FAQs

(This section is included for information only, Reclaiming Wellness Therapies does not currently accept mental health care plans directly, we’re working on it!) A mental health care plan (MHCP) makes accessing mental health support more affordable to people who don't qualify for low-income support. The MHCP is a support plan for someone who is experiencing challenges managing their mental health and needs some professional help. These days most GPs are well trained to help you identify what is happening and know how to get you the help you need. A mental health care plan might include:
• A referral to a mental health professional, like a psychologist or social worker
• The types of mental health care that can support you
• Other strategies to improve and maintain your mental health, i.e. improving lifestyle, diet, sleeping, and work habits can often address everyday life stressors.

(This section is included for consistency, but Reclaiming Wellness Therapies cannot directly accept mental health care plans at this time, we’re working on it!) Not necessarily. For the most part, seeing a GP can be a good first step towards getting help managing your mental health. When making a booking, ask for a 'long appointment' with them so that they can fully understand what is happening to you. Your GP can then provide you with a Mental Health Care plan that serves two functions - first, it connects the GP and the appropriate mental health professional, who can then work together as a team to support your mental health; second, it allows you to claim a portion of the fee for the psychological therapy back from Medicare.

(This section is included for information only, Reclaiming Wellness Therapies does not currently accept mental health care plans directly, we’re working on it!) Once you have your mental health care plan, you book your counselling session, and go to pay – Usually, you must pay the full fee and then Medicare will repay some of the cost of up to 10 sessions per calendar year. Rebates and gap fees vary depending on what mental health professional you are needing. If there is a gap fee, it should be disclosed by the service provider before your first appointment. It is always a good idea to ask what their gap fee would be prior to attending you appointment.

“Private referral” or “self-referral” are often used interchangeably. A private or self-referral is where you contact our service directly and make an appointment. This is most common when you’re in a stable financial position and feel you could use some help overcoming some difficulty, or even just wish to become a better version of yourself. For example, needing a little help overcoming a challenging life circumstance or just want to receive some personal or professional coaching. Medicare does not provide a rebate for this. If you have a low-income health care card or are experiencing financial difficulty other referral pathways are probably more appropriate for you. There are more options for getting a assistance. For example, contacting Navicare which is a local referral service designed specifically in the Isaac region to provide information and link people with available services.

Locals living in the Isaac Region can seek alternative referral pathways through different referral services. These include Navicare and Head to Health phone services. Another alternative is to contact 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255), available 24/7 and is a confidential mental health telephone triage service that provides immediate contact to public mental health services to Queenslanders.

Navicare is a wonderful referral service that is designed and run by locals, for locals. While the care navigation service and some telehealth counselling services are provided free of charge, some of the services you may be referred to have costs associated with them. Some counselling services offer a reduced rate for low-income help-seekers. If the cost of support is an issue for you, please let the Care Navigator know so they can work to link you to the most appropriate and cost-effective services to meet your needs. Follow the link for more info.

If you experience financial difficulty or have a low-income health care card, you (or your GP/other health professional) can contact Head to Health phone referral service. Mental health nurses and other mental health professionals (for example, 1300 MH CALL responders) can also make a referral for quick access to suitable support. Head to Health is a referral service is a Stepped Care Model which means once you are connected there are a range of services available that can meet your needs. Once you are part of the program you have it until no longer needed. No ongoing GP appointments or eligibility assessments necessary. Head to Health is funded by the North Queensland Primary Health Network and is a Queensland government initiative to improve access to mental health support particularly for people living in rural and remote areas. Once a referral is accepted, the intake staff will then be able to connect you to available support services. More information on the processes involved will be updated once it has been received.

Life happens and things change. We get it. Just let us know and we'll do our best to reschedule you back in quickly. Any cancellations of appointments more than 24 hours before your appointment will not attract any fees. Cancellations within 24 hours but more than 4 hours from the time of appointment will attract a charge of 50% of the original fee. Late cancellations within 4 hours or non-attendance of your scheduled appointment will attract a 100% fee charge. Please note that no response to an appointment reminder will mean the booking will remain scheduled and you may be charged for non-attendance. We do offer Telehealth or phone sessions as an alternative should you be too unwell or otherwise unable to attend in person.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is the way for people with significant, long-term disabilities to get access to funding to pay for the support they need to be able to live their lives. Each funding package is specific to the person, depending on the impairment and level of support required. Usually, you can discuss your options with a knowledgeable GP who should understand what evidence you will need to apply for NDIS yourself. To understand more about NDIS and how the funding works please follow the link.

If you require more assistance in understanding eligibility, gathering evidence and making an application, you can contact Feros Care who are the nominated Local Area Coordinators (LAC) for the NDIS. LACs are the conduit between participants and the NDIS. They can help with connecting you with appropriate professionals who can make assessments of your situation and provide the evidence required to support your NDIS application. If you are eligible for an NDIS funding package, your LAC will help you with the planning and submitting of your information, help connect you with available services and help you access support. If you are not eligible for the NDIS but still need support, Feros can help with this too. They have information on services available outside the NDIS. Given we live in a rural area there are many limitations on what may be available. See this link for more information about Feros Care and how to get in touch.

I graduated with a Master of Social Work from QUT in 2021. I’m registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and I’m answerable to the ethics and practice standards established by the AASW. The core ethical principles for social work in Australia are Service, Social justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. Please see the official AASW code of ethics and practice standards (bottom of this page) for more detailed information on the expectations of social workers in Australia.
I’m working towards accreditation in mental health which will enable direct mental health care plans and GP referrals as well as the use of the Medicare rebate to provide affordable support to people seeking mental health support. In the meantime, services for mental health support outside of the NDIS can be accessed via a Head to Health referral, or in the case of wanting to pay a fee-for-service please contact Reclaiming Wellness Therapies directly.

The Following link will open the AASW Ethical Guidelines PDF

The following link will open up to AASW Practice Standards PDF.