HERE TO HELP
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions most people have before booking a first session - and a few they might not think to ask.
Before you book
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No referral is required to book. You can book directly via the online portal at any time. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is required only if you would like to access the Medicare rebate. Without a plan, sessions are available at the full fee of $280.
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A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a document prepared by your GP that gives you access to Medicare-rebated psychology sessions under the Better Access scheme. Your GP will assess your situation, prepare the plan, and provide a referral to a registered psychologist.
You can book a standard or longer appointment with your GP to arrange this. The plan allows for up to 10 individually funded sessions per calendar year. Further sessions may require a review with your GP.
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MindWise offers individual clinical psychology for adults aged 18 and over navigating complex mental health challenges - including work-related stress, burnout, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and the psychological load of chronic physical health conditions. Services are available via telehealth Australia-wide, with limited in-person appointments in the Berwick area of south-eastern Melbourne.
Please note: MindWise does not currently offer services for children or adolescents under 18, couples or family therapy as a standalone service, court-ordered therapy, custody assessments, medico-legal reports or IMEs, forensic work, or crisis and after-hours support. Face-to-face appointments outside the limited Berwick arrangement are also not available.
If you are unsure whether your situation is within scope, you are welcome to email katharinesmith@mindwiseworkplacesolutions.com.au to enquire.
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You can refer yourself. A GP referral is not required to make a booking. The only time a GP is involved is if you would like to use a Mental Health Treatment Plan for the Medicare rebate - in which case your GP prepares the plan and provides a referral letter. Even then, you can book your appointment with Kate first and provide the plan details afterwards.
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This is common, and it is not a problem. Many clients see a GP, psychiatrist, or other health professional alongside psychology. If you are already working with a treating team, Kate can liaise with them where appropriate and with your consent. Please mention any existing treating professionals at the first session.
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Book directly via the online portal. Select a time that suits you and complete your intake forms before your appointment. If you have trouble accessing the portal, email katharinesmith@mindwiseworkplacesolutions.com.au and Kate will confirm your booking manually.
Costs & rebates
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A standard 50-minute session is $280 AUD.
Where Medicare item 80010 applies, the current rebate is$145.25 (as at the 1 July 2025 indexation), leaving an out-of-pocket gap of $134.75. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is required to access the rebate.
Payment is due at the time of session.
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Please confirm accepted payment methods (credit/debit card, bank transfer, etc.) and whether payment is processed through Zanda Health or separately. Also confirm whether there is an automated payment process or whether clients pay at the time of session manually.
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Private health extras may apply, depending on your fund and level of cover. Contact your health fund directly to confirm whether psychology services are covered under your extras and what the rebate amount would be. Medicare and private health rebates cannot be claimed for the same session.
Please confirm whether you have any additional information to provide here.
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MindWise accepts WorkCover clients. A limited number of in-person appointments are available in the Berwick area, primarily for Victorian WorkCover clients. If you are accessing psychology through a WorkCover claim, your insurer will need to approve the sessions before you begin. Please contact Kate to confirm your funding arrangements before booking.
Please confirm whether there are any additional steps in the WorkCover onboarding process that clients should know about - for example, whether you need approval documentation before the first session, or whether an initial session can proceed while approval is sought.
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MindWise accepts NDIS clients. If your plan includes funding for psychology under Improved Daily Living, you may be able to access sessions with Kate. The NDIS does not typically cover sessions funded under a Mental Health Treatment Plan at the same time. Please confirm your funding category with your plan manager or support coordinator before booking.
Please confirm how NDIS clients are onboarded - whether you require a service agreement, whether you work with plan-managed and self-managed participants, and whether there are any additional steps clients should take before booking.
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Please confirm whether you offer any concession pricing, sliding scale, or reduced-fee arrangements - for example for clients who do not have Medicare eligibility or are experiencing financial hardship. If not, this question can be removed.
Telehealth & sessions
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Sessions are conducted online via Coviu, a secure video platform used by healthcare providers across Australia. You do not need to download anything - Coviu runs in your browser. A few minutes before your appointment, click the link in your booking confirmation from a quiet, private space with a stable internet connection. Telephone is available as a backup if the video connection is not working.
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For many presentations, research indicates that outcomes for telehealth psychology are comparable to in-person sessions. Telehealth also removes significant barriers - including geographic distance, mobility limitations, and the practical difficulty of attending in-person appointments. All sessions at MindWise are conducted via Coviu, a clinically appropriate and secure platform.
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If you are having trouble connecting via Coviu, try refreshing your browser or switching to a different device. If the connection cannot be established, telephone is available as a backup.
Please contact Kate as soon as possible if you are having technical difficulties before your scheduled appointment time.
Please confirm your preferred backup contact method for tech issues on the day - direct phone number or email. This matters for clients who cannot get into Coviu and need to reach you quickly.
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A limited number of in-person appointments are available in the Berwick area of south-eastern Melbourne, primarily for Victorian WorkCover clients, by arrangement. MindWise does not operate from fixed consulting rooms and does not offer regular face-to-face appointments outside this arrangement.
Please contact Kate directly to discuss in-person options.
