Fees
Current private fees are set lower than the recommended rate by the Australian Psychological Society.
Appointments cost $230 for a 50-60 minute session.
When you make an appointment with a psychologist, that time has been reserved for you, and psychologists do considerable preparation and planning for your appointment. While of course sometimes things happen in life that mean cancelling or rescheduling is needed, doing so at late notice impacts a psychologist's ability to see other clients, especially people who are on the waiting list. Unlike other professionals such as doctors, who offer shorter medical appointment times, psychologists are unable to fill that time allocated for you at short notice with other work.
Given this, Perennial Psychology has a 48 hour cancellation fee policy. Appointments that are cancelled between 48-24 hours notice will attract a 50% cancellation fee, and appointments that are cancelled under 24 hours will attract the full fee.
Mental Health Care Plan
Under the Better Access Initiative, clients are eligible for 10 rebated sessions with a clinical psychologist every calendar year. To access these, you will need a referral and Mental Health Care Plan from your GP or psychiatrist. Clients are eligible for a $141.85 Medicare rebate for each session, meaning the out-of-pocket cost is approximately $88 per session.
Eating Disorder Management Plan
If you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, you may be eligible for rebated psychological sessions under the Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP), which can be provided by your GP or psychiatrist. Templates for referrers completing an EDMP can be found here.
Eligible clients can access up to 40 rebated-sessions a year for evidence-based treatment for an eating disorder. You can review eligibility criteria here. Clients are eligible for a $141.85 Medicare rebate for each session, meaning the out-of-pocket cost is approximately $88 per session.
Private health insurance
If you have private health cover that covers psychological treatment you may be eligible for private health rebates, though your rebated amount and eligibility will depend on your private health. Private health insurers often request you to utilise the Medicare-rebated sessions first.
NDIS
NDIS participants are able to access psychological services from the Improved Daily Living or Improved Relationships funding. Psychological support is utilised to support participants to meet their goals outlined in their plan. The NDIA funds and caps psychological services at $222.99 for a 50-60 minute session, and there is no out of pocket cost to participants. Psychological assessments and corresponding report writing fees for the NDIS will be discussed and quoted appropriately
Worksafe, TAC and VOCAT
If you have been allocated funding to see a psychologist via these streams, you will be entitled to a capped number of sessions that are covered by the corresponding body. The ongoing out-of-pocket cost for clients is often little to none.
Low-cost therapy stream
As part of Perennial Psychology’s ongoing commitment to providing community-accessible psychological treatment, there are a limited number of slots available in the low-cost therapy stream. The out-of-pocket cost will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and discussed prior to the first session. These slots are utilised for clients who are unable to afford private psychology fees, and referrals often come from clinicians and psychiatrists within the public health system. It is recommended that clients or referrers contact Perennial Psychology to discuss the low-cost therapy waitlist and client suitability for this stream prior to referrals being sent.