Disability and Reasonable Adjustments in the Visa Health Examination

What are reasonable adjustments in a visa health exam?

When you sit a health examination for an Australian visa, people with disability have a right to reasonable adjustments from the Panel Physician and the clinic carrying out the exam. This is not a favour — it is a legal obligation under Australian anti-discrimination law and service accessibility standards.

Reasonable adjustments mean changing the process, the environment, or the method of examination so that a person with disability can take part fully and fairly — without changing the medical substance of the health assessment.

The legal basis in Australia

Australia has several laws and standards protecting the access of people with disability to health services:

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA): Prohibits discrimination against people with disability in the provision of services, including health services. A Panel Physician is a service provider and is bound by the DDA.

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002: Set standards for access to transport and facilities — indirectly relevant when a person with disability travels to a clinic for the exam.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) standards: Professional standards that place obligations on doctors to adapt their practice to serve patients with disability appropriately.

It is important to stress, however, that reasonable adjustments do not change the outcome of the medical assessment. If a health condition genuinely affects the visa health requirement, a reasonable adjustment cannot hide or alter that reality.

Common types of reasonable adjustment

Physical access:

A clinic with a wheelchair-accessible entrance
Examination tables with adjustable height
Accessible toilets
Parking close to the entrance

Adjustments to the exam process:

Allowing a carer or family member to accompany you into the examination room
Extra time for people who need it due to cognitive or communication disability
Using picture-based questionnaires or plain language for people who are deaf or have a cognitive disability
Conducting the exam across several short sessions rather than one long continuous session if you cannot tolerate a long appointment

Alternative communication methods:

A sign language interpreter for people who are deaf
Materials in Braille or large print for people with vision impairment
Easy Read information for people with a cognitive disability

Alternative examination methods:

An X-ray may be taken with the person seated in a wheelchair if they cannot stand
Blood pressure may be measured on the arm or wrist depending on the person’s condition

How to request reasonable adjustments

When you book an exam with a Panel Physician:

Tell them about your needs in advance — do not wait until the day of the exam. Phone or email ahead to ask about the clinic’s accessibility and to request specific adjustments.
Provide clear information — describe the type of disability and what you need (for example: “I use a wheelchair and need a clinic with a lift” or “I am deaf and need a sign language interpreter”).
Ask about the facilities — if the clinic nearest you cannot meet your needs, you can find another Panel Physician using the Department’s search tool.
Keep confirmation — keep emails or notes about adjustments that have been promised, so you can refer to them if there is a problem on the day.

If a Panel Physician refuses reasonable adjustments

If you are refused reasonable adjustments without a valid reason:

Ask for the explanation in writing
Find another Panel Physician if possible
If you believe this is discrimination, you can complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) or your state’s anti-discrimination body

The Department should also be informed if an access barrier affects your ability to complete the health requirement — in some cases the Department may help find an alternative solution.

A note on the assessment record

A Panel Physician records any adjustments that were made in the medical report sent to the Department. This is good practice that ensures transparency and lets the Department understand the context of the exam results — for example, if a particular test could not be done in the standard way and was adjusted.

This record is not a disadvantage for the person with disability — on the contrary, it ensures the medical record accurately reflects what happened and avoids misunderstanding during processing.