You do not need a referral to see a psychologist, however if you do have a referral or Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP or psychiatrist, you can claim a Medicare rebate. To be eligible for a MHCP, the doctor must conduct an assessment of your current psychological functioning (please advise the receptionist that you are seeking this plan so appropriate time allocations can be made).
Clients are eligible for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. It is important to note a MHCP is issued for an authorised number of sessions (maximum 6 sessions). After the initial 6 sessions, the psychologist will provide a written report back to the referring practitioner. The client must then make an appointment to review the plan with the doctor in order to access a further 4 sessions.
Please bring the referral letter or MHCP to your first appointment, or you can request them to be sent directly via e-mail or fax.
Medicare Rebates
The standard Medicare rebate for Clinical Psychologist is currently $141.85 and will increase to $145.25 from 1st July 2025. Once you reach the Medicare Safety Net threshold, you may receive a higher rebate for subsequent sessions.
If you hold private health insurance with extras cover for psychology, you may be eligible to claim a rebate. In such cases, we will issue a claimable receipt for you to submit directly to your fund. However, please note that it is not possible to claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same session.
Standard Consultation Fees
The fee for a standard 50-minute individual therapy session is currently $270 and will increase to $275 as of 1st July 2025. With the increased Medicare rebate, your out-of-pocket cost will be approximately $129.75 per session.
The fee for couple or family therapy is currently $290 and will increase to $300 from 1st July. Please note that Medicare rebates do not apply to couple or family sessions. Our fees remain below the recommended schedule set by the Australian Psychological Society.
Reduced Fee Options
In some circumstances, reduced fees may be available for clients experiencing ongoing financial difficulties. If this applies to you, please feel free to discuss it with your psychologist. Unless a reduced fee arrangement has been made, the standard fee is payable on the day of the session. Bulk billing is not offered.
Reports and Letters
If you require a written report or letter, please be aware that fees vary depending on the nature, content, and length of the document. In general, a simple report or letter (1 to 1.5 pages) is charged at one hour of the consultation fee, plus GST. Medicare rebates do not apply to reports or written communications. It is recommended that you first schedule a session to discuss the content and purpose of the report before it is prepared.
WPATH Assessments
WPATH assessments for adults typically require 2 to 3 sessions, depending on the complexity of the individual’s history and presentation. The resulting report is generally 5 to 7 pages long and is currently charged at $445.50 (based on 1.5 hours of consultation fee plus GST). From 1st July 2025, this will increase to $453.75. Please note that WPATH reports are not eligible for Medicare rebates.
Assessments for young people aged 15 to 18 are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please get in touch to discuss your circumstances.
Cancellation and Missed Appointment Policy
To support our therapeutic relationship and to make best use of available appointments, we kindly request at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. If you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice, a cancellation fee of 50% of the session cost may apply. For cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice, or for non-attendance without notice, the full session fee may be charged. Medicare does not provide rebates for cancellation fees.
Payment Options
From 1st July 2025, we will be transitioning to a direct debit system for payment. Your nominated credit or debit card will be used to process your session fee and Medicare rebate after each appointment, so there is no need to handle payment on the day. Please note that American Express (AMEX) is not accepted. A small surcharge of 2.5% applies to card transactions; however, the practice will absorb half of this cost, meaning you will only be charged 1.25% (approximately $3.40 per session).
For existing clients: There is an online booking function on this website where you can view available appointment times and schedule one in for yourself. Should you need to cancel or reschedule your session for any reason in less than 48 hours, please contact Excellence Psychology as the online booking function requires more than 48 hours to make an amendment.
For new clients: If you are booking an initial appointment, it is advisable to book in at least two appointments to ensure availability of times that suit you. This is often a good idea, because during the initial stages of psychological treatment, it is better to avoid extended gaps between the first few sessions.
Please note that I do not take NDIS, Worksafe and TAC cases at this point.
Whilst Excellence Psychology does offer some appointment bookings outside of work hours, the practice is not a crisis service. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, experiencing a personal crisis or need someone to talk to right away, please call: