If you’ve ever accessed subsidised sessions with a psychologist through Medicare, you’ve used the Better Access initiative — even if you didn’t know its name. It’s the main way Australians get Medicare support for mental health care. Here’s how it works.
What Better Access is
The Better Access initiative is a Australian Government program that provides Medicare rebates for mental health treatment. It’s designed to make evidence-based care — particularly psychological therapy — more affordable and accessible for people with a diagnosed mental health condition.
What it covers
Through Better Access, eligible people can receive Medicare rebates for a set number of sessions each calendar year with:
- Psychologists
- Some other eligible mental health professionals (such as certain social workers and occupational therapists)
- And it supports access to psychiatrists and GPs for mental health care
The rebate reduces the out-of-pocket cost of each session. Some providers bulk bill; others charge a gap.
How to access it: the Mental Health Treatment Plan
The gateway is a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), prepared by your GP. The process is:
- Book a longer appointment with your GP and explain what you’ve been experiencing.
- Your GP assesses you and, if appropriate, prepares the plan and refers you.
- You attend sessions with your chosen provider, claiming the Medicare rebate.
- Your GP reviews the plan after an initial block of sessions.
We cover this step by step in how to get a mental health care plan.
Where psychiatry fits
Better Access supports psychology sessions; separately, a GP referral to a psychiatrist enables Medicare rebates for specialist psychiatric assessment and treatment — useful for diagnosis, medication and complex conditions. Read fees and Medicare or about our online psychiatry service.
Getting started
If you think you’d benefit from mental health support, your GP is the starting point. To access specialist psychiatric care by telehealth, book an appointment with a referral.
This article is general information, not medical or billing advice. Confirm current eligibility and rebates with your GP or Medicare.