Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Do I need certainty before booking?
No. Identity exploration and neuro-questioning are welcome.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is required for private appointments.
If you would like to access Medicare rebates for therapy, you will generally need a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your usual medical practitioner or MyMedicare-registered GP. In some circumstances, referrals may also be made by a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or other eligible medical specialist.
Referral requirements are determined by Medicare and may change over time.
Do you offer Medicare rebates?
Medicare rebates may be available for therapy with a valid referral under the Better Access initiative.
The fee for a standard therapy appointment is $280.00.
From 1 July 2026, the Medicare rebate for a Clinical Psychology consultation of 50 minutes or longer is $149.05, resulting in an approximate out-of-pocket cost of $130.95 per appointment.
A Mental Health Treatment Plan typically provides access to 6 Medicare-rebated sessions initially, with up to 4 additional rebated sessions available following a review with your referring medical practitioner, subject to Medicare eligibility requirements.
Clients are responsible for ensuring they have a valid referral and meet Medicare eligibility requirements. If Medicare requirements are not met, rebates may not be payable.
Medicare rebates for autism assessments may be available for some individuals under 25 years of age when referred by a paediatrician or psychiatrist under specific Medicare criteria. Eligibility requirements and rebate amounts vary depending on the referral pathway and services involved.
If you are unsure whether you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate, please speak with your GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, or referring medical specialist.
Medicare rebates are processed after payment of the appointment fee and paid directly by Medicare to your nominated bank account.
Can I claim through private health insurance?
Some private health funds provide rebates for psychological services under extras cover. Please contact your health insurer directly to confirm eligibility and rebate amounts. A receipt can be provided for claiming purposes.
Are you NDIS registered?
No. Minds of Colour Psychology is not currently an NDIS-registered provider.
If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you may be able to use NDIS funding for psychological services depending on your individual plan, goals, funding arrangements, and applicable NDIS requirements. As funding decisions are made by the NDIS, I recommend discussing this with your plan manager, support coordinator, or the NDIS directly prior to booking, as funding or reimbursement cannot be guaranteed.
If you are NDIA-managed, you will generally need to access services through an NDIS-registered provider.
Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, and other assessment services are conducted for clinical assessment, diagnostic, treatment planning, and healthcare purposes. While reports may sometimes be used to support NDIS access requests, plan reviews, or funding applications, all funding decisions are made independently by the NDIS and acceptance of reports or funding outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
If your primary goal is obtaining NDIS access, funding, or evidence specifically for an NDIS application or review, a service specialising in NDIS functional capacity assessments, support needs assessments, or NDIS-specific reporting may be better suited to your needs.
Invoices and receipts can be provided for claiming purposes where applicable.
How do health professionals make a referral?
Health professionals are welcome to refer via email.Please ensure consent has been obtained for the referral and for information to be shared prior to sending any identifying information.Where possible, please include:• Full name and date of birth
• Contact details (email and/or phone)
• Reason for referral
• Relevant background information or clinical history
• Any specific questions regarding assessment or therapyReferrals can be sent to hello@mindsofcolour.com.au
The person being referred will be contacted directly to discuss suitability, consent, and appointment availability.
How do you manage enquiries and communication?
As a solo clinician, I spend much of the day in appointments. For this reason, I manage enquiries via email.This allows me to respond thoughtfully and with care, and to give your enquiry the attention it deserves. It also helps keep communication clear and consistent throughout the process.
You are very welcome to include any questions in your enquiry, and I will respond via email as soon as I can.
About the Service
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
A Clinical Psychologist is a registered psychologist who has completed additional postgraduate training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.In Australia, psychologists are regulated by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Clinical Psychologists have completed an accredited Master's or Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and additional supervised practice requirements to receive clinical endorsement from the Psychology Board of Australia.Clinical Psychologists are trained in comprehensive psychological assessment, diagnostic formulation, and evidence-based therapies for a wide range of mental health presentations.
Under Medicare, rebates for services provided by a Clinical Psychologist are higher than those provided by a general psychologist due to this additional training and endorsement.
Do you prescribe medication or provide medical advice?
No. I do not prescribe medication or provide medical advice. Medical decisions remain with your treating medical practitioner.
Do you provide court reports?
No. This practice does not provide court reports.
Do you offer cognitive or IQ testing (e.g., WAIS/WISC)?
No. Comprehensive IQ testing is not offered. Assessments focus on diagnostic clarification, formulation, and functional impact rather than standalone cognitive profiling.
Therapy & Assessment
Is this practice suitable for crisis care?
This practice is not designed for crisis or emergency presentations. If you are in immediate distress, please contact emergency services or Lifeline (13 11 14).
Why do some appointments include a 5-minute break?
Longer appointments may include a planned 5-minute break. This supports accessibility, concentration, and pacing, particularly for neurodivergent people. Breaks are used flexibly depending on your needs.
How long does the assessment process take overall?
The assessment process usually takes approximately 3–6 weeks from the initial appointment to the completion of the report. Many assessments take place over multiple sessions, allowing time to gather information from different sources and develop a comprehensive understanding.
The exact timeline depends on appointment availability, the number of sessions required, and whether additional information (such as school reports or collateral information) is needed.Reports are typically issued within 2–3 weeks of the final assessment session.
What information do you rely on during an assessment?
Assessments are conducted using information you provide (and/or information provided by a parent or guardian where relevant), alongside clinical interviews and standardised assessment tools.
Where appropriate, collateral information may be requested (for example from a GP, treating practitioner, school, or family member) to support a comprehensive understanding. If collateral information is requested but not received within an agreed timeframe, the assessment may proceed based on the information available at that time. Any limitations related to unavailable information will be clearly documented in the report.
