Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see a practitioner at Bluegum Place?

You do not require a referral to access any services at Bluegum Place, however if you decide to seek a referral, you may be eligible for rebated or fully funded services.

How do I obtain a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

1) Book a “long consultation” with your GP who will determine if you are eligible for a MHCP based on your circumstances and presenting concerns.
2) If you are eligible for the MHCP - request the GP also provide you with a letter of referral to a psychologist. Preferably have the letter addressed to the psychologist who you wish to see but if you are unsure, the initial name on the letter will not restrict you from seeing another psychologist.
3) You will initially be referred for up to six psychological therapy session. If more session are needed you can return to your GP for a review and gain more if deemed necessary.
4) Simply contact with the psychologist of your choosing or book an appointment with Bluegum Place.

Do you accept private health funds?

If you are insured with a Private Health Fund and have Extras, you may be eligible for rebates for psychological therapy. To determine your eligibility, you will need to call your health fund. They will outline your specific rebate entitlements. Please note: You cannot obtain a health fund rebate AND a Medicare rebate in the same session.

How long does a session take?

This depends on the service you require. Most Psychology sessions last for 50 minutes. However, sometimes assessments and treatment may require longer sessions.

Are sessions confidential?

All information disclosed at Bluegum Place is held in strict confidence. All files are kept securely, and are maintained under relevant health industry ethics and laws.

There are some circumstances where your practitioner may be required to disclose information about your health and care to others. Theses circumstances may include:

1. If your file is subpoenaed by a court;
2. If the failure to disclose information could place you or another person at serious and imminent risk;
3. If your prior approval has been obtained to provide reports or discussion with another person.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your confidentiality and privacy, please do not hesitate to discuss these with us.

What is your cancellation policy?

When you book your appointment, this time is confirmed and reserved for you. Late cancellations of appointments impact three people: the client, who is delaying their treatment; the practitioner, who has prepared for the appointment; and another client, who is on the waiting list for an appointment.
Therefore we implement the following cancellation policy in order to allow us to easily offer the appointment to another person who is waiting for an appointment.

We require 48 hours notice to reschedule or cancel a session without incurring any fees. If your appointment is cancelled or rescheduled within 48 hours of the appointment time, you will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the session fee. If you do no attend your appointment, and do not contact us to cancel or discuss the situation, you will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the session fee.

As a courtesy, we send SMS reminders 72 hours before appointments. This allows you a full 24 hours from receiving the SMS to let us know if you need to cancel or reschedule, without incurring any fees.

We appreciate that at times, you may be unable to keep an appointment due to sudden illness or unexpected emergency. If this occurs please contact us as soon as possible to discuss the situation. You can call us anytime, even after hours and leave us a message.