Thank you for booking your first appointment with us. We aim to make the process as smoothly as possible, as we understand all families undergo their own difficult times. We try to ensure you enjoy your experience with us as we pride ourselves for our principles of being client-centred.

 

Here are a few little things we thought may help you prepare for your first session:

To engage with our service, you must complete their Client Registration Form, which includes:

• Client Information

• Payment Type (e.g., Medicare, NDIS)

• Consent Form (Confidentiality Agreement)

• Our Cancellation Policy

• Emergency Contact

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Please send any relevant paperwork to us PRIOR to your first meeting, including:

• Referral letters from you or your child’s GP, paediatrician, or psychiatrist

• Any Medicare paperwork relating to treatment plans (Mental Healthcare Plan or Team Care Arrangements)

• Helping Children with Autism/ Better Start for Children with Disabilities

• Any reports from other health professionals such as previous therapists

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If you or your child is an NDIS particpant, we require you to also:

• Complete the NDIS Service Agreement

• Provide pages on the NDIS plan on the goals

• Plan Manager (if any) details

 

Referral & Rebates

A referral from your GP is not a requirement. However, if you wish to obtain a rebate under the Medicare Benefit Scheme, you are required to obtain a Mental Healthcare Plan (MHCP)  from your GP PRIOR TO attending your first appointment. If you are eligible for a MHCP and have obtained one before engaging us, you might be able to claim $89.65 each consultation.

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If you have Private Health Insurance, please check with your policy prior to your engagement to check your eligibility and limit.

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Sprout Psychology has no control over your eligibility to receive rebates or health insurance, and has no involvement with the process of obtaining a treatment plan.

 

Assessments and reports are charged separately and are inapplicable for Medicare rebates.

Please be reminded, it is clients' personal responsibility to check their eligibility to obtain a Mental Healthcare Plan or Private Health Insurance.

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Please note you cannot claim another person’s Mental Healthcare Plan or Chronic Diseases Management Plan as Medicare requires that the person must be present for their sessions.

You also cannot claim two insurance at the same time.

 

Fees & Payments

APS National Schedule of Recommended Fees recommends 45 to 60 minute consultation fee as $300. Our current consultation fee is $250-$280 per 50 minutes. Once you have made your first appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with the fee schedule stated. 

Hourly-rates apply or sessions running overtime (e.g., 15 minutes = 0.25 h).

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Available payment options include: Private Health Insurance, MasterCard/ VISA/ AMEX,

EFTPOS or Cash. Payments with debit or credit cards, a small % of surcharge will be deducted automatically from the EFTPOS machine (TYRO). Clients are required to make payment on the day of service.

 

NDIS clients will be able to claim on their NDIS portal using the invoice we provide. Please leave us with the Plan Manager's email if your plan is "Plan Managed".

 

Please read the following carefully

Services Included in Consultation Fees

To ensure the delivery of best practice, the following services are included in the fees stated above:

• Emails and short phone calls to other health professionals/ teachers (< 10 minutes)

• Preparation and planning time for each session

• Clinical notes documentation for each session

• Medicare reporting (Mental Healthcare Plan and CDM reports back to your GP)

• Resource development for sessions

• Research

The following are additional services that can be offered with additional costs based on hourly rate:

• Preparing and completion of funding reports

• Preparing and completion of reports of Cognitive, Academic assessments, ASD, ADHD assessments, and other psychological assessments (e.g., TAC, Workcover).

• Formal letters to specialists/ GPs

• Completion of carer allowance forms

• Completion of NDIS Forms

• Completion of NDIS Reports

• Preparing classroom strategies / Individualized Learning Plan 

• School Visits and school ILP meetings

• Teacher/ professional phone consultations/ discussions (more than 15 minutes in length)

• All additional services and report writing are billed at an hourly rate.

 

Travel/Parking:

The clinic address is 369 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125. Client Parking is available on site. The closest train station is Burwood Station. There are multiple bus lines and trams to the clinic. 75 tram line stops right in front of the practice. Buses (767, 732, 733) are also available.

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