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FAQs

General Questions

How much does an appointment cost?

Each of our practitioners sets their own prices. You can find these prices on each practitioner’s profile page.

Please note that we do not provide bulk billing.

What is the best way to contact you?

See our Contact page.

Where are you located? Where can I park?

See our Location page.

How do I pay for an appointment?

We prefer to accept payments online. Following your appointment, we will email you an invoice that can be paid online via credit/debit card, or direct deposit.

Alternatively, you can store a credit/debit card on file with our payment processor, and we will automatically charge you following each appointment. To set this up, please use the ‘Update Payment Details’ tool on our ‘Bookings & Admin’ page.

If neither of these arrangements are suitable for you, please email us and we will try to work out an alternative arrangement.

I have a Health Care Card (or another concession card). How do I use it?

You do not need to provide us with any details of your concession card. If you have a valid Medicare referral, Medicare will automatically increase the rebates you receive under your referral if you have a concession card. See our Medicare Safety Net page for details.

How do I cancel an appointment?

When you book an appointment, you receive a confirmation email, and then another reminder email a few days before the appointment occurs. Both emails have a link you can use to cancel your appointment.

Alternatively, you can send us an email or call us.

Please provide at least 24 hours notice before the appointment time for cancellations. Cancellations with less notice may be charged the full appointment fee as a cancellation fee. Note that cancellation fees are not claimable with Medicare or private insurance.

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Some psychologists choose to pursue an additional educational accreditation, which qualifies them to use the title Clinical Psychologist.

Medicare will pay a higher rebate for appointments with a Clinical Psychologist. The title does not necessarily denote a particular type of work that the psychologist specialises in, or that they are more experienced than non-clinical psychologists.

Referrals & Medicare

Do I need a referral?

You do not need to have a referral to see any of our practitioners. The benefit of a referral is that Medicare will pay you a rebate to subsidise the cost of your appointments.

How do I get a referral?

A referral can be written by any General Practitioner, Paediatrician (for children) or Psychiatrist. You must have a Medicare card to be eligible for a Medicare referral.

Is my referral letter valid? How do I check?

Please see this page to check that you have a valid referral.

How much is the rebate when using a referral?

The typical rebate for a 50 minute appointment is $96.65, but this can vary depending on the practitioner you see and the type of referral you have. For Clinical Psychologists, the typical rebate is $141.85 For more details, see your practitioner’s profile page.

You will receive a larger rebate if you have reached the Medicare Safety Net threshold this year. Determining the exact rebate amount in advance in these cases can be complicated – please email us if you would like more detail.

How do I give you my referral?

Please use the ‘Upload Referral’ tool on our ‘Bookings & Admin’ page to send us a photo or scan of your referral letter.

Can I use a referral addressed to a different psychologist?

Yes, the referral can be addressed to anyone. If you have previously seen another psychologist using the same referral letter, please inform us of how many appointments you have had with that psychologist.

When does my referral end?

Each type of referral has different rules about how long it is valid for. For information on your specific referral, see the ‘Types of Referrals’ section below on this page.

We will notify you via email when your referral is finished. You can check your referral status at any time using the ‘View Referral Status’ tool on our ‘Bookings & Admin’ page.

What do I do when my referral ends?

When your referral ends, you will need to return to your referring doctor for a new referral letter. Note that referrals cannot be backdated – if you have an appointment with a psychologist before getting a new referral letter, then that appointment cannot be claimed with Medicare.

Types of Referrals

What type of referral do I have?

The most common type of referral is a Mental Health Care Plan referral. Your referral letter should specify the type of referral, but if it does not you can generally assume that it is a Mental Health Care Plan referral.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan and how does it work?

The most common type of referral is a Mental Health Care Plan referral.

You can use a MHCP to claim a maximum of 10 appointments per calendar year.

To access all 10 appointments, you must periodically return to your referring doctor for a new referral letter. Each referral letter can only be used for a certain number of appointments, typically 6 or 4 per referral letter.

When your referral letter is used up, or when you have run out of appointments for the year, we will advise you of this via email. You should then return to your referring doctor for a new referral letter.

There is no explicit time limit on MHCP referrals – they do not expire.

If you have not fully used up a referral letter by the end of the year, you can continue using it in the following year.

A typical pattern of use might look like this:

  • GP writes a referral letter for 6 appointments -> Have 6 appointments with your psychologist.
  • GP writes a second referral letter for 4 appointments -> Have 4 appointments with your psychologist.
  • Wait until the start of the next calendar year (January 1st) for another referral letter.

What is an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan and how does it work?

If you are diagnosed with an eating disorder, a doctor can write a referral under an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan for you.

You can use an EDTP to claim a maximum of 40 appointments in a 12 month period.

