Making therapy affordable
Funding and rebates
Several funding pathways can reduce what you pay for therapy. Here's how each one works, what you'll need, and how to claim.
Which pathway applies to you?
Medicare
GP referral neededMost clients. Up to 10 sessions a year with a mental health treatment plan from your GP.
NDIS
Self or plan managedParticipants with therapeutic supports funding, where a fear of dogs affects daily life.
Workers compensation
No gap to payWhere your fear of dogs was caused by an incident that occurred at work.
Private health
Check your extrasExtras cover can help with sessions beyond your Medicare limit.
Paying privately
No referral neededNo referral, no plan, no waiting. You're welcome to book and pay for therapy yourself.
Pathway 1
Medicare
Under the Australian Government's Better Access initiative, you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. The year runs from 1 January to 31 December, and unused sessions don't roll over.
Medicare doesn't cover the full fee. You pay us in full, then claim the rebate back — the difference is called the gap.
Getting a referral
You'll need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, or a referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician. Book a longer GP appointment and say you'd like a mental health treatment plan for a specific phobia.
Your GP prepares the plan under Medicare item 2715 (or 2717 for a longer consultation). Most plans refer for an initial 6 sessions. After those, your GP reviews progress and can refer you for up to 4 more in the same calendar year.
Item numbers and rebates
The item we bill depends on how long your session runs and whether we meet in person or by video. All are for services by a registered psychologist.
| Item | Service | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| 80105 | 20 to 50 minutes, in person | $97.85 |
| 80115 | At least 50 minutes, in person | $127.50 |
| 91169 | 20 to 50 minutes by video — telehealth | $72.00 |
| 91170 | At least 50 minutes by video — telehealth | $101.55 |
Rebates apply per eligible session while you have a current referral and sessions remaining in the calendar year. You pay the fee in full and claim the rebate back — fees for each service are listed on the adults and kids pages.
How to claim
We can usually process your claim at the end of your session, and Medicare pays the rebate into your nominated bank account — often within a couple of days. Make sure your bank details are recorded with Medicare in your myGov account.
If we can't claim on the spot, we'll give you a paid invoice with the item number on it, and you can claim through the Medicare app, myGov, or at a service centre.
The Medicare Safety Net
If your out-of-pocket medical costs add up over a calendar year, the Medicare Safety Nets pay you a higher rebate for the rest of that year. Therapy sessions count towards the thresholds, alongside your other out-of-hospital Medicare costs.
| Safety Net | Threshold |
|---|---|
|
Original Safety Net
Counts your gap amounts.
|
$594.40 |
|
Extended Safety Net
Counts your out-of-pocket costs.
|
$2,699.10 |
|
Extended — concessional or FTB Part A
Lower threshold for concession card holders and families on Family Tax Benefit Part A.
|
$861.20 |
Once you pass the Original threshold, Medicare pays 100% of the schedule fee instead of 85%. Once you pass an Extended threshold, Medicare pays 80% of your further out-of-pocket costs, up to a cap per item.
Individuals are registered automatically. Couples and families need to register with Services Australia to combine their costs towards one threshold — worth doing if more than one of you is having treatment. Only paid invoices count, so pay in full before you claim.
Pathway 2
NDIS
If you have an NDIS plan with funding for therapeutic supports, psychology sessions are funded from your Improved Daily Living budget (support category 15, under Capacity Building) — where a fear of dogs is affecting your daily activities, independence or participation.
If your plan has no Improved Daily Living funding, or it's already spent, you may be able to use Core Supports instead where that funding isn't tied to a specific category. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm what's available.
We work with self-managed and plan-managed participants. We're not a registered NDIS provider, so we can't work with agency-managed plans.
Support items and price limits
| Item number | Support | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 15_054_0128_1_3 | Assessment, recommendation, therapy or training — psychologist | $252.99/hr |
| 15_054_0128_1_3_TH | The same support delivered by telehealth | $252.99/hr |
| 15_054_0128_1_3_PT | Provider travel, capped at half the support rate | $126.50/hr |
National price limits under the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27, effective 1 July 2026. These are maximums, not set fees.
How it works
You pay for your session as usual, and we give you an itemised invoice showing the support item number, the date and the duration. You then submit that invoice for reimbursement — through the myplace portal if you're self-managed, or to your plan manager if you're plan-managed.
Before you book, it's worth checking with your plan manager or support coordinator that you have therapeutic supports funding available, so there are no surprises.
You can't claim a Medicare rebate and NDIS funding for the same session.
Pathway 3
Workers compensation (SIRA)
If your fear of dogs relates to an injury at work — a delivery driver bitten on the job, for example — treatment may be funded through the NSW schemes regulated by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
For approved claims the insurer pays us directly at the gazetted rate or an agreed amount. There's no gap and nothing for you to claim back.
Getting approved
Report the injury to your employer and see your GP, who issues a certificate of capacity and a referral. Once you have a claim number, we submit an Allied Health Treatment Request to your insurer for approval before we start. There's no fixed session cap as there is with Medicare.
Gazetted rates
| Item | Service | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| PSY001 / PSY301 | Initial 60-minute consultation — in person or telehealth | $284.40 |
| PSY002 / PSY302 | Each subsequent 60-minute consultation | $237.60 |
Maximum fees under the Workers Compensation (Psychology and Counselling Fees) Order 2026, effective 1 February 2026. Rates are set per 5 minutes and shown here for a full 60-minute session — pro-rata rates apply to shorter consultations. Telehealth items carry the same rate as their in-person equivalents.
Pathway 4
Private health insurance
Most funds cover psychology under extras, not hospital cover. What you get back depends on your fund, your level of cover, and how much of your annual limit you've used.
You can't claim from Medicare and your private fund for the same session. Some people use their 10 Medicare sessions first and then switch to their extras cover, which is usually the better order.
Call your fund before you book and ask what they pay for a psychology consultation, whether a waiting period applies, and what's left of your limit. We'll give you a paid invoice with everything your fund needs.
About the figures on this page
Figures on this page are current as at July 2026 and are indexed regularly — Medicare and NDIS on 1 July, the Medicare Safety Net on 1 January, and SIRA fees orders on 1 February. Please confirm current amounts with Services Australia, the NDIS, or your insurer or fund. This page is general information, not financial advice.