Australian consultations are informal but respectful, and the doctor-patient relationship is a partnership.
- Names: introduce yourself with your first name and role ("Hi, I'm Priya, one of the doctors"). Ask how the patient would like to be addressed; many are happy with first names, but older patients may prefer Mr or Mrs.
- Shared decision-making: present options, including doing nothing, with benefits and risks, and ask what matters to the patient. A paternalistic "you must do this" approach loses marks.
- Plain language: say "heart attack", not "myocardial infarction". Check understanding with teach-back ("Can you tell me how you will take this?").
- ICE: ask about the patient's Ideas, Concerns and Expectations.
- Humour and slang are common. "No worries" means "it's fine". "Crook" means sick, "arvo" is afternoon, a "GP" is the family doctor, and "Panadol" is paracetamol.
- Safety-net: tell patients what to watch for and when to come back.
Australians value directness, eye contact and honesty. Avoid long silences after bad news without checking in, and never dismiss a concern.