Fees & funding
Clear fees, and how funding can help
Knowing what something costs shouldn’t take detective work. Here is the standard fee, indicative assessment fees, and how Medicare and private health can apply.
Your appointment
Standard therapy fee
Standard psychology appointment (50 minutes)
- Fee
- $240
- Medicare rebate*
- $101.55
- Approx. out-of-pocket
- $138.45
- Bulk billing
- Not available
- Additional report writing or agreed work
- $240 per hour
* Current Medicare rebate shown as at September 2026. Medicare rebates and eligibility requirements can change. The rebate applies only where the relevant Medicare referral and item requirements are met. Your actual out-of-pocket cost may also be affected by the Medicare Safety Net. The same rebate applies to the relevant 50+ minute in-person, video and phone telehealth items.
The same fee applies whether an appointment is held in person or by secure telehealth — where you live doesn’t change what an appointment costs.
Heartland Health does not bulk bill. The full $240 fee is paid at the appointment, and any eligible Medicare claim is processed afterwards.
You can attend privately, use Medicare where eligible, or check whether your private health cover includes psychology. Each option is set out below.
Funding pathway 1
Medicare
Medicare rebates may be available for eligible psychological treatment under Better Access. A valid referral is required. Common pathways include a GP or prescribed medical practitioner managing a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), a psychiatrist under a psychiatrist assessment and management plan, or a direct referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Step by step
1. Check your eligibility
Speak with your GP or another eligible medical practitioner about whether Medicare-subsidised psychological treatment is appropriate and which referral pathway applies.
2. Obtain a valid referral
Before your first appointment, make sure the relevant referral has been provided and meets current Medicare requirements.
3. Book
Book through the secure online booking and intake workflow.
4. Attend
Attend in person in Tweed Heads South or by secure telehealth.
5. Pay
Pay the $240 private fee at the time of the appointment. Heartland Health does not bulk bill.
6. Claim
Where eligible, the applicable Medicare claim is processed after payment.
Other funding
Private health, DVA and NDIS
Private health insurance
Some private health insurance policies provide psychology rebates. Eligibility, rebate amounts, waiting periods and annual limits vary between insurers and policies. Please check directly with your health fund before your appointment if you intend to claim.
DVA
Heartland Health accepts DVA-funded psychology appointments for eligible clients where the relevant Veteran Card coverage, referral and treatment requirements are met. Your GP can help with referral to a psychologist where required. Because DVA eligibility and treatment arrangements can change, please check your individual coverage with DVA and your referring practitioner.
NDIS-funded psychological support
Heartland Health accepts self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants for psychological therapy and disability-related psychological support where the service can appropriately be funded through the participant's plan.
Heartland Health is not an NDIS-registered provider and does not accept NDIA-managed funding.
The current 2026–27 Heartland Health NDIS psychologist rate is $252.99 per hour.
Eligible non-face-to-face psychological work or reporting may be charged where it is permitted, relevant to the agreed psychological support and discussed with you. Routine practice administration such as bookings, invoicing and preparation of the NDIS Service Agreement is not charged as psychological support.
Psychological assessment at Heartland Health is ordinarily privately funded and is not automatically NDIS funded.
Heartland Health does not currently provide NDIS home or community visits, and does not charge provider travel.
Heartland Health does not provide NDIS functional capacity assessment, specialist behaviour support or restrictive-practice services, or ongoing NDIS support coordination or recovery coaching. Clinically relevant care coordination can still form part of psychological care.
For NDIS-funded appointments, please provide at least 2 clear business days’ notice when cancelling or rescheduling. A short-notice cancellation may be charged where current NDIS rules permit the claim.
Self-managed and plan-managed participants receive a separate NDIS Service Agreement through the secure client portal.
Funding information
Fees, rebates, funding rules and claiming requirements can change. Heartland Health aims to keep this page current, but Medicare, DVA, NDIS and private health arrangements are determined by the relevant organisation. Please check the linked official source or your relevant funder, insurer or referring practitioner for current eligibility and claiming requirements. Heartland Health practice fees may also be reviewed from time to time; the fee applying to your service will be confirmed before it applies.
