Concussion: emergency department, GP or physio?
Reviewed November 2026 by Online Concussion Clinic, a Perth-based telehealth concussion physiotherapy service. How this site is run
Most concussions don't need an emergency department, but some head injuries do. Here's how to decide where to go.
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is:
- Loss of consciousness, or getting drowsier or harder to wake
- A seizure or convulsion
- Severe or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision or loss of vision
- Weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness or unusual behaviour
- A visible deformity of the skull
For children, the emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital (Nedlands) is open 24 hours. If you're unsure, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours) for nurse advice.
See a doctor the same day if
- The person is 65 or older, or takes blood-thinning medication — bleeding risk is higher, even when they seem OK.
- The injury was high-force, such as a fall from a height, a car or bike crash, or being struck at speed.
- There was a brief blackout or memory loss around the injury.
- You're simply not sure how serious it is.
A GP can assess you, rule out more serious injury, advise on medication and provide certificates for school or work. If a GP isn't available, go to an emergency department.
When a concussion physiotherapist can help
If there are no warning signs and serious injury has been ruled out, a physiotherapist with concussion training can manage your recovery. They can:
- Assess symptoms, balance, eye movements and the neck, which often contributes to headache and dizziness
- Prescribe safe, graded exercise — early light aerobic exercise helps recovery
- Treat dizziness, neck pain and headache with vestibular and neck rehabilitation
- Plan your return to school, work and sport, including the AIS 14-day and 21-day rules
- Clear you for contact training as part of the graded return to sport, where your sport or school accepts physiotherapist clearance
- Work with your GP and refer you on if something else needs checking
You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately. Some services can also be accessed through WorkCover WA, motor vehicle (Insurance Commission of WA) claims or private health insurance.
Quick guide
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Any warning sign in the red box above | Call 000 / emergency department |
| Age 65+, on blood thinners, high-force injury, or brief blackout | Doctor the same day (GP or ED) |
| Suspected concussion, no warning signs | GP or physiotherapist with concussion training, ideally within a few days |
| Symptoms not clearly improving after a few days | Concussion physiotherapist or GP |
| Dizziness, neck pain or headache after 10 days | Concussion physiotherapist (vestibular and neck rehab) |
| Symptoms still there after 4 weeks | Concussion clinician, often a team — see symptoms after 4 weeks |
| Ready to return to contact sport | Clearance from a GP or physiotherapist first (check your sport or school's rules) |
Find concussion care in Perth
Browse verified concussion providers across Perth — physiotherapists, GPs and neuropsychologists — and use the map to find one close to home. You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately.
Where this information comes from
- Patricios JS, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport – Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:695–711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898
- Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6), from the same conference.
- Australian Institute of Sport. Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, and the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. ausport.gov.au/concussion
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Your own health professional's advice comes first, and your sport or school may have its own concussion rules.