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Dialysis in Melbourne, Australia
Travelling to Melbourne and need holiday dialysis while you're there? Below are 2 dialysis centers in and near Melbourne. Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and book your sessions.
Dialysis centers in Melbourne
Centers we've identified in or near Melbourne. Confirm availability and details directly — Dialysis Go verifies and books your session as part of arranging your visit.
Get travel medical insurance before you go
Dialysis abroad only works if you're covered for it. Check each policy's wording on pre-existing conditions before you rely on it.
Royal Melbourne Hospital Nephrology & Dialysis Centre (City campus)
635 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9342 7000
15-chair satellite haemodialysis unit, operating 6 days/week.
Highest-rated hotel nearby: Central Club Hotel - North Melbourne — 8.8/10 (879 reviews), ~790 m away
The Alfred Hospital Renal Unit
55 Commercial Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
Highest-rated hotel nearby: Oaks Melbourne St Kilda Road Hotel — 8.1/10 (1,279 reviews), ~350 m away
Planning dialysis in Melbourne
- Centers listed
- 2
- Typical cost per session
- $250–$500 (if paying privately)
- Peak season
- December–January (summer school holidays)
- Nearest airport
- Melbourne (MEL)
- Language
- English
Costs are indicative ranges for Australia, not quotes. Estimate your whole trip.
Who pays for dialysis in Melbourne?
- Visitors from countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia (including the UK, Ireland and New Zealand) may be eligible for publicly funded dialysis, subject to capacity. Confirm cover with the unit when you book.
- Other visitors: private units charge per session. Check your travel insurance covers pre-existing kidney disease.
- US Medicare patients: Original Medicare generally does not pay for dialysis outside the US. Some Medicare Advantage and private plans include limited cover abroad, so check yours before you go.
- Canadian residents: some provincial health plans reimburse part of the cost of dialysis out of the country. Check the rate and paperwork with your province before you travel.
When to book
Book at least 8–12 weeks ahead. Holiday places in public units are limited and go quickly over the summer holidays. Peak season in Melbourne: December–January (summer school holidays).
Emergency numbers in Melbourne
In an emergency, call 000 for an ambulance. Tell the operator you're on dialysis and which unit treats you, and keep your access details and medication list with you.
000Ambulance, police and fire- Also works from mobiles
- 112
- Healthdirect advice line
- 1800 022 222
What the unit in Melbourne will ask for
- Your current dialysis prescription (dialyser, dry weight, access, anticoagulation).
- Blood results from the last 4–6 weeks, including virology (hepatitis B and C, HIV).
- Records from your last few sessions and a current medication list.
- A referral or fit-to-travel letter from your nephrologist.
- An MRSA screen and recent ECG, if the unit asks for them.
Each unit has its own list — read the full travel guide or check entry requirements for Australia.
Wheelchair rental in Melbourne
Long days, dialysis fatigue and unfamiliar streets add up. Renting a wheelchair or mobility scooter for your stay in Melbourne saves your energy for the things you came to do.
- Book a few weeks ahead in peak season and ask for delivery to your hotel, so the chair is waiting when you arrive.
- Tell the supplier your weight, seat width and how you'll use it — a lightweight folding chair for taxis, or a power chair or scooter for longer distances.
- Ask your airline for free wheelchair assistance at both airports when you book your flight; it's separate from renting a chair for your stay.
- Check the dialysis unit and your hotel have step-free access, and whether the unit can lend a chair between the entrance and your station.
Dialysis in Melbourne: common questions
- Is there a dialysis center in Melbourne?
- Yes. We list 2 dialysis centers in and near Melbourne: Royal Melbourne Hospital Nephrology & Dialysis Centre (City campus) and The Alfred Hospital Renal Unit.
- How much does holiday dialysis cost in Melbourne?
- If you're paying privately, expect roughly $250–$500 per haemodialysis session in Australia. The clinic sets the exact price, and we confirm it with you before anything is booked.
- Is dialysis free for visitors in Melbourne?
- Visitors from countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia (including the UK, Ireland and New Zealand) may be eligible for publicly funded dialysis, subject to capacity. Confirm cover with the unit when you book. Other visitors: private units charge per session. Check your travel insurance covers pre-existing kidney disease.
- How far ahead should I book dialysis in Melbourne?
- Book at least 8–12 weeks ahead. Holiday places in public units are limited and go quickly over the summer holidays. Peak season in Melbourne is december–January (summer school holidays).
- Which airport is closest to Melbourne?
- Melbourne (MEL). Try to book your first session within a day or two of landing so you don't go too long between treatments.
- What is the emergency number in Melbourne?
- Call 000 for an ambulance in Melbourne (ambulance, police and fire). Tell the operator you're on dialysis and keep your access details and medication list with you.
- Can I rent a wheelchair in Melbourne?
- Yes — mobility equipment suppliers in and around Melbourne rent manual wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters by the day or week, and many deliver to your hotel. Book ahead in peak season, and ask your airline separately for free wheelchair assistance at the airport.
Holiday dialysis units in the major cities and popular coastal areas. Plan well ahead over the December–January summer. Holiday dialysis across Australia.