As we are a private psychology clinic, private fees are applicable. However, you may be entitled to access rebates through a Mental Health Treatment Plan or private health insurance. The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has a recommended fee of $260 for a 45-60 minute consultation with a registered psychologist.

At Concepts Psychology, our fees for counselling and assessments are well below the APS recommended fee and fees at other private practices in the Sydney metropolitan area.

 

Concepts Psychology provides other services that may incur additional costs. These include:
  • Preparation of letters or reports (not including those already provided within the assessment fee or process)
  • Offsite face to face visits to schools or preschools
  • Phone calls and teleconferences
  • Case Conference meetings for Out of Home Care
  • Preparation of case notes for court hearings.

Cancellation Policy

When an appointment is scheduled for you, that time has been set aside for you. We are generally unable to fill appointment spaces that are cancelled late. Rescheduling missed appointments for you also ties up future appointments, further diminishing the availability for others.

We request that you respect our time, and give us an adequate number of business days before a missed appointment to be able to reallocate that time to someone else. Cancellation policies are more about mutual respect than about rules. We respect your emergencies.

How to cancel your appointment

You will be sent an SMS reminder 4 days prior to your appointment. To avoid a cancellation fee please notify us by phone or e-mail at least 2 business days prior to your appointment. The telephone number for the practice is 9583 1069 and you can e-mail us at [email protected].

Please note that while we endeavour to remind you of your appointments through SMS reminders, these should not be relied upon and it is your responsibility to remember appointments you have made.

When does the cancellation fee apply?

We require a minimum of 2 business days notice for cancellations. When less than 2 business days is given, or an appointment is missed without notice, a cancellation fee will be charged. (e.g. an appointment at 2pm on a Monday would have to be cancelled before 2pm on the previous Thursday). Any cancellation made after 5pm on a business day will be counted as a next day cancellation.

How much is the cancellation fee?

If you cancel your appointment less than 2 business days prior to your appointment, a cancellation fee of 50% of the appointment fee will be charged to cover the administration costs of rescheduling and reallocating your appointment.

Cancellations with less than 1 business day notice will be charged the full appointment fee for that service. Non-attendance without advance notice (“no-show”) will also be charged at the full appointment fee.

What happens if I cancel late, or do not attend, my appointment?

If you do not attend your scheduled appointment with less than 1 business day notice or do not give notice, further appointments may not be offered.

Medicare rebates

Our registered psychologists Natalie Kleindyk, Tyrone Hill and Camila Falconer provide services covered under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). A client who is referred by their GP under a MHTP is eligible to access a rebate towards the consultation fee for counselling services only. To access these rebates, a copy of the MHTP is required at the initial consultation. Please ensure you bring this with you, along with your current Medicare card so that we can process your claim.

Payment is required at the time of consultation and Medicare claims can be lodged on your behalf at our office. Rebate amounts vary depending on the length of the consultation. Currently, for a standard 50 minute consultation, the Medicare rebate is $87.45. There are requirements that need to be met to obtain a MHTP; to determine if you are eligible for this plan, please discuss this with your GP.

Helping children with autism Medicare rebates

Children and adolescents to the age of 13 under investigation for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be eligible to claim a rebate from Medicare for assessment and counselling intervention.

The referral for this service is provided by a paediatrician. This is under Item Number 135, for up to four assessment sessions and 20 consultations in an individual’s lifetime. To access these rebates, a copy of the 135 referral is required at the initial consultation. Please ensure you bring this with you along with your current Medicare card so that we can process your claim. Payment is required at the time of consultation and Medicare claims can be lodged on your behalf at our office.

Telehealth services

We provide Medicare-funded telehealth services. This follows the Federal Government’s introduction of new COVID-19 Medicare items in March 2020, allowing clients to access up to 10 bulk-billed psychological services by telehealth in a calendar year. In August 2020, the Government announced an additional 10 Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions for those people who have used their 10 initial sessions.

To access these services, you will need to make an appointment with your GP to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan. This will allow you to access counselling with a psychologist under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative.

Private health insurance rebates

Natalie and Tyrone are registered with private health insurance funds. We can process health fund claims on the spot so you only need to finalise the gap amount. Not all health funds will provide a rebate towards psychology services. Please contact your health insurance provider directly to confirm your eligibility.

What is the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government national scheme which provides individualised support funding for people with a disability, their families and carers.

What NDIS services do we provide?

Your NDIS funding will depend on your needs, goals and any additional support provided by family, friends and other community and government services.

We provide capacity building services under the NDIS, covering therapy, assessment, training and recommendations. Assisting clients with their living skills across their lifespan, from starting a conversation to managing their money, our goal is to increase independence and develop social skills. This includes:

  • Mobility: we assist our clients in building their independence to achieve tasks such as leaving home and catching public transport.
  • Communication skills: expressing wants and needs through written and verbal methods, as well as understanding others.
  • Socialising: making and keeping friends and understanding each other.
  • Learning: assistance or learning strategies.
  • Self-care: completing daily hygiene and grooming.
  • Self-management: making decisions, getting organised, budgeting and managing finances.

We can also assist with NDIS applications and reviews, to help you access funding.

Who we provide NDIS services to

At Concepts Psychology, we work with clients who hold a valid and active NDIS plan and who are either self-managed or plan-managed.

A ‘self-managed plan’ is where an NDIS participant or their plan nominee engages NDIS supports and services themselves. Our self-managed clients pay their invoice before their initial consultation and claim the funds back from the NDIS using the NDIS portal.

A ‘plan managed plan’ is where an NDIS participant engages a registered NDIS provider to provide plan management services. This provider will help you manage your NDIS funding and will directly send the invoices to your plan nominee, who will arrange payment through your NDIS portal.

Please note, if you are managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), then you will not be able to make NDIS claims for our services.

  • If I have questions about my funding, who do I ask?

    If you are unsure about how your NDIS funding is managed, or have any other questions, first check your NDIS Plan. Your Local Area Coordinator, whose contact details will be on your NDIS Plan, is also available to help.

    Alternatively, contact NDIS on 1800 800 110 or call our friendly reception team, who would be happy to provide assistance wherever possible.

  • How do I find out my available funds?

    You can check how much funding you have left using the NDIS portal, myplace, on the myGov website. You can also contact NDIS on 1800 800 110.

  • What do I need to bring to my first session?

    To provide services under NDIS, we will need to see your NDIS Approved Plan Summary, which states the summary of areas approved and the budget allocated for each intervention area.

  • What happens when my plan ends?

    Towards the end of your plan, your psychologist will write an NDIS review report outlining your progress, outcomes and proposed goals for your next NDIS Plan. The NDIS will contact you six weeks before your plan ends to discuss a review. For more on preparing for plan reviews, click here.