Question 1

Do I need a referral to see a psychologist

Accepted Answer

No. You don't need a referral to see a psychologist, you are able to self-refer.
A referral from your GP may entitle you to subsidised sessions under Medicare though, but it does have a cap to how many sessions you can do.

Many people will self-refer and pay the private fee.

Question 2

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

Accepted Answer

A Mental Health Care Plan is a document made in conjunction with your GP and yourself. 
Your GP will ask a series of questions and speak to you about your mental health. If they feel you meet criteria and would benefit from a plan they will complete it at your appointment and write a referral to the psychologist.

A Mental Health Care Plan will entitle the person to subsidised psychology sessions through Medicare. The current medicare subsidy from 1 July 2025 is $98.95

A Mental Health Care Plan will entitle you to 6 sessions with a psychologist. Following the 6 sessions if you would still benefit from further sessions your psychologist will write to your GP with a brief summary of what has occurred in sessions (treatment modalities used). If your GP deems it necessary for further sessions they will complete a referral providing you with 4 more subsidised sessions under Medicare.

10 sessions per calendar year is what people are offered under a Mental Health Care Plan. There is currently no option to extend sessions further than this under a Mental Health Care Plan

Question 3

Do your take Private Health Care Cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have a HiCAPS machine on site.
Please check with your private health insurer as to whether you have coverage and how much coverage you have for psychology sessions as this is individual to your cover and Melanie doesn't have access to this information.

Private Health Cover can be processed on site immediately following your appointment and you will pay the difference.

Melanie can also provide receipts for Private Health Cover if you would prefer to claim yourself.

Please note you cannot claim the Medicare subsidy under a Mental Health Care Plan and your private health insurance rebate against the same appointment. 
Our experience has been most people's private health care cover is less than the Medicare rebate but again this is personal to each individual.

Question 4

Do you see NDIS participants?

Accepted Answer

Yes if the NDIS participant is funded for psychology and plan or self-managed.

Question 5

Do you see Workcover Clients?

Accepted Answer

No. Melanie has currently put a hold on seeing new work cover clients.

Question 6

Do you bulk-bill?

Accepted Answer

Melanie is currently unable to offer bulk-billed appointments.
Melanie will continue to honour all clients who have seen her under a bulk-billed arrangement in the past.

Question 7

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

Melanie's current fees set January 2026 are;
Session fees are $230 for a 50min-1 hr session (standard)

NDIS fees are set at $232.99

Medicare rebate $98.95

Question 8

How do we pay?

Accepted Answer

For face-to-face appointments
We have a HiCAPS machine in our office.
You will be required to pay following your appointment.

You are required to pay upfront the full amount for the session. We can then process your Medicare rebate if you have a mental health care plan immediately following this.

You are required to have a physical debit card on hand to receive the Medicare rebate directly onto your card. The HiCAPS machine will not submit a rebate onto a credit card or onto a phone. You are able to pay with a credit card and then receive the rebate onto a debit card though.

Alternatively Melanie will send you a claiming receipt for you to claim via Medicare online if you don't have access to a hard copy debit card.

For Telehealth appointments
You will receive an invoice following your appointment to be paid with 7 days of receiving.
Once payment has cleared into our bank account you will be sent a claiming receipt (if you have a mental health care plan and are claiming the subsidy) for you to claim online via Medicare.

Question 9

Do you see all ages and demographics?

Accepted Answer

At The Aligned Phoenix Melanie only sees women or teen girls aged 14 years and above.
This is due to this being her area of speciality and interest and provides a safe place for some women who receive services who have had trauma backgrounds.

Question 10

Do you do assessments?

Accepted Answer

Melanie currently does not offer assessments and recommends speaking to your GP around a referral to a psychiatrist, paediatrician or educational psychologist if assessment is your primary focus.

Melanie does see many individuals who suspect but have not yet received diagnosis for neurodevelopment disorders, have recently been diagnosed or have held the diagnosis since childhood.

Question 11

What's your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Melanie charges a full fee if cancellation is <24hrs out from the appointment or in the case of a no show.
Melanie will not rebook a client with an outstanding cancellation fee.

Please note any bulk-billed clients will be required to pay the full bulk-billed rate if they do not honour the cancellation policy as Medicare does not pay for non-attendance of an appointment.

Melanie understands situations happen. She will often give clients who have been consistent and reliable with their appointments a waiver of their first cancellation, this is at her discretion.

Please remember that Melanie does not get paid for the hour and therefore the cancellation policy supports both her family and the future of her business.

The Aligned Phoenix is expanding. Books have been opened for new clients. Please make contact via our email

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