Assessment
Indicative assessment fees
| Assessment pathway | Indicative private fee |
|---|---|
| Children & adolescents | |
| Focused psychological assessment | $1,320–$1,560 |
| Behavioural, emotional & social assessment | $1,680–$1,920 |
| ADHD assessment | $2,040–$2,280 |
| Autism assessment | $2,880–$3,120 |
| ADHD + behavioural assessment | $2,400–$2,640 |
| Autism + behavioural assessment | $3,000–$3,240 |
| ADHD + autism assessment | $3,480–$3,720 |
| ADHD + autism + behavioural assessment | $3,600–$3,840 |
| Cognitive assessment | $2,400–$2,640 |
| Cognitive & academic assessment | $2,880–$3,120 |
| Adults | |
| Focused psychological assessment | $1,320–$1,560 |
| Adult ADHD assessment | $1,800–$2,040 |
| Adult autism assessment | $2,640–$2,880 |
| Adult ADHD + autism assessment | $3,240–$3,480 |
| Adult cognitive assessment | $2,400–$2,640 |
| Adult memory assessment | $1,920–$2,160 |
| Adult cognitive & memory assessment | $2,760–$3,000 |
| Adult academic / learning assessment | $2,400–$2,640 |
| Adult cognitive & academic assessment | $3,000–$3,240 |
Assessment fees are indicative ranges because the scope and professional time required vary between people. Before chargeable assessment work begins, the proposed assessment, expected fee range and payment arrangements are discussed and agreed with you. A 30% deposit is required to secure private assessment appointments and is credited towards the total fee. Any additional work or change in scope is discussed before extra fees are incurred.
Assessment payment and agreement
Before assessment begins, you will receive a Psychological Assessment Information & Agreement confirming the agreed scope, fee or maximum, payment arrangements, report arrangements and assessment terms.
Assessment cancellation
Assessment appointments require at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule without a fee. With less than 48 hours’ notice, or for non-attendance, up to the fee for the booked assessment appointment may be charged. Individual arrangements are confirmed in the Psychological Assessment Information & Agreement.
How assessment is funded
Psychological assessment at Heartland Health is ordinarily privately funded. Published assessment fees are private fees. Some private health insurance policies may provide a rebate for psychology services; please check directly with your insurer if you intend to claim.
Common questions
Fees, rebates and cancellations
Do I need a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
Not necessarily. A valid Better Access referral is required, but a Mental Health Treatment Plan is one pathway rather than the only pathway. A psychiatrist assessment and management plan, or a direct referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician, may also apply.
How much will I get back from Medicare?
For an eligible standard 50-minute appointment, the current Medicare rebate is $101.55, leaving an approximate out-of-pocket cost of $138.45. The rebate applies only where eligibility, referral and item requirements are met, and amounts can change.
How many Medicare sessions can I have?
Eligible clients can generally access up to 10 individual Better Access mental-health treatment services in a calendar year. The initial course can include up to 6 services, with a new referral required for a subsequent course. Unused services on a referral may be used in a later calendar year but count toward that later year’s annual limit.
Can I use Medicare for telehealth?
Eligible individual mental health treatment services can be provided by telehealth where the applicable Medicare, referral, eligibility and clinical requirements are met. A Medicare rebate is not automatic simply because an appointment is online.
When do I pay?
On the day, once your appointment is finished.
What is the cancellation policy?
At least 24 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a private, Medicare or DVA therapy appointment without a fee. With less than 24 hours’ notice, or for non-attendance, a cancellation fee may apply. Medicare and DVA do not fund missed appointments, so any applicable cancellation fee is privately payable by the client. NDIS-funded appointments follow the NDIS Service Agreement and current NDIS cancellation rules. Assessment appointments follow the separate 48-hour assessment arrangement.
Do reports and letters cost extra?
Routine communication with your GP is included. More detailed written reports or substantial additional professional work may attract a fee, which is quoted and agreed in advance.
If you need immediate support
Heartland Health is not an emergency or crisis service. If you need urgent support, call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
There are services available around the clock, right across Australia — including Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline, 13YARN, QLife and state mental-health lines.