How Much Does a Psychologist Cost in Australia in 2026?

What psychology sessions cost in Australia in 2026, what Medicare rebates you get back, what you actually pay out of pocket, and how NDIS and private health fit in.

In 2026, a standard 50-minute psychology session in Australia typically costs between $200 and $320, and with a Medicare rebate most people pay between $100 and $190 out of pocket. At Ivy Psychology a session with a Clinical Psychologist is $310 with a $149.05 rebate, leaving $160.95, and a session with a Registered Psychologist is $290 with a $101.55 rebate, leaving $188.45.

Those are our published fees rather than an estimate. Below is how the funding works, what changes the number, and what is not rebatable at all.

Our fees in 2026

• Clinical Psychologist: $310 fee, $149.05 Medicare rebate, $160.95 out of pocket
• Registered Psychologist: $290 fee, $101.55 Medicare rebate, $188.45 out of pocket
• Provisional Psychologist: $120 fee, no Medicare rebate
• A $15 surcharge applies to weekday appointments after 5pm and all weekend sessions

Sessions run for 50 minutes. The rebate is higher for a Clinical Psychologist because of the additional postgraduate training and supervised practice the endorsement requires, which is why the out-of-pocket cost is lower despite the higher fee.

Why fees vary so much between practices

The Australian Psychological Society publishes a recommended fee that is considerably higher than what most practices charge, and there is no regulated price. What you are quoted depends on the clinician's training and endorsement, the location and overheads of the practice, the length of the session, and whether the practice bulk bills.

Bulk billing does exist in psychology, but it is uncommon in private practice and usually limited to specific programs or community services, because the rebate alone does not cover the cost of delivering the session.

How the Medicare rebate works

You need a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral from your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist. That gives you a rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. You pay the full fee at the appointment and Medicare refunds the rebate to your nominated account, usually within a couple of days.

• The 10-session cap runs by calendar year and resets on 1 January
• Your referral does not expire, so sessions still left on it can be used in the new year and count towards that year's 10
• A GP review is required part-way through before the later sessions are released
• Telehealth sessions are rebated on the same basis as in-person appointments
• Each person needs their own plan; you cannot use yours to claim for your child

What Medicare does not cover

The Better Access scheme covers therapy, not assessment. Psychological and cognitive assessment, including ADHD, autism and educational assessments, is not rebatable under Better Access.

For reference, our assessment fees are $2,000 for an adult ADHD or autism assessment, $3,000 for a child ADHD assessment, $3,500 for a child autism assessment, and $2,500 for a cognitive assessment. Combined assessments are priced above that and cost less than running two separate processes.

Private health insurance

Some funds pay a partial rebate on psychology under extras cover, and some pay on assessment. You cannot claim a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session, so check which leaves you better off. We can provide item codes to quote to your fund.

NDIS-funded psychology

If psychology is funded in an NDIS plan, there is no out-of-pocket cost to you, and no Medicare involvement. NDIS-funded services are charged in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which are set annually, so the hourly figure differs from our private fee.

Behaviour support is funded and priced separately again, under the NDIS behaviour support arrangements rather than as psychology.

Ways to reduce the cost

• See a Registered or Provisional Psychologist. A provisional psychologist working under close supervision is a genuinely good option for many presentations, at $120 a session
• Book during business hours to avoid the after-hours surcharge
• Use the full 10 rebated sessions in a calendar year before the counter resets
• Space sessions out as you improve, rather than stopping abruptly
• Ask about session frequency at the start; weekly is not always necessary

Where we work

• Fees and funding in full
• Psychologist in Randwick
• Psychology in Coogee
• Psychology in Kensington

In summary

Expect $200 to $320 a session in 2026, with $100 to $190 out of pocket after a Medicare rebate. Get a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP for up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year. Assessment is not rebatable. If cost is the barrier, a registered or provisional psychologist during business hours is the most direct way to bring it down.