Referring to Eucalyptus Psychology

Information for GPs and clinicians

Eucalyptus Psychology genuinely values its relationships with referring clinicians and works hard to make the referral process as straightforward as possible. Whether you are referring for psychological therapy, psychiatric assessment, ongoing psychiatric care, or shared care across both disciplines, this page covers everything you need to know. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to contact reception, who are always happy to talk through a referral before you send it.

Reception: (03) 8740 3754 | reception@eucalyptuspsychology.com.au

How to refer

Send referral letters to: reception@eucalyptuspsychology.com.au

For psychology referrals, please address to a named psychologist where you have a preference (see the practitioner pages for areas of interest). If you don’t have a preference, address to “The Treating Psychologist” and reception will forward to a suitable practitioner.

For psychiatry referrals, address to Dr Florence Morley.

Important: client intake form

Before an appointment can be confirmed, all new clients are asked to complete the client intake form. This helps the treating practitioner understand the patient’s needs and background before the first session, allows reception to match them to the most appropriate clinician, and ensures the treating clinician is well-prepared from day one.

Patients can complete the intake form themselves and upload their referral letter directly within the form, so referrers do not need to contact reception directly unless they prefer to. You are welcome to simply give your patient the referral letter to send themselves, or they can upload it when completing the form. Patients may also complete the intake form before obtaining a referral, for example if they wish to arrange an appointment first and obtain a Mental Health Care Plan from their GP afterwards. The intake form is available here and takes approximately 10 minutes.

Once reception has received both the referral and the completed intake form, the patient is contacted by email, text message, or occasionally phone to arrange an appointment with their assigned practitioner. Current wait times for new appointments are typically 1 to 4 weeks depending on clinician and location. Referrers will be informed in writing if a referral cannot be accepted.

Psychology Referrals

Psychologists at Eucalyptus see children (ages 5+), adolescents, and adults across a wide range of presentations including anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, life transitions, and neurodevelopmental presentations. Visit the Psychologists page to learn more about each psychologist. Reception will match your patient to the most appropriate clinician based on their presentation, preferences, and current availability, and the practitioner makes the final decision on accepting the referral. Psychologists at Eucalyptus consult from Mooroolbark and Olinda, and via telehealth.

What to include in your referral:

  • Patient name, date of birth, and contact details
  • Your diagnosis or presenting concerns
  • Current medications where relevant
  • Any previous mental health hospitalisations or significant psychiatric history
  • Any risk factors or relevant history
  • Your preferred psychologist if you have one (see note below)
  • For Better Access referrals: please attach the Mental Health Care Plan and number of sessions you are referring for. Note that patients can also obtain a Mental Health Care Plan after their first appointment if they do not yet have one.
Eucalyptus Psychology consulting room 2

A note on psychologist preferences

If you would like to refer to a specific psychologist, please name them in your referral letter and reception will do its best to accommodate. Please note this does not guarantee an appointment with that clinician, if they are at capacity or if a different practitioner would be a better clinical fit, reception will discuss this with you and suggest alternatives both within Eucalyptus and from a broader network of local services.

Medicare and funding

Better Access referrals (Mental Health Care Plans from GPs and OMPs) are accepted by psychologists at Eucalyptus, with patients eligible for up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year. NDIS (plan-managed and self-managed), TAC, and DVA referrals are also accepted by most practitioners. Please indicate the funding type in your referral letter and include the relevant claim or plan number where applicable. Each psychologist sets their own fees, with a Medicare gap. Bulk billing is not routinely offered.

Assessment referrals

Comprehensive psychological assessments for ADHD, ASD, and combined ASD/ADHD presentations are available at the Mooroolbark clinic. For clients under 25 referred by a paediatrician or psychiatrist, a Medicare rebate of $98.95 is available for each testing session under MBS Item 82000. Standard GP-referred assessments use the MHCP pathway with rebates for the initial consultation and feedback session only. Please see the Assessments page for full details, or call reception to discuss the most appropriate pathway for your patient.

What communication can you expect?

Your patient’s psychologist typically writes to the referrer following the initial assessment and at significant points in treatment, for example if there’s a meaningful change in risk, presentation, or treatment plan. They will also write to you on completion of each Better Access referral as required under Medicare correspondence obligations. For patients seeing both a psychologist and psychiatrist, communication between practitioners is arranged directly between them, with the patient’s consent. If you have specific communication preferences, please note them in your referral letter.
Dr Florence Morley - Consultant Psychiatrist Eucalyptus Psychology Olinda

Psychiatric Referrals

Dr Florence Morley is a consultant psychiatrist seeing adults aged 18 and over at the Olinda clinic and via telehealth. She offers psychiatric assessment, ongoing psychiatric management, formulation-based psychotherapy, and collaboration with psychologists at Eucalyptus on shared cases. Visit her profile to learn about her areas of interest.

Note: Florence’s focus is on these presentations rather than primary psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, or patients transitioning from tertiary mental health services. If you are unsure whether your patient is a good fit, please call reception before sending a formal referral.

What to include in your referral:

  • Patient name, date of birth, and contact details
  • Presenting concerns and relevant history
  • Current medications and any previous psychiatric history
  • Any previous mental health hospitalisations or significant psychiatric episodes
  • Your specific question or reason for referral
  • Whether you are requesting a one-off assessment or ongoing care (see below)
  • Any relevant risk history or current risk factors

Medicare referral requirements

A valid referral from a GP or specialist is required to access Medicare rebates. GP referrals are generally valid for 12 months for ongoing psychiatric care. There is no cap on the number of rebated sessions with a psychiatrist.

