Psychologists and Psychiatrists both play crucial roles in mental health care, but Psychologists typically focus on therapy and behavioural interventions, while Psychiatrists can prescribe medications and have a more medical approach.

Psychologists can conduct psychological assessments, and use evidence-based practices to help clients manage and overcome mental health issues. They use various therapeutic techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and more.

At Oqea Cares, the two professions collaborate to provide comprehensive mental health care.

The initial Assessment with a Psychologist costs $1720 (inc GST). This fee includes the 90-minute appointment and comprehensive assessment review and report. No Medicare rebates apply for the initial assessment appointment.

The subsequent appointment with a Psychiatrist, if required, will cost $750 (ex GST) for a 45-minute session but you can claim a $247.25 rebate from Medicare on this with a valid referral from a GP or Medical Specialist.

Any additional appointments with a Psychiatrist will cost $300 per 15-minute session, with a $82.15 rebate from Medicare on this with a valid referral from a GP or Medical Specialist.

Yes. Online sessions are with our psychologists and psychiatrists can be available by phone or video through Telehealth on our Oqea platform. We’ll  schedule a consult with you and send you a link with you once arranged.

We understand that life can be unpredictable and people may need to cancel or reschedule their appointments. We appreciate as much notice as possible to appropriately service our clients and individuals on the waiting list. Due to the limited number of appointments available and the high demand for these services, any appointment cancellations or changes with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a 50% cancellation fee.

The cancellation fee must be settled before the appointment can be rescheduled.

Please note, if Appointment 1 (Psychology) is cancelled and not rescheduled – Appointment 2 and 3 will also be cancelled and can result in extended wait times.

We will send you a set of assessments by email. Please complete these before your first appointment as this is a crucial part of the assessment process. One of the Assessments is to be completed by your designated family member, friend or spouse.

We recommend to downloading the Oqea app before you start so that you can completed these on your phone, and have access to self-help resources before your appointment.

If you proceed to an ADHD diagnosis and choose to see a Psychiatrist for medication, it is a good idea to create a list of any current medications and obtain any previous investigations or tests that may be helpful for your clinician to consider.

Depending on your individual needs and outcomes, continued Psychological therapy may be recommended as an option for support. For these services, we recommend seeing your GP to discuss if you are eligible for Medicare refunded services via a GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan. The Oqea Cares Psychology team are happy to support you or your family member with ongoing Psychology support.

Ongoing appointments with the Psychiatrist will be required if medication is prescribed. After the initial sessions, Psychiatry appointments are usually on a 6-monthly basis.