Skills for Life
Telehealth for all Australians through Emerge Psychology™
MEDICARE
Better Access
Better Access to Mental Health Care – Overview
‘The Better Access to Mental Health Care’ initiative provides up to 10 individual psychological therapy sessions through Medicare per calendar year. Sessions are accessible on a smart phone or computer. After a rebate, the gap is $115 (bulk billed for rural and remote Australians in zones MMM 4 to 6).
Fees tailored to your needs
Building resilience in mental health is our passion. If you are in a rural or remote area, you are automatically bulk billed. If you are not in a rural area but need us to bulk-bill your services, please let your clinician know as they will be happy to assist where needed. The typical fee is a $115 gap charge. Out-of-pocket expenses will count towards your Medicare Safety Net.
Getting a referral for individual sessions
If seeking a referral to a psychologist or other clinician, it is best to request a longer consult with your GP (or pediatrician) to enable them to assess your eligibility for the Better Access/Medicare program. If referred by your GP through Medicare, you will initially be referred for up to 6 sessions. In the 6th session, a re-assessment will be conducted by your psychologist. After your 6th session, your clinician will send a progress report to your
GP session. You will then need to see your GP for a “review”, where a new referral will be considered.
The review
During the “review”, you will have a chat with your GP about your current symptoms and the progress made. Then, your GP will assess if further sessions are clinically indicated towards completing CBT; and a re-referral will be considered. In most cases, a re-referral beyond 6 sessions is deemed necessary, but the process is a great opportunity to check with your GP if modifications are required.
Group rebates
A Medicare is available for eligible patients seeing psychologist for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
What about insurance?
Private Health insurance may be worth considering depending on your level of ancillary cover. A decision needs to be made as to whether it is best to access rebates from Medicare by following the claiming process, or by your private health ancillary benefits, since only one of these can apply per session. We also provide services through other insurers (such as NDIS and work cover).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to support their employees and families in managing personal or work-related problems. EAP is a preventative and proactive counselling program for the early detection and management of both work and personal problems. EAP services are generally available for a smaller amount of sessions than those available through Medicare. Emerge Psychology™ provides services through EAP, as well as Medicare and insurers.
Work Cover
Treatment by psychologists for work-related injury or illness is available at Emerge Psychology™ via VideoLink. Let your GP know of any enquiries in the first instance as they will know if referral through Medicare is more appropriate in your particular circumstance.
NDIS
Emerge Psychology™ helps eligible clients achieve their goals through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Let your clinician know if you would like to access services through your funding. We will require a referral from your GP or pediatrician to assist us in providing you with the best care.
See who you want,
when you want,
where you want
Telehealth for all Australians and Bulk-Billing for rural and remote Australians, through Emerge Psychology™. Australia’s first and longest-serving private provider of psychology Telehealth services. We provide treatment of depression and anxiety.
Telehealth Australia Wide
We service all Australians
Gap fees of $115 per session for those in metro areas
Bulk-billed sessions for those in rural and remote areas
Internet connection on a smart phone or computer is required
Appointments running 7 days a week. Current Average wait time before initial session: 12 Days.
Attending your appointment is as easy as clicking on the link
We service all Australians
Bulk-billed sessions across Psychology, and Social Work for rural and remote Australians
Gap fees of $105 per session apply on top of rebate for those in regional or metro areas
Internet connection on
a smart phone or
computer is required
Attending your
appointment is as easy as clicking on the link that we will send to your email
Current Average wait time before initial session: 21 Days. Appointments running 7 days a week
Gap fees of $115 per session may be applicable
The usual fee is a $115 gap charge for those residing in metro areas. Out-of-pocket expenses will count towards your Medicare Safety Net. If the fee causes you any stress, please let us know so we can do our best to assist.
Bulk-billed sessions across Psychology, Psychiatry and Social Work for eligible patients
Fees tailored to your needs
Australians can access up to twenty sessions per calendar year. Mental health, building resilience and suicide prevention is our passion. If you are in a rural or remote area, you are automatically bulk-billed. If you are not in a rural area but need us to bulk bill your services; please let your clinician know as they will be happy to assist where needed.
We service all Australians
We service patients across all of Australia, as our multi-disciplinary team of 20 is spread across the nation.
