranges treatment on the call. They also help you tell partners using the Victorian-developed Let Them Know SMS tool, now used nationally. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV are reported anonymously to state Departments of Health for surveillance — this is handled for you and does not appear on your records.
Privacy. Testing is confidential. Results go to your phone only — we do not tell your GP, family, employer, or insurer.
Why we do this. STI rates in Australia are at record highs, and cost is a major reason people skip routine screening. Making the pathway free for Medicare card holders is part of normalising regular STI testing as standard health care.