To access all 40 appointments, you must periodically return to your referring doctor for a new referral letter. Each referral letter can only be used for 10 appointments per referral letter.

In addition, to access more than 20 appointments, you must consult with a psychiatrist. See the next question below for more detail.

When your referral letter is used up, or when you have run out of appointments for the year, we will advise you of this via email. You should then return to your referring doctor for a new referral letter.

An EDPT expires 12 months after it was written. Any referral letter that has not been fully used up expires when this date is reached.

What is a psychiatrist review for an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan?

To access more than 20 appointments under an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan in 12 months, you must have your plan reviewed by a psychiatrist. Otherwise, Medicare will only allow you to claim for 20 appointments under your EDTP.

To do this, ask your GP for a referral letter to a psychiatrist, requesting that they review your EDTP. The psychiatrist will assess you and, if appropriate, authorise you to access the full 40 appointments.

This psychiatrist appointment can be conducted at any time between your first appointment and your 21st appointment – you do not need to wait until you have had 20 appointments. You may wish to book this appointment well in advance as psychiatrists often have low availability.

If you are under 18, you can see a paediatrician instead of a psychiatrist.

Note that the psychiatrist review is in addition to the review conducted by your GP after every 10 appointments. For more information on EDTPs, see the previous question in this FAQ.

A typical pattern of use might look like this:

  • GP writes the plan and an accompanying referral letter -> Have 10 appointments with your psychologist.
  • GP writes the second referral letter -> Have 10 appointments with your psychologist.
  • GP writes a referral letter to your psychiatrist.
  • Psychiatrist conducts review, authorises further appointments under the plan.
  • GP writes the third referral letter -> Have 10 appointments with your psychologist.
  • GP writes the fourth referral letter -> Have 10 appointments with your psychologist.
  • Wait until exactly 12 months from the date the plan was written, then get a new plan written by your GP.

What is a Chronic Disease Management Plan and how does it work?

If you have a chronic illness, and psychological treatment forms part of your overall treatment for that illness, a doctor can write a Chronic Disease Management Plan (also sometimes called an Enhanced Primary Care Plan).

You can use a CDM to claim a maximum of 5 appointments per calendar year.

The referral letter will state how many appointments it is valid for, up to 5 per referral letter, but sometimes less.

When your referral letter is used up, or when you have run out of appointments for the year, we will advise you of this via email.

There is no explicit time limit on CDM referrals – they do not expire.

If you have not fully used up a referral letter by the end of the year, you can continue using it in the following year.

Other Insurance & Funding

Can I use my private health insurance to pay?

Yes, if your insurance covers psychological services. We are unable to advise what rebate your insurer will provide – please contact them directly.

Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to lodge claims on your behalf with private insurers. You will need to pay your invoice with us and then provide the invoice to your insurer for a rebate. Most insurers have an app or a website to make these claims online.

Note that you cannot claim a rebate for an appointment with both Medicare and a private insurer – you must use one or the other for a given appointment.

Can I use my NDIS funding?

Usually, yes. NDIS funding can be either Self-Managed, Plan-Managed, or Agency-Managed.

If your funding is Self-Managed, simply use your funding to pay your invoices with us directly.

If your funding is Plan-Managed, please provide us with the name of your plan manager, including your customer reference number / ID with them. We will contact your plan manager to arrange payment.

If your funding is Agency-Managed, then unfortunately your funding cannot be used for appointments with us.

Note that your NDIS Plan must cover psychological supports. Contact your plan manager or support coordinator if you are unsure.

Note that NDIS funding cannot be used on appointments that are claimed with Medicare – you must use one or the other for a given appointment.

Can I use Victims Services funding?

Unfortunately, no. None of our practitioners are registered with Victims Services.

Can I use Department of Veteran’s Affairs funding?

Yes. Please email us if you intend to use DVA funding.

Can I use Workers Compensation funding?

In some cases, yes. Currently, only one of our psychologists, Roula Poretsanos, is registered with SIRA for Workers Compensation.

Can I use CTP insurance funding?

Yes. If your insurer approves you for psychological treatment under your CTP insurance, this can be used with any of our practitioners.

Can I use another type of funding?

If you are using another form of funding, please email us. We will usually be able to accommodate this.

Telehealth

How do I join my telehealth appointment?

When you book an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email, and then a few days before the appointment you will receive a reminder email. Both emails contain a link to join your telehealth appointment.

You do not need any software installed to join the appointment – it works in your web browser. All you need is a microphone and a camera, such as the microphone and camera on your laptop or phone.

Can I use my referral / insurance to get a rebate for telehealth appointments?

Yes. Telehealth appointments are treated the same as in-person appointments.