Swift to find a pscychologist:
You don't need a referral to see a psychologist. You can call the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and they will give you the names of 3 psychologists in your area or you can look in the phonebook/online and make an appointment.
If you choose to do this however, you will not be able to claim any rebates for the sessions as seeing a psychologist is not claimable under Medicare generally. You may be eligible for some level of rebate if you have private health insurance but this is dependent on your plan.
Several years ago the government implanted a program called ‘Better Outcomes’ which provided limited funding for psychological services. Psychologist services are available to people who meet the criteria for this program. To access these rebates, you will need a referral and a 'mental health care plan' from your GP. You cannot claim session through Medicare without the item code for the mental health care plan so this must be done first.
There may still be an out of pocket expense dependent on what the psychologist is charging.
Under a mental health care plan, you will be eligible for 10 subsided individual and 10 group sessions per calendar year. There are extenuating circumstances to get addition session but it can be difficult.
I always encourage people to do a bit of ‘leg work’ and find someone who suits their needs, you feel comfortable with and who you can afford. Its can be hard if your only getting a $57 rebate and you were charged $200 or more for the session. Fees charged by psychologists can vary however some will be open to bulk billing.
There are also other programs you may be eligible for which fully cover the cost. For more information on other programs or for the APS’s telephone number you can call the SANE Helpline on 1800 18 7263 and speak with an Advisor.
In addition to these, you can also access psychological services through your local Community Health Centre. They are very inexpensive however they generally have long waiting times. If you don't know where your local CHC is located, contact your local council.
Universities generally have low cost clinics staffed by Psychologist who are completing their studies. Again they are relatively inexpensive and also can have long waiting periods. For information contact local universities.
