Overview of Medicare Services

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Coastal Psych offers psychological support for adults under the Better Access initiative, with rebates available through a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHCP) from your GP. This makes accessing therapy more affordable, and helps people get support for a wide range of mental health needs — from anxiety and low mood to relationship issues, stress, or life changes.

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Sessions are delivered in a comfortable, flexible way — often in your home or a local community setting like a park, café, or quiet beachside spot.

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Who we Support

 

Coastal Psych works primarily with adults (18+) who are seeking support to improve their mental health, build independence, and participate more fully in everyday life. Some of the common challenges discussed in therapy include:

• Anxiety, stress, or burnout

• Depression or low mood

• Low self-esteem or chronic self-criticism

• Social anxiety, loneliness or isolation

• Relationship and communication difficulties

• Adjusting to disability, health conditions, or life changes

• Exploring identity, purpose and values

• Support with motivation, structure and daily routines

 

We also work with neurodivergent clients (e.g. autism or ADHD) and those who have found it hard to access therapy in traditional clinical settings.

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Ben Waters, our lead psychologist has particular interests in supporting people with complex mental health needs including those living with schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities, including helping these clients to build their participation in social, leisure, work, and relationship aspects of life.

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​Fees

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Coastal Psych sets fees below fee recommendations of professional bodies such as the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. (AAPi) to ensure our services remain accessible for as many clients as possible.

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Our fees include:

• $271.44 for a 50-minute session at home or in community setting of your choice

• $232.99 for a 50-minute walk & talk session in central Wollongong or Kiama.

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Clients referred under a valid Mental Health Care Plan can claim a Medicare rebate of $98.95 per session, bringing the out-of-pocket cost to $172.49 for home and community sessions, or $134.04 for walk & talk sessions in Wollongong or Kiama.

 

In some circumstances where there is a clinical need for sessions to occur in your home, a higher $124.30 Medicare rebate may apply, bringing the out-of-pocket cost down to $147.14 for a home visit. 

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Concession rates may apply for clients receiving a Centrelink benefit, however as the Medicare rebates set by the government are insufficient to cover the cost of providing high quality psychological services, Coastal Psych is unable to offer bulk billed service.

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Referrals

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To access support from Coastal Psych, clients can attend their GP and obtain referral and a Mental Health Care Plan necessary to access Medicare rebates. These can be forwarded on to Coastal Psych via our contact page, or emailed to admin@coastalpsych.com.au.

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Private fee-paying clients who do not wish to access the Medicare rebate can contact Coastal Psych directly at admin@coastalpsych.com.au or 0460 717 757 to discuss a self-referral. 

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