Welcome to Next Practice Deakin! We’re here to support you and your loved ones with care that’s personal, thoughtful, and easy to access. Whether you’re managing a long-term condition, need help at home, or require palliative care, our team is dedicated to making your health journey as comfortabl
At Next Practice Deakin, we provide coordinated, person-centred healthcare for people living in residential aged care and in the community. Explore the sections below to learn more about accessing our services, your care team, fees and ongoing care.
If you or someone you care for would like to receive outreach healthcare from Next Practice Deakin, our team is here to help you get started.
Our outreach services support people living in residential aged care homes and people requiring healthcare in their own homes. We work collaboratively with patients, families, carers and aged care providers to deliver coordinated care.
Getting started is simple.
Please complete the following two forms so our team has the information needed to review your request and coordinate your care.
This form provides us with your personal information, healthcare needs and other details to help our team understand your circumstances and plan appropriate care.
Complete Outreach Registration Form ↗The ACT Digital Health Record (DHR) supports continuity of care and appropriate sharing of health information. Please complete our consent form so we can record your preferences regarding the use of your DHR information.
Complete DHR Consent Form ↗Once we receive your information, our team will review your request, determine whether our outreach services are suitable for your needs and advise you of the next steps.
We may contact you, your family, carer or residential aged care provider if further information is needed.
If you need help completing these forms, please contact Next Practice Deakin. Submitting the forms does not guarantee acceptance into the service or constitute an urgent clinical review.
At Next Practice Deakin, we provide care through a team-based approach designed to meet your unique needs with flexibility, compassion and expertise.
Your care will be overseen by a General Practitioner (GP), who works closely with a dedicated team of health professionals to ensure the right care at the right time, striking a balance between continuity and responsiveness.
Each member of the team brings specialised skills to support your health and wellbeing. Where necessary, team members will escalate concerns and seek advice from the GP.
Our integrated, flexible approach allows us to adapt to your evolving needs so that you receive care from the appropriate professional at the appropriate time.
When necessary, we collaborate with specialists and services across the broader healthcare neighbourhood to provide seamless, comprehensive care.
Together, we are here to support your health journey with kindness, expertise and responsiveness.
Accessing care at Next Practice Deakin is designed to be simple, convenient and tailored to your needs. You can contact our clinic by phone to discuss your care requirements and request appointments.
For people living in residential aged care homes, care and reviews are often requested by the care home's registered nurses.
We have an online communication system with participating nursing homes to support effective communication, scheduling and coordination of care.
Online requests are usually reviewed by the overseeing GP. The GP may provide advice to the nursing home or arrange a clinical review with the most appropriate member of our healthcare team.
Scheduling outreach visits
Due to the nature of our outreach program, we aim to be as responsive as possible but cannot always provide exact appointment times.
Instead, we may provide an expected time band or range. This gives you an indication of when to expect our team while allowing flexibility to respond to urgent or changing clinical needs.
We are committed to working with you, your family and your carers to make accessing healthcare as seamless and supportive as possible.
Our outreach service is not an emergency service. For immediate emergency assistance, call 000.
At Next Practice Deakin, we strive to make our fees clear and transparent.
For patients registered with our practice under the MyMedicare program who also hold an eligible concession card, we bulk bill eligible outreach attendances. This means no out-of-pocket cost for those consultations.
For patients not registered with our practice under MyMedicare, a private fee may apply, including a fixed out-of-pocket gap.
Please note that private fees may also apply to non-rebatable services and procedures.
Full details of our current fees are available on our website.
If you have questions about fees or payment arrangements, our operational management team will be happy to assist. Please contact our clinic by phone or through our general email address.
For residents in Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) who receive medicines through their contracted pharmacy, we utilise electronic medication charts where available.
These charts can serve as both medication records and prescriptions, supporting safe and efficient medication management and dispensing.
If you prefer an alternative pharmacy, or if you do not live in residential aged care, we are happy to work with you and your pharmacy to ensure your medication needs are met.
Prescriptions generally require a consultation with a GP or Nurse Practitioner, either face-to-face or via telehealth.
Eligible consultations may be bulk billed in accordance with our outreach billing policy.
Urgent prescription requests
If you need a prescription urgently and a consultation cannot be arranged in time, we may be able to issue a prescription without a consultation where clinically appropriate.
This service is subject to clinical assessment and may attract a private fee.
We recommend registering with an Active Script List, which can make managing electronic prescriptions more convenient. Your pharmacy can assist you with registration.
Our goal is to make medication management safe, accessible and coordinated while maintaining high-quality, patient-centred care.
If you require a referral to a specialist, an appointment with one of our clinicians, either a GP or Nurse Practitioner, is generally required.
Referrals cannot be backdated, so it is important to arrange your appointment before your specialist consultation.
Appointments may take place face-to-face or via telehealth, depending on your clinical needs and circumstances.
Where appropriate and eligible, consultations will be bulk billed.
Need a referral urgently?
If a referral is required urgently and an appointment cannot be organised in time, you may contact our team about requesting a referral through our private services arrangements.
A private fee may apply, and referrals remain subject to clinical assessment.
Our team is here to help ensure you receive appropriate specialist care and support in a timely manner.
The General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) is a national Australian Government program introduced on 1 July 2024.
It supports registered GPs and their practices to provide regular, proactive and coordinated care for people living in residential aged care homes.
The program encourages:
By encouraging regular reviews, comprehensive care planning and coordinated follow-up, GPACI aims to strengthen continuity of care and reduce potentially avoidable hospital presentations and transfers.
A Home Medicines Review (HMR) or Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a comprehensive review of all the medicines you take.
This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins and herbal preparations.
An appropriately credentialled pharmacist works with your GP to assess whether your medicines are safe, effective and suitable for your needs.
During the review, the pharmacist may:
Following the review, the pharmacist provides recommendations to your GP. Your GP considers these recommendations with you and updates your care as appropriate.
Medication reviews are particularly helpful for people taking multiple medicines or living with several long-term conditions.
A comprehensive health assessment looks beyond any single illness to consider your overall health, wellbeing and independence.
For people living in residential aged care, this may be called a Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA).
For people living in the community, other health assessments may be available according to their circumstances and Medicare eligibility.
Your healthcare team may review:
Practice nurses and other healthcare professionals may contribute to the assessment, with GP review and oversight where appropriate.
The findings are documented in a clear plan outlining recommended follow-up, referrals and actions.
The aim is to identify issues early, support independence and ensure that you and those supporting you understand the next steps.
A personalised care plan brings together your health goals, treatments and follow-up arrangements in one clear, coordinated document.
Your GP works with nurses, specialists, allied health professionals and other members of your healthcare team to ensure care is aligned.
A care plan may include:
If a care plan already exists, such as one developed by a residential aged care home or hospital, your GP can contribute to it.
This may involve updating medicines, adding clinical findings, reviewing test results and aligning recommendations.
Our registered nurses and practice pharmacist may assist the GP with the development and coordination of care plans.
Depending on eligibility and Medicare requirements, an appropriate GP care plan may also support access to Medicare-funded allied health services.
The overall aim is to give you, your family and your care team a practical roadmap to keep your care coordinated and on track.
A case conference is a structured meeting in which members of your healthcare team work together to review your care, share information and agree on next steps.
Case conferences can be held in person, by telephone or through secure video conferencing.
Depending on your needs, participants may include:
Case conferences help:
Medicare rebates may be available when the relevant clinical, participation and other MBS requirements are met.
Case conferences are a valuable way to keep complex care coordinated, timely and centred on your needs.
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