You’re welcome to make an appointment without getting a referral, but a referral is required to claim a rebate.

Sessions funded through DVA are bulk-billed. For all other services, there will be an out of pocket cost.

Speak to your doctor about your concerns so they can prepare a psychologist referral and relevant care plan (e.g. MHTP). You will generally need to book a longer appointment for this. You can also get a psychologist referral at your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check.

Yes, you can receive the same rebate for a telehealth psychologist appointment as you can for an in-person appointment if you have a current referral.

You’ll receive a link to a virtual room, which only you and your psychologist have access to. You will log into the room at your appointment time and have your psychology session over a video call. You should be able to access telehealth from any device you use to browse the internet (e.g. laptop, tablet, smart phone) and you won’t need to download any special programs or apps. It’s important that you are somewhere quiet and private for the session.

Health Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists have both completed the same amount of formal training, which includes a minimum of 6 years of university education and a further 2 years of supervised practice in their particular area of psychology. Clinical Psychologists primarily focus on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, while Health Psychologists primarily focus on developing strategies to improve mental, emotional and physical well-being. All Psychologists in Australia are registered health practitioners who are able to provide evidence-based psychological assessment and treatment.