Frequently Asked Questions

A Clinical Neuropsychologist is a specialist psychologist who understands the complex relationship between the physical brain and a person’s ability to think, feel, and act. While a standard psychologist focuses primarily on emotional and behavioral health, a neuropsychologist looks at the "hardware" of the brain. We use objective, evidence-based tests to see how different brain regions, like those responsible for memory, language, or planning, are working together. This helps us determine if difficulties are due to a medical condition, an injury, or simply a specific way your brain is wired.

A neuropsychological assessment is a specialised, non-invasive evaluation of your brain-behavior relationship. While medical imaging like MRIs or CT scans show the brain’s structure (what the brain looks like), this assessment measures its function (how the brain is actually performing). It is often the most sensitive tool for identifying subtle cognitive changes or "invisible" symptoms that scans might miss.

By using scientifically validated, standardised tasks, a neuropsychologist maps out your cognitive profile. The neuropsychologist will look at brain functions like attention, learning and memory, processing speed, language, visual-spatial and perceptual skills, motor skills, and executive functions. They may also explore personality, behaviour, and mood. Your cognitive profile is then interpreted based on your self and collateral reports, history, neuroimaging, and other medical tests to provide a clear diagnosis, measure the impact of a medical condition or injury, and develop a treatment plan of practical strategies to help you manage your daily life, work, or studies.

A referral is essentially a request for a "cognitive map." The most common reasons for a referral include:

Diagnostic Clarity: To help determine if symptoms are due to conditions like ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or early-stage Dementia.

Injury or Illness: To measure the specific impact of a stroke, concussion, or traumatic brain injury on your daily skills.

Treatment Planning: To identify your cognitive strengths (what you're good at) and weaknesses (where you struggle) so we can create practical strategies for work, study, or home life.

Baseline Testing: To record your current level of functioning so we can track changes over time or monitor the effects of a new medical treatment.

You don’t need to study or "cram" for this assessment—it’s about seeing how you think naturally. However, to ensure we get the most accurate picture of your abilities:

Rest and Nutrition: Try to get a full night's sleep and eat a balanced meal beforehand. High-level thinking for several hours can be tiring!

Medical Essentials: Bring any reading glasses, hearing aids, or adaptive devices you use daily.

Medication: Continue your usual medications unless your doctor or we have specifically told you otherwise.

Comfort: Wear comfortable clothing and feel free to bring water or non-messy snacks for our scheduled breaks.

Yes, and in many cases, we highly recommend it. We often invite a "collateral"—a spouse, parent, or close friend—to join the initial clinical interview. They can provide valuable observations about your history and how your symptoms show up in your day-to-day life.

Important Note: While your support person is welcome for the interview, they will usually be asked to wait in the waiting room during the active testing phase. This ensures a standardised environment where you can focus entirely on the tasks without distraction or external influence, which is vital for the validity of your results.

Your first session is an "intake" appointment. It’s a safe space to discuss your history, current challenges, and goals. We will also cover administrative details like confidentiality and policies. It is a chance for you to see if you feel comfortable with your therapist’s style.

The number of sessions varies significantly depending on your goals and the complexity of your concerns. However, most people begin to see meaningful improvements or a shift in perspective within 6 to 10 sessions. We will regularly review your progress together.

No, psychologists in Australia are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication. If medication is a necessary part of your treatment, your psychologist will work collaboratively with your GP or a Psychiatrist, who are the medical professionals responsible for prescribing and managing prescriptions.

While a formal referral is not required to book an appointment, it is preferred. You are welcome to attend as a private client; however, involving your primary care physician is a core part of our approach to ensure your care is well-coordinated. Furthermore, a valid referral from your GP (such as a Mental Health Care Plan) is essential if you wish to claim Medicare rebates to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. We find that maintaining open communication with your doctor allows us to better understand your medical history and provide the most effective support for your long-term health.

At Hills Neuropsychology & Co., each clinician manages their own admin and enquiries, in addition to their client case-loads. This means it can take us some time to process your enquiry. We have dedicated time each week for doing this, and we will endeavour to be in contact with you as soon as possible. We are currently accepting bookings for August 2026.

Therapy Appointments
For therapy sessions, cancellations made with 0–24 hours' notice or missed appointments (DNA) incur the full session fee, while notice provided between 25 and 48 hours results in a $100 charge. Medicare rebates are not able to be provided for fees incurred due to cancellation or DNAs.

