Self Referral

Clients can self refer to Talkingminds.

If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate on sessions, you will need to see your General Practitioner (GP) or Psychiatrist for a referral as part of a Mental Health Treatment Plan. This referral must be in place for you to claim a rebate and referrals cannot be backdated.  It is up to your GP or specialist to assess your eligibility and suitability for referral based on the referral criteria. This referral (and MHTP) is recorded on your health record via Medicare. If valid, this referral will allow you to claim up to 20 sessions per calendar year in which a Medicare rebate will be reimbursed to you. You will need to ask your GP for a referral letter and (ideally) a copy of your mental health treatment plan. Please bring both to your first session.

Please note that referrals that are not valid cannot be accepted and you will need to return to your GP or Psychiatrist for the correct referral. It is your referrer’s responsibility to ensure this information is correct.

Your referral must contain the following information:

• Addressed to Trudy Wilson, Mental Health Social Worker.
• The referral must stipulate the number of sessions the GP or psychiatrist is referring you for (usually 6 then 4 then 10).

General Practitioner or Psychiatrist Referrals

Thank you for considering Talkingminds for referral for your patient/s.

Please provide a copy of your referral letter and (ideally) a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan to your patient to bring to their first session with us. Please nominate the number of sessions you wish for your patient to attend before their first review or re-referral (at present the 6 then 4 then 10 session format is recommended).

Referral letters are to be made out specifically to:

‘Dear Trudy Wilson/Mental Health Social Worker’
Talkingminds

**Please note, we are unable to receive referrals that do not meet Medicare compliance requirements.

We strongly recommend you contact us prior to faxing your referral so we can discuss current wait times and capacity to assist. Please inform your patients that the responsibility of booking an appointment is theirs, and they must phone us direct to book in and we do not contact clients without their consent.  If you would like to discuss a particular referral, please phone 02 9114 9977. Referrals can be faxed to 02 8915 1727.