Seeing a Female GP in Hervey Bay: What You Can Book and What It Costs

Health Hub · Women’s health

Plenty of women would rather talk about contraception, a cervical screening test or perimenopause with a female doctor, and there is nothing unusual about asking for one. At Main Street Medical Centre in Pialba, a number of our doctors are women, and you can request a female doctor when you book. This guide covers what you can have done in general practice, what it costs, and when a referral to a gynaecologist is the right step.

Asking for a female GP is a normal request

Reception hears it every day. When you book, either online or on the phone, simply say you would like to see a female doctor and the appointment will be made with one. You do not need to give a reason, and it does not affect how quickly you are seen for most appointment types.

If your usual doctor is male and you would prefer a woman for one particular consultation — a cervical screening test, an IUD insertion, a sexual health check — that is fine too. You can see different doctors at the same practice for different things, and your records stay in one place.

Our female doctors and their areas of interest

Every doctor below is a woman practising at 71 Main Street, Pialba. Their areas of interest differ, so if you have something particular in mind, reception can match you.

• ✓Dr Padma Kaki (FRACGP, DRANZCOG) — IUD insertion and removal, family planning, antenatal care, cervical screening
• ✓Dr Ramani Poonehela (FRACGP) — menopause and perimenopause management, HRT, PCOS, preventative health
• ✓Dr Zin Zin Thant (FRACGP) — women’s health, cervical screening, family planning, skin cancer detection
• ✓Dr Tin Aung (FRACGP) — women’s health, chronic disease management, diabetes, blood pressure
• ✓Dr Shannon Abeywardena (MD, FRACGP) — family care and mental health
• ✓Dr Saharish Aman (GP Registrar) — women’s health, paediatrics, immunisations

What you can book with a GP

A great deal of women’s health care happens in general practice, without any need for a referral. Our women’s health service covers:

Also managed here: menstrual health and endometriosis support, menopause and perimenopause care including discussion of hormone therapy, iron deficiency and iron infusion, mental health treatment plans, and chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular health.

What it costs

Women’s health and contraception consultations are bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders, and so are cervical screening tests, immunisations and mental health treatment plans. There is nothing to pay on the day for a standard appointment.

A small number of items carry a fee — an iron infusion is $250 (bulk billed for DVA Gold Card holders), and a consultation without a valid Medicare card is $89. Our fees page lists everything, and our guide to what is bulk billed and what is not explains the difference. Reception will tell you the figure before anything is booked.

When you need a gynaecologist instead

A gynaecologist is a medical specialist. A valid referral is generally needed for a Medicare rebate; this can come from your GP or another specialist. Your GP will arrange one where it is warranted — for example, an abnormal cervical screening result needing colposcopy, suspected endometriosis that has not settled with initial treatment, heavy bleeding that has not responded to management in general practice, fertility investigation, or surgery.

For everything short of that, starting with your GP is faster, is usually bulk billed, and gives the specialist a proper history and set of results to work from if a referral does turn out to be needed.

Frequently asked questions

Wondering which checks matter at your stage of life? See our decade-by-decade guide to women’s health checks by age.

This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

External guidance checked 7 October 2026