Helpful Information

How do I register for birth care? You can register directly through our website to book your bulk-billed antenatal video consult. Many families also find us during pregnancy through their obstetrician at Mater Mothers or Pindara, or their midwife at Matrescence. Either way, the antenatal consult is a chance to meet us, talk through any questions, and feel prepared well before your due date.

Do you have limited capacity? We cap the number of families we care for each month so that every baby receives safe, thorough and unhurried attention. If we're at capacity for your expected month, we'll offer you a place on our waitlist. Our team is growing – with neonatologists and paediatricians joining Nest to expand our capacity and extend our care into childhood through Nest Children's.

How do I book follow-up appointments? Through our Bookings page – for routine reviews or specific concerns like feeding, growth, sleep, or development. You're welcome to book whether or not you received in-hospital care with us. If you're unsure which appointment suits, reach out and we'll help you find the right starting point.

Do I need a referral? You're welcome to self-refer at any time – we don't require a GP letter to book. A referral from your GP or specialist is needed if you'd like to access a Medicare rebate. If you're unsure what applies, get in touch and we'll walk you through it.

Why does my baby need specialist newborn care? Your baby's care at Nest is led by a neonatologist – a paediatrician with additional years of subspecialty training in newborn medicine, including intensive care, emergency resuscitation, and complex follow-up. This is expertise usually found only in public NICUs. From the very first breath, your baby is in the hands of a team prepared for every scenario – a smooth transition, urgent support in the delivery room, escalation to a higher level of care if needed, or a subtle sign that needs early attention. We treat caring for your baby as a privilege, not a tick-box.

Who provides my care? Every clinician involved in your care is a senior member of our team – fully qualified neonatologists, paediatricians, and our neonatal nurse practitioner.

• Antenatal Consults – a Nest Neonatologist

• Hospital Care – coordinated by a Nest Neonatologist; well-baby reviews may be conducted by a Neonatologist, Paediatrician, or Neonatal Nurse Practitioner; nursery babies are generally reviewed by a Neonatologist

• Postnatal Phone Reviews – generally our Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, or otherwise a Neonatologist

• Clinic Reviews – a Neonatologist or Paediatrician, with 6-week reviews generally with a Neonatologist

• Nest Children's – ongoing medical and developmental care from a Paediatrician

All Nest clinicians hold current AHPRA registration and specialist qualifications. In the rare event a clinician is unexpectedly unavailable during your baby's hospital stay, we may engage a locum paediatrician to ensure timely care.

Do you replace our GP or child health nurse? No – we work alongside your existing care team, not in place of them. After each appointment, we send clear updates to your GP, obstetrician, and child health nurse so everyone stays informed.

Do you offer vaccinations or emergency care? We don't administer routine vaccines, though we're happy to guide you on timing and work with your GP. We don't offer after-hours or emergency services, but we prioritise urgent reviews during clinic hours and offer Telehealth when appropriate.

Do you see babies you haven't cared for in hospital? Yes – we're happy to see any baby for a wide range of concerns, including feeding difficulties, reflux, weight gain, unsettled behaviour, and early developmental questions. Some families come with a specific worry; others simply want reassurance. No question is too small.

Do you offer general paediatric services? Yes – Nest Children's provides ongoing paediatric care beyond the newborn period. As your baby grows, they transition seamlessly to one of our paediatricians for continued support through infancy, childhood and beyond. Our paediatricians also welcome GP referrals across developmental, behavioural, medical and second-opinion consultations.

Do you welcome all kinds of families? Absolutely. Nest is a safe, inclusive space for families of every background, structure and identity – including same-sex parents, solo parents, blended families, surrogacy and adoptive families. However you come to parenthood, you are warmly and genuinely welcomed here.

We've had a difficult journey – will that be understood? Yes, without question. Whether your baby spent time in intensive care, you've faced fertility challenges, experienced loss, or things simply didn't go as planned – we offer care that is compassionate, sensitive and without judgement. You don't need to explain or justify anything. We'll meet you where you are.

We think being clear about money is part of caring for you well. So we set out every fee in full, in advance – what each appointment costs, what Medicare and private health insurance cover, and exactly what you'll pay before you ever sit down with us. Wherever we can, we handle the claiming for you, so there's no paperwork and nothing to chase.

Two principles guide how we charge. First, the price is the price: a capped amount that doesn't move depending on your circumstances. Second, we keep that cost the same for every family – so a family without Medicare is never charged more than one with it, and our bulk-billed services stay free for everyone.

What does Medicare and private health insurance cover? Routine newborn care attracts Medicare rebates, both for hospital care and clinic follow-up. Private health insurance covers your baby's care if they are admitted to the nursery whilst in hospital. We lodge both Medicare and private health insurance claims on your behalf.

What will I actually pay? The amount below is simply what you pay us – a capped, fixed price that's the same whether or not you're eligible for Medicare. If you have Medicare, we bill a higher scheduled fee and Medicare rebates the difference, so you're left with the capped amount; if you don't have Medicare, we charge that same capped amount directly. Either way, the figure you see is the figure you pay. And for our bulk-billed services – antenatal consults and phone reviews – families without Medicare aren't charged at all: where there's no rebate to bill, we simply don't charge.