Australia’s longest serving private psychology telehealth service
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it essential to have a referral from my GP (or my child's pediatrician)?
Yes, it is essential that you have a referral from your GP or pediatrician that is dated prior to your initial Telehealth psychology session regardless of how it is funded.
How will I access my appointment?
When you book your Telehealth session, a confirmation will be sent to the provided email address. Click on the link provided at the time of your session.
Will my data be safe?
The IT platform used by Emerge Psychology™ meets security standards, privacy legislation and is consistent with the Code of Ethics of the Australian Psychological Society and AASW.
What are the fees?
At Emerge Psychology™ fees are tailored to your needs. The usual fee is a $115 gap charge (after your Medicare rebate). Out-of-pocket expenses will count towards your Medicare Safety Net.
If you are in a rural or remote area, your sessions with Emerge Psychology™ are automatically bulk billed. If you are not in a rural area, but need us to bulk-bill your services, please let your clinician know as they will be happy to assist. Mental health, building resilience, and suicide prevention is our passion.
How many sessions can I access?
Australians can access up to ten sessions per calendar year through Medicare with a valid referral.
What information is sent to my GP?
Following your initial appointment, your GP (or pediatrician) will be advised that your appointment has taken place. Following the 6th session, and final session, your GP will be updated on your progress. This information is not used for any other purpose than treatment planning. Your personal details will be used to plan the service provision of psychology services. Your data is protected by the IT platform in place and the processes legislated for registered psychologists and accredited MH social workers. Great care has been taken to protect the security of this system.
What if I have poor reception?
It is likely that, even if you have poor reception, you will be able to access Telehealth, as our platform uses a small bandwidth for ease of connectivity. Many have found it surprising how easy it is to use, even in areas of poor reception. It is ideal that sessions be carried out by VideoLink, instead of telephone, hence, great care has been taken in sourcing a secure platform with reliable connectivity so that your consultant psychologist is only one click away. However, telephones can be used if you prefer, in which case, just let us know.
What if I need to change my appointment time?
Will there be a cost to my mobile phone or internet data charge?
The advice received by Emerge Psychology™ is that there is no platform cost incurred by the patient, other than that derived from minimal data use, which is generally negligible and similar to data used through accessing music or videos on the internet.
Do you see children and teens?
We work with children, teens, parents, families and individuals of all ages. With young children, work is conducted mostly in collaboration with their parents.
What if I do not have internet connection but prefer videolink?
Can I see a Psychiatrist through Telehealth?
Yes, several psychiatrists provide Telehealth Services and at Emerge Psychology™ (enquire re fee).
Are cancellations fees charged?
What are the terms and conditions of using this service?
By using this resource and attending sessions through Emerge Psychology™, you are agreeing to the provisions of our Disclaimer and
and both must be read and agreed to before the first session
If I have questions, who can I contact?
Queries can be made to the Operation Manager markr@emergepsychology.com.au
If you want to contact your clinician directly, send a message to Mark or to intake@emergepsychology.com.au with the name of your clinician in the subject field.
How is privacy managed within Emerge Psychology?
Can sessions be recorded?
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Please ensure you have read the following prior to your initial session and advise your consultant psychologist of any questions:
What is the booking process?
All referrals are screened by a clinical psychologist for suitability for our unique service. We endeavour to notify referring GPs within 14 business days if we cannot accept a referral.
Can I book an appointment on this website? Current patients are invited to book subsequent sessions with their clinician here. If you are not an existing patient of this service and book in below, your appointment will be cancelled pending an accepted referral from your GP.
How can new patients book? Referrals are screened by Intake Triage for suitability for our service. On acceptance of a referral, we will contact the patient to offer an initial intake assessment and appointment. If you have not heard back 14 business days after sending your referral phone 1300 963 723 and leave a message requesting a check on the status of your referral and we will return your message.
Can I request my preferred clinician? Clinicians with current availability have this listed with their profile below. Referrals can be addressed generally to Emerge Psychology™ or to your preferred clinician.
Please ensure you have read the following prior to your initial session and advise your consultant psychologist of any questions:
Policy for Management of Personal Information
Code of Ethics – AASW – Australian Association of Social Workers