Do you complete assessments where complex mental health presentations are present?
Yes. Assessments can occur where complex mental health presentations are present, provided there is sufficient stability to participate in the assessment process.
Where significant or ongoing mental health conditions are involved, it is important that an existing treating clinician remains actively involved in your care. Collaboration and collateral information may be required to support accurate formulation and diagnostic clarity.
This service is assessment-focused and cannot operate as the primary provider managing intensive or high-risk treatment needs.
Can I request a specific assessment tool (e.g., ADOS-2)?
Assessments are conducted using clinically appropriate methods based on the referral question and individual circumstances.
This practice uses a formulation-informed and neuroaffirming assessment approach, drawing on clinical interviews, developmental history, standardised measures, and collateral information where appropriate.T
he ADOS-2 is not used within this practice. Autism assessments are informed by the MIGDAS-2 framework, which focuses on lived experience, developmental history, and functional impact.
Do you assess both autism and ADHD?
Yes. Assessments may focus on autism, ADHD, or both, depending on your goals, referral questions, and circumstances.
Where appropriate, the assessment process explores how different neurodevelopmental and mental health factors may interact and contribute to your experiences, strengths, challenges, and support needs.
Do you offer AuDHD assessments?
Yes. Combined autism and ADHD assessments are available where appropriate.
Many people seeking assessment identify with experiences associated with both autism and ADHD, and there is significant overlap between the two. A combined assessment allows consideration of how these experiences interact and may provide a more comprehensive understanding than assessing either in isolation.
Recommendations regarding the most appropriate assessment pathway will be discussed during the initial appointment.
What happens if an assessment does not confirm a diagnosis?
An assessment may or may not result in a formal diagnosis.
Throughout the assessment process, observations and impressions are discussed transparently and collaboratively. If it becomes clear that a formal diagnosis is unlikely or that further appointments are unlikely to be helpful, this will be discussed openly.
Regardless of outcome, the assessment process aims to provide clarity, formulation, and recommendations that support understanding, wellbeing, and access to appropriate supports.The aim is to complete assessments within the least number of appointments necessary, rather than extending the process if additional sessions are unlikely to add meaningful information.
Can assessment reports be used for NDIS, school, or workplace supports?
Assessment reports may be used to support applications for services such as the NDIS, educational adjustments, or workplace accommodations. However, acceptance of reports is determined by the receiving organisation, and additional documentation may sometimes be required.
Can an ADHD assessment be used to support medication discussions?
The role of this assessment is to provide a comprehensive psychological evaluation, diagnostic opinion, formulation, and recommendations based on the information available at the time of assessment.
Prescribing decisions sit solely with the treating medical practitioner. While assessment reports may assist medical practitioners in their decision-making, they do not direct, determine, or guarantee access to medication.
Medical practitioners vary in their requirements regarding assessment, diagnosis, and prescribing. Some may accept comprehensive external diagnostic reports as part of their assessment process, while others may require additional assessment or information before making decisions regarding medication.
If medication is being considered, it is recommended that you discuss your prescribing provider's requirements before booking an assessment.
Will my doctor, endocrinologist, or surgeon accept an external psychosocial assessment report?
Many medical practitioners, including GPs, endocrinologists, and surgeons, accept comprehensive psychosocial assessment reports when considering gender-affirming medical care.
Requirements can vary between practitioners and services. If gender-affirming medical care is being considered, it is recommended that you confirm with your treating doctor whether external assessment reports are accepted and whether any specific documentation is required.
Do I need a gender dysphoria diagnosis to access gender-affirming medical care?
The answer depends on your age and the type of care you are seeking.For adults (18 years and over), many gender-affirming hormone therapy pathways operate under an informed consent model. Depending on the treating medical practitioner, endocrinologist, surgeon, or service, a psychosocial assessment may still be requested to support clinical decision-making, provide additional information, or meet service-specific requirements.
For children and adolescents seeking pubertal suppression (puberty blockers) and/or gender-affirming hormone therapy, a comprehensive assessment is typically required. This commonly includes consideration of gender dysphoria, decision-making capacity (including Gillick competence where relevant), informed consent, mental health, psychosocial circumstances, and family support. A diagnosis of gender dysphoria is generally required as part of the pathway to medical treatment.
Psychosocial assessments conducted within this practice are informed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care Version 8 (SOC8), AusPATH guidance, relevant Australian Standards of Care, and current professional, ethical, and legal requirements.People also seek psychosocial assessments for reasons other than accessing medical treatment, including exploring gender, obtaining documentation requested by a healthcare provider, preparing for surgery, or gaining greater clarity about their experiences and goals.
The assessment process is collaborative, affirming, and tailored to your circumstances. It is not based on proving or disproving your gender identity. Rather, it aims to understand your experiences, support informed decision-making, identify support needs, and provide any documentation required for the pathway you are pursuing.Requirements can vary between medical practitioners, hospitals, surgeons, and services. If you are seeking an assessment for a specific treatment pathway, it is recommended that you confirm any documentation requirements with the relevant provider before booking.
Is parent involvement required for people under 18?
Yes. Parent or guardian involvement is required for appointments involving young people under 18 years of age.
What if one parent does not consent?
Where both parents hold parental responsibility, lack of dual consent may affect access to gender-affirming medical treatment through a prescribing provider.
Do legal requirements for gender-affirming care vary by location?
Legal requirements for accessing gender-affirming medical care can vary depending on state or territory legislation, age, and the requirements of the treating medical provider.
Where relevant, assessments must comply with both the legislation and professional requirements that apply in my jurisdiction and those that apply where you live.
Ultimately, decisions regarding medical treatment remain with the treating medical practitioner, who may apply additional clinical or legal requirements.