Assessments
A deposit equal to the cost of the assessment component is required at the time of booking. Cancellations or missed appointments (DNA) with 0–48 hours' notice incur the full fee for the assessment component (excluding the report), while notice provided between 49 hours and 5 business days results in a charge of half the assessment cost.

General Information
A "Did Not Attend" (DNA) status is applied if a client is more than 20 minutes late to an appointment. Please note that cancellation fees apply even in cases of unavoidable sickness and will include any relevant bank charges. For NDIS clients, the full therapy/assessment fee applies if notice is under 48 hours and the spot remains unfilled. All cancellation notices must be provided within business days (Monday–Friday) to ensure we can offer the time to other clients. For example, to cancel a Monday appointment at 9:00 AM, notice must be provided by 9:00 AM the preceding Thursday.

There are several ways to fund your psychology sessions. Most involve a "gap fee" (the difference between our service fee and the government rebate), though some streams are fully funded.

Medicare: Requires a referral and a specific care plan from your GP. You pay the full session fee upfront and receive a fixed rebate back from Medicare.

- Mental Health Care Plan (Better Access): Rebates for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. The current rebate is $98.95 for a Registered Psychologist.

- Chronic Disease Management (CDM): Rebates for up to 5 sessions per year for mental health support related to chronic physical conditions. The rebate is approximately $64.80 per session.

Aged Care:
- Support at Home (Home Care Packages): Clinical psychology is fully funded (100%) through your package budget. There are typically no out-of-pocket costs for the clients.

NDIS: For self-managed or plan-managed participants, we charge according to the NDIS Price Guide (currently $232.99 per hour for psychology). There is typically no out-of-pocket gap if you have sufficient "Capacity Building" funding in your plan.

ReturnToWorkSA: For workplace injury claims, fees are typically covered at 100% by the insurer (current max rate is $261.50 per hour), meaning no out-of-pocket cost for the clients.

Private Health Insurance: You pay the full fee and claim a portion back from your insurer. The "gap" depends entirely on your specific policy. Note: You cannot claim Medicare and Private Health for the same session.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommends a national hourly rate for psychological services of $318 for the 2025–2026 financial year; however, we set our fees below this rate at $250 per hour. This fee is inclusive of any necessary therapy reporting required to support your care. If you have a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate that significantly reduces your out-of-pocket expenses. After the rebate, the total cost is approximately $151.05 if seeing a Registered Psychologist (rebate of $98.95).

Note: We are not a bulk-billing practice. Payment is required in full at the time of your appointment. If you have a valid Medicare referral, we can process your rebate on the spot, which will be deposited into your bank account within 24–48 hours.

Our psychological and neuropsychological assessments generally follow an hourly rate of $250. However, because these evaluations are tailored to the specific needs of each individual, the total cost can vary based on the complexity of the clinical question.

To help you plan, here is a breakdown of how the process and fees are structured:

Assessment Length: A typical assessment involves approximately 3 hours of face-to-face testing, though this can be longer if the referral requires more in-depth investigation.

What is Included: Our comprehensive fee is "all-inclusive." It covers not only the time spent with the clinician but also the cost of specialised test materials, collateral information gathering, the scoring and interpretation of data, and the preparation of a professional report.

Feedback Sessions: Some assessments include a dedicated feedback session to discuss the findings and recommendations as part of the initial quote; whether this is included in the fee depends on the specific nature of your assessment.

Please submit an enquiry with a brief description of your needs. This allows us to determine the appropriate depth of testing required and provide you with a transparent, accurate quote before you commit to the process.

The time required to finalise a report can vary depending on the complexity of the assessment and the depth of data interpretation required. However, we aim to have your report completed within 1-2 weeks of your assessment. Once finalised, a copy will be provided to you, your referring clinician, and any other professionals you have specifically consented for us to contact.

To ensure you have a clear understanding of the findings, we also aim to schedule your assessment feedback session the week following your testing session. This allows us to discuss the results and recommendations in detail shortly after the report is complete.

Your privacy is our priority. All personal and health information is stored securely in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. Information shared in sessions remains confidential except in specific legal circumstances:

- If there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others.
- If your files are subpoenaed by a court of law.
- If you provide explicit consent for us to speak with another professional (e.g., your GP).