fees & rebates
steady space is committed to providing clear, transparent information to support informed decision-making about your care.
All fees and practice policies are clearly outlined prior to confirmation of your first appointment and form part of the informed consent process during intake.
consultation fees.
Session fees reflect professional qualifications and experience, accreditation, and the provision of evidence-based psychological therapies.
Fees are set below the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) 2025 suggested fee schedule of $289 per hour.
Standard Fees for In-Person & Telehealth
Initial Session | 60 minutes
$240
Ongoing Sessions | 50 - 55 minutes
$240
Medicare Rebate
with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan:
Standard rebate: $87.25
Gap (‘out-of-pocket’ cost after rebate): $152.75
DVA Veteran Cards (Gold and White)
are accepted as payment upon a GP referral.
accessibility
A small number of reduced-fee appointments are reserved for where financial hardship would otherwise prevent access to support. You are welcome to make a confidential enquiry where this applies.
payment.
Payment for services can be made by card or direct deposit, due at the time of your appointment.
Please note that when an appointment is not attended and a late cancellation fee applies, Medicare and Private Health Fund rebates cannot be claimed.
Please see the cancellation policy for further information on late-cancellation fees and advise of any questions or concerns before confirming your appointment.
*Exceptions to the above include third-party invoicing arrangements made for eligible services provided via WorkCover and DVA entitlements. These arrangements should be confirmed, with appropriate referral information prior to your first appointment.
rebates.
Rebates may be available via Medicare or Private Health Fund Insurance. The number of sessions, out-of-pocket costs, and eligibility varies depending on the type of referral.
medicare rebates.
Medicare rebates are available for Focused Psychological Services where eligibility criteria are met under:
Mental Health Treatment Plan
(MHTP)Initial course of up to 6, and a maximum of up to 10 appointments, per calendar year.
Chronic Condition Management Plans
(CCMPs or GPCCMPs)Up to 5 appointments per calendar year.
CCMPs are designed for clients whose needs are part of a broader chronic condition management plan developed with their medical practitioner.
For further information on MHTPs and CCMPs
Depending on your fund and level of cover, you may be eligible to receive a partial rebate for psychological services, with an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker.
The benefit amount, annual limits, waiting periods and other conditions vary depending on your provider and policy cover. Please check with your insurer directly regarding details of your cover and eligibility.
processing rebates.
Medicare rebates can be processed for you at time of payment, following your appointment.
Private Health Insurance rebates cannot be processed for you at the time of payment. Following your appointment, you are issued with a paid invoice to submit to your insurer.
cancellation policy.
rescheduling.
If you need to reschedule your appointment it is helpful if you can notify as early as possible.
Rescheduling 48-hours prior to your appointment time does not attract any cancellation fees. This allows for the time set aside for you to be offered to someone else.
You can easily reschedule by sending an email, phoning (leave a voicemail message), or sending an sms.
If you are unable to attend an appointment scheduled in person as planned, you can contact to request a telehealth appointment (videocall or telephone) right up until the time of your appointment. This provides an option for you to avoid late-cancellation fees and maintain continuity of care.
steady space operates with a clear commitment to personalised, well‑paced care. This includes a scheduling approach that supports privacy, sustained attention, and avoids the pace and access issues associated with high‑throughput service models.
A careful consideration of the number of clients I work with at any one time ensures that people already engaged in treatment more readily have access to appointments at intervals identified during assessment and planning.
To support these practices, there are a limited number of appointments available each day. This structure means sessions are not rushed, client crossover is reduced, and access to appointments are more readily available to support continuity of care and estimated timeframes we may have planned together.
It is for these reasons, cancellation fees apply.
cancellation fees.
Each appointment time is reserved and planned specifically for you. Appointments that are unattended or cancelled at short notice that cannot be offered to someone else, can have a significant impact on the sustainability of the service.
Reminders are sent for confirmation prior to your appointment.
Please note timeframes for late-cancellation fees below:
• More than 48 hours: Incur no cancellation fee
• Less than 48 hours: 50% of the session fee
• Less than 24 hours or non-attendance: Full session fee
Late-cancellation fees are payable at the time of cancellation or non-attendance.
Medicare and Private Health Insurance require that you attend the appointment (in person or via telehealth) for a rebate to be claimed. This is why rebates cannot be applied to late-cancellation and non-attendance fees.
If you have any concerns or questions about this policy and how it applies to your circumstances, please feel free to reach out and discuss directly at the time of enquiry or scheduling your appointment.
confidentiality.
