About Baby Steps
Visitor & Patient
Information
New Patients
If it’s your first time at Baby Steps…
New patients will receive an SMS after booking an appointment, instructing them on how to fill in a New Patient form. This online form needs to be completed prior to arrival.
A guide to your appointment
General Practitioner appointments are available in 15 or 30-minute lengths. There is an option to book back-to-back appointments if extra time is required. If your specialist requires any more information, you will receive the relevant forms via SMS to complete prior to your appointment.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please provide us with no less than 24 hours notice. In emergency situations, notice must be received by 8am on the day of the appointment. Without such notice, the full cost of your appointment will apply.
Telehealth
Most practitioners offer Telehealth services; you can find out more about Telehealth here.
Parking at Baby Steps
Baby Steps has the advantage of being close to two free parking areas; Woolworths offers 90-minute free parking, while Coles offers 3-hour free parking.
Directions from Woolworths carpark
If parking in Woolworths’ underground lot, take the escalator up to the plaza and head towards the large building to the right of the train station.
Directions from Coles carpark
If parking at Coles, cross Station St and Baby Steps will be on your right before the train station.
Baby Steps is an escalator ride and a few steps from Subiaco train station. Visitors using public transport can practically step right into the building while remaining undercover, whatever the weather.
Costs & Rebates
Health providers at Baby Steps set their own prices at their discretion; details are available when booking with each specific provider.
Patients are privately billed according to appointment length and practitioner direction.
Medicare Rebates
Medicare generally covers part of a doctor’s consultation. Your rebate will be processed on the day of your appointment at the reception desk. The amount that is not covered by Medicare is the gap, and is paid on the day by the patient. The rebate for a 15-minute appointment is $39.75 and goes up to $113.30 for a 45-minute appointment. Note: Medicare does not cover Allied Health appointments. Exceptions apply if you have an EPC (enhanced primary care plan) for ongoing care from your GP.
What is an EPC?
Enhanced Primary Care plans reduce the out-of-pocket cost of allied health services for patients with chronic medical conditions. An appointment with a GP is required to determine eligibility, after which they may provide you with an EPC and referral to the relevant provider/s. An EPC allows you to access up to 5 discounted allied health visits per calendar year. Medicare covers a portion of these visits and the out-of-pocket expense is dependent on the individual allied health provider.
Private Health Fund Rebates
If you have Private Health, a portion of your Allied Health appointment may be covered. Private health claims for Allied Health can be processed straight from the desk if you have your card with you.
Amenities
distilled water & snacks
bathrooms (gender neutral, special access, male & female)
bottle warmers for preparing formula
private & semi-private breastfeeding rooms
air conditioning
change tables stocked with baby wipes & nappies
Concierge service
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a go-to person to assist you at the doctor’s office? We thought the same, which is why we are introducing our concierge service in 2024. The concierge will be the dedicated person for all patient questions and enquiries, and will have advance booking availability for people with special needs.
Cold or flu symptoms
If you have cold and flu symptoms on the day of your appointment, notify reception as soon as possible. You may be able to make a Telehealth appointment, which reception can arrange for you. Should you need to be seen in person, please call reception before entering the building. They will explain where to go, so that we can protect the babies in our waiting room. You will head straight into a private room, where your practitioner will come to when they are ready.
Special Requests
We want our services to be universally accessible. If there are any special accommodations we can make for you in advance, please let us know by calling the Baby Steps reception.
Why the wait?
Are patients booking the right appointments? Are doctors taking too long? Is there a better way of managing their schedule? Does community need outweigh supply?
The Great Wait is a nationwide problem in general practice that doesn’t seem to be improving.
So, what are we doing about it?
Baby Steps is treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves. We are implementing the following strategies to shorten wait times.
- Streamlining the booking process by allocating set lengths to appointments and making it easier for patients to access and book these services online
- Grouping similar appointments and clinics together for efficiency
- Educating patients (and doctors) on appointment types and what they can cover, thereby managing patient and doctor expectations
We want to offer an elite patient experience, which means less waiting. But…
Parenting is hard.
Many of the patients at Baby Steps are in crisis. Some are experiencing sleep deprivation that comes with raising a newborn. Some feel desperate and burnt out managing their child’s challenging behaviour. Others have personal mental health struggles, and many experience postnatal anxiety and depression. Best practice compels us to give anyone experiencing these issues more time and care.
There is a delicate balance between offering that extra bit of support and respecting the time of everyone in our centre. We strive to find that balance and in the meantime, if you have to wait a little bit longer than expected, we thank you for your understanding.
Staying Safe Protocols
Masks
All visitors to the centre can choose to wear a mask. If you would like your practitioner to wear a mask, please let the receptionists know.
Sanitiser
We ask that everyone uses the hand sanitiser available on entry to the building. There is also hand sanitiser available at the front desk and in every consultation room.
Cold & Flu Symptoms
If you have cold and flu symptoms on the day of your appointment, notify reception as soon as possible. You may be able to make a Telehealth appointment, which reception can arrange for you. Should you need to be seen in person, please call reception before entering the building. They will explain where to go, so that we can protect the babies in our waiting room. You will head straight into a private room, where your practitioner will come to when they are ready. Your practitioner will come to you when they are ready.
Information
All the practitioners at Baby Steps are happy to answer any questions you may have relating to COVID-19 or vaccinations.
For official information on COVID-19, see WA.gov.au
