Have the bushfires been detrimental to your mental health?

Following the bushfires of 2019 -2020, the Australian Government has introduced the Bushfire Recovery Access Initiative which provides additional Medicare rebates for psychological services.

Who is eligible?

Any person who has had an adverse change in their mental health as a result of a bushfire which occurred in the 2019- 2020 financial year. This includes emergency services workers and volunteers who experience secondary trauma. Extended family and friends are known to experience vicarious trauma. Even those individuals who have been following the news and seeing shocking visuals of destruction and suffering could be suffering tertiary trauma. Whatever your reason, you will be eligible.

Is it the same as current Medicare rebate scheme?

No! It is 10 psychology sessions in addition to the regular 10 Better Access sessions per calendar year.

For the Bushfire Recovery Access Initiative

No GP referral is needed
No mental health care plan is needed
No diagnosis of a mental health disorder is required
The psychologist is responsible for determining is an individual is eligible for these services
Sessions can be offered face to face or by video conferencing making it possible for every person, no matter where they live to have access to excellent psychological care.

Who can deliver these services?

All clinical psychologists and psychologists who are fully registered with AHPRA and hold a Medicare provider number are qualified to offer these additional services.

If you have been affected in any way, do not hesitate to access these services which the government has ensured will be easy to obtain.

To access the help you need you can

Alternatively, if you would like to know more, call Lisa on 02 9328 5899 or complete the below form and Lisa will get back to you within 24 hours.

All our psychologists at Anxiety Solutions CBT Psychology Practice are registered by AHPRA and hold a Medicare provider number. We are also skilled at providing sessions with video conferencing or phone.

About the Author: Renee Mill

Renee Mill -- Anxiety Solutions CBT Director, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Supervisor and Best Selling Author -- has counseled hundreds of individuals, couples and families for over 30 years. She cares deeply about her clients and has created a warm and safe environment for all thrive. Renee has worked intensely on creating a new technique for dealing with generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, fear of public speaking, performance anxiety and panic attacks. Renee’s other key areas of interest are depression, relationships and couple therapy, self-worth, parenting, resilience and well-being. Renee has published 3 best selling books and lectured in Australia, China, Israel, the United States and South Africa. She is well known on the speaker’s circuit and is often called upon by the media for her professional opinion. To hear Renee’s interviews or read her articles have a look at our Media Section.