On this page
Accessing Mental Health Services
Medicare rebates and accessing private practitioners
myGov Website
Better Access Initiative
Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS)
Partners in Community Living Initiative
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Community Mental Health Centres
Accessing Mental Health Services
The first step in seeking help for your mental health concern is to visit a GP to discuss how you are feeling and if a referral through the Better Access initiative or Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program is available.
- Your GP will review your medical history, social situation and lifestyle to understand your symptoms.
- After discussing your concerns, your GP will assess you to clarify if you have a mental health condition which could benefit from further treatment.
- Your GP can give you advice and work with you in finding the best approach to improve your mental health.
- If a referral to mental health specialists through Better Access or ATAPS is an option, the first step is for your GP to create a ‘GP Mental Health Treatment Plan’ with you after discussing your situation and symptoms.
- Your GP will probably ask you to return for a review of your mental health plan to ensure you are getting the help you need.
For more information on Who Can Help And How see our Fact Sheet
What is Medicare rebate?
| Return to top |
Medicare rebates and accessing private practitioners
Medicare provides access to health care for Australian residents. The government pays part or all of the fees when you see a health professional. This payment is called a rebate. To get the rebate you must have a Medicare card. There may be a gap payment required for some professionals. This is the difference between what the private practitioner charges, and how much Medicare covers. You may be asked to pay this gap fee if all charges are not covered by Medicare.
Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. They both work with people living with mental illness. However, they have different roles in your care.
- Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They have studied medicine and can prescribe medication. They will check how the medication is affecting you. Some of them also have received training to help people with mental illness by using other therapies.
- Psychologists study how people behave. They assess and treat people using different therapies.
They both can work in the public community health services or privately in their own practices.
If you don’t have a Medicare card, please call Centrelink on 132 202.
If you receive benefits from the Government, you might be entitled to a Health Care Card. Bring your Health Care Card every time you need to see your doctor. Your Health Care Card will help you buy medication and access health care at a reduced rate.
The rebate amount may be different for each health professional.
A Medicare rebate is now available for up to 10 sessions per calendar year with a registered psychologist* with a Medicare Provider Number. To obtain the rebate you must be referred by an appropriate medical practitioner, i.e. a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. The practitioner will ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements and develop a management Mental Health Care Plan for your condition.
The cost and rebate from Medicare can vary depending on the consultation length and fee charged. If the psychologist bulk bills there will be no extra cost.
For further information about the rebate or to locate a psychologist in your area contact the Australian Psychological Society on 1800 333 497 www.psychology.org.au.
* Similar Medicare rebates also exist for mental health accredited social workers and occupational therapists.
| Return to top |
myGov Website
myGov website
The myGov website allows you to access a variety of Australian Government services in the one place. These online services include, but are not limited to...
- Medicare, where you can lodge claims for some services and view your safety net balance, claim history and care plan access history, etc
- Centrelink, where you can claim a range of payments as well as submit and request documents, etc
- Child Support, where you can view payments, check account information and submit changes in care arrangements for your child, etc
- NDIS, where you can receive information, referrals and support, etc
| Return to top |
Better Access Initiative
Better Access Initiative
The Better Access initiative was developed to provide funded access to evidence-based treatment of mental health disorders.
What can I get through Better Access?
As from January 2013 onwards 6 individual sessions in an initial course of treatment will be covered by the Medicare rebate with the possibility of an extra 4 sessions extending this to a maximum of 10 sessions per calendar year.
Individuals will continue to be able to receive further group therapy sessions on top of their allied health services.
Mental health services may not always be bulk billed under Better Access – you may be required to cover the gap between the Medicare rebate and the practitioner’s fee, so ask your GP about this.
Note: As of 2015, more funding was distributed to regional commissioning agencies – Primary Health Networks (PHNs), with greater focus on the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) model as opposed to the Better Access Initiative.
Primary Health Networks aim to increase the efficiency of health care services and ensure patients are receiving high quality care by working directly with primary health care providers.
Annual rebates through Better Access
> 6 sessions
> Then an extra 4 sessions, subject to requirements
> Plus, up to 10 group therapy sessions
For more about Better Access:
http://www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth-betteraccess
| Return to top |
Allied Psychological Services
Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS)
ATAPS seeks to increase access to mental health professionals through general practitioners (GPs). It aims to provide access to short term, effective treatment to patients experiencing common mental health issues of mild to moderate severity.
ATAPS targets certain illnesses or groups such as youth, people of a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background, people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, Health Care Card Holders, low income earners, people struggling with homelessness, people experiencing perinatal depression and people who have self-harmed or are at risk of suicide.
What can I get through ATAPS?
GPs will refer individuals with common mental health disorders to allied health professionals for 6 sessions of evidence based mental health care.
After review from a GP it may be possible to receive an extra 6 sessions.
In exceptional circumstances 6 additional sessions may be added for a total of 18 in a calendar year.
Services are likely to be free or at very low cost as they are funded by Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
Annual rebates through ATAPS
> 6 sessions
> Then an extra 6 sessions, subject to review with GP
> Possibly a further 6 sessions, in exceptional circumstances only
> Plus, up to 12 group therapy sessions
For more about ATAPS:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-ba
| Return to top |
Partners in Community Living
Partners in Community Living Initiative
The Partners in Community Living Initiative is a coordinated approach to supporting people with serious mental illnesses. It aims to help long term patients transition back into the community by...
- Conducting assessments
- Identifying the needs of each individual
- Developing and providing effective community based residential care
- Providing support for people experiencing long stays in mental health inpatient units
| Return to top |
National Disability Insurance Scheme
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The NDIS aims to provide individualised support to eligible individuals with a persistent or significant disability, their families and carers. Through NDIS, it is anticipated that individuals will receive information, individualised plans, and referrals to appropriate services. Support will also be provided to service providers*. For more information, view the NDIS Participant Information Pack.
Note: *Service providers refer to individuals or organisations that provide support or delivers a product to an individual eligible for the NDIS. To find registered service providers, view: http://www.ndis.gov.au/document/finding-and-engaging-providers/find-registered-service-providers
For more About NIDS in NSW:
The website has information about NDIS and eligibility. There are organisations that will help you with your application process and qualifying for services.
https://www.ndis.gov.au/index.html
1800 800 110
| Return to top |
Community Mental Health centres
Community Mental Health Centres
Community Mental Health Centres are located across NSW and typically provide initial assessment, treatment, consultancy, support, continued care, counselling and case management*. The intake number for community mental health services is the Mental Health Line, on 1800 011 511. You will be connected to your local Community Mental Health Team.
*Note: Case management provides a range of therapeutic interventions in which emphasis is given to assisting people to develop skills to live independently in their community.
| Return to top |
