Referrers and other providers- patient correspondence and new patient referrals:

Healthlink (ONLY) is required

  • FOR ALL PATIENT-SPECIFIC CORRESPONDENCE and REFERRALS.

  • to minimise increasing cybersecurity and privacy risks.

  • to avoid the imposition of significant extra administrative costs and some referral validity issues.

The referral letter must be

  • Signed (personal signature) unless sent by Healthlink.

    Any referral sent other than by Healthlink must be signed to allow certainty for validity under Medicare rules ( but cybersecurity requirements are in place for all emailed documents.

  • Addressed to one (only) provider by their name.

    Unnamed general paediatrician referrals cannot be considered due to the providers’ extremely long wait times, overstretched capacity and book closures. They have only a very limited capacity for accepting new patient referrals and cannot consider unnamed referrals.

    Referrers are welcome to send more than one referral letter. A letter is sufficient, and Smart Forms are not necessary.

  • Indicate the clinical reasons for referral.

    Medicare rules require that all referrals must indicate all the clinical reasons for the specialist's opinion and management.

Secure Messaging addresses for all associated providers:

Healthlink EDI (drconway) -best and free to GPs

Public Hospital Doctors: A referral letter can be sent from the EMR. If addressed or copied to a doctor associated with Prosper Paediatrics, it will be delivered by Healthlink. Please make your referral intention to the paediatric specialist clear in the letter and ensure your provider number and the date of the referral are included.

Other Secure messaging equivalent to Healthlink that can be used:

Argus (prosperp@argus.net.au) (to be phased out by 2026)

Medical Objects (XP5065000QR) or use the Doctor Recipient's Provider Number

ReferralNet (GEN11508) or use the Doctor Recipient's Provider Number

General (non-patient) correspondence- all associated providers

Email to the admin email address, but,

Strengthened cybersecurity measures apply to emails and the sending of documents:

  • All general non-patient-specific correspondence should avoid the use of attachments.

  • Any document should be attached in the standard manner, clearly indicating the professional or patient-specific purpose and intention and providing sufficient information to verify the purpose or patient.

  • Do not use encryption or access codes (use Healthlink instead).

  • If embedded links or any other document transfer system is used, or the email’s bona fides is otherwise of concern, the document will not be opened or accepted due to the unacceptable cybersecurity risks posed.

  • Any email must sufficiently evidence an authentic intention and a professional and specific purpose for the contact. We must be able to quickly verify an email if necessary. No-reply emails should not be used.

  • If you do not have our email address, please use the website contact form.

Postal Address

  • Post to the provider at PROSPER PAEDIATRICS, 120 KENSINGTON ROAD, TOORAK GARDENS SA 5065.

Fax is not recommended.

We do not recommend faxing as this is prone to higher privacy breach risks due to incorrect fax numbers or misdials. Technical problems are also an ongoing issue. Please use Healthlink.

New Patient Referrals to the associated paediatric specialists

Information about capacity, wait times and book closures is available here:

Current information- New Patient Referral

Why Secure Messaging?

Secure Messaging is by far the best correspondence system because it allows significant

  • minimisation of cybersecurity and privacy risks, with encryption and direct delivery to patient files.

  • streamlining of efficient correspondence between medical practice software systems. 

  • reduction in correspondence complexity and costs for both sender and recipient.

The use of other delivery systems, combined with unprecedented appointment request numbers and referrals, has led to significant unfunded excessive demands on Prosper Paediatric's administrative team and significant additional unfunded costs to paediatricians' practices. We trust in and thank you for your understanding.

Cybersecurity and privacy breach risks to medical practices are now substantial due to IT changes, expanding criminal activity, and legislative changes. Healthlink is, BY FAR, the best correspondence method for minimising these risks. Hence, the use of Healthlink is a professional responsibility and is required for all patient correspondence..

Healthlink is very easy to learn and use, and is free to GPs.

A letter is sufficient, and Specialist Referral or other forms are not required.