Altona Meadows Medical Centre Option: Juniper, 6 km West
A medical centre near Altona Meadows does not have to be inside the suburb to be convenient. Our clinic at 2 Juniper Ave, Point Cook is about 6 km west by road, a short drive from most streets in Altona Meadows. It is our only location, so every visit happens there.
This page covers the route, what the 2021 Census tells us about the suburb, and the parts of general practice that matter most for households here.
A medical centre for Altona Meadows, six kilometres west
From Altona Meadows, take Central Avenue west to the Princes Freeway, drive along it for a few hundred metres, exit at Palmers Road and head south until you reach Dunnings Road. The trip is about 6 km. Parking is at the back of the clinic, with the driveway on Dunnings Road rather than Juniper Ave.
Without a car, the PTV journey planner will show current bus and train options and how long they take.
Who lives in Altona Meadows
Altona Meadows is one of the larger suburbs in Hobsons Bay, home to about 18,500 people at the 2021 Census (ABS QuickStats). The median age is 41. Almost half the families are couples raising children, and one-parent families make up about 19%, above the Victorian figure of 15%.
It is also a multilingual suburb. Vietnamese, Greek, Arabic, Maltese and Italian are the most common languages at home after English, and about 37% of households use a language other than English.
Diabetes and long-term conditions
In the same Census, 6.5% of Altona Meadows residents reported diabetes, compared with 4.7% across Victoria. That makes regular checks worthwhile here. Our diabetes care page covers the tests and reviews involved, and Dorevitch Pathology collects blood on site, so many tests can be done the same day as your appointment.
When diabetes sits alongside high blood pressure, kidney concerns or arthritis, a GP chronic condition management plan helps coordinate everything. GP care plans are bulk billed with every one of our doctors.
Support with mental health
About 9.5% of residents reported a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. If that includes you, a GP can prepare a mental health treatment plan. Under the Australian Government’s Better Access initiative, eligible people can claim Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual sessions a calendar year with an eligible psychologist or other allied health professional. The referral has to come from your usual GP or a GP at the practice where you are registered for MyMedicare.
Read more on our mental health care plan page. If you are in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 if life is at risk.
Language help, reminders and results
- Ask about an interpreter when you book, so one can be arranged for your visit.
- The clinic sends SMS reminders when preventive care is due, such as immunisations, cervical screening, heart checks and diabetes reviews.
- Test results are not given out by reception over the phone. You are usually told by text, urgent results by phone, and you book a visit to go through them with the doctor.
What you pay
Juniper uses mixed billing. Bulk billing applies with all doctors for Veterans’ Affairs card holders, pensioners over 65, childhood and adult immunisations, and GP care plans. Other consultations may involve a gap, set by the individual practitioner. Check the fees before your visit, and note that a $30 fee applies for late cancellations and missed appointments.
Common questions
Can I see a doctor without booking?
Walk-in appointments are available with a private fee. Booking ahead online or by phone is the more reliable way to see a doctor at a time that suits you.
Do you see children as well as adults?
Yes. Our GPs see children, and childhood immunisations are bulk billed. The paediatric care page explains what a visit for a child can cover.
Is it worth the trip for a quick script?
If you already see one of our GPs, yes, because they know your history. Phone consultations are also available; ask reception how they are booked and what they cost.