WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

1. Nurse Practitioners- No referral required

All Nurse Practitioners (NP) have completed university study at a Masters’ Degree level. They are highly experienced Registered Nurses who undergo extensive clinical training. 

·      No referral needed

·      No limit to sessions per year

·      Generally, a gap to pay

Your NP can help you navigate care and treatment to enable you to continue working with the NP or another mental health specialist that is affordable and accessible. You just need to give the NP a call. 

In Geelong we have a nurse-led clinic, Pritchard Health, which offers a wide range of services from birth:

·     2 Mental Health Nurse Practitioners 

·      8 Mental Health Nurses

·      2 Psychologists

·      5 Mental Health Social Workers

Services can be accessed across several locations including home visit and outreach where needed. Providers are in Highton, Belmont, Geelong, Newtown, Corio and Lara. 

If you are unsure what to do give Sian a call on 0412 162 338

www.pritchardhealth.com.au

2. Mental Health Care Plans-require a referral from your GP

Psychological Therapy Services funding

This includes those who are Indigenous, hold a Health Care Card, Pension Card or have financial difficulties. 
Under your Mental Health Care Plan, you may allocate your 10 visits per year to:

·     Nurses (incl. Mental Health Nurses)

·     Psychologists

·     Mental Health Social Workers 

·     Mental Health Occupational Therapists

·     Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

If you meet criteria for this sort of plan your GP MUST send your mental health care plan directly to Referral Point which is lead by Westvic PHN. This is to ensure you have access to the funding stream to pay for your mental health specialist for your care and treatment. This is your GPs responsibility and until they send the referral you cannot access care. 

Your mental health specialist will contact you to make an apt as soon as the referral come through from Referral Point. 

Better Access funding

This funding is for those who do not fit into the above categories. 
You will be required to pay a gap fee. You may allocate your 10 visits per year with a gap payment to:

·     Psychologists

·     Mental Health Social Workers

·     Mental Health Occupational Therapists

Your GP can hand you your mental health care plan and you then contact the mental health specialist to make an apt. 
 

3. Other Health Care Plans requiring referral from a GP that can be used to support someone with psychological distress include

Chronic Disease Management Plan
People with Type 1 Diabetes are entitled to: 

·     5 sessions per year with a gap payment.

·      includes a wide range of allied health professionals. 

·      can allocate these visits to Mental Health Professionals
 

Includes:

·      Nurses (incl. Mental Health Nurses)

·      Psychologists

·      Mental Health Social Workers

·      Mental Health Occupational Therapists

Closing the Gap Health Care Plan through GP

Those of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background are entitled to:

·     5 sessions per year with a gap payment.

·     includes a wide range of allied health professionals. 

·     you can allocate these visits to Mental Health Professionals

Includes:

·     Nurses (incl. Mental Health Nurses)

·     Psychologists

·     Mental Health Social Workers

·     Mental Health Occupational Therapists