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Grief & Loss

How Much Does Grief Counselling Cost in Australia, and What Does Medicare Cover?

Last updated 19 August 2026 · 5 min read

Direct Answer

A private counselling or psychology session in Australia typically costs somewhere between $100 and $300, but most people pay considerably less than that by using a Medicare rebate. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, Medicare's Better Access initiative covers up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year (an initial 6, then a further 4 after a GP review), with a rebate that commonly runs from around $95 to $150 per session depending on the provider's qualifications, as of 2026. The remaining 'gap' between the rebate and the provider's fee varies by practice, from nothing at a bulk-billing provider to $100 or more at others. Many workplaces also offer a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), typically limited to a small number of sessions (commonly three to six), and free services like GriefLine involve no cost or referral at all.

Detailed Explanation

Several guides in this cluster mention speaking to a "GP or grief counsellor" as a next step, including how long does grief last and coping with grief when you have little support around you, without saying what that actually costs or how the Australian rebate system works. This page fills that gap.

Private session costs

Paying privately, without any rebate, a counselling or psychology session in Australia typically costs somewhere between $100 and $300, varying by the provider's qualifications, experience, location, and session length. This is the baseline most people compare everything else against.

Medicare's Better Access initiative

The main way Australians reduce this cost is Medicare's Better Access initiative:

  1. See a GP and get a Mental Health Treatment Plan. This is a short consultation where the GP discusses what's happening and prepares the referral. A bulk-billing GP often charges nothing for this visit; a non-bulk-billing GP commonly charges $80 to $130, with a Medicare rebate reducing that.
  2. Use the plan to see a psychologist (or other eligible mental health professional). As of 2026, the plan covers up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year: an initial 6 sessions, then a further 4 after your GP reviews your progress.
  3. Claim the Medicare rebate for each session. The rebate amount depends on the provider's qualifications, commonly around $95 to $105 for a general or registered psychologist and around $145 to $150 for a clinical psychologist, as of 2026. These figures are indexed periodically, so check the current Medicare Benefits Schedule or ask the provider directly for the up-to-date amount.
  4. Pay any gap. The "gap" is the difference between what the provider charges and the Medicare rebate. Some psychologists bulk-bill, meaning no gap at all; others charge a gap that can range from a small amount to $100 or more per session. Ask about the gap fee before booking the first session, not after.

The session count resets each calendar year, and needing the full 10 sessions, or needing to ask a GP about further support the following year, is entirely normal rather than a sign that something has gone wrong.

Workplace Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

Many employers fund an Employee Assistance Program giving staff (and often their immediate family) access to free, confidential counselling, commonly limited to a small number of sessions, often somewhere in the range of three to six per issue or per year depending on the employer's plan. Check with HR or a payslip for whether one exists and how to access it directly and confidentially; EAPs are designed so the employer doesn't see who has used the service or why.

Free options with no cost or referral

Some support carries no cost and needs no GP referral at all:

  • GriefLine (griefline.org.au): free grief-specific phone and online support.
  • Grief Australia (grief.org.au): grief-specific counselling, education, and resources, with some services offered at reduced or no cost.

These are genuinely valid as a first step, a bridge while arranging a Mental Health Treatment Plan, or an ongoing option for anyone for whom cost is the main barrier to seeking help at all.

Things to Consider

  • Cost shouldn't be a reason to avoid help entirely. Between Medicare rebates, EAPs, and free services, there's usually an option regardless of budget; a GP or GriefLine can help identify the most affordable path for your specific situation.
  • Ask about the gap fee before the first session. It varies enormously between providers, and knowing it in advance avoids an unwelcome surprise.
  • A Mental Health Treatment Plan is worth getting even if you're unsure you'll use all the sessions. There's no obligation to use every session once the plan exists, and having it in place removes a step if you decide later that you do want to use it.
  • These figures will drift over time. Medicare rebate amounts are indexed periodically; treat the figures above as a current guide, not a permanent fact, and confirm the live rebate with your provider or the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Common Mistakes

  • Paying privately without checking Medicare eligibility first. Grief-related distress qualifies for a Mental Health Treatment Plan the same way other conditions do; many people don't realise this and pay full price unnecessarily.
  • Assuming an EAP replaces the need for anything else. EAP sessions are often limited; treat them as a starting point rather than assuming they'll cover ongoing, longer-term support.
  • Not asking a psychologist whether they bulk-bill before booking. Some do for at least part of their caseload; it's a reasonable, direct question to ask when making the first appointment.
  • Waiting until the 10 sessions feel "necessary" before asking for a referral. A Mental Health Treatment Plan can be arranged well before a crisis point, and earlier support tends to help more than support sought only once things feel unmanageable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a referral to see a grief counsellor?
Not to see one privately, no. But a referral matters if cost is a factor: to access the Medicare rebate under the Better Access initiative, you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP first, which sets out the referral and the number of sessions approved. Without that plan, you pay the full private fee with no rebate at all.
Does grief specifically qualify for a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
Yes. Grief and bereavement-related distress is a recognised reason for a GP to prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan, the same pathway used for anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Raise it directly with your GP; you don't need a formal diagnosis of a mental health disorder to be experiencing grief severe enough to warrant support.
What happens after the 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions run out?
You can keep seeing the same or a different provider privately without a rebate, ask your GP whether a further referral is appropriate the following calendar year (the session count resets each January), or move to a free option like GriefLine or an Employee Assistance Program if cost is the main barrier. Needing more than 10 sessions in a year doesn't mean anything has gone wrong; it simply reflects how much support you need.

References

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