Getting Started with Mental Health Support

What to do

Book a standard or long appointment with your GP (general practitioner). When booking, you can say something like:

“I’d like to discuss my mental health.”

A longer appointment (usually 20–40 minutes) gives your GP enough time to do a proper assessment. You can request a long appointment when booking — most clinics will accommodate this.

What to expect

Your GP will ask about how you’ve been feeling, how long symptoms have lasted, and how they affect your daily life. This is a conversation, not a test — there are no wrong answers.

They may use a short questionnaire (like the K10 or PHQ-9) to get a picture of your symptoms. This is completely normal and helps them decide the right support for you.

Tips

• You don’t need to have a “serious” problem. GPs help with everything from stress and sleep issues to anxiety and depression.
• Write down what you want to say beforehand. It can be hard to remember everything in the moment.
• You can bring someone with you for support if that helps.
• Bulk-billing GPs mean no out-of-pocket cost for the appointment. Use healthdirect to find one near you.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a document your GP creates during your appointment. It outlines your mental health goals and the treatment approach. Most importantly, it unlocks Medicare rebates for up to 10 psychology sessions per calendar year.

You don’t need to do anything special — just have the conversation with your GP, and they’ll create the plan as part of that appointment.

What happens during the appointment

Your GP will:

1. Assess your mental health — talking through your symptoms, history, and how you’re coping.
2. Create the MHCP — this includes your goals (e.g., “reduce anxiety”, “improve sleep”) and a recommended treatment approach.
3. Write a referral — you’ll get a referral letter to take to a psychologist (or other mental health professional).

The whole process usually happens in one longer appointment.

Important details

• Cost: The MHCP appointment itself is covered under Medicare if your GP bulk-bills. If not, you’ll pay the standard GP gap fee.
• 10 sessions per calendar year: You get up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year (January–December). This resets each year.
• Review after 6 sessions: Your GP needs to do a brief review after your first 6 sessions before you can access the remaining 4. This is a short GP appointment.
• MHCPs can’t be “transferred”: If you change GPs, your new GP will need to write a new MHCP. The plan stays with the GP, not with you.

Tips

• Ask for a copy of your MHCP and referral letter.
• You choose your psychologist. Your GP may suggest someone, but you’re free to find your own.
• The referral is usually valid for 12 months, but check with your psychologist’s clinic.

How to find a psychologist

You can find a psychologist through:

• Psychology Today Australia — search by location, issue, and whether they offer Medicare rebates.
• Australian Psychological Society (APS) Find a Psychologist — the official APS directory.
• healthdirect — government directory of health services.
• Your GP’s recommendation — they may know practitioners in your area with shorter wait times.

What to check before booking

• Do they accept Medicare rebates? Not all do. Ask when you call.
• What is their session fee? Fees vary widely ($150–$300+). The Medicare rebate is a fixed amount — the rest is your out-of-pocket cost (the “gap”).
• What is their availability? Wait times can be weeks or months. Ask about cancellation lists.
• Do they offer telehealth? Phone or video sessions can be easier to fit into your schedule and may have shorter wait times.

Booking your first session

When you call or book online, mention that you have:

1. A Mental Health Care Plan from your GP
2. A referral letter

They’ll ask you to bring both to your first appointment, along with your Medicare card.

Tips

• Don’t be discouraged by wait times. Put your name on multiple lists.
• It’s OK to try a different psychologist if the first one isn’t a good fit. You can use your remaining sessions with someone else — just get an updated referral from your GP.
• Telehealth sessions receive the same Medicare rebate as in-person sessions.

Your first session

Your first session is usually an intake or assessment session. Your psychologist will:

• Ask about your background, what brought you in, and what you’d like to work on
• Explain how therapy works and what approach they use (e.g., CBT, ACT)
• Start building a therapeutic relationship — this is one of the most important parts of therapy

Bring your MHCP, referral letter, and Medicare card to the first session.

Claiming your Medicare rebate

There are two ways to claim:

1. At the clinic — many clinics process your rebate on the spot. You pay the full fee, and the rebate goes back to your bank account within a few days.
2. Through Medicare — you can claim online via myGov or at a Services Australia office.

The rebate amount depends on the type of practitioner and session length. Your out-of-pocket cost is the difference between the session fee and the rebate.

GP review after 6 sessions

After your first 6 sessions, you’ll need a brief GP appointment to review your progress. This is a requirement to access sessions 7–10.

This is usually a short appointment where your GP checks in on how things are going and updates your MHCP if needed. It’s not a barrier — it’s a check-in.

Tips

• Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly, but your psychologist will discuss what works for you.
• Cancellation policies — most psychologists charge a fee for missed sessions or late cancellations (usually 24–48 hours notice required). Medicare won’t rebate cancelled sessions.
• You can change psychologists at any time. Get an updated referral from your GP pointing to the new practitioner.