Fees & Medicare
Clear, upfront, no surprises.
What sessions cost, how Medicare rebates work, and the other funding pathways available — all in one place, so you know what to expect before you arrive.
Session fee
$230
50-minute individual session
Medicare rebate
$98.95
With a Mental Health Care Plan
Gap after rebate
$131.05
Out-of-pocket per session
How Medicare rebates work
The Medicare Better Access initiative allows people experiencing mental health concerns to access rebated psychology sessions through a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) prepared by their GP.
The Mental Health Care Plan
The MHCP is a structured plan your GP completes with you in an extended appointment. It identifies the concerns being worked on, the goals of treatment, and the practitioner you will be seeing. Once it is prepared, you can claim the Medicare rebate against eligible sessions.
Number of sessions
Under a standard MHCP, you can access up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year — generally in two blocks, with a GP review in between to renew the plan for the second block.
How the rebate is paid
You pay the full session fee at the time of the session. The Medicare rebate of $98.95 is then processed back to your nominated Medicare bank account, usually within one to two business days. Your effective gap payment is $131.05 per session.
How to get a Mental Health Care Plan
1. Book a longer appointment with your GP
Mention when you book that you would like to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan, so they can allocate the right amount of time. Most GPs will need a 30 to 45-minute appointment to complete one properly.
2. Talk through what is going on
Your GP will ask about the concerns you are experiencing, how long they have been going on, and what impact they are having. Most GPs will use a short questionnaire (often the K10) as part of the assessment.
3. Receive your plan and referral
Your GP will prepare the plan and write a referral letter to the psychologist of your choice. Either ask them to refer to Nikki specifically, or ask for an open referral and we will work with that.
4. Send the plan to us
Once you have the plan, you can email it to nicola@melbournemindfulpsychology.com ahead of your first session, or bring it with you on the day. Either is fine.
Other funding pathways
Beyond Medicare
NDIS
Self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed NDIS participants are all supported. Sessions can be in clinic, via telehealth, or as outreach in your home or community.
NDIS psychology details →TAC
Psychological support for clients with approved Transport Accident Commission claims, particularly trauma-related presentations. Please bring your claim number and approval details to your first session.
WorkCover
Support for workers with accepted WorkCover claims, including workplace trauma, stress-related injuries, and return-to-work planning. Please bring your claim approval and any relevant documentation.
Private health insurance
Some private health funds offer rebates for psychology sessions under extras cover. Cover varies significantly between funds and policies. Note: you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session.
Privately
You do not need a referral to see a psychologist privately — you can self-refer. Without an MHCP or other funding, you simply pay the session fee of $230.
Free 15-minute call
If funding is your main question before booking, a short call is the easiest way to talk through the options.
Request a call →What to bring to your first appointment
Whatever applies to you — none of this is mandatory, but it helps:
- Your Medicare card (if claiming a Medicare rebate)
- Your Mental Health Care Plan and GP referral letter, if you have one
- Your NDIS plan and management details, if applicable
- Your TAC or WorkCover claim number and approval details, if applicable
- Any previous reports, assessments or letters that feel relevant
- Notes on what you would like to focus on, if that helps you settle in
For telehealth sessions, the same applies — you can email documents to nicola@melbournemindfulpsychology.com ahead of time.
Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give as much notice as you can.
Where possible, we ask for a minimum of 24 business hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, and missed appointments, are charged at 100% of the session fee. This policy is in place to respect the time set aside for your session and the needs of other clients waiting for appointments.
Take the first step, in your own time.
Book an initial session when you are ready, or start with a free 15-minute call to ask whatever you need to ask.