Important Information

When you schedule an appointment Confidentiality & Privacy is important

Confidentiality ensures that all personal information gathered remains confidential in accordance with Australian Psychology Society guidelines

Limits to confidentiality include:

  • Information that is subpoenaed or authorised by law

  • If the information places you or another at serious risk

  • If your prior approval has been obtained to share information with other professionals

  • Medicare Better Access requires that psychologists write a brief report to your referring GP throughout the course of treatment.

Privacy ensures that all personal information is stored securely for the duration that the information is required to be kept on file.

Fees

Please contact us to enquire about current fees.

A 50-minute / 90-minute appointment means each client is afforded dedicated time "in person", as well as time for; treatment planning prior to your appointment, future session planning following your appointment, administration and reasonable follow up with any necessary parties.

Additional fees apply for requested communication, letters or reports outside of appointment times taking longer than 15-minutes, will be charged at a rate of $66 per 15-minutes, or can be completed during booked session time.

Please be aware that fees may be updated annually. Any changes will be communicated with three months' notice. If you take a break and return for appointments, the fees applicable will be those in effect at the time of your booking.

If your appointment is via Telehealth or if you are a parent who does not accompany your child to their appointment, payment is due 24 hours before the appointment. Payment details are requested to be securely stored to facilitate pre payment.

Booking Appointments

To schedule an appointment and access my booking calendar complete the contact form on my website or use the online booking portal.

Reminder emails are sent as a courtesy 24 - 48 hours prior to your appointment, they are not a confirmation of appointment, therefore regardless of a reminder, if an appointment has been made, then it stands, unless you are otherwise notified.

There is an expectation that all clients hold responsibility for remembering and keeping track of their appointments. If this is a difficulty, please let Samantha know so she can arrange additional support.

Waitlist

If there are no appointments available, you can choose to be placed on a waitlist. When an appointment time becomes free you will be sent an email or text message to alert you of the appointment. If you would like to accept the appointment, please follow the instructions in the message to book.

Acceptance of the appointment means acceptance of the fee and cancellation policy. If this appointment is accepted with a 24-hr period of the appointment time, cancellation fees will apply if the appointment is later cancelled.

Other clients on the cancellation list will be notified of available appointments at the same time, appointments will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.


Attendance at Appointments

If your appointment is in person, it will be at my practice in Joondalup, Perth.

Location on google maps, click here.

You will receive an email prior to the appointment with directions and details of how to access the practice.

If your appointment is online…

A zoom link will be sent to you prior to your appointment. If you have technical difficulties logging on, please send an email and I will give you a call.

If for any reason a client is late for an appointment or needs to depart early, the session time booked will need to be honoured and the fee remains the same.

Cancellation of Appointments

Cancellations must be submitted during business hours. For a Monday appointment, cancellations need to be made before the previous Friday.

If you know in advance that you will be unable to attend, please don’t wait for your reminder email to cancel. If you have access to the portal, you can cancel and reschedule online. If no appointments are available, please email hello@connectcreate.org, and I will add you to the waitlist.

If you cancel two consecutive appointments without contacting us, any future bookings will be cancelled, and you will receive an email notification regarding this.

Cancellation Fees

Cancellation fees are implemented to cover the time spent on administration and treatment planning before appointments. This helps me offer services at below-industry-standard rates while maintaining a sustainable practice. It allows me to meet overhead costs, provide high-quality care, and ensure continuity for all clients. Additionally, the cancellation policy gives waitlisted clients the opportunity to book appointments. If an appointment is not cancelled within the specified timeframe, it results in a loss of time, money, and opportunities for both waiting clients and my business.

If I am unable to fill a cancelled spot by a waitlisted client, the following fees apply

Cancelling 0 - 24 business hrs prior to the appointment

100% of the session fee is required to be paid by the client.

Cancelling 24 - 48 business hrs prior to the appointment

50% of the session fee is required to be paid by the client.

Your understanding of the cancellation and fee policy is appreciated.

Third Party Payers

Payment on the day of the appointment is preferred. Payment by third party payers can be arranged in exceptional circumstances. If an arrangement is made and payments fall into arrears services may be ceased and the client is expected to provide payment.

  • Understanding how to get support is important, and fortunately, obtaining a referral to see a psychologist in Australia is quite simple.

    ·       Step 1: Talk to Your GP
    Start by booking an extended appointment with your GP. This gives them enough time to create a mental health plan tailored to you. If it’s more convenient, you can also consult a specialised mental health GP online.

    ·       Step 2: Mental Health Assessment
    During your appointment, your GP will conduct a mental health assessment. This helps them understand your current feelings and experiences, so they can recommend the best treatment plan for you. Expect to answer questions about your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour patterns.

    ·       Step 3: Referral and Plan
    After the assessment, your GP will provide you with a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral. Usually, they will send the referral to your email as a PDF, but they can also print it out for you if you prefer as well as emailing me a copy directly to hello@connectcreate.org

  • A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a supportive roadmap designed for those facing mental health challenges. It outlines your treatment goals and actions agreed upon with your GP or psychiatrist.

