Health Checks

• Blood Pressure Check
• Heart Checks
• Diabetes Screening
• Colon Cancer Screening
• Eye Examination
• Cholesterol Screening
• Breast Examination

Physical Examination

From time to time your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) will be checked during examinations. Depending on their risk factors, both men and women over the age of 40 should undergo a physical examination once every 3 years.

Blood Pressure Check

Both men and women with a history of borderline or high blood pressure should have their blood pressure checked at least every year.

Patients with diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or other related conditions also need to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

Diabetes Screening

Both men and women aged 40 or above should get tested for diabetes every 3 years. Women with blood pressure above 135/80 will be recommended by their healthcare provider to check their blood sugar for diabetes.

Skin Checks

General checks of suspicious or itchy areas of your skin should be examined as they arise.

Urgent skin issues such as:

• Bites and stings,
• Chicken pox, shingles, ringworm,
• Burns and blisters should be addressed immediately.

Regular skin checks

Regular skin checks can cover the following:

• Skin cancer screening
• Skin checks & molescan
• General skin care
• School sores and acne
• Skin allergies, infections, rashes
• Athlete's foot and fungal infections

Eye examination

An eye examination is recommended every two years for patients older than 45 or with vision abnormalities. You may need to be checked for glaucoma after the age of 45.

Immunisations

• A flu vaccine is recommended once a year.
• Tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
• Women
• after the age of 19 should have a tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (TdAP) vaccine
• Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for women between the ages of 18 and 26.
• born after 1980, who have never had chickenpox, should receive two doses of varicella vaccine.
• Other vaccinations will be recommended by your healthcare provider if you are found to be at a high risk for other diseases, such as pneumonia and shingles.

Cholesterol Screening

Patients at risk for heart disease need to be screened between the ages of 20 and 45. Women aged 44 and above need to be screened every 5 years. Patients with diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or other conditions need to have their cholesterol levels checked more frequently.

Colon Cancer Screening

Patients between the ages of 50 and 75, need to be screened for colon cancer. A stool test is recommended every year. A flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema is recommended every 5 years.

A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years. Additional studies may be scheduled by your doctor if you have a history of ulcerative colitis or any family history of colon cancer.

Dental Examination

A dental exam and cleaning is recommended at least once in a year.

Eye Examination

An eye examination is recommended every two years for patients older than 45 or with vision abnormalities. You may need to be checked for glaucoma once you cross the age of 45.

Bone Density

A bone density test should be performed in all postmenopausal women with fractures. Women under the age of 65, depending on their risk factors, need to be screened for osteoporosis.

Breast Examination

Women should perform a monthly self-exam of their breasts. Any lumps or other abnormalities noted in the breasts should immediately be reported to the doctor.

Women between the ages of 20 to 40 need to have their breasts examined by a doctor once every 3 years, and a complete breast exam is recommended every year in women aged 40 and above. Depending on their risk factors for breast cancer, women over the age of 40 need to have a mammogram performed every one to two years.

Pap Smear and Pelvic Examination

Screening should begin within 3 years after the first vaginal intercourse or by the age of 21. After the age of 21, women should have both a Pap smear and a pelvic exam performed every 2 years to check for cervical cancer.

Women over age 30 or whose Pap smears have been negative three times in a row may only need a Pap smear once every 3 years. Women who are sexually active should be screened for sexually transmitted diseases.



Other Assessments and Programs

• Quit Smoking Clinic - motivational counselling, smoking cessation advice, medication and nicotine replacement therapies.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Assessments