Client Engagement Agreement

Please read carefully through the following information which form part of the terms and conditions for attending the practice.
At the bottom of the page please tick the check box to indicate you have read and agree to these terms and conditions

Our Main office is located in Moorabool St, Geelong, and all communication is to come through this office (5221 7197)

PRACTITIONER AVAILABILITY AND CRISIS SUPPORT:

• We are a private practice with most of our Psychologists working part time. When at the office, they are consulting. This means they are not always available to attend your queries -However, reception staff are usually able to easily and promptly assist you with most matters.

• If reception staff are unable to answer your call during business hours, your call will be diverted to the voicemail service where you can leave a detailed message. Our staff will endeavour to respond as soon as they are available.

• If your call is of a matter of urgency, this needs to be stated at the time of your call. It may be necessary to give reception some brief details. Reception will pass the message on to your psychologist, but again it is important to note that phone calls may not always be responded to on the same day.

If you are in crisis you are encouraged to utilise crisis support services (numbers can be provided) as we are unable to offer 24 hour crisis support.

ANTI- HARASSMENT POLICY:

This organisation is committed to providing an environment where all staff feel safe. Aggressive behaviour in any form will not be tolerated and decisive action will be taken to protect staff and clients.

FEES:

For full fee-paying clients, our standard fees for a 50-minute consultation are:
$190 – Clinical Psychologist.        $160 – General Psychologist.        After hours – General $180/Clinical $220
Payment is required on the day.

Eligible concession card holders may able to discuss a reduced rate with your psychologist.

If you have a Mental Health Plan, you can claim a Medicare rebate. Our staff can process a rebate if your bank details registered with Medicare.

If your claim cannot be processed or you are paying privately, a receipt can be issued upon request for you claim through your private health provider (if applicable).

If you are attending via a third party such as Work Cover, TAC, VACU, VOCAT, EAP, PTS (Psychological Therapy Services), we will invoice the third party on your behalf. If the third-party refuse to pay for the service, you will be responsible for payment of the account.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• We are committed to supporting our clients and understand that sometimes unexpected challenges occur, and sessions may need to be rescheduled.

• When consultations need to be cancelled, we ask for at least 48 hours’ notice, to allow time to offer the appointment to clients on our wait list. We also have Voice mail after hours to leave a message if cancelling.

• Geelong Psychology Group subscribes to the guidelines established by the Australian Psychological Society and reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee for sessions that were not attended or cancelled with insufficient notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a cancellation fee of $100.00.

• If you fail to attend without notice; the full fee will be charged. Payment will be taken from your credit card. You will be asked to sign a credit card authority during your first session for this purpose.  We don’t want to charge your credit card – our preference is that plenty of notice is given for us to offer the appointment to someone else is need.

REPORT WRITING:

If the purpose of your visit is to request a report or letter, this needs to be stated at the beginning of your session. Report writing is charged at our hourly rate and typically 4-6 weeks is to be allowed for completion of report/letters.

PARENTAL SUPERVISION:

For children aged 14yrs and under, it is expected that a parent or caregiver will be in attendance at the office at all times when the child is undergoing therapy. If a child is left unattended, we reserve the right to cease therapy. Please note; Psychologists are unable to physically stop a child from absconding. If a child attempts to abscond and a caregiver is not present, appropriate security measures will be undertaken, including calling the police.

PRIVACY STATEMENT:

As part of providing psychological services to you, Geelong Psychology Group are required to collect and record personal information. This information is kept in a secure storage.

All personal information will remain confidential and secure except when:

1. It is subpoenaed by a court

2. It is necessary to provide details to enforce the legal rights of Geelong Psychology Group (for example debt collection)

3. Failure to disclose information would place you or another person at risk

4. Your prior approval has been obtained to:

   1. Provide a written report to another professional or agency, for example treating doctor, lawyer, WorkCover

   2.  Discuss the material with another person for example, parent, employer, school and case manager.

5. If compulsorily audited by the ATO, our regulatory body AHPRA, Medicare, or the NDIS

Periodically the company may conduct a file audit to ensure that compliance with the health records act is being met.