Our fees
Neurodiversity affirming mental health care should be within reach- we offer fair pricing, Medicare rebates, and support for both plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants.
How are cancellation fees neuro-affirming?
A common question we receive at Very Helpful Chats is:
"I don’t want to attend my appointment, but I don’t want to pay a cancellation fee! How is that neuroaffirming?"
We understand—no one wants to pay a cancellation fee. However, they help keep our practice running and ensure fair access to services.
1 / Keeping our business sustainable
Like any business, we have ongoing costs, including wages for our clinicians and admin team. Our staff deserve financial stability, and their time is valuable. We're a small business and don't receive government funding, so appointment and cancellation fees allow us to continue providing services.
2 / Encouraging attendance & reducing wasted appointments
A late cancellation affects three people:
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Your clinician, who has already prepared for your session.
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Another client, who could have taken your spot.
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You, missing out on support.
Last-minute cancellations are difficult to fill, meaning clients on our waitlist miss out on care.
3 / Ensuring fairness to everyone
We apply cancellation fees consistently to all clients. This removes any need for our admin team to determine whose reason for canceling is “valid” and ensures fairness—especially for clients who may not be able to argue their way out of a fee.
4 / Informed consent & clear policies
Our cancellation policy is transparent and clearly communicated:
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Clients receive multiple appointment reminders via email and SMS.
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Cancellation is easy via email, SMS, or the "cancel appointment" link in confirmation emails.
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Our intake forms include a consent agreement, confirming awareness of our cancellation policy.
Some private health funds provide rebates for individual psychological therapy, typically ranging from $40 to $120. Please check your policy for specific details. Privately paying clients are required to make payment 72 hours prior to their appointment, as per our prepayment policy. You can read more about our prepayment policy here.
You may be eligible for Medicare rebates on psychology and occupational therapy sessions through a referral from your GP.
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A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) provides rebates for up to 10 psychology sessions per calendar year.
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A Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) offers rebates for up to 5 psychology and/or occupational therapy sessions per calendar year.
Medicare clients are required to make payment 72 hours prior to their appointment, as per our prepayment policy. You can read more about our prepayment policy here. Our admin team will then process your rebate for you once the appointment has been attended!
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Self-managed NDIS participants are billed the same as private-paying clients and can claim reimbursements through their NDIS portal. Privately paying clients are required to make payment 72 hours prior to their appointment, as per our prepayment policy. You can read more about our prepayment policy here.
Private, Medicare and Self Managed NDIS fees
Fees are based on a standard 50-minute session. If your appointment runs more than 5 minutes over, a pro-rata fee will be charged based on the additional time.
Clinician | Initial fee | Fee | Medicare rebate (MHCP) | Medicare rebate (CDM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Provisional Psychologist | $230 | $170 | - | - |
Registered Psychologist | $285 | $235 | $98.95 | $61.80 |
Senior Psychologist | $320 | $270 | $98.95 | $61.80 |
Clinical Psychologist | $320 | $270 | $145.25 | $61.80 |
Occupational Therapist | $250 | $200 | - | $61.80 |
NDIS Plan Managed Fees
Fees are based on a standard 50-minute session. The initial appointment will be an additional $50. If your appointment runs more than 5 minutes over, a pro-rata fee will be charged based on the additional time.
Clinician | Fee |
|---|---|
Provisional Psychologist | $156.16 |
Senior/Clinical Psychologist | $232.99 |
Registered Psychologist | $232.99 |
Occupational Therapist | $193.99 |
Please note:
The fee table below applies to plan-managed participants. If you are self-managed, please refer to the fees listed in the table above. Unfortunately, we're unable to work with agency-managed participants. If you're unsure about your plan management type, you can check your NDIS plan or ask your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for clarification. Clients are responsible for the appointments they book. If your NDIS plan runs out of funds, or if the NDIS or your plan manager declines payment, you will be responsible for covering the fee.
Medicare Safety Net
The Medicare Safety Net offers additional financial support for individuals with high medical and healthcare costs.
Every Medicare cardholder has an assigned Safety Net threshold. Once you exceed this amount in out-of-pocket expenses, Medicare increases your rebate, reducing the cost of medical appointments, including visits to doctors, psychologists, and other health professionals.
For families who receive Family Tax Benefit A and Centrelink pensioners and seniors:
$834.50
for the 2025 calendar year
For everyone else - single people, couples, or families (as defined by Medicare)
$2,615.50
for the 2025 calendar year
Single people don't need to do anything
You are automatically registered for the Safety Net and do not need to do anything else
Couples & families need to register
If you're a member of a couple or a family you will need to register to share your safety net with each other (even if you're already on the same Medicare card).
Hospital expenses are not included
Only medical and health expenses you pay for in the community count towards your safety net. Health costs you pay for in-hospital do not count towards your safety net.
How do I check if I'm registered or check my Safety Net balance?
Through the Medicare app on your phone or through your Medicare account on MyGov. Go to the 'Services menu of the app or website and then select 'Safety Net'.