Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services is a not for profit organisation that works with women and families in the community to reduce the impact of mental health problems on families and to help foster growth, for strong women and strong families. Your small change will make a big change!
The full fee is paid by the client at the time if the appointment to WHWS. The Medicare rebate is refunded directly into the clients bank account by Medicare.
Pros
Cons
Care cycle membership allows the client to access up to 10 sessions fully bulk billed by Medicare.
Membership fee can either be paid in full or direct debited from client fortnightly over 10 payments.
Pros
Cons
The fees can be subsidized through the use of Medicare rebates, private health insurance, funding and where health care cards are applicable. Services provided by, psychologists, counselling psychologist and clinical psychologist are eligible for Medicare rebates.
For all services a referral is necessary to receive a rebate. A referral from a GP is valid for 12 months. It is best for a referral to the Women’s health and Wellbeing service to include the parent/s as well as the child.
We will endeavor to remind you of your referral status but it is ultimately the responsibility of the client to have a valid referral.
A Mental Health Care Plan from a general practitioner or a psychiatrist is necessary to receive a rebate for counselling sessions, but counselling can also be provided under private health insurance policies or fee for service. A Mental Health Care Plan allows access to a rebate for 10 sessions of individual and 10 sessions of group therapy per calendar year.
All referrals should be sent to the WHWS PRIOR to the appointment, by fax, post or email.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, we have a financial hardship subsidy program. Please talk to reception for more information on how to access this.
Payment Options
Online or telephone sessions – Debit/Credit Card or Direct deposit
Face to face sessions – Cash or Eftpos
Medicare Safety Net Program
Medicare provides additional financial support to cover any out of pocket expenses for medical services after you have reached the safety net. It is advisable to contact medicare and make sure all members of your family are registered. The Medicare Safety Net for 2022 is $2249.80 for a family and $717.90 for concession or family tax benefit A eligible families. There are some changes proposed and it is recommended that the medicare website is visited to review this. Information on Medicare can be found at; https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-safety-nets
Private Health Funds
Check with your fund to see what you may be eligible for. Rebates can be available for medical, psychological or allied health services.
Financial Hardship
If you are experiencing financial hardship, we have a financial hardship subsidy program. Please talk to reception for more information on how to access this.
The Australian Psychological Society’s 2015-16 recommended fees for a 50-minute session is $238
For more information or to access these services you can either call (08) 9490 2258 or click on the button to the left to be redirected to our counselling referral form or download a referral form and email to info@whws.org.au. Once you have completed the online referral or emailed the referral form, a member of staff will contact you within 2 business days with a suggested time and date for a telephone appointment/assessment with our Therapeutic Administration Officer. This allows you to be added to our waitlist and ensures you are allocated to the correct therapist and services to suit your needs.
If you do not receive contact with anyone within this timeframe please call us on (08) 9490 2258.
WHWS is able to offer Perth counselling appointments Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 4.30pm. Thursday 9am – 8.30pm from our Gosnells office, sadly we are unable to offer after hours or emergency counselling services.
Client eligibility
WHWS is a gendered family service supporting individual, couple, family and child clients, with non-acute, non-chronic, common mental disorders of mild to moderate severity. Clients must be able to maintain their own safety between appointments.
Exclusion criteria
Please note the following are not eligible for WHWS services;
**Clients who present in the exclusion criteria are best treated by either Emergency department, MEAD or psychiatrist.
Please complete this form if you would like to access our counselling services and one of our staff will be in contact with you within 2 business days with a proposed time and date for a telephone assessment with our Therapeutic Administration Staff. Please call us on (08) 9490 2258 if you require further information or if you have not been contacted within 2 business days. If you require immediate assistance or crisis care please refer to the ‘Are you in Crisis’ page on our website for contact numbers.
In the event of a lockdown or mandatory mask regulations due to the changing Covid 19 situation, WHWS will conduct all session via telephone or telehealth sessions.
When restrictions ease, we can resume in person sessions. Thank you so much for your understanding and flexibility during restrictions. If we can answer any questions or support you further during this difficult time, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@whws.org.au or by calling 9490 2258.
Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services is a not for profit organisation that works with women and families in the community to reduce the impact of mental health problems on families and to help foster growth, for strong women and strong families. Your small change will make a big change!
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