Information for Referrers

Thank you for the referral of your patient to Forrest Psychology

We welcome referrals from general practitioners, specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists & other health care professionals.

Referrals can be submitted to us via:

Fax: 07 2140 6069

Medical Objects

Email: hello@forrestpsychology.com

Medicare Referrals (Better Access Initiative)

We can provide psychological treatment under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative which enables eligible individuals to access up to 10 rebatable sessions per calendar year.

Please note that Medicare stipulates that a valid referral letter should include the following details:
• A signed referral letter that provides:
- Patient’s name
- Patient’s D.O.B
- Patient’s address
- Patient’s phone number
- Must specify the diagnosis/ patient’s symptoms
- The number of sessions the patient is being referred for (course of treatment e.g. 6 or 4)
- Statement about whether the patient has a GP Mental Health Care Plan
- Referrer’s Provider Number
- Referrer’s Signature
- Date of Referral
Please include a copy of the patient’s mental health care plan (if the patient has consented to this being provided)
The referral must be signed to meet Medicare requirements.
Eligible diagnoses under a MHCP that we provide support for:
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Co-occurring anxiety and depression
- Adjustment disorder
- Attention deficit disorder
- Bereavement disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Dissociative disorder
- Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobic disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Sexual disorders
- Sleep problems
- Unexplained somatic complaints
*For a complete list of the diagnoses that are eligible under a MHCP, please contact Medicare.
• Initial treatment block of 6 sessions
• Subsequent treatment block of 4 sessions
*Clients can access up to 10 rebatable sessions per calendar year
A new referral letter is required for each treatment block
A treatment summary report will be prepared by the clinician and provided after the 6th and 10th session which includes recommendations.

DVA Referrals (Department Of Veteran’s Affairs)

Forrest Psychology can provide psychological services to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

To refer your patient to Forrest Psychology through DVA, we require:
• A signed DVA request/referral voucher (D0904) referral form which includes:
- Patient’s name
- Patient’s DVA file number (shown on their veteran card)
- Treatment entitlement (card type)
- Condition(s) being treated
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number
- Clinical details including recent illnesses, injuries and current medication (if applicable).
- A description of the service you are requesting for patient
- Referrer’s name
- Referrer’s provider number
- Referrer’s signature
- The date of the request or referral and the period of referral
- Other treating health providers (if relevant)
A Medical Specialist can complete the initial referral, however, for further referrals, it is required for the client to see their GP.
The referring doctor may use their own letterhead instead of a D0904, however the referral must include all required information listed above.
For more information about referring a client for psychological services through DVA and eligibility requirements. Please visit the DVA website.
A referral to a psychologist will last either 12 sessions or 12 months, whichever ends first. Clients can have as many treatment cycles as their GP decides are clinically necessary. These arrangements ensure the health care is the most appropriate for the client’s needs.
If the client has had a long break between treatments, we may require another referral. The client will need to go back to their GP and request a new referral.
(*This information should be used as guide only, please refer to the DVA’s website for the most up to date information)
At the beginning of treatment, the clinician will prepare a Patient Care Plan which will be provided to the referring GP/ Medical Specialist.
Upon completion of the treatment cycle, an end of cycle report will be prepared and provided to the referring GP/ Medical Specialist.*
*This report may be provided earlier at 8 sessions where the client has closely scheduled appointments or lives in a remote area