Vaccinations for new arrivals to Australia

Two things: (1) work out what AIR record you have (or don't), and (2) bring whatever overseas vaccination records you have to us so we can review them. From there, the plan is either catch-up doses, AIR upload of verified overseas doses ($25 per appointment), or both.

Yes. Vaccinations are available to anyone in Australia regardless of visa or residency status. Without Medicare you pay the private price for the vaccine plus the standard $20 administration fee. Free programs (like Victorian MMR catch-up for adults 20–59) are eligibility-based, not Medicare-based — you qualify if you fit the criteria.

An IHI is a unique 16-digit number Services Australia uses to identify you in the national healthcare systems including the AIR. Without it, vaccinations can't be linked to a national record. Apply for free via Services Australia (phone 1300 361 457, online via myGov, or in person at a Services Australia centre). Sunshine and Footscray both have Services Australia centres nearby.

For children aged 5 and over, yes — we can administer NIP catch-up doses and submit them to the AIR. For children under 5, see your GP or the Brimbank City Council immunisation service (we are out of scope for under-5s). The AIR Immunisation History Statement is the proof you need for No Jab No Play (ECEC) and school enrolment.

Bring whatever you have — yellow card, government health portal printout, GP letter, school certificate. Originals where possible (we can take a photo). For digital records, print them out before coming. We compare each entry against the Australian Immunisation Handbook to confirm which Australian vaccine equivalent it matches.

Not always — we can read records in many languages, particularly Vietnamese, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Greek, Macedonian, Albanian, Bosnian, Somali, Bengali and Filipino, or work with TIS National (131 450) for free interpreter support. If we can't reliably verify the entries (e.g. illegible handwritten records), we may need to ask for a translation or repeat the vaccinations.

$25 per appointment, regardless of how many doses we record. Once on the AIR, you can download an Immunisation History Statement instantly via myGov — accepted by schools, universities, employers and Family Tax Benefit assessments.

Several free programs apply regardless of Medicare or visa: free MMR catch-up for adults aged 20–59 (Victorian state program, runs to 30 June 2027); free vaccines for pregnant patients (influenza, dTpa, RSV); free NIP-funded vaccines for children aged 5+ on catch-up; and free vaccines for various medical-risk groups. Bring your details to the appointment and we'll confirm eligibility.