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Sessions are 50 minutes. This is standard for psychology consultations under the Medicare Better Access scheme, and is also the term used by private health funds and WorkCover. The first session may occasionally run slightly longer to allow for thorough intake and formulation.
Please confirm whether the first session is consistently 50 minutes or whether you allow additional time at intake. Also confirm whether there is a late-start policy if a session begins late.
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Sessions typically begin weekly or fortnightly, depending on the presentation and what feels right for you. The frequency is reviewed and adjusted as the work progresses. There is no set minimum number of sessions - the pace and duration of therapy are discussed collaboratively at the first appointment and as things develop.
During therapy
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The first session is a conversation - not a test or a formal intake checklist. Kate will listen to understand your situation, your context, and what has brought you here. By the end of the session, you will have a shared sense of where to begin and an agreed working direction. The pace is unhurried, and nothing is locked in at this stage. Find out more about what to expect for your first session here.
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This varies considerably depending on the presentation, the goals of therapy, and how the work develops. Some people find that a focused short course of sessions addresses what they came for. Others find that longer-term work is more useful. This is discussed openly from the start and reviewed as the work progresses. There is no fixed endpoint imposed.
Please confirm whether you want to give any indicative ranges here - for example, whether a short-term course might typically be 6–12 sessions, or whether you prefer to leave this entirely open-ended. A brief indication can be reassuring for clients anxious about ongoing cost.
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MindWise operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
After-hours and weekend appointments are not available at this time.
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Sessions are the primary space for the work. Between-session contact is brief and administrative - confirming appointments, managing rescheduling, or asking a practical question. It is not therapy by email or text. If something urgent arises between sessions, please use the crisis resources listed at the bottom of this page.
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Please confirm your policy on support persons attending sessions - whether in person or on telehealth. Some clients, particularly those with disabilities or anxiety, may find this useful. If this is something you accommodate on a case-by-case basis, please advise how clients should request it.
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Interpreters are welcome where funded - for example, through a client's NDIS plan or WorkCover pathway. If you require an interpreter for your sessions, please advise Kate when booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Privacy & confidentiality
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Yes. Everything discussed in sessions is treated as confidential. There are three standard legal exceptions to this: a risk of serious harm to yourself or others, mandatory reporting obligations (for example, where a child is at risk), and a court subpoena. These exceptions are explained in full in the intake documentation and privacy policy, which you will receive before your first session
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Client records are maintained in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act and AHPRA's guidelines for registered health practitioners. Sessions are conducted via Coviu, a clinically appropriate and privacy-compliant telehealth platform. Full details are set out in the MindWise Privacy Policy.
Please confirm which practice management system you use for clinical records (presumably Zanda Health), and whether there is anything specific about data storage, retention periods, or client access to records that should be noted here. Also confirm whether your privacy policy has been reviewed by a legal professional.
Please confirm whether you want to give any indicative ranges here - for example, whether a short-term course might typically be 6–12 sessions, or whether you prefer to leave this entirely open-ended. A brief indication can be reassuring for clients anxious about ongoing cost.
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Information is not shared with your GP or other treating professionals without your explicit consent, except where required by law. If you would like Kate to liaise with your GP or another health professional, this can be arranged with your written consent.
If something feels off
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Raising a concern about the therapeutic relationship is part of the work - it is not a problem with it. If something lands wrong in a session, if the pace feels off, or if you are unsure whether the approach is right for you, Kate would rather know. These conversations can be among the most useful ones. If the fit is not right, Kate can assist in finding a more appropriate referral.
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You are not obligated to continue. You can pause or stop at any time. If you decide to end sessions, letting Kate know directly means she can close things properly and, where appropriate, discuss any further support or referral that might be useful.
Please confirm which practice management system you use for clinical records (presumably Zanda Health), and whether there is anything specific about data storage, retention periods, or client access to records that should be noted here. Also confirm whether your privacy policy has been reviewed by a legal professional.
Please confirm whether you want to give any indicative ranges here - for example, whether a short-term course might typically be 6–12 sessions, or whether you prefer to leave this entirely open-ended. A brief indication can be reassuring for clients anxious about ongoing cost.
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You are welcome to raise concerns directly with Kate in the first instance. If you would prefer to raise a concern formally with an independent body, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the regulatory authority for registered psychologists in Australia.
AHPRA website:ahpra.gov.au
AHPRA enquiry line:1300 419 495
Crisis support
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MindWise is not a crisis service and does not provide after-hours or emergency support. If you or someone else is at immediate risk, please contact one of the support services below.
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No. MindWise is not a crisis or emergency service. Kate is not available outside business hours for clinical support. If you are in crisis, please use the resources listed above or attend your nearest emergency department.
In crisis?
Reach out to one of these support resources if you are between sessions.
emergency 24/7 Crisis Support
Lifeline: 13 11 14
13YARN: 13 92 76
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Health Direct: 1800 022 222
Emergency: 000
Still have a question?
If your question is not answered here, you are welcome to email Kate directly. Please note that clinical advice is not provided by email - but practical questions about booking, fees, or what to expect are welcome.
Ready to book? You can book your first session directly via the online portal. No referral required.
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