FAQs

General

What sort of program's do you offer?

Our programs, developed by healthcare professionals, provide services that promote the early detection or prevention of health problems.

With Skin Patrol, you can offer your employees a range of programs, including general health checks, skin cancer checks, vaccinations for Influenza and COVID-19 or education about how best to look after their health. In all of our programs, we reinforce the value of preventative healthcare.

How do I book in a Skin Check, immunisation or health clinic for my workplace?

You can book a Skin Patrol clinic at your workplace in five easy steps.

  1. Choose the program you’d like to offer your employees. You can select from a range of programs.
  2. Enquire by emailing info@skinpatrol.com.au, filling in our contact form or calling 1800 103 074. The more details you can give us, the more we tailor a program to suit your needs.
  3. We’ll contact you to discuss your options and provide a quote. Our highly experienced team sets up and runs mobile clinics in many workplaces and understands not one size fits all.
  4. Check you’re happy with the clinic details, and then we will organise the paperwork, set up the booking system and send promotional materials for your employees.
  5. Get ready to welcome our team. We will send you full details of what we need to run your clinic and complete any safety or other inductions required before we arrive.

What do I bring on the day to my Skin cancer, immunisation or health check?

If you’re an employee attending a skin cancer, health or vaccine clinic at your workplace, please bring your Medicare card and patient history form.

For COVID-19 vaccination clinics, please also bring your vaccine card if you already have one. If this is your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, we will provide you with one.

For skin check clinics, please remember to wear your underwear that day. You do not need to remove your underwear for a skin cancer check. If you forget, we have disposable underwear available, but it’s never as comfortable as your own.

When is the best time to go get checked?

Getting health andskin checksis a good idea any time of the year. For skin checks, we recommend you get a professional one at least once per year.

I'm nervous about attending my appointment. Will there be support?

We understand you may be nervous about attending an appointment for askin check, health check orvaccination. Please be reassured our team prides itself on being professional, friendly and respectful. If you need a chaperone during your appointment, we have a female medical technician who can stay with you.

How do I reschedule or cancel my appointment?

If you need to reschedule or cancel a Skin Patrol appointment, please contact our team by calling 1800 103 074 or let your supervisor or site contact know so that they can call us.

Skin Checks

How do I self-check my skin?

Between professional skin cancer checks, we recommend you self-check your skin every three months. This short video explains how to thoroughly check your skin and what to look out for. If you notice anything suspicious, please see your doctor immediately.

What does skin cancer look like?

Skin cancer looks like a spot, mole or lesion on your skin that is new or has changed over time. The signs of skin cancer can include:

  • Changes in the shape, colour or size of any existing spot
  • Mole or other skin marks that ooze, bleed or become crusty
  • A mole that is painful to the touch
  • Sores that don’t heal within two weeks
  • A shiny pink, red, pearly white, or translucent bump
  • A mole or sore with irregular borders, which may bleed easily

See this page for more information and photo examples of what skin cancer can look like.

What can I expect at a skin check?

At a Skin Patrol skin check clinic, you will receive education about skin cancer and your risk and a full-body skin check. Potentially, the doctor will take photos of any suspicious lesions.

Why do you take photos at a skin check?

If the doctor checking your skin notices a suspicious lesion, they will take a photograph of the lesion with your permission. There are two reasons we do this:

  1. We send these images to a remote dermatologist (skin specialist) for diagnosis. You and your nominated doctor will receive the diagnosis back within two weeks.
  2. Photos allow us to track a suspicious lesion over time. Next time you have a skin check, the doctor can compare the lesion to the previous photo to see if it has evolved.

How long does a skin check take?

Your appointment will last approximately 15-20 minutes. This includes your skin check, time spent with our medical technician discussing your history and viewing a short education video. The full-body skin check by our doctor takes approximately ten minutes, depending on your level of sun damage. Please arrive at least ten minutes before your appointment to be ready on time.

Do I need to remove make-up, sunscreen and nail polish before a skin check?

Yes. For the doctor to get the best view of your skin, you will need to remove your make-up and sunscreen. Please also remove any nail polish so we can check your nail beds. If you forget, we will have some on hand for you to use.

Who do I contact for my dermatologist report?

If the doctor checking your skin notices a suspicious lesion, they will take a photograph of the lesion with your permission. We send these images to a remote dermatologist (skin specialist) for diagnosis. You and your nominated doctor will receive the diagnosis back within two weeks.

If you do not receive your dermatologist report within two weeks of your Skin Patrol skin check, please email info@skinpatrol.com.au or call 1800 103 074.

Can I attend my skin check with a cold?

If you have a cold but have received a negative COVID-19 test, you can come to your appointment only if you wear a mask and observe appropriate social distancing from other employees. The doctor will check your skin under the mask, but please keep it on until the doctor tells you to remove it.

How often do I need to have a skin check?

We recommend you have a professional skin cancer check at least once a year. Please also self-check your skin every three months and see your doctor immediately if you notice a suspicious lesion.

At what age should I start having skin checks?

If you’re old enough to be working, you’re old enough for a skin check. Skin cancer becomes more prevalent after the age of 15. This is when we advise children at increased risk of developing skin cancer to start getting regular professional skin checks.

What are the main warning signs of skin cancer?

The main warning sign is a change to your skin. For example, a change might be a lesion that resembles a mole, sore, lump or growth that changes in colour, size or shape, or that becomes sore or bleeds over time.

How often should I be wearing sunscreen?

Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all approach to wearing sunscreen. We encourage you to talk with our doctors or your GP about this. Together, you will need to consider your risk, including factors such as your level of sun exposure and family heritage.

Being sun safe includes using sun-protective clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat and seeking shade when you can.

Vouchers

What is your voucher program?

Skin Patrol offers a voucher program for off-site skin checks. Rather than run a skin clinic at their workplace, employers can give their employees a voucher for a free skin check at a clinic nearby. Employees can choose a clinic from our national list of providers, book an appointment and hand over their voucher when they arrive at the clinic for their skin check.

For more details about the skin check voucher program, please email info@skinpatrol.com.au or call our team on 1800 103 074.

Where can I redeem my voucher?

Skin Patrol works with a network of affiliated medical clinics across the country. When you receive your voucher, you will also receive a list of affiliated clinics in your area. Please select a clinic and contact them directly to book your appointment.

I lost my skin check voucher. Can I get a replacement?

Yes, no problem. Please call our team on 1800 103 074 to organise a replacement.