Medicare-Funded Health Checks for Children: What Parents Should Know

Medicare-Funded Health Checks for Children: What Every Parent Should Know

Australia’s Medicare system funds a series of health checks for young children, designed to identify developmental concerns early and give every child the best possible start. These checks are available at Family Doctor clinics, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost for eligible families where bulk billing applies.

If you are the parent or carer of a child under five, understanding these checks — what they involve, when they happen, and what to expect — is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s health.

What Are Medicare-Funded Child Health Checks?

Medicare funds specific health assessments for children at key developmental milestones. These are distinct from general GP consultations — they are structured assessments that follow a clinical checklist covering physical health, development, and wellbeing.

The funded check-up ages are:

• 12 months (1 year)
• 24 months (2 years)
• 48–60 months (4 years)
• Children in out-of-home care — can access health checks at any age under this program

These checks use specific Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers and can be claimed once per child per age group.

Medicare Item Numbers for Child Health Checks

• Item 709 — Health assessment for children under 5 years (aged 1, 2, or 4)
• Item 10986 — Health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under 5
• Items 3005, 3010, 3014 — Health assessments for children in out-of-home care at various ages

Item 709 covers a comprehensive assessment of at least 30 minutes, conducted by your GP.

Additional Medicare Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

The Indigenous-specific item 10986 provides a more comprehensive assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including a health action plan and cultural considerations. If your child identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, discuss this item number specifically with your GP when booking.

What Happens During a Child Health Check?

The GP-led health check is a structured consultation covering multiple areas of your child’s development and physical health. Allow at least 30 to 45 minutes for this appointment.

At the 12-Month Check

• Physical growth measurements (height, weight, head circumference) plotted on growth charts
• Gross motor development — is your child pulling to stand, cruising furniture?
• Fine motor skills — pincer grip, object manipulation
• Communication and language — babbling, responding to name
• Social development — eye contact, social smiling, stranger awareness
• Hearing screen
• Immunisation status review (12-month vaccines are due at this visit)
• Feeding, nutrition, and sleep discussion

At the 2-Year Check

• Updated growth measurements
• Walking and running — gait assessment
• Speech and language — does your child have at least 50 words? Are they combining two words?
• Social and emotional development — play skills, interaction with peers
• Behavioural concerns — tantrums, sleep, toileting
• Immunisation review (18-month booster catch-up if needed)
• Dental health and screen time discussion

At the 4-Year Check

• School readiness assessment — cognitive, language, and social skills
• Vision and hearing testing
• Fine motor skills for writing — pencil grip, drawing shapes
• Speech clarity — is your child easily understood by strangers?
• Emotional regulation and behaviour
• 4-year immunisations (due at this visit: chickenpox booster, DTPa-IPV)
• Dental health referral if needed

The National Immunisation Program and Your GP

Australia’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free vaccines to all children on a structured schedule. Your GP administers many of these vaccines and keeps an updated record in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Key vaccination milestones that align with the Medicare-funded health checks:

• 12 months: Meningococcal ACWY, Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A (Indigenous children)
• 18 months: Chickenpox (varicella), MMR booster, DTPa, Hepatitis A booster (Indigenous children)
• 4 years: DTPa-IPV (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio), chickenpox booster

If your child has missed any vaccines, your GP can check the AIR during the health check and arrange catch-up immunisation at no cost.

When to Bring Your Child Outside of Scheduled Checks

• Recurring ear infections or persistent glue ear
• Concerns about speech or language delay at any age
• Persistent feeding difficulties or failure to gain weight
• Frequent respiratory infections, wheezing, or suspected asthma
• Skin conditions — eczema, rashes, or suspected allergies
• Developmental concerns — late walking, limited eye contact, repetitive behaviours
• Behavioural concerns — extreme tantrums, anxiety, sleep disturbances
• Acute illness — fever, ear pain, vomiting, diarrhoea

School Readiness Assessments

The 4-year health check is closely aligned with school readiness in Australia. Your GP can identify and refer concerns that may affect your child’s learning, including:

• Speech and language delays — referral to a speech pathologist
• Hearing loss — referral to an audiologist
• Vision problems — referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist
• Developmental delay or suspected autism — referral for developmental paediatric assessment
• Fine motor difficulties — referral to an occupational therapist

Many of these referrals attract Medicare rebates under the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, significantly reducing the out-of-pocket cost for specialist allied health services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Children’s Health Checks

Is a child health check the same as a general GP visit?

No. A Medicare-funded health check (item 709) is a structured, comprehensive assessment specifically designed around developmental milestones. It takes longer than a standard consultation and covers a defined checklist of physical and developmental domains.

Can I claim item 709 more than once?

Medicare funds one health check per child per eligible age group (1 year, 2 years, and 4 years). If you need a general GP consultation between checks, this is billed as a standard consultation.

What if my child misses a scheduled health check?

You can still access item 709 within the eligible age window. Speak to your GP — they can still conduct and claim the assessment, and it is never too late to check in on your child’s development.

Are the vaccines at these checks free?

Yes. All vaccines on the National Immunisation Program are provided free of charge to eligible children.

Do I need a referral to book a child health check?

No referral is needed. Simply book a child health check appointment directly with your Family Doctor clinic. Inform reception which age-specific check you are booking so the correct time is allocated.

Book Your Child’s Health Check at Family Doctor

Family Doctor clinics across Australia offer Medicare-funded child health checks for ages 1, 2, and 4. With GPs experienced in paediatric care and child development, Family Doctor is the trusted partner for your child’s health from infancy through school age.

Find your nearest Family Doctor clinic and book your child’s health check today