Do I need a referral to see a psychologist in Adelaide?
- Apr 27
- 6 min read
You're ready to book your first appointment with a psychologist, but before you do, you want to know:
How much is it going to cost me, and do I need a referral to see a psychologist in Adelaide?
Both questions are important. And they can only be answered once you know how you want - and are able - to fund your psychology sessions.
In this article, we'll look at some of the most common funding options, and outline which ones require a referral, with a general overview of eligibility criteria.
NOTE: We use the term “funding option” throughout this article for simplicity. However, please be aware that each funding option discussed - with the exception of full fee‑paying (self‑funded) psychology - has strict eligibility criteria.
Eligibility is not determined by Activ8 Mind, and the use of the term “funding option” does not imply that funding approval will be granted, even if you meet the general requirements outlined below. These requirements are provided for information purposes only.
Skip to information about a specific funding option:
Medicare Psychology: Referral Required
Under the Better Access initiative, Medicare may partially fund up to 10 individual and / or group psychology sessions for you if you meet eligibility requirements. Eligibility requirements include having a referral to see a Medicare registered psychologist.
At – or before – your first appointment, you will need to have shared / shown the following with the psychology practice:
A valid Medicare card
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
A referral from your GP, paediatrician, or psychiatrist
Please note that, if you attend your first Medicare psychology appointment without a MHTP and a referral, you will not be able to claim a Medicare rebate for that appointment.
Before your first appointment, it's a good idea to:
Understand how the Medicare psychology process works, including:
The number of Medicare-rebated sessions available to you.
The requirement to revisit your GP after 6 sessions with a psychologist.
The psychologists that you can see (i.e. they must be Medicare registered).
Be aware of how much a session will cost.
Medicare offers a rebate (partial refund) to eligible individuals. As at the time of writing, the rebate amount is
$145.25 for a 50-minute session with a Clinical Psychologist and,
$98.95 for a 50-minute session with a Registered Psychologist.
While some practices offer bulk billing, many providers charge a gap fee. This fee can vary between practices.
Know how you can claim your Medicare rebate
Some psychology practices, including Activ8 Mind, offer on-the-spot rebates. This means that, as soon as you pay for your appointment, the Medicare rebate will be deposited into your nominated account. Just don't forget to bring your Medicare card!
Private Health Insurance (Extras) Psychology: No Referral Required
You don't need a referral to see a psychologist if you're funding your appointments using an appropriate level of private health extras cover. Not all extras policies cover psychology sessions, so double check your policy before you book.
It's also beneficial to know:
How many sessions your insurer covers per year (or per-course)
The per-session rebate amount
Any applicable waiting periods
If the psychologist you want to see is recognised by your insurer
If you meet your insurer's eligibility criteria, you may receive a rebate for a certain number of sessions - keep in mind that rebate amounts and the number of rebatable sessions can differ by insurer. To check this information, please review your policy and / or call your insurer directly.
Full Fee-Paying (Self-Funded) Clients: No Referral Required
There's no referral required for full-fee-paying psychology clients, and:
You can see any psychologist who accepts full-fee-paying clients, is AHPRA registered, and has availability for new private clients.
There are no funding-related caps on the number of sessions that you can attend. Your psychologist will work with you to understand how many sessions may be needed, keeping any time and financial limitations (if present) in mind.
There are no claims to be lodged or GP check-ins required (although a psychologist may correspond with your GP and / or care team if requested and agreed upon).
As a full-fee-paying client, you'll pay the full amount for each session. Keep in mind that session fees vary by practice. Before you book, it's a good idea to speak with the practices that you've shortlisted to confirm pricing and understand the onboarding process.
NDIS Psychology: No Referral Required
You don't need a referral to see a psychologist under the NDIS. You do, however, need to make sure that you have the right type of funding - and enough funding to cover the amount of psychology sessions needed.
In general, to access psychological supports under the NDIS, you will need to be a NDIS participant and:
Have an active NDIS plan with funding that covers psychology (Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living). Your plan might list 'psychology', or it might include wording such as 'therapeutic supports'.
Choose a Registered Psychologist or a Provisional Psychologist who is able to:
Work with NDIS-funded participants
Provide you with a NDIS-appropriate service agreement
Ensure that your funding can adequately cover the costs of psychology sessions. Take steps to understand if the full cost can be paid directly from your plan.
Be aware that, if you are NDIA-managed, your psychologist will need to be part of a NDIS-registered provider organisation.
If your eligibility has been confirmed, and the funding allocated can cover the cost of your sessions, the amount payable will be paid directly from your plan.
Workers' Compensation Psychology: Referral Required
To see a psychologist in Adelaide under the ReturnToWork Scheme (South Australia), you will first need to have lodged, or be in the process of lodging, a workers' compensation claim.
Before booking your appointment, you will generally need to have:
A referral from your treating GP or medical specialist
Approval from your insurer for your psychology services as part of your claim
You should also ensure that the psychologist that you would like to see is approved to provide workers' compensation psychology services. This means that they are:
Registered with AHPRA (you can check this here, on the AHPRA register)
Registered - either individually or as part of an organisation - as a service provider with ReturnToWorkSA.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and see an approved psychologist, the costs associated with your approved workers' compensation psychology services should be covered in full with no out-of-pocket expenses to you.
CTP Insurance Psychology: Referral Required
In South Australia, you'll need a referral from your GP or treating doctor - as well as a lodged CTP claim - to access psychology services under compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.
Before you arrange your first psychology appointment, you will typically need to have:
A lodged CTP claim (treatment requests can be considered once a claim number has been issued)
A referral from a GP or your treating doctor / specialist
Approval for psychology sessions from your insurer
To be eligible, you also need to see an accepted psychologist. In South Australia, this means that they must be:
AHPRA registered (check via the AHPRA register)
Accepted by CTP insurers (you can check this by calling the psychologist / practice or speaking with your insurer)
If you've met the eligibility criteria and you're seeing an accepted psychologist, the cost of your authorised CTP psychology appointments should be covered by your insurer.
Referral Recap: When do you need a referral to see a psychologist in Adelaide?
HOW MIGHT YOU BE FUNDING YOUR PSYCHOLOGY SESSIONS? | DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE THE PSYCHOLOGIST?* | ARE THERE OTHER CONDITIONS / ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?* |
MEDICARE | Yes | Yes - see more detail |
PRIVATE HEALTH (EXTRAS) | No | Yes - see more detail |
FULL FEE-PAYING (SELF FUNDED) | No | No |
WORKERS' COMPENSATION | Yes | Yes - see more detail |
CTP INSURANCE | Yes | Yes - see more detail |
NDIS | No | Yes - see more detail |
*Eligibility criteria and conditions are provided as a general guide only. The details included are correct at the time of writing, but the information here should not be . Always confirm eligibility criteria and conditions with relevant individuals and organisations (i.e. GPs, psychology practices, insurance providers, etc.).
Next steps: booking your first psychology appointment
Now that you have a general understanding of what may be needed to access some of the most common funding options, you can start considering the options that may be available to you and exploring next steps - for example, seeing your GP, comparing psychology services online, calling a practice to ask a few more questions.
Learn more about our psychology services in Adelaide. To speak with us directly, call us at 8292 5300 or email info@activ8group.com.au. Our phone lines and inboxes are monitored from 9am - 5pm weekdays (excluding public holidays).
Please note that the requirements discussed in this article are correct at the time of writing. While we endeavour to keep all content up to date, this article provides a general overview only, and updates may not be reflected in real time. Satisfying the criteria outlined does not guarantee access to any of the funding options listed, and Activ8 Mind has no control over the outcome of any funding-related decisions.
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