If you’ve been struggling with your mental health — anxiety, depression, stress, grief, or simply the feeling that things are harder than they should be — you may have heard that your GP can help you access subsidised psychology sessions through Medicare.
What they’re referring to is a Mental Health Treatment Plan — commonly called a Mental Health Care Plan. It is one of the most practically useful and most underutilised pathways in the Australian health system. And for many people, it’s the difference between being able to afford professional mental health support and going without it entirely.
This guide explains exactly what a Mental Health Care Plan is, who qualifies, what it costs, how to get one from your GP, and answers every common question Australians have about the process.
What Is a Mental Health Care Plan?
A Mental Health Care Plan — formally called a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) — is a document prepared by your GP that formally records your mental health condition, your treatment goals, and a plan for how you’ll receive support.
Once your GP creates this plan, it unlocks access to Medicare rebates for sessions with eligible mental health professionals. This includes psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, and occupational therapists with mental health training.
The plan is part of Australia’s Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative — commonly known as the Better Access initiative — which has been operating since 2006. The Better Access initiative gives Medicare benefits to eligible people so they can access selected mental health treatment services they need wherever they live in Australia.
In simple terms: your GP assesses you, creates the plan, and refers you to a mental health professional. Medicare then rebates part of the cost of those sessions, making professional mental health support significantly more affordable.
What Does a Mental Health Care Plan Cover?
Under the Better Access initiative, eligible patients can claim a Medicare benefit for up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy mental health treatment sessions per calendar year — running from 1 January to 31 December.
These 10 individual sessions are released in two stages:
- First referral: Your GP can initially refer you for up to 6 sessions
- GP review: After those sessions, you return to your GP for a review. Your GP can then refer you for up to 4 more sessions, bringing the total to 10 for that calendar year
You cannot access all 10 sessions at once. The review process exists so your GP can check in on your progress, receive a report from your treating mental health professional, and adjust the plan if needed.
Your 10-session limit resets on 1 January every year, regardless of how many sessions you used the previous year.
Who Is Eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan?
To be eligible, you need to:
- Have a diagnosed mental disorder — this must be a clinically recognised condition. It does not need to be severe. Common eligible conditions include:
- Depression (major depressive disorder, dysthymia)
- Anxiety disorders (generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, PTSD)
- Adjustment disorder
- Eating disorders
- Bipolar disorder (management between episodes)
- Substance use disorders (in some cases)
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- Childhood behavioural and emotional disorders
- Have at least moderate care needs — meaning your symptoms are affecting your daily functioning in some meaningful way. You don’t need to be in crisis. You don’t need to be hospitalised. But your mental health needs to require more than minimal support.
- Be assessed and referred by your GP (or in some cases, by a psychiatrist or paediatrician)
It’s worth being clear on what this means practically: you do not need a severe or long-standing condition to qualify. Many people access Mental Health Care Plans for situational anxiety, work-related stress and burnout, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, postnatal depression, or adjustment to a major life change. If your mental health is affecting how you function at work, in relationships, or in daily life — that is enough to have a conversation with your GP.
What Conditions Does a Mental Health Care Plan NOT Cover?
For the purposes of the Better Access initiative, the following are not considered mental disorders and are not eligible:
- Dementia
- Delirium
- Tobacco use disorder
- Intellectual disability
The plan also does not cover:
- Couples counselling or family therapy (though individual sessions addressing relational issues are covered)
- Psychological assessment reports
- Non-attendance fees if you miss a session
How to Get a Mental Health Care Plan: Step by Step
The process is straightforward. Here is exactly what happens.
Step 1: Book a Long GP Appointment
This is the most important step that people miss. A Mental Health Care Plan requires a dedicated longer appointment — typically 30–45 minutes — not a standard 10-minute GP visit. When you call to book, tell the receptionist that you need a long appointment to discuss a referral for mental health support, or that you’d like to discuss a Mental Health Care Plan.
You don’t need to explain your full situation to the receptionist. Saying “I’d like to discuss mental health support” is enough.
Step 2: Talk to Your GP
At the appointment, your GP will ask about your symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, how they’re affecting your life, and your relevant background and history.
Your doctor might ask you some personal questions to understand your situation. Sometimes it can be hard to talk to others about your mental health. If you’re finding it difficult, it can help to write down what you want to say before the appointment — symptoms, how long they’ve been present, and how they’re affecting your daily life. You don’t need to have the right words. Just describe how you’ve been feeling.
Your GP may also use standardised screening tools — such as the PHQ-9 for depression or the GAD-7 for anxiety — to get a clearer picture of the severity of your symptoms.
