If you call the service during our operating hours (9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays) you can expect the phone to be answered by one of our intake team – a qualified mental health practitioner with specific experience and expertise in the emergency sector. Similarly, if you have left your details online or on our messaging service, you can expect a qualified mental health practitioner to call you.
The intake worker will guide you through an assessment process to understand more about you and your unique situation. The details that you provide during this process will help us to determine the next steps. This will include confirming your eligibility to use the service.
You may be assessed as being a candidate for referral to our specialist network of clinicians. If this is the case, the assessor will identify a suitable specialist clinician and connect you with an appointment with this clinician. Specialist clinicians are experienced in working with the emergency services sector and are trained in evidence-based responder-specific mental health treatments and interventions.
You may be assessed as being a candidate for referral to a private clinician, a further specialist area (e.g., sleep specialist) or even back to your agency’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. The intake worker will discuss these options with you at the time of your call, including associated funding implications.
The specialist clinician that is allocated to you will work to understand your needs in detail and develop an evidence-based treatment plan that is unique to you.
There is no charge to contact the Responder Assist clinic and undergo an assessment. Every person has a unique history and will present with unique requirements. Once we know about the case, we will be able to offer more details on fee arrangements, including possible funding sources. You may incur out-of-pocket fees if you progress with treatment.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and agency support
Your agency and/or agency Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider may be able to offer free mental health services. This may be a good option for your unique situation, especially if funding is concern.
Mental Health Treatment Plan
Your GP or doctor can provide you with a mental health treatment plan which ensures that Medicare will reimburse a portion (subject to change) of the fee for each treatment session. If your sessions are charged at a higher rate, your agency may pay the fee gap on your behalf. Alternatively, you can fund the fee gap out-of-pocket.
WorkCover
With a WorkCover claim, your treatment will be fully funded by WorkCover. To find out more about lodging a claim, see here or contact the clinic and talk to an intake worker. By submitting a WorkCover claim, you will receive 13 weeks of treatment under their “Provisional Acceptance” clause, which means your treatment can be funded, even if your claim ends up being rejected.
If you would like someone from the Responder Assist clinic intake team to get in touch with you, please leave your details below. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Please note that the clinic is not a crisis service – for urgent help, please contact Lifeline on: 13 11 14. If you have a non-intake related enquiry, please contact us here.
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