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Finding good health information online

Good health information can help you make informed decisions and avoid putting your health at risk. These resources contain tips to help you find good and reliable health information online.

Why it’s important to find good health information online

Relying on good health information allows you to make informed and confident decisions about your health. Incorrect or unreliable health information can make it difficult to understand what’s best for you and can put your health at risk.
 

How to find good health information online 

It’s not always easy to find good health information online or to tell the difference between trustworthy and unreliable health information.

These tips can help you find reliable and trusted sources online, explain what to look for and where you can get support to find good health information online.

You can find our tips in our How to find good information online booklet. Our booklet is also available in a range of formats and translations.

Tip 1

Look for information that is relevant to you

Before you start looking, be as clear as you can about what questions you need answers to. This will help you find information that is relevant to you. Knowing what information you need can help you decide where to look. Check the information is Australian and that it connects you to a local service. 

Tip 2

Look for trusted sources

Sources you can trust include the websites of hospitals, condition specific organisations, state and territory health services, universities and Australian Government agencies such as the Department of Health. These organisations want you to have the best available Australian advice and have processes for checking information is correct. Trusted sources will clearly show the author’s qualifications or who the publisher is.

Tip 3

Look for information that you can understand 

Good health information is clear and easy to understand. It will explain difficult concepts or technical information in a way that makes sense to you. It may also suggest where you can find additional information or support.

Tip 4

Look out for warning signs 

Good health information should support you to make informed choices about your health and care. Information that promotes a particular product or service, asks you to give personal details, or creates a sense of fear or panic may be false (misinformation) or even created with an intent to mislead you (disinformation). You should not rely on information that only gives you one option, or advice based on one person’s experience.

Tip 5

If you connect with people online, remember other people’s experiences may not be typical and might be different to yours 

Connecting with other people who have the same health issue can provide support and information. Remember that the personal experiences you hear or read online may not be typical of what happens to most people.

Tip 6

Check the information with your healthcare professional 

Talking about health information with your doctor, asking questions and exploring which options are right for you is important. You have a right to share decisions about your care with your healthcare team and to have the information you need to make informed choices.

Tip 7

Ask for help if you need it to find health information online or judge its quality 

It can be hard to judge whether information online is right for you. You can ask for help to find good health information online. A family member or friend who you trust, a health professional, a health advocate, a librarian or a local consumer organisation may be able to assist.

Information and resources

Our How to find good information online booklet is available in a range of translations and formats.

Last updated: 29 April 2026