Finding Family-Focused Telehealth Services in 2026

For family-focused telehealth, you need more than just any provider with a quick video slot. You want to make sure you and your family are looked after with the same high-quality care you expect from your family doctor.

Juggling the needs of infants, toddlers, teenagers, or ageing grandparents means you need a reliable telehealth provider serving everyone’s priorities and needs well. Cost, specialist expertise, speedy access and reliable medication delivery all play a role.

Below is a practical overview of the top family-focused telehealth providers available in Australia in 2026, followed by tips for choosing the right service for your household.

• Bulkbilled versus private fees – Bulk billing removes most out-of-pocket expenses for eligible patients. Providers can bulk bill after-hours services and some GP consults, though some providers apply a gap fee if they charge above the Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) schedule. Privatefee services with mid-range telehealth providers typically range from $14.99 for a same-day medical certificate to $49.95 for a specialist referral.
• Paediatric pricing – Specialist paediatric telehealth can carry a higher private fee (≈ $133–$399), typically higher than more general telehealth consults but lower than in-person specialist appointments. But many bulk-billing telehealth GP clinics also offer bulk-billed online appointments for when the family has seen the GP within the previous 12 months.
• Subscription models – Some providers offer monthly plans. For example, Updoc’s monthly plan lowers costs, making it attractive for families with frequent needs.

• Parents of younger children often need specialist care that goes beyond a standard GP consult. Popular providers connect families with paediatric specialists during business hours, with privatefee consultations ranging from roughly $133 to $399. For families in regional Queensland, for example, the Queensland Paediatric Telehealth Service offers video appointments with paediatricians; a valid GP referral is required to claim the Medicare rebate for the visit.
• For teenage mental health concerns, bulk-billed options are also available. Qoctor provides bulk-billed Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTP) that teenagers can use to access Medicare rebates for psychology sessions, while Prime Medic and Hola Health offer fully bulk-billed telehealth appointments after hours that include mental health support and a pathway to specialist telepsychology for adolescents, removing cost barriers. Smart Paediatrics is another option with adolescent-specific consultations as part of its paediatric telehealth suite.
• For infants, babies and young children, several bulk-billed services, such as VirtualKIDS (NSW) and Smart Paediatrics. 13SICK and Abby Health include GP and NP consults for babies and young children as part of their bulk-billed services, and Hola Health delivers 24/7 GP consults that can be used for children of any age, with bulk-billed options for certain services.

• Sameday, often within minutes – Many bulk-billed services promise a consultation within the same day, with some private providers, such as Hola Health, having 15-minute guarantees.
• Specialist waits – When a specialist referral is required, wait times can range from same-day to several weeks, mirroring traditional in-person pathways, but still on average faster than in-person visits.
• After-hours coverage – Providers like Prime Medic, Medmate, Hola Health and Healthy Life operate 24/7, offering “unsocialhour” bulk-billed slots for urgent concerns.

Fast, reliable prescription fulfilment is crucial for families juggling school, work and caregiving. Several platforms send eScripts directly to your phone or a pharmacy of your choice, with options for same-day courier, for example, through Hola Meds, or pharmacy concierge services.  Medmate advertises express same-day medication delivery as part of its premium offering, while Qoctor’s eScript token can be sent instantly to any participating pharmacy. Healthy Life bundles free medication delivery with its telehealth service.

1. Eligibility for bulk billing
2. Paediatric specialist network
3. Waittime guarantees
4. Medication delivery
5. Cost transparency

• Toddlers & young children – Prioritise bulkbilled GP platforms that accept paediatric patients under Medicare, or choose a dedicated paediatric telehealth service if you need specialist input.
• Teenagers – Look for providers with youth counsellors and flexible after-hours slots; bulkbilling can keep costs manageable.
• Elderly parents – Opt for services that combine GP care with easy medication delivery and minimal technology barriers (phone-only consults are still offered by some platforms).

This article is for informational purposes only and is no substitute for professional medical advice. Please choose your provider with care. Always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional regarding any health-related questions or concerns.