Medicare Rebates for Counselling and Therapy
If you’re looking for affordable access to counselling or therapy, Medicare can help cover part of the cost. Through the Better Access initiative, Australians with a Mental Health Care Plan can access Medicare-rebated sessions with eligible mental health professionals, including accredited mental health social workers.
This page explains how the Medicare rebate works for counselling, who is eligible, what the process looks like, and how it connects to neurodivergent-affirming support at The Divergent Edge.
How Does the Medicare Rebate for Counselling Work?
The Australian Government’s Better Access initiative provides Medicare rebates for mental health treatment services. If you have a diagnosed mental health condition and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, you can access up to 10 individual Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year with an eligible mental health professional.
Eligible professionals include clinical psychologists, registered psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, and eligible occupational therapists.
The rebate covers a portion of the session fee. The difference between the practitioner’s fee and the Medicare rebate is your out-of-pocket cost, often called the “gap.” Others charge a fee with the rebate applied afterwards.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible for Medicare-rebated counselling if:
- You hold a valid Medicare card
- You have been assessed by your GP as having a mental health condition (or are suspected of having one)
- Your GP has created a Mental Health Care Plan with you
- Your GP has provided a referral to an eligible mental health professional
You do not need a pre-existing diagnosis before seeing your GP. Your doctor can assess your needs during the appointment and determine whether a Mental Health Care Plan is appropriate.
Many neurodivergent adults access this pathway for co-occurring experiences such as anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, burnout, or trauma, all of which are common alongside ADHD and Autism.
What Does the Process Look Like?
Step 1: Book a longer appointment with your GP
Let reception know you want to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan. The appointment involves an assessment and goal-setting, so a standard 10-minute slot usually isn’t enough. If phone calls aren’t your thing, many practices let you book online or via email.
Step 2: Your GP creates the plan and provides a referral
Together, you’ll discuss what you’ve been experiencing and set some broad goals. Your GP will then write the Mental Health Care Plan and refer you to an eligible mental health professional. If you want to see an accredited mental health social worker, the referral needs to specify that title.
Step 3: Book your first session with a practitioner
Fill out our intake and upload your MHCP with your referral, or send it all to reception. If your referral is addressed to an accredited mental health social worker or a psychologist, we can accept it. We provide services under “focused psychological strategies,” which is the same service type. If your referral is addressed to a psychiatrist, we won’t be able to accept it (your GP can reissue it with the correct professional title).
Step 4: Attend sessions and claim your rebate
After each session, we process the Medicare rebate automatically.
Step 5: Return to your GP after 6 sessions for a review
Your initial referral covers up to 6 sessions. After a review with your GP, you can access up to 4 more, for a maximum of 10 individual sessions per calendar year.
What Does Medicare Cover (and What Doesn't It Cover)?
Medicare rebates under Better Access cover:
- Individual counselling and therapy sessions with eligible professionals
- Telehealth sessions are accepted as a viable model for Medicare support, where clinically appropriate.
Medicare does not cover:
- Couples or family therapy
- ADHD or Autism diagnostic assessments
- Coaching sessions
- Report writing, letters, or between-session correspondence
- Sessions beyond the annual limit of 10 individual sessions
If you’re looking for services not covered by Medicare, other funding pathways may be available, including NDIS, JobAccess (EAF), or private health fund rebates. Visit our Fees & Funding page for details. TDE has a range of practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds, offering services at different fee points.
Medicare Rebates and Neurodivergent Adults
ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition, not a mental health disorder. However, it commonly co-occurs with other pre-existing diagnoses, such as anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders, difficulties with emotional dysregulation, chronic stress, trauma and cPTSD, all of which are eligible for support under a Mental Health Care Plan. Many neurodivergent adults access Medicare-rebated counselling to address these co-occurring experiences, which are often closely connected to living with ADHD and/or Autism.
It’s also worth knowing that accredited mental health social workers are eligible Medicare providers. This matters because some of the most experienced neurodivergent-affirming therapists in Australia hold this qualification, and their sessions are rebatable under Better Access, just like a registered psychologist’s.
