Do you need a referral for pre-employment medical?

A pre-employment medical, also called a pre-employment health check, considers whether you can safely perform the duties of a particular role. Depending on the work, it may involve a health questionnaire, examination, vision or hearing checks, and tests linked to hazards such as physical exertion or exposure. It is different from a routine check-up because the job demands guide the assessment.

Follow the employer's booking instructions before arranging an appointment yourself. Confirm the clinic, documents required, and whether you should bring previous reports, glasses, or details of regular medicines. Tell the clinician about conditions that could affect the duties, including allergies or injuries. If the employer requests information from your family doctor, ask what consent is required and what information will be disclosed.

Arrange separate medical care for urgent symptoms such as severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, sudden weakness, or a significant injury. A pre-employment assessment should not delay treatment. If the examination finds a health concern, ask whether you need follow-up with your family doctor before starting the role.

Ask whether your medicines or medical conditions need workplace precautions, whether any examination result needs follow-up, how your consent will be recorded, and whether the role's duties should be clarified before an opinion is given.