One-off assessments (item 291) vs ongoing care

Florence’s preference is to see a patient first before determining whether a one-off assessment or ongoing care is most appropriate. She finds this produces better clinical outcomes and clearer formulations than committing to a specific billing structure before the first session. If your referral does not specify item 291, Florence will see the patient and make a clinical judgement about whether a comprehensive one-off assessment and treatment plan is possible and appropriate, or whether ongoing care would better serve them.

If you or your patient specifically want a one-off psychiatric assessment, with a detailed report and 12-month treatment plan for the GP to continue managing the patient independently, please note this in your referral letter and Florence will endeavour to accommodate this where clinically appropriate. Item 291 assessments can be a useful and cost-effective option for patients seeking diagnostic clarity who do not intend to see a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis, as the Medicare rebate is considerably higher than for a standard consultation.

If you are requesting an item 293 follow-up review for a patient who had a 291 assessment within the past 12 months, please indicate this clearly in your referral letter.

Note: Please do not include item 291 on the referral if you intend the patient to have ongoing care, this affects Medicare eligibility and can cause complications for your patient.

Prescribing and Schedule 8 medications

Florence works collaboratively with GPs on prescribing, including for Schedule 8 medications such as stimulants. Her preference is to work with GPs who are comfortable managing the ongoing prescription and physical health monitoring, with Florence providing specialist psychiatric oversight and annual review. This model tends to work best for patients, keeps care well-coordinated, and means Florence is not managing high volumes of stimulant-only follow-up appointments. If you are comfortable prescribing stimulants and would like a collaborative arrangement of this kind, please mention this in your referral, as relationships with GPs in the area who share this approach are actively being built.

Funding

Florence accepts Medicare, TAC, and DVA. Patients are charged at Florence’s private fee with a Medicare gap. Bulk billing is not routinely offered but may be considered in exceptional circumstances at Florence’s discretion.

What communication can you expect?

Florence will write to you following the initial assessment and when there is a significant change in your patient’s mental health, risk status, or treatment plan. For patients seeing both Florence and a psychologist at Eucalyptus, communication between practitioners is arranged directly between them, with the patient’s consent. If you have specific communication preferences, please note them in your referral letter.

Practitioner collaboration at Eucalyptus

One advantage of psychologists and a psychiatrist consulting from the same location is the option of direct communication between practitioners about a shared client. With the client’s consent, the treating psychologist and psychiatrist can communicate directly, and arrange that between themselves rather than requiring you to coordinate. For complex shared patients, the treating psychologist, psychiatrist, and the patient’s GP may arrange multidisciplinary case conferences under MBS case conferencing items, with each clinician billing individually for their conference time. This is arranged between the practitioners when clinically helpful, rather than as a routine service of the practice itself.

If you have a patient who might benefit from a coordinated psychology, psychiatry, and GP approach, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Get in touch

If we are unable to accept your referral

If reception is unable to find a practitioner with availability, or if the presentation is outside the scope of practitioners currently at Eucalyptus, you and your patient will be advised in writing promptly. Reception has a good understanding of local services in the Dandenong Ranges and outer east Melbourne, and will endeavour to suggest alternatives.

If you have concerns about a patient

Eucalyptus is not a crisis or emergency service. If you have immediate concerns about a patient’s safety, please contact:

  • Outer Eastern Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT): 1300 721 927
  • Police or ambulance: 000
  • Your patient’s nearest hospital emergency department

If you have non-urgent concerns about a patient currently seeing a practitioner at Eucalyptus, please contact reception and your message will be passed to the treating practitioner promptly.

Frequently asked questions for referrers

Does the patient need to contact us, or do we contact them?

Once reception receives both the referral and the completed intake form, the patient is contacted directly, usually within 2 business days. Patients can also make contact themselves and upload their referral via the intake form. Please let your patient know to expect an email, text message, or occasionally a phone call.

How long is the wait time?

Current wait times are typically 1 to 4 weeks depending on clinician and location. Please call reception for up-to-date availability before referring if timing is important for your patient.

Can I refer directly to a specific psychologist?

Yes, please name the psychologist in your referral letter. Please note this does not guarantee an appointment with that clinician. If they are at capacity or if the referral would be a better clinical fit for another practitioner, reception will discuss this with you and suggest alternatives both within Eucalyptus and from a broader network of local services.

Do you accept urgent referrals?

Eucalyptus does not have an emergency or urgent triage service. If a patient requires urgent mental health assessment, please contact CATT or the nearest emergency department. For patients who need to be seen relatively promptly, please call reception for advice on current availability.

What if my patient wants to remain anonymous initially?

Some patients are cautious about taking the first step. They are welcome to contact reception directly or complete the online intake form themselves, without you needing to send a referral first.

Is there a referral form?

No specific referral form is required. A standard referral letter to the relevant clinician is sufficient. Patients can upload their referral letter directly in the online intake form, or email it to reception@eucalyptuspsychology.com.au.

Why do patients need to complete an intake form?

The intake form helps the treating practitioner understand your patient’s background, preferences, and goals before their first appointment, allows reception to match them to the most appropriate clinician, and ensures the first session can be used for clinical work rather than administrative catch-up. This significantly improves the quality of the initial consultation for both patient and clinician.

Next steps

If you’d like to refer a client to Eucalyptus, please send a referral letter to reception@eucalyptuspsychology.com.au.