At The Divergent Edge, our Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW) provide counselling grounded in lived neurodivergent experience and adapted evidence-based practice. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan and you’re looking for a practitioner who understands ADHD, Autism, or AuDHD from the inside, this is one of the most accessible ways to start.
Current Medicare Rebate Amounts (as of July 2025)
Rebate amounts are set by the Medicare Benefits Schedule and are typically updated on 1 July each year. The current rebate amounts are:
- Registered Psychologist: $98.95 per 50+ minute session
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker: $87.24 per 50+ minute session
The Medicare Safety Net may also apply. Once your out-of-pocket medical costs reach the threshold in a calendar year, your rebates increase. For 2026, the Original Medicare Safety Net threshold is $594.40 for general patients.
For our full fee schedule and other funding options, visit our Fees & Funding page.
Meet our team
Visit our team page to learn about our practitioners, their backgrounds, and their work style. This can help you choose the practitioner who best fits your needs.
Tiarni Mudford
Mental Health Social Worker | Therapeutic ADHD Coach
Emma Read
Organisational Psychologist | Therapeutic ADHD Coach | Leadership Coach
Lynsey Allison
ADHD Coach | Leadership & Careers Coach
Shristi Chand
Counsellor & Psychotherapist | Therapeutic ADHD Coach
Jonathan Righetti
Counsellor & Psychotherapist | Therapeutic ADHD Coach
Darren Monsiegneur
Counsellor & Psychotherapist | Therapeutic ADHD Coach
George Mudford
Mental Health Social Worker | Therapeutic ADHD Coach
Dani Bultitude
Founder | Head of Clinical Practice | Principal Therapeutic ADHD Coach
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Mental Health Care Plan?
Book an appointment with your GP and let them know you’d like to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan. Your GP will assess your situation, set some goals with you, and create the plan. They will then provide a referral to an eligible mental health professional. You don’t need a diagnosis before the appointment. Your GP can assess you during the session and refer you to your eligible practitioner of choice.
Recommended Read: What Is a Mental Health Care Plan and How Do You Get One?
How long is a Mental Health Care Plan valid for?
A Mental Health Care Plan doesn’t have a fixed expiry date. It remains valid as long as you have sessions remaining and a current referral. Your GP may review or update the plan annually, and your Medicare session entitlement resets each calendar year (January to December). After your initial 6 sessions, you’ll need to see your GP for a review before accessing the remaining 4.
Recommended Read: How Long Does a Mental Health Care Plan Last? Sessions, Renewals & What to Know
How much does a Mental Health Care Plan cover?
A Mental Health Care Plan gives you access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. The rebate covers a portion of each session fee. The amount depends on the type of practitioner you see. Your out-of-pocket cost is the gap between the practitioner’s fee and the Medicare rebate.
Can I use my Mental Health Care Plan for ADHD support?
A Mental Health Care Plan covers treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions. While ADHD itself is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition, many people with ADHD experience co-occurring anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, or burnout, which are covered. Your GP can help you determine what’s appropriate for your plan.
Can I choose my own practitioner?
Yes. Your GP may suggest someone, but you are free to choose a practitioner who suits you. If you want to see an accredited mental health social worker at The Divergent Edge, let your GP know so they can write the referral with the correct professional title.
Are telehealth sessions covered by Medicare?
Yes. Medicare rebates apply to telehealth sessions (video or phone) where clinically appropriate. All of our services are delivered via secure telehealth, Australia-wide.
Can I use Medicare and private health insurance together?
Not for the same session. You can use one or the other. Some people use their 10 Medicare-rebated sessions first, then access additional sessions through private health cover if their fund provides rebates for counselling.
Your Next Step
If you’ve got a Mental Health Care Plan and you’re looking for a practitioner who gets neurodivergence, we’re here. Our accredited mental health social workers offer Medicare-rebated counselling via telehealth, anywhere in Australia.
And if you’re still figuring out whether this is the right path, that’s fine too. Reach out, and we’ll help you work it out.
