Fee Structure Counselling sessions generally last about one hour and will usually cost $130, considerably less than The Australian Psychological Society's recommended fee of $192 for a one hour session. Initial consultations will generally last longer and are subsequently billed at $150. Fees are payable at the time of consultation and can be paid with cash or by electronic transfer using Visa, Mastercard or Bankcard. You do not need a referral to see a psychologist but you may qualify for some rebates if you have a referral. Medicare Rebates Wendy McLean is a registered Medicare Provider. The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative introduced new mental health Medicare items on 1 November 2006. These items enable people with diagnosed mental disorders to access services from a range of mental health services providers, including psychologists. Medicare will allow for 12 sessions per calendar year to be rebated by Medicare. To qualify for these rebates you will need your GP and to provide a “MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLAN”. You will need to pay upfront first before taking the invoice to your local Medicare Office to obtain your rebate. You can find more information in this pdf fact sheet. Tax Offsets Any taxpayer whose net medical expense (for themselves or their dependants) is more than $1500 in a financial year may be eligible for a 20% Medical Expense Rebate if specifically referred for that therapeutic treatment by their Medical Practitioner. Check with your accountant or tax advisor for advice. HICAPS Many health funds offer members a Health Industry Claims and Payment Services automatic claims processing service. Wendy uses HICAPS as a convenient, time saving payment method. Check with your health fund for more details.