Your goals and questions
It is useful to think about what you would most like help with and any questions you want answered.
Patients and Families
Preparing for specialist care
What an Addiction Medicine Specialist does, how a referral begins and what to prepare for an appointment.
Patients must be in Australia. Telehealth is available only when Dr Hadinata agrees it is appropriate for the individual circumstances.
What specialist assessment considers
An Addiction Medicine Specialist is a doctor with advanced training in the assessment and treatment of substance use, behavioural addictions and related health concerns.
An assessment may consider substance use or addictive behaviours, physical and mental health, current medicines, safety, previous treatment, day-to-day circumstances and what matters to you. Recommendations depend on the individual assessment.
Coordinated medical care
Your GP or other treating doctor remains an important part of ongoing care. You are strongly encouraged to have a regular GP for coordinated care.
From referral to appointment
Talk with your doctor
Your GP or another treating doctor can consider whether specialist assessment may be useful and prepare the referral. Please maintain a regular treating GP.
Use the clinical referral pathway
You or your doctor can use the online referral upload. Before uploading, check that the referral itself includes your current contact details and your referring practitioner's current contact details. Your doctor can also email the referral and relevant documents to referral@dreric.net, or fax them to 03 8692 2781.
Wait for the practice to respond
Submitting information does not confirm acceptance or an appointment. The practice aims to triage referrals and respond to appointment requests within one week. During busy periods, this may take a little longer.
Preparing for an appointment
Unless the practice advises otherwise, have an up-to-date list of medicines, relevant health information and the questions you want to discuss. Tell the practice beforehand if you need communication or accessibility support.
All appointments and services are privately billed, without exception, and private fees are payable in full. A Medicare rebate may be available for some eligible consultations, but not every appointment, assessment, report or other service attracts a rebate. Please do not assume that a rebate will apply.
WorkSafe Victoria and TAC matters are considered case by case. The practice confirms billing arrangements before the appointment, and a scheme may not meet the full private fee.
What if I cannot afford private care?
Dr Hadinata's practice is an entirely private service and does not provide public or reduced-fee appointments. If private care is not financially accessible, ask your GP to discuss appropriate publicly funded Addiction Medicine options and whether a referral is needed, or contact your local public hospital to ask what services are available.
Your GP remains an important treating doctor. They can discuss publicly funded options, coordinate ongoing care and make a referral where appropriate, and their usual fees apply.
For alcohol and other drug information, counselling and referral in Victoria, DirectLine is free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1800 888 236.
Your privacy
Do not enter personal health information anywhere on this public website. Referral emails and faxes are sent outside the website by your treating doctor.
Driving and occupational assessments
Driving, occupational and other formal assessments are considered case by case. The purpose of the assessment and the questions to be addressed need to be clear before a request is accepted.
Some assessments form part of clinical care. Independent expert work follows a separate medicolegal pathway.
Depending on the agreed scope, the assessment may consider your health, substance use or addictive behaviours, medicines, safety, day-to-day function, relevant records or results, and the practical demands of driving or work.
A fee pays for careful expert work, never a favourable or predetermined conclusion.
The fee does not purchase a particular certificate, report wording or licence recommendation. Any conclusion or recommendation depends on the individual assessment and the question being considered.
Help that cannot wait
Reception is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For clinical or administrative requests, or if you prefer to speak with reception, call (03) 9526 0244.