A referral from a GP or specialist is required to see a psychiatrist at Mind Connections, and it is what gives you access to Medicare rebates on eligible consultations. Psychology appointments can be accessed with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare rebates, with a standard referral, or privately without a referral.

Getting a referral from your GP

Make an appointment with your GP and let them know you would like to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Be as open as you can about what you have been experiencing; the more your GP includes in the referral, the better prepared your specialist will be for your first appointment. You can ask for the referral to be addressed to Mind Connections generally, or to a specific clinician if you have one in mind. GP referrals to a specialist are typically valid for 12 months.

Mental Health Treatment Plans for psychology

A GP Mental Health Treatment Plan gives you access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. Your GP will assess your needs, prepare the plan, and write a referral. After your first six sessions, you return briefly to your GP for a review before accessing the remaining rebated sessions.

Assessment-and-management-plan referrals (item 291)

If you have a good GP relationship and prefer that your GP manages your ongoing care, ask them to request Medicare item 291 in the referral. The psychiatrist will assess you over one to three sessions, arrive at a diagnosis, and provide your GP with a comprehensive written management plan to guide your care for 12 months. If a review with the psychiatrist is later needed, your GP re-refers you under item 293.

Not sure if your referral is right?

Call us before you book. Reception checks referrals every day and can quickly confirm whether yours is appropriate, current and correctly addressed, saving you a wasted trip to the GP or a delayed appointment. It is always better to ask first.