How to become a Medical Receptionist in Australia

Medical Receptionists are the first point of contact for patients seeking treatment and care. With a calm and friendly approach, these professionals support patients as they navigate the care system and also cover key administrative tasks.

What Is a Medical Receptionist?

A Medical Receptionist welcomes patients and any other visitors to a healthcare facility or clinic. In this role, you will become a key part of the healthcare system, ensuring that the administration of the facility runs smoothly and helping patients enjoy the best possible experience whenever they visit.

What Does a Medical Receptionist Do?

As part of your role as a Medical Receptionist, you will need to fulfil the following duties:

• Answering queries and greeting visitors – Welcoming patients as they arrive, answering telephone and email queries, and ensuring an efficient flow of patients and personnel within the facility

• Supporting patients – Helping patients as they complete key pieces of documentation and processing payments when required

• Handling administration – Ensuring that all records are properly stored within the system and maintaining this system so information remains accessible, protected, and complete

What Is the Demand for Medical Receptionists in Australia?

The demand for Medical Receptionists is already high in Australia. As of January 2025, there were estimated to be more than 8,500 unfilled Medical Receptionist vacancies across the country.

And this demand looks to be growing. It is expected the Australian population will grow to around 36 million by 2050, while the increasing average age of this population means more healthcare professionals are required across the entire system. Medical Receptionists have a big role to play in this increasingly complex landscape.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Medical Receptionist in Australia?

As you consider how to become a Medical Receptionist, you'll first need to gain Medical Receptionist qualifications. The main qualification you need is Certificate III in Health Administration.

This Medical Receptionist qualification offers training on:

- Developing and maintaining client and financial records

- Using information and resources in the most efficient manner

- Utilising medical vocabulary and terminology

- Implementing policies to control infection

- Handling health and safety in the workplace

- How to work effectively with clients

Certificate III provides the fundamentals you need to get started in the Medical Receptionist job market, but you will need additional Medical Receptionist training to continue with your career. This comes from the Certificate IV in Health Administration Medical Receptionist course.

With Certificate IV, you receive training in:

- Building the communication skills required to work with healthcare staff in many different roles

- Managing resource usage and ordering stock when required

- Using administrative systems and other important pieces of workplace technology

- Dealing with customer feedback and handling complaints

The additional IV-level certification ensures you are well prepared to deal with additional Medical Receptionist job description duties and requirements. This puts you in a better position to achieve a higher medical receptionist salary in the future.

How Much Does a Medical Receptionist Make in Australia?

The average salary is somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000 a year. This translates to a Medical Receptionist hourly salary of $33.65, based on a full-time workload.

As of January 2025, the average salary was $61,201, or $31.38 per hour — a little below the average salary for entry-level positions of all types in Australia, which is around $69,000.

How Do You Know if Medical Receptionist Is the Right Career for You?

There are many factors that drive people to seek Medical Receptionist employment, but most candidates will share a few similar attributes that could make them ideal for this kind of role. These attributes include the following:

A People-Driven Personality

Medical Receptionist job requirements typically involve dealing with members of the public face-to-face. With this in mind, the ideal receptionist will be highly comfortable in client-facing roles and will thrive in this type of environment.

Strong Organisation Skills

Receptionists need to be highly organised. While Medical Receptionist courses can help you learn key skills, the best candidates will already have a strong foundation in this area.

A Love of Healthcare

While Medical Receptionist duties are more administrative, these professionals still need a strong love of healthcare and of helping people gain the treatment they need. This will prove to be a key professional motivator.

Problem-Solving Abilities

As a receptionist, you will need to solve problems quickly and reach mutually acceptable solutions to any issues that may arise. Again, your training will help you with the specific situations you are likely to encounter, but a good background in problem-solving is definitely an asset.

Taking Your First Steps to Becoming a Medical Receptionist

Gaining a Medical Receptionist qualification is the first step you will take on your journey.

The first of these qualifications is the HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration — an online course lasting at least 12 months, but with a schedule you can set yourself, across part-time or full-time study.

Following this, you can consider taking the HLT47321 Certificate IV in Health Administration — an online course lasting at least 12 months, but with a schedule you can set yourself, across part-time or full-time study.

These qualifications give you everything you need to fulfil your Medical Receptionist job requirements and duties and also prove your credentials to any potential employers. Enrol today to begin your journey, or reach out directly to our team to discover more about Medical Receptionist careers and certification levels.

Medical Receptionist FAQs

What are the duties and responsibilities of a Medical Receptionist?

A Medical Receptionist job description involves greeting patients and visitors, answering telephones and emails, supporting patients as they complete necessary forms, and taking care of administration of clinical systems.

There may be other administrative tasks involved, but a Medical Receptionist will not be involved in the direct application of healthcare and treatment – although they will be highly knowledgeable about healthcare.

How long is a Medical Receptionist course?

A Medical Receptionist course will typically take 12 months to complete if you are studying full-time. Part-time and self-paced courses will take longer to complete.

There is not typically a practical work-placement component of the course.

Are Medical Receptionists healthcare workers?

Yes, Medical Receptionists are considered to be healthcare workers in Australia. While they do not provide medical treatments or conduct procedures, they play a vital role in the healthcare system.

Under Australian law, they have the same rights as other healthcare workers. However, the World Health Organization may not include clerical roles in its definition of healthcare workers.

What is the highest pay for a Medical Receptionist?

The upper limit for a Medical Receptionist pay rate is around $70,000 a year, which is just above the average salary in Australia.

This may change in the future, as the demand for healthcare receptionists is growing, which is likely to push salaries and hourly pay rates up accordingly.