Aged care worker and mother-of-six Sharon, who wished for her surname to remain anonymous, said the out-of-pocket expenses were “phenomenal.”

She also voiced her concerns about a lack of support offered to the most vulnerable members of society.

From a professional perspective, Sharon said financial strain led some clients to refuse medical services or treatment.

“So their health deteriorates more and that’s not fair to the client or to their family,” she said. 

She also raised a lack of awareness about funding streams available to carers. 

In her personal experience, as the mother of two children with high-functioning autism, Sharon said healthcare was both costly and time-consuming. 

“It’s $950 just for one assessment, and that’s to get your foot in the door to say yes, your child has got autism, or your child has got this,” Sharon said.

“The waiting lists are absolutely unreal – three to six months or even longer.

“Sometimes you might be at work, for example, and you get a phone call. 

“You need to take that call and take that appointment because you can’t get in otherwise.”

Bendigo Primary Care Centre chief executive officer Glen Careedy said the Medicare system was in need of reform. 

“Medicare is one beast, the provision of healthcare is a separate beast and they’re becoming tougher to put together,” he said.

The GP super clinic provides about 70,000 instances of service annually. 

“The Medicare Benefits Scheme is a really hard beast to try and feed a complex and chronic clinic,” Mr Careedy said. 

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters is hopeful the forums will result in a report, to be tabled in federal Parliament. 

She aims to prove Labor’s stance on Medicare during this year’s federal election reflected genuine fears about the cost of healthcare.

“People are worried about the impacts freezing the rebate and the cuts to Medicare are having on their primary health care,” Ms Chesters said.

Community forums were held in Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat on Monday.

Forums will be held today in Castlemaine from 9am until 12.30pm today, and in Maldon from 2pm until 4.30pm.

Kyneton and Woodend communities will have their say on October 3.

The forum heads to Eaglehawk on October 6, followed by Elmore on October 25 and Heathcote on October 26.

A full list of details is available here.