No, you don't need a referral to see a psychologist. However, if you're eligible, your GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan, or your paediatrician or psychiatrist can provide a referral, which entitles you to a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Bring a copy along to your first appointment, and we'll process your Medicare rebate after each session.

Yes, we work with NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. We're not an NDIS-registered provider, so unfortunately we're unable to see participants whose plans are agency-managed (NDIA-managed).

• Plan-managed: we'll send your invoice to your plan manager for payment.

• Self-managed: you'll pay at your appointment and claim back through your NDIS plan.

Psychology sessions are usually funded through the capacity building supports in your plan. Please check that your plan includes funding for psychology before booking. If you're unsure how your plan is managed, your NDIS plan or support coordinator can tell you.

Some private health extras policies include psychology cover. You can claim on the spot at our clinic, so you only pay the gap. How much you get back depends on your fund and level of cover, so it's worth checking with your health fund before your visit.

You can’t claim both the Medicare rebate and private health insurance rebate for the same session.

Fees depend on the type of appointment, such as therapy or assessment. Please contact us or call (07) 3110 8980, and our team will talk you through fees and any rebates you may be eligible for.

Our psychologists work with children, adolescents, adults and families, including support for parents and during pregnancy and the early parenting years.

Our psychologists are in high demand, so there's often a waitlist for new clients. When you contact us, we'll let you know current wait times and can add you to our waitlist and cancellation list, so we can offer you an earlier spot if one becomes available.

Yes. We offer neurodiversity-affirming ADHD, autism, learning and cognitive assessments for children and adolescents. Assessments start with a parent-only consultation, so we can understand your concerns and recommend the right type of assessment. We do not have a waitlist for assessment appointments, and you can book online. Medicare rebates may be available for some assessments with a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist. Contact us to check what applies to your family.

What your first session looks like depends on the age of the client.

For children: The first appointment is parent/carer-only. This session gives the Psychologist a clear picture of the difficulties and your expectations of treatment, and helps build a shared understanding of your child's needs. Subsequent sessions are spent mostly with your child, with regular check-ins with you about progress.

For adolescents: The first appointment is attended together with a parent or carer. The majority of this session is spent with both the parent/carer and the adolescent, giving the Psychologist a clear picture of the difficulties and expectations of treatment. The Psychologist will also spend some time with your adolescent to help them feel comfortable and safe in the space. Subsequent sessions are spent mostly with the adolescent, with regular check-ins with you about progress.

For adults: Your first session is spent one-on-one with your Psychologist, gaining a clear picture of what's brought you to therapy and what you'd like to get out of it. This shapes a shared understanding of your goals and how ongoing sessions will be structured.

This is a tricky question to answer and depends on both what you are looking for, how regularly you can attend, and for how long problems have been present. For families seeking assessment only, you may only need between 4 and 6 sessions. For concerns requiring treatment, that have been around for a long time, therapy may be an important, but longer process.

At The Village Health Collective, we include information such as your availability, your other commitments, and your finances into our initial goal-setting with you, so that you and your Psychologist are on the same page about what treatment will look like.

All individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes in length.

Assessment sessions vary in length (50 - 100 minutes). This will be confirmed with you upon booking.

Yes. Our psychologists and chiropractors work under one roof, so families can access both physical and mental health support in one place. With your consent, our practitioners can share information and work together on your care.

Yes. What you share with your psychologist is kept confidential. There are a small number of legal and safety exceptions, such as if there's a serious risk to you or someone else, which your psychologist will explain at your first session.