Fees & Rebates

About

All sessions are conducted via telehealth video call, phone, or in the community. Sessions typically consist of one initial assessment followed by the development of a formulation and treatment plan and subsequent interventions sessions. Some clients require multiple sessions to complete an initial assessment, when there is more to cover or it is conducted in a shorter time frame. Whilst Luella is trained in assessment and diagnosis and can screen and make recommendations for a range of psychological disorders, however, she does not conduct comprehensive assessments, such as ADHD, Autism, Cognitive, Personality, Forensic, Capacity and Learning Assessments in this clinic and can refer you for these services if indicated.

Medicare

To access the Medicare Better Access initiativeof up to 10 subsided psychology sessions per calendar year, see your GP or Psychiatrist for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and initial referral block of up to 6 sessions. If deemed necessary, your doctor can refer you for an additional 4 sessions. The 10-session limit resets every 1 January, allowing you to access a new set of 10 rebated sessions in the next calendar year. Eligbility includes being assessed by your doctor as having a mild to moderate mental health condition. You can claim private health insurance in addition to medicare rebates directly with your private health insurer.

NDIS Funded

Psychology services bill through Capacity Building-Improved Daily Living Skills-Assessment, Recommendation, Therapy, or Training funding (15_054_0128_13). Accepting self-managed & plan-managed participants and not NDIA managed participants. Suitability will be determined by clients capacity to engage in telehealth or community based services and client-clinician fit. Community based sessions are limited and restricted to the inner Newcastle region, in a safe and private location which can facilitate effective therapy.

Private

You may access sessions privately by paying the full fee or you may claim sessions through your private health insurance using the invoice that is emailed to you. You may request a 90 minute initial assessment or have the clinician conduct the assessment in a standard 50-minute time frame or over two sessions to manage costs.

Cancellation Policy

All appointments require at least 48 hours notice for cancellation. Medicare and private: failure to provide notice within 48 hours will result in a 50% cancellation fee and 50% will be refunded into your account. NB. Medicare rebates are not applicable to cancellations. NDIS: failure to provide 48 hours notice will result in a 100% fee (as outlined in the NDIS pricing arrangements and pricing limits 2025-26 guide).

How do psychologists set their fees?

Private psychologists set their own fees. The APS National Schedule of Suggested Feesrecommends $318 for a 46-60 minute session, the NDIS pricing limit is $232.99 per hour and the average session cost in Australia for a registered pscyhologist is approximately $180-280 for a 50-60 minute session.

While it may seem high initially, a psychologist’s hourly fee covers much more than just the hour. This fee includes note taking, research, treatment planning, administration, business expenses (insurance, software, advertising, supervision, professional development, accounting, psychological association membership), and considers the years of unpaid study, cost of education (usually between 6 and 10 years), years of experience and expertise, and market demand and supply.