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healthdirect 1800 022 222: a free nurse, any hour, when your child is sick and you don't know what to do

healthdirect is the free Australian Government health line, answered by registered nurses 24 hours a day. When to call, what happens on the call, the online Symptom Checker for babies and children, and how to find an open GP, pharmacy or urgent care clinic near you.

A father sits on the edge of the bed in warm lamplight talking on the phone, his sleepy toddler in floral pyjamas resting on his chest with a toy rabbit, a thermometer and a glass of water on the bedside table

It's 2am. Your toddler is hot, grizzly and won't settle. The GP is shut until Monday. Is this a trip to the emergency department, or a cool cloth and a cuddle until morning?

You don't have to guess. healthdirect is a free Australian Government health line. A registered nurse answers, any hour of any day, listens to what's going on and tells you what to do next.

Call free on 1800 022 222

What it is

healthdirect is run by Healthdirect Australia and paid for by government. It has three parts that help a parent:

It is for everyone, not only children. Save it once and the whole family has it.

When to call

Call when you are not sure what to do. The nurse helps you decide whether to:

If your GP is closed, call too. The nurse talks through the symptoms, tells you where to get help in your area, and may offer a call back or a video call from a GP.

For under-5s, you also have Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 for feeding, sleep and development questions, from the same organisation. healthdirect is the one for when your child is unwell, and the one that never closes.

When not to call: 000

Some things can't wait for a phone queue. healthdirect says to call triple zero (000) straight away for:

If you're unsure whether it's that serious, call 000. The Emergency+ app tells the operator exactly where you are.

What it costs

The call is free. healthdirect notes your mobile plan may charge for it. The Symptom Checker and Service Finder are free too, with no account needed.

How to call, step by step

  1. Call 1800 022 222. Have your child with you if you can.
  2. A registered nurse answers and asks what's happening: symptoms, how long, your child's age.
  3. They tell you what to do next: home care, a GP, or the emergency department.
  4. If your GP is closed, they tell you where to go nearby, or may book a call back or video call with a GP.

Need an interpreter? Call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be put through to healthdirect. Deaf, hard of hearing or find it hard to speak? Call the National Relay Service on 1800 555 727 and ask for healthdirect.

The Symptom Checker: for when you'd rather tap than talk

On the healthdirect website, choose Someone else, then enter your child's age. It takes babies in months (0 to 24 months) and older children in years. Then you answer questions about the symptoms. It takes about 6 minutes on average.

At the end it tells you whether to see a doctor or care for your child at home. It can't diagnose and doesn't replace a nurse or doctor. If something feels wrong, call.

Finding something open at night or on a weekend

After-hours usually means after 6pm and before 8am on weekdays, Saturday after midday, and all day Sunday and public holidays. The Service Finder shows what's near you and open:

Save it now

Put 1800 022 222 in your phone as "healthdirect nurse", next to Ngala Parenting Line, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby and the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26). Stick it on the fridge for babysitters and grandparents.

And if you want to feel calmer in the minutes before help arrives, Royal Life Saving WA's free online CPR course for parents is time well spent.

Call free on 1800 022 222

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