What a mental health treatment plan is
A mental health treatment plan is prepared by your GP, or another eligible medical practitioner, after assessing your mental health. It sets goals you agree on together, treatment options, referrals, the support services available, and when you will review how it is going.
The plan is your key to Medicare rebates under the Better Access initiative. Better Access is for people with a diagnosed mental disorder with at least moderate care needs, such as many cases of depression and anxiety. A psychiatrist or paediatrician can also refer you directly.
What Better Access covers
With a plan and a referral you can claim a Medicare benefit for:
- Up to 10 individual sessions each calendar year, from 1 January to 31 December
- Up to 10 group therapy sessions each calendar year
- Sessions with clinical or registered psychologists, and eligible social workers and occupational therapists
- Telehealth sessions by video or phone where safe and clinically appropriate
- Up to 2 sessions a year for a carer or family member, as part of the treatment, which count towards the 10
How referrals and costs work
Your GP refers you for up to 6 sessions at a time. If you need more, your GP reviews how things are going and decides whether to refer you for further sessions. If you are enrolled in MyMedicare, the referral comes from your MyMedicare practice, otherwise from your usual GP.
Practitioners set their own fees, so Medicare may only cover part of the cost unless they bulk bill. Ask what you will pay out of pocket when you book. Medicare Mental Health Centres also offer free support with no referral or Medicare card needed.
How NDIS psychology is different
The NDIS does not fund clinical mental health treatment, such as diagnosis or therapy aimed at reducing symptoms. That is the health system's job, through Medicare, state mental health services and Primary Health Networks.
The NDIS can fund psychology when it helps you build or keep skills you need for daily life because of your disability. Examples are emotional regulation, problem solving, coping with change, or confidence in the community. For a psychosocial disability, the NDIS can also fund a psychosocial recovery coach. The 2026/27 NDIS price limit for psychology is $252.99 an hour in most of Australia.
Using both without overlap
Many NDIS participants use both. A simple way to think about it:
- Medicare Better Access: treating a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety
- NDIS psychology: building daily living, social or coping skills linked to your disability goals
- The same session cannot be claimed from both. Your psychologist should keep Medicare and NDIS sessions separate in their records
- If you need ongoing treatment beyond 10 sessions, talk to your GP about other health system options rather than expecting your NDIS plan to fill the gap
Tips for getting the right help
Be clear with your GP and psychologist about what each session is for. If your mental health condition is part of a psychosocial disability, ask your psychologist to write reports that describe the functional impact, which helps at your NDIS reassessment. Keep your plan and referral letters together with your NDIS documents so everyone can see the full picture.