In short: Medicare covers up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative, once your GP has prepared a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referred you to a psychologist.
If you're still weighing up whether to see a psychologist at all, our guide on Do I Need Therapy? is a good place to start. This article picks up from there — assuming you're ready to look into funding and getting a referral sorted.
What Is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (sometimes called a Mental Health Care Plan, or MHTP — they're the same thing) is a document your GP prepares after assessing your mental health needs. It identifies what you're dealing with and sets out a treatment approach, and it's what activates your Medicare rebate.
Importantly, the Plan itself is separate from your referral. You need both: the Plan establishes your eligibility, and the referral is what your GP addresses to a specific psychologist (or to "Dear Psychologist" if you haven't chosen one yet) authorising a course of sessions.
Sessions delivered under a Mental Health Treatment Plan can use any evidence-based approach your psychologist offers — including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is what our team primarily works from.
How Many Sessions Can I Actually Get?
Under the Better Access initiative, Medicare provides a rebate for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year (1 January to 31 December). Here's how that typically plays out:
- Your GP prepares your Mental Health Treatment Plan and refers you for an initial course of treatment — usually up to 6 sessions.
- After those sessions, your psychologist sends a short progress report back to your GP.
- You return to your GP for a review, who can then refer you for the remaining sessions, up to the 10-session yearly total.
Medicare also covers up to 10 group therapy sessions per year, separate to the individual session count, though these are less commonly used.
Do I Need a GP Referral?
Yes — a referral from a GP (or in some cases a psychiatrist or paediatrician) is required to claim the Medicare rebate. As of November 2025, there's also a continuity requirement: your Plan and referral generally need to come from a GP at your MyMedicare-registered practice, or your "usual" GP (the one who's provided most of your care over the past year, or will over the next one). This is worth knowing if you've been seeing a few different GPs, as it may affect who can issue your referral.
What Does It Actually Cost?
The Medicare rebate depends on which type of practitioner you see — a clinical psychologist attracts a higher rebate than a general/registered psychologist, reflecting the additional years of clinical training involved. Rebate amounts are indexed periodically, so always confirm the current figure with your GP, Medicare, or the practice directly.
It's also worth knowing upfront: the rebate is a contribution, not the full session fee. Most psychologists charge above the rebate amount, so there's typically a gap payment — ask about this when you book, so there are no surprises.
Can I Use Telehealth Sessions?
Yes. Telehealth psychology sessions delivered via video call are a permanent part of Medicare-rebated care, not just a pandemic-era measure, making it easier to keep appointments consistent if you're busy, unwell, or not local to Wollongong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to see the same psychologist for all of my Medicare-rebated sessions?
Your GP's referral is usually addressed to a specific psychologist or practice, but you can ask your GP to address it more generally if you're still deciding who to see. Once you've started with a psychologist, your rebate applies to sessions with them under that referral.
What happens after I use my 10 sessions for the year?
Once you've used your 10 individual sessions in a calendar year, further sessions are private fee-paying until 1 January, when a new yearly allocation becomes available (a new Mental Health Treatment Plan isn't automatically required — check with your GP).
Do I need a formal diagnosis to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
Your GP will assess your mental health needs during the appointment. You don't need to arrive with a self-diagnosis — that's part of what the GP consultation is for.
Does a Mental Health Treatment Plan expire?
No, a Mental Health Treatment Plan itself doesn't expire. What matters is your referral (which specifies a number of sessions, up to 6 at a time) and how many rebated sessions you've used in the current calendar year.
General information only, current as of July 2026. Medicare rules and rebate amounts are reviewed periodically — always confirm your specific circumstances with your GP or Medicare directly. This article does not constitute medical or financial advice.