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers are bound by a code of ethics and professional standards of practice, which includes maintaining confidentiality about what you discuss with them.
At steady space your privacy and right to confidentiality is taken seriously. My commitment to maintaining the highest standard of care and protection of rights, includes practising with respect to confidential support that aligns with Australian privacy laws, compliance standards, and professional guidelines. What you share in your sessions is treated with care, respect, and discretion.
Exceptional circumstances where information would need to be shared without your consent involves where a serious risk to your safety or that of others is concerned. Under these circumstances, there are still limitations as to what can be shared, and with who. My practice is to involve you in a process of collaboration and transparency to advise of planned disclosure, wherever possible. There are, however, rare circumstances where it is recommended a person not be advised of disclosure — for example, if it is deemed this could potentially impact the safety of you, or another.
You are encouraged to ask questions or discuss any concerns regarding privacy and confidentiality, at any time.
mental health treatment plan
-
Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
Previously named MHCP
Referral Process
For eligibility to receive a Medicare rebate under the Better Access Initiative, you must either:
- be directly referred by a psychiatrist or paediatrician
- see your GP or prescribed medical practitioner (PMP) to develop a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
- have a psychiatrist managing your care refer under a referred psychiatrist assessment and management plan (PAMP)
Number of appointments with a MHTP
Under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), you can claim rebates for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
• A referral is a ‘course of treatment’.
• An initial course of treatment can provide for up to 6 sessions.
• After the first 6 sessions, your referring doctor will receive a report outlining assessment, treatment, and any recommendations.
• If further sessions are recommended you will need to return to your doctor for a review of your referral to receive an additional course of treatment - or up to a maximum of additional 4 sessions (to the total of 10 per calendar year).
Once you have reached the claiming limit of a maximum of 10 within the calendar year, you can continue to access services, without being able to claim the rebate.
Referral Validity
Referrals are valid for the number of services shown on the referral letter, even if you change your treating allied health professional.
If you have unused services on your referral at the end of the calendar year, you can use them in the following calendar year - however they will count towards the new year’s claiming limit.
Family & Carer Inclusion
Better Access services allow up to a maximum of 2 services per calendar year be used by a family member or carer of the client.
These services can be provided to a family member or carer, where the:
- client has been referred as part of a MHTP, PAMP or direct referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician
- treating or referring practitioner determines it is clinically appropriate
- client consents for the service to be provided to their family member or carer as part of their treatment
- the service is part of the client’s treatment
- can be provided if the client isn’t in attendance.
Any services delivered to a family member/carer count towards the client’s calendar year allocation for individual services (i.e. they are part of the maximum of up to 10 sessions within a calendar year).
GP Chronic Condition Management Plans
-
Chronic Condition Management Plan
CCMP or GPCCMP
What is a CCMP?
A CCMP or a GPCCMP (GP Chronic Condition Management Plan) is a personalised plan developed by your GP with you, to support management of long-term or terminal, health conditions.
From July 1, 2025, a single CCMP has replaced older plans like the Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA). If you had a CDM Plan or TCA before July 2025, they are still able to be used until June 30, 2027.
Eligibility for a CCMP
Your GP can refer you to a number of different allied health professionals if you:
- have a chronic condition (lasting for 6 months or more)
- or terminal condition
- and they believe you would benefit from a structured care plan.
Your referring GP can decide with you if your condition would benefit from a mental health support with an eligible provider.
With the new changes, your GP does not have to name the specific allied health provider on your referral, however they can decide with you which allied health profession/services would best support you.
Referral to an AMHSW
AMHSWs are included amongst allied health professions eligible to provide services under Medicare registered ‘mental health workers’, along with psychologists and mental health OTs
Timeframes
Referrals under a GPCCMP are valid for the timeframe stated in the referral. If there is no timeframe stated, they are valid for up to 18 months from the first service date provided under the referral.
Eligible clients can use 5 allied health services per calendar year. The 5 services may be either:
- one type of service
- or a combination of different types of services, for example one dietetic and 4 mental health or psychology services.
You can discuss with your GP/Medical practitioner which allied health services you access and decide the combination of different eligible allied health services each calendar year.
Reporting Requirements:
If you receive services under a CCMP, there is a requirement that a written report/letter be provided to the referring medical practitioner after the first and last service. Communication with your GP can be provided more often, if it is clinically indicated as necessary and/or you or your referrer request.
Reports can include assessments carried out, treatment provided, and any recommendations for future.