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What is My Health Record?
My Health Record is an online record of your health history, including past and existing medical conditions, test results and vaccinations. It can be accessed by any healthcare provider you see for care, including during an emergency.
You can access it through the MyHealth app or by linking it with your MyGov account.
Who can access My Health Record?
- Your healthcare workers, including:
- doctors
- nurses
- hospital staff
- pharmacies
- allied health professionals (e.g. physiotherapists)
- Researchers can access information from My Health Record without asking you first. They can only access de-identified data (this means that your name is removed). However, it may still be possible to guess your identity. This is more likely for people who live in a small town, or belong to multiple minority groups.
Why might My Health Record be risky for sex workers?
My Health Record is an online summary of your health information. It lets you and your healthcare providers see your test results, medicines, and other health details in one place. This can make things easier, especially if you have ongoing or complex health needs.
However, My Health Record also has risks, especially for:
- people living with STI/BBV
- LGBTQI+ people
- people living with stigmatised health conditions
- people who use drugs
- sex workers.
Many people in these communities use different clinics or doctors for different reasons — to keep things private and to avoid judgment or discrimination. Because My Health Record puts all your information together, it could reveal personal details that you don’t want everyone to see.
By default, My Health Record shares a lot of information with many healthcare providers. If you want to make your record more private, you need to change the settings yourself — either in the app or on the website.
There are also concerns about safety and privacy. Some groups — like people living with HIV, people who use drugs, or sex workers — could face extra risks if their information is shared or accessed by the wrong people. Even though there are privacy settings, there are still times when your record can be seen or shared by others, including people who aren’t doctors. This can increase the risk of discrimination, surveillance, or even criminal charges.
You can change the settings on the app or web portal to make your information more private, or cancel your record. Cancelling means your record becomes inaccessible to healthcare providers. Some data may still be securely retained by the system, but it will no longer be available to view or update.
Updates to My Health Record
There are changes being made to how My Health Record works.
These new changes mean that healthcare providers delivering pathology results (like STI tests) will have to upload results to your My Health Record unless you ask them not to. Healthcare providers may face penalties for not uploading these results.
Previously, not all test reports were uploaded to My Health Record.
These changes may affect sex worker privacy. However, there are steps you can take to control who can see your information.
Starting from mid-October 2025:
- Most pathology reports (like blood and urine tests) will be available for you to view in My Health Record or MyHealth app as soon as they are uploaded.
- Some results, such as cervical screen tests, will be visible to you after 5 days, reduced from the previous 7 days.
From February 2026:
- X-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs) will be available for you to view immediately after upload.
- Other x-rays and types of diagnostic imaging reports (like CT scans, mammograms, MRI and PET scans, and ultrasounds) will be viewable after 5 days, reduced from the previous 7-day delay.
Most written reports from pathology and diagnostic imaging services will be uploaded by default, but the images won’t be included. Let your healthcare provider know if you don’t want a report uploaded.
How do I control what is uploaded to My Health Record?
- You can ask the testing provider not to upload a particular report to your My Health Record. Test results will still be sent to the provider who has requested them, so you can get your results.
- Healthcare providers must comply if a patient requests that information not be uploaded to My Health Record.
- You can also remove or restrict access to test results once they are uploaded to My Health Record. If you choose this option, you will need to remove/restrict access for each new set of tests.
- You can also cancel your My Health Record or restrict access so your GP cannot access it at all.
Medicare Records
- Even if the results are not uploaded, or they are restricted or removed, Medicare information related to the testing may still be visible in My Health Record, as this information is uploaded by Medicare.
- If you do not want this to be included, you can remove or manage access to that information via myGov, or by calling the My Health Record helpline for assistance (1800 723 471).
I do not know what my result means – what should I do?
- Your results will still be sent directly to your GP or other healthcare provider who requested the test. It is recommended that you discuss your results with your healthcare provider. They are the best person to provide advice, help you understand your results and support ongoing management of your health.
- You can visit the Pathology Tests Explained website to learn more about pathology tests.
How do I know if I have My Health Record?
- You will have My Health Record unless you have decided to cancel it or opted out by 31 January 2019, after My Health Record was launched.
- You can call the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471 if you are unsure whether you have a My Health Record.
- The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
- For hearing or speech assistance, contact the National Relay Service or call 1300 555 727.
What if I do not have My Health Record?
If you do not have My Health Record, your reports and results will not be uploaded.
Where can I find more information about the changes to My Health Record?
You can find more detailed information and updates on the “Better and Faster Access” page of the Australian Digital Health Agency website.
