2020 is the year of challenge and change.

The Clinic has not been immune to the pressure to change and grow with the challenges of COVID.

The issues raised for all Australians to find a “new normal” in our daily lives have been tricky to navigate. Our new normal has involved more technology with the introduction of telehealth sessions at the clinic – with all clinical sessions being held online via Zoom.

The 2020 Federal Budget handed down this week detailed momentous changes for mental health.

The government just announced the doubling of Medicare-funded psychology sessions from the current 10 to a total of 20 in a calendar year for the next 2 years!

This is planned to help support the community as we start our pandemic recovery.

This is a historic and long-awaited announcement boost to mental health funding in Australia.

This change will assist those who have struggled to manage their treatment goals in the 10 session time-frame. It is a HUGE boost for prioritising mental health support. We all know there are times in life when having the support of a Psychologist has required more than 10 sessions. With the doubling of the Medicare-funded sessions, accessing this support and sticking with a treatment program is now a more affordable option.

In addition to this amazing news – the government has also committed to extending the telehealth option making it routinely available for all Australian’s regardless of location. Telehealth in Australia will now be recognised as an important and useful delivery method for psychology. Having used Telehealth in the clinic for the past 6 months, this is a really important change to allow for ongoing support during pandemic times. Outside of pandemic times, this also opens up the possibility of seeing your psychologist at times when physically attending the clinic is more difficult for example during times of injury, illness and/or travel.

There will be more details to come and I am optimistic about the investment and commitment to mental health by the government to support the public in our economic and emotional recovery from this pandemic.

More information regarding these changes that impact the way the Clinic operates will be updated as they become available. The Facebook Business page will be updated as information comes to light.

Pop over and follow the page for the latest information – https://www.facebook.com/drdaniellasiciliano/