• Antenatal Consults – Free, with or without Medicare

• Hospital Care (Gold Coast Private & Pindara) – $700, or $140 once your family reaches the Medicare Safety Net

• Birth Centre Care (Matrescence) – $350, or $70 with the Safety Net

• Clinic Follow-Up (to 4 months) – $470, or $95 with the Safety Net

From 6 months, ongoing care transitions to a General Paediatrician through Nest Children's.

The full scheduled fees, Medicare item numbers and rebates are set out below for complete transparency – but they're the workings behind the capped price above, not an additional cost.

What is your fee schedule?

Antenatal Consults

• Third Trimester Video Consult (Item 91824) – Bulk-billed $152

Hospital Care

• Initial Review (Item 110) – Fee $460; Rebate around $152, or $398 with the Safety Net

• Progress Review (Item 116) – Fee $270; Rebate around $76, or $231 with the Safety Net

• Discharge Review (Item 116) – Fee $270; Rebate around $76, or $231 with the Safety Net

We do not charge additional fees for on-call availability during your hospital stay, after-hours call-ins, additional reviews, daily monitoring of progress, or advice to the maternity team.

Clinic Follow-Up

• Postnatal Phone Review – Nurse Practitioner (Item 91190): Bulk-billed $51; Neonatologist (Item 92440): Bulk-billed $76

• 6-Week Clinic Review (Item 116) – Fee $350; Rebate around $76, or $295 with the Safety Net

• 4-Month Clinic Review – Item 110 or 132 based on complexity; Fee $350 (110) or $440 (132); Rebates around $152 (110) or $266 (132); with the Safety Net, $295 (110) or $400 (132)

We do not charge additional fees for advice between appointments, or for access to Nest Notes.

Children's & GP Referrals

• Initial Review – Item 110 or 132 based on complexity; Fee $440 (110) or $490 (132); Rebates around $152 (110) or $266 (132); with the Safety Net, $392 (110) or $445 (132)

• Follow-Up Review – Item 116 or 133 based on complexity; Fee $350 (116) or $390 (133); Rebates around $76 (116) or $133 (133); with the Safety Net, $241 (116) or $325 (133)

Our fees are subject to change, generally by a small amount annually. We will inform you in advance of any change.

How does the Medicare Safety Net work? If your family's out-of-pocket medical costs exceed $2,544.30 in a calendar year, Medicare reimburses up to 80% of remaining out-of-pocket costs for the rest of that year. Most families who have paid a private obstetrician's fee during pregnancy will already be close to or past this threshold before their baby is born – significantly reducing what you pay for Nest appointments. If your baby's clinic reviews fall into a new calendar year, the higher Safety Net rebates may not yet apply.

How should I be prepared? To maximise your rebates and keep the process smooth:

• Register your baby with Medicare as soon as possible after birth

• Add your baby to your private health policy

• Link your family under the Medicare Safety Net via myGov

How do you process payments? All payments are processed securely through our clinic software, Halaxy, using bank-grade encrypted card storage. Your unencrypted card details are never accessible to Halaxy or our clinic. Nest absorbs all card surcharges, so the fee you see is exactly what you pay.

Hospital care fees are collected at your 6-week clinic review, giving you time to register your baby with Medicare first. Clinic review fees are collected at each appointment. In both cases, we process your Medicare rebate at the same time – minimising how long you're out of pocket. Outstanding balances should be settled within 7 days of the invoice date.

What is your cancellation policy? We understand life with a newborn is unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know as early as possible so we can offer the appointment to another family. We reserve the right to charge a late-cancellation or no-show fee of up to 50% when less than 24 hours' notice is given – though in practice, a quick call or message is almost always all that's needed.

What should we expect at our appointment? All clinic reviews run for 45 minutes – long enough to assess your baby thoroughly, answer your questions, and make sure you never feel rushed. We currently consult from private, comfortable rooms at Mater Mothers, with easy pram access and a calm, welcoming feel. Later in 2026, we'll move into our own dedicated space at RDX Lumina nearby – purpose-designed for families, with a dedicated waiting area, space for siblings, and a café on site.

Please bring:

• Your baby's health record (Red Book)

• Any referral letter, if applicable

• Feeding items – bottle, expressed milk, and so on

• A change mat or blanket if you'd prefer your own

Can we bring siblings or another adult? Yes – siblings are always welcome. A second adult can help you focus during the consult, but it's not required. If a key support person can't be there, we're happy to include them by phone or video.

Do you offer Telehealth? In-person visits are best for most reviews, particularly when a physical assessment is needed. We offer Telehealth for certain follow-ups, parent-only discussions, and families living regionally. Just ask if you think it might suit.

Is parking available? Yes – convenient parking at Gold Coast Private, close to our consulting rooms.

Can we contact you between appointments? Yes – you can reach us between visits for non-urgent questions via email at hello@nestclinics.com.au, and we aim to respond within one business day. If we think your baby needs a proper assessment, we'll let you know and help you find the right next step – whether that's a Nest appointment, your GP, or an Emergency Department.

And please – don't hesitate. The newborn phase is full of unknowns; that's normal, and there's no such thing as a question too small. You're never a burden.

We handle your family's information with care and in accordance with Australian Privacy Law and AHPRA guidelines. You can read our full privacy policy, including how we collect, store and use your information, on our Privacy & Transparency page.