Step 3: Your GP Creates the Plan
If your GP determines you are eligible, they will create your Mental Health Treatment Plan. This is a written document that includes:
- Your diagnosis or presenting mental health condition
- Your personal mental health goals and what you’d like to achieve from treatment
- The type of mental health professional you’ll be referred to
- Your GP’s proposed treatment approach
- A plan for follow-up and review
The plan is kept on your medical file. Your health information and treatment plan will be private. GPs cannot share your information unless you agree to it, such as if you both agree to send your Mental Health Care Plan to the psychologist you’ll be seeing.
Step 4: Get Your Referral
With the plan in place, your GP provides a referral for up to 6 initial sessions with an eligible mental health professional. You can use this referral to see:
- A clinical psychologist or registered psychologist
- An accredited mental health social worker
- An eligible occupational therapist with mental health training
Your GP may recommend a specific provider or you can find one independently. It’s worth asking your GP if they have any recommendations, particularly for providers who bulk bill or have shorter waiting lists.
Step 5: Attend Your Sessions
Book with your chosen provider and attend your sessions. Your referral and Mental Health Care Plan must be in place before your first session — Medicare will not issue a rebate if the referral is dated after your appointment.
Medicare rebates are processed either by your provider directly (who submits the claim on your behalf) or by you through the Medicare app or a Services Australia service centre after you’ve paid the full fee.
Step 6: Return to Your GP for a Review
After your first 6 sessions, return to your GP for a review appointment. Your treating psychologist or allied health professional will send your GP a progress report before this appointment.
At the review, your GP discusses your progress with you, considers whether the treatment is helping, and decides whether to refer you for up to 4 more sessions (bringing you to the 10-session annual limit) or whether a different approach is needed.
Who Provides the Therapy? Understanding Your Options
Clinical Psychologist vs. Registered Psychologist — What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion. Here’s a straightforward breakdown:
A clinical psychologist has completed postgraduate training (a Masters or Doctorate) specifically in clinical psychology — a minimum of 6–8 years of university study. They attract the higher Medicare rebate of $145.25 per session.
A registered (general) psychologist has completed an undergraduate psychology degree plus further supervised training — typically 6 years of study. They attract a rebate of $98.95 per session.
Both are registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). Both can provide effective evidence-based psychological treatment. The choice between them often comes down to availability, your specific needs, and cost. Clinical psychologists may be more appropriate for complex or long-standing conditions; registered psychologists are well-suited for anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders in most cases.
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers
Accredited mental health social workers are allied health professionals with specific postgraduate mental health training. They attract a Medicare rebate of $87.24 per session. They are well-trained in therapeutic approaches and often have strong expertise in social and environmental factors affecting mental health — practical for people whose mental health challenges are closely tied to housing, relationships, financial stress, or other social contexts.
Can Your GP Provide Therapy?
Yes — GPs who have completed specific mental health training can provide Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) — a set of evidence-based psychological techniques including cognitive behavioural therapy skills, psychoeducation, and relaxation strategies. These sessions with your GP count toward your 10-session annual limit. For mild-to-moderate mental health conditions, GP-provided FPS can be highly effective and often more accessible than seeing a specialist.
Can You Get a Mental Health Care Plan via Telehealth?
Yes. MBS telehealth services are now permanent in Australia, meaning eligible Australians can access individual telehealth services no matter their location, where it is clinically appropriate to do so. This means:
- Your GP appointment to create or review the plan can be conducted via telephone or video
- Your psychology sessions can also be conducted via telehealth (phone or video)
This has been a significant change for Australians in regional and remote areas, and for people whose mobility, work, or caring responsibilities make in-person attendance difficult.
Does a Mental Health Care Plan Expire?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan does not have a fixed expiry date. However:
- Your Medicare session entitlement resets on 1 January each year — so a new year means a new set of up to 10 subsidised sessions
- A new or updated plan may be needed if your diagnosis changes, your treatment goals change significantly, or there has been a long gap in your mental health treatment
- Your GP will typically review and update the plan at least once per year as part of your ongoing mental health care
What If You Need More Than 10 Sessions?
Ten sessions per year is the Medicare limit under Better Access. For many people with mild-to-moderate conditions, this is sufficient. For those with more complex or long-standing mental health conditions, it often isn’t.
Options if you need more sessions:
Private funding — you can continue to see your psychologist beyond the 10-session limit by paying privately, without a Medicare rebate. Fees typically range from $150–$265+ per session.
Private health insurance — some private health insurance Extras covers contribute to psychology sessions. Check your policy, as this varies significantly between funds and cover levels. You can use private health insurance for sessions beyond your Medicare limit, or for services not covered by Medicare.
NDIS — if you have a disability that significantly affects your daily functioning, you may be eligible for NDIS funding for psychology sessions that is separate from the Medicare limit.
Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDP) — for people with a diagnosed severe eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, a separate Medicare pathway provides access to up to 40 sessions with a psychologist and 20 sessions with a dietitian each calendar year. Ask your GP if this applies to you.
