Our Fees

Session Fees – Between $160 and $214

Individual Counselling – $160* (please see further information about Medicare rebates below)

NDIS Therapy Support Psychologist – $214.41 (in line with the current NDIS price guide)

Couples Therapy – $180

NDIS – Healthy Minds Allied Services are billed as per NDIA price guides

It is not necessary to have a referral to see a psychologist but you may prefer to seek one as you may be eligible for rebates from Medicare. You may also be eligible for funding under different referral guidelines (see below).

Session Length – approximately 50 min

Sessions for low-income earners (TPSS – no out of pocket expense)

People with a health-care card may be eligible for sessions through Targeted Psychological Support Services (TPSS – formerly known as ATAPS), which enables children and adults to access up to 12 sessions of counselling per calendar year at no cost to the client. 

Please speak to your GP (or paediatrician) about your, or your child’s, eligibility for a TPSS referral. Your GP or paediatrician will need to submit your referral (mental health care plan and TPSS form) to the Primary Health Network for allocation to an appropriate psychologist. If you wish to be seen by a psychologist through Healthy Minds under TPSS your GP will need to specify this to the Primary Health Network (e.g., CareinMind – North Western Primary Health Network).

For more information on Targeted Psychological Support Services and referral forms please visit your Primary Health Network website (your Primary Health Network catchment is based on where your GP is located). Healthy Minds psychologists are registered with the following PHN:

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network
– (referrals to CareInMind)
https://nwmphn.org.au/health-systems-capacity-building/careinmind/
Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Macedon Ranges, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moorabool, Moreland, Wyndham, Yarra

PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast
– referrals to ARTIUS Health
https://www.ourphn.org.au/mental-health/
Yeppoon, Emu Park and Rockhampton

Medicare rebates

Our counselling sessions are supported by Medicare when you have a referral (Mental Health Care Plan) from your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. With the Mental Health Care Plan, you are entitled to up to 10 counselling sessions in a calendar year.

To gain a referral you will need to make an appointment with your GP or paediatrician to complete a Mental Health Care Plan. It is important to tell the doctor’s receptionist that you want a referral to a psychologist as the GP often needs approximately 30 minutes (double appointment) to discuss the plan with you.

Read the Brochure for more information.

You must obtain your GP referral prior to your first appointment to receive Medicare rebates.

To obtain the Medicare (Better Access) rebate:

On payment of your counselling your Medicare rebate will be electronically processed through Healthy Minds and paid directly to your bank account (as registered with Medicare).

Payment

Payment for sessions is required at the time of the appointment and can be paid via:

• Credit card
• Cash
• Bank transfer (details will be provided upon request).

Other referral sources

You may be able to access therapy sessions under other referral such as:

• Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) – You may be entitled to access counselling if you have been the victim of a crime. For more information please visit https://www.vocat.vic.gov.au
• Victims of crime (VACP) – For those who have been a victim of crime. Contact Victims Support Agency on 1800 819 817 for further information OR Victims Assistance and Counselling Program VACP.
• Workcover – For those suffering a work-related injury or illness speak to your GP and/or TAC about your eligibility.
• ATAPS – Children and adults on low incomes require a referral from their GP or paediatrician (through the primary health network)
• TAC – For those who have sustained an injury in a transport accident. Speak to your GP and/or TAC about your eligibility.
• Private health insurance – People with private health insurance need to speak to their health fund provider about their eligibility.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Short-term counselling is often offered through your workplace (speak to Human Resources at your workplace).
• Open Arms (previously VVCS) – Fully-funded counselling for current and previous military personal and their families (includes current serving personnel, personnel transitioning to civilian life, ex-serving members and peacekeepers, families and children of those who have served, partners of those who have served, ex-partners). For more information visit https://www.openarms.gov.au/about/our-story/vvcs-now-open-arms-veterans-families-counselling

Please note that clients who are referred under TPSS, Victims of Crime, Worksafe, TAC, Open Arms (VVCS) and EAP will usually have the costs of sessions (number depends on referral) covered in full.

Cancellations

Healthy Minds would like to remind all clients that appointments with psychologists are in high demand. For this reason, we ask for at least 24hrs notice when cancelling an appointment. For appointments cancelled with less than 24hrs notice there will be a $75 cancellation fee. If you miss 2 appointments with less than 24hrs notice you will be placed on a waiting list for your next appointment. Under TPSS guidelines those who miss 2 appointments will need to gain a new referral before continuing with sessions.

Healthy Minds asks that if you need to cancel please give as much notice as possible so your appointment can be allocated to someone else on our waiting list. Any late cancellations will stop other clients accessing sessions and often mean the psychologist will be out of pocket for the room rental and practice costs. We trust you will agree that this is a fair and reasonable policy and we thank you for your understanding and adherence to the cancellation policy.