For patients: do I need a referral?
No — you don't need a referral to book an appointment with us. You're welcome to self-refer at any time.
However, if you'd like to claim a Medicare rebate, you will need a valid referral from a GP or psychiatrist. From a GP, this means a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter (see our Mental Health Treatment Plans page); from a psychiatrist, a referral letter alone is sufficient.
For referring GPs
Thank you for considering The Anxiety & Stress Clinic for your patients. We aim to make the referral process as straightforward as possible for your practice.
- Referrals can be addressed to a specific psychologist, or to "the treating psychologist" for an open referral — we'll match your patient with an appropriate clinician from our team of three based on availability and clinical fit.
- A valid referral letter should include the patient's name, date of birth and address; a working diagnosis; the number of sessions being referred for; whether it's supported by a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Chronic Disease Management Plan, or psychiatrist assessment; and be signed, dated, and include your provider number.
- Please contact our reception team to confirm the best way to send a referral and current wait times.
- In line with Medicare requirements, we send a brief written progress report back to the referring GP once the initial course of sessions (typically 6) is complete, to support any decision about continuing care.
If you'd like to discuss a referral, or want to know more about how we work with GPs across the Illawarra, call us on (02) 4263 0515 or email info@theanxietyandstressclinic.com.au.