Community mental health services — state and territory community mental health services, headspace (for people under 25), Medicare Mental Health Centres, and not-for-profit counselling services can all provide additional support beyond the Better Access limit.
Medicare Mental Health Centres: Free Walk-In Support
An important service that many Australians don’t know about: Medicare Mental Health Centres provide a welcoming space for anyone to access free, confidential mental health and wellbeing information, services, and support. No appointment, referral, Medicare enrolment, or Medicare card is needed. You can also call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 for information about local mental health supports or to book an appointment with your nearest centre.
This is not the same as a Mental Health Care Plan — but it’s a valuable resource for anyone who needs immediate information or support while navigating the system.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Booking a standard short appointment — a Mental Health Care Plan requires a longer consultation. If you book a standard 10-minute appointment, your GP may not have enough time to complete the assessment and plan properly. Always ask for a long appointment.
Seeing your psychologist before your referral is in place — Medicare will not rebate a session that occurred before your referral date. Make sure your GP has completed and dated the plan before you attend your first psychology session.
Waiting until you’re in crisis — you don’t need to be in a severe or acute state to qualify for a Mental Health Care Plan. If your mental health is affecting your functioning, a plan can be created.
Not reviewing your plan — the review after your first 6 sessions is not optional if you want to access your remaining 4 sessions. Book the review appointment before you finish your initial 6 sessions.
Assuming all psychologists bulk bill — bulk billing for psychology is much less common than for GP visits. Always ask about fees, rebates, and out-of-pocket costs before your first appointment to avoid surprises.
What to Say to Your GP
Many people hesitate to ask for a Mental Health Care Plan because they’re unsure how to bring it up, or they worry their problems aren’t “serious enough.” Here are some ways to start the conversation:
“I’ve been struggling with anxiety [or depression, or stress] for a while and I’d like to talk about whether I’m eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan.”
“I think I could benefit from seeing a psychologist. Can we talk about a Mental Health Care Plan?”
“Things have been really hard lately and I’m not coping as well as I usually do. I’d like to explore my options.”
You don’t need clinical language. You don’t need to have a diagnosis. You just need to describe how you’ve been feeling and let your GP take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions do I get with a Mental Health Care Plan in Australia? Under the Better Access initiative, you are eligible for up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year. Your GP initially refers you for up to 6 sessions, and after a review, can refer you for up to 4 more. The session entitlement resets on 1 January each year.
Do I need a diagnosis to get a Mental Health Care Plan? Yes — your GP must assess you and identify a clinically recognised mental health condition to create a plan eligible for Medicare rebates. However, this does not need to be a severe or long-standing diagnosis. Common conditions like anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and postnatal depression all qualify. Many people are assessed and diagnosed at the same appointment where the plan is created.
Can I choose my own psychologist with a Mental Health Care Plan? Yes. Your GP provides the referral but you can see any Medicare-registered psychologist, mental health social worker, or occupational therapist of your choice. You can also change providers at any time, though you may need an updated referral if you switch.
Can I get a Mental Health Care Plan via telehealth? Yes. Both the GP appointment to create the plan and the subsequent psychology sessions can be conducted via telehealth (telephone or video), where clinically appropriate. This is now a permanent feature of the Medicare system.
Does a Mental Health Care Plan expire? The plan itself does not have a fixed expiry date. However, your Medicare session entitlement resets on 1 January each year, and the plan will typically be reviewed annually or when your circumstances change. A new plan may be required if your diagnosis or treatment needs change significantly.
What if I need more than 10 sessions? You can continue to see a psychologist privately after your 10 Medicare-rebated sessions are used. Some private health insurance Extras covers contribute to additional sessions. NDIS funding, eating disorder-specific Medicare plans, and community mental health services are also available depending on your circumstances. Talk to your GP about the best pathway for ongoing support.
Is my Mental Health Care Plan confidential? Yes. Your plan is part of your confidential medical record. Your GP cannot share your mental health information without your consent. When your psychologist sends a progress report to your GP (which is required for the review), that information is shared between treating providers as part of your care — but is not disclosed to employers, insurers, or other parties without your permission.
The Bottom Line
A Mental Health Care Plan is one of the most practical and accessible mental health supports available to Australians — and yet many people who would benefit from one either don’t know it exists, think their situation isn’t serious enough to qualify, or aren’t sure how to ask.
The process starts with a single GP appointment. If your mental health is affecting your daily life — your work, your relationships, your sleep, your ability to enjoy things — that conversation is worth having.
You don’t need to be in crisis. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to make the appointment and be honest with your GP about how you’ve been feeling.
At Central Health Clinic in Sunshine, our GPs provide Mental Health Care Plan consultations, mental health assessments, and referrals to local psychologists and allied mental health professionals. If you’ve been struggling and you’re ready to take the first step, book a long appointment with our team today.