    Your GP or psychiatrist will create a document that addresses your mental health condition, detailing the type of care you'll need and the goals you and your doctor have set together. It’s a valuable tool to guide your mental health journey!

    Why should I get a Mental Health Care Plan?
    An MHCP offers a personalised approach to treatment, ensuring that your plan reflects your unique circumstances and mental health goals. A mental health care plan and referral to a psychologist allows you to access psychology treatment with a rebate from medicare.

    Does a Mental Health Care Plan Expire?

    Mental Health Care Plans do not expire. A new plan may be created if there is a significant change in the clinical situation, but this is at the GP's discretion and is not mandatory. A new mental health care plan cannot be issued within 12 months of the initial one.

    Once a mental health care plan is created your GP or Psychiatrist will provide you with a referral letter to a psychologist.

  • Whether you need a referral depends on if you plan to claim Medicare rebates for your psychology sessions.

    Medicare is Australia’s public health insurance system that offers rebates for a range of medical services, including visits to a psychologist. If you’re planning to pay privately, you don’t need a referral. However, if you’d like to access subsidised sessions through Medicare, you will need a referral.

    A referral to a psychologist does not expire. It remains valid for up to 6 sessions of treatment and will only expire once all sessions outlined in the referral have been used.

    No referral? No problem!

    Keep in mind that you don’t need a referral to see a psychologist. A referral is only required by Medicare to help cover some of your costs. If you choose to pay privately, you can still submit your receipt to your private health fund if you have psychology coverage. Feel free to email us at hello@connectcreate.org if you have any questions!

  • Many people assume that the referral must be addressed to a particular psychologist, but that’s not necessary. It can simply be made out to "Psychologist" without a specific name. Even if the referral is directed to a particular psychologist, you’re still free to see someone else if you choose.

  • Visiting a psychologist through Medicare can greatly lower your costs. Starting in 2025, you'll receive $141.85 back for each session with your psychologist for up to 10 sessions in the calendar year.

    Just a heads up: even if you switch psychologists throughout the year, you can still only claim 10 Medicare sessions in a calendar year. If possible, please let your psychologist know if you've used any sessions with someone else, so we can help keep track of how many you have remaining.

  • You’re entitled to 10 Medicare-rebated psychology sessions each year. If you need more, you can pay privately.

    Your initial referral from your GP covers 6 sessions. After that, your psychologist will update your GP, and if required will recommend another 6 sessions.

    You will need to return to your GP for the additional referral. At this appointment ask your GP for an additional referral for continued psychology sessions.

    It is best to continue with the same GP that provided your initial referral, if this is not possible please let us know so we can communicate with your new or interim GP.

    The total number of psychology appointments you might need depends on your situation, therapy goals and personal preferences. This will be discussed with your psychologist during your initial appointment.

  • Once you have received 6 Medicare rebates, Samantha will email a review letter to your GP, and you must see your GP for the next referral.

    If granted, this new referral will be valid for a further 6 sessions (unless stated otherwise by your GP).

    As medicare only provide 10 rebates in a calendar year, your referral and any remaining rebates will be held and carried over to the next calendar year. You do not need to revisit your GP until all 6 rebates are used.

  • No, you can only claim from either Medicare or a private health fund for each session.

    Private health insurance will not cover the difference between the Medicare rebate and the consultation fees. Your receipt will have a code specific to either Medicare or private health, depending on your needs.

    Some private health funds cover psychology sessions, but the benefits vary based on your level of ancillary or extras cover. It’s best to contact your provider directly to check your eligibility and get details about the rebates.

  • Family members or carers can access up to two sessions per calendar year. These sessions count towards the following:

    ·       The maximum of six sessions for each course of treatment under the Better Access program.

    ·       The patient’s yearly limit of 10 individual services under Better Access.

    For example, if a patient has a referral for six sessions and two are used for a family member or carer, the patient can then receive four sessions before needing a review with their referring practitioner.

    · Can family and carer sessions be done via telehealth?
    Yes, family and carer sessions can be conducted via telehealth (video or phone). Telehealth consultations can replace face-to-face sessions when it is clinically appropriate and safe to do so. They follow the same clinical requirements as regular consultations.

  • This psychology service (Medicare Item 81000) offers pregnancy support counseling for clients with concerns related to a current or recent pregnancy (within the past 12 months), including full-term, part-term, or planned terminations. It covers up to three sessions with a psychologist per pregnancy.

    Psychologists using this Medicare item are trained to help with pregnancy-related issues and provide information on relevant options and services. They specialise in non-directive counselling skills, pregnancy-related concerns, and information resources.

    Non-directive counselling is a form of counselling that is based on the understanding that, in many situations, people can resolve their own problems without being provided with a solution by the counsellor. The counsellor's role is to encourage the person to express their feelings but not suggest what decision the person should make. By listening and reflecting back what the person reveals to them, the counsellor helps them explore and understand their feelings. With this understanding, the person is able to make the decision that is best for them. 

    The rebate is $70.85