About 900 people live in Tuggerah, roughly 100 of them children under 10. The median personal income locally is $783 a week. Beyond English, the languages most often spoken at home are Mandarin, Thai and Nepali. Population, age and language data: ABS Census 2021.
Cost & funding
Fees depend on the service, the provider and the length of the session. Ask each provider for their fees before the first visit.
Medicare pays a rebate for some psychology sessions when your GP writes a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral first. For OT, your GP writes a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan instead. Some private health extras policies pay part of the cost of psychology and OT.
If your child has an NDIS plan that includes these supports, you can use it. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can also use providers that are not NDIS registered. If the NDIA manages your plan, you must use registered providers.
NDIS price limit
$252.99 an hour
Psychology, 2026–27. OT: $193.99.
Medicare rebate
$101.55 a session
Psychologist, up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan. OT: $63.40 with a GP plan.
Note: NDIS price limits are the national maximums for NDIA-managed and plan-managed plans (NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27); remote areas have higher limits. Medicare rebates are from MBS Online, 1 July 2026. Providers can charge more than the rebate. Assessment fees come from provider websites in April 2026.
Most psychologists spend the first session on background: what led you to seek help, your family and your child's history. Some psychologists see parents alone first.
2
Questionnaires
You may fill in questionnaires. The psychologist may ask to contact your child's school or kindergarten.
3
A plan for sessions
The psychologist explains how treatment could work. With a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, Medicare pays part of the cost: 6 sessions to start, then up to 10 a year.
Sources: Australian Psychological Society; Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne; Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Be You says young children are naturally self-focused and often play beside, rather than with, other children. Better Health Channel says three year olds often enjoy being with other children and can now play together more. It lists not interacting with other children or adults through play as a sign that could suggest a developmental problem. If you are worried about your child's development, or it seems to go backwards, it says to seek the advice of a health professional.
The NSW Department of Education suggests giving your child plenty of chances for cooperative play with other children. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says joining a local playgroup, parent group or preschool activities can give your child more chances to socialise. Be You says children benefit from social time with a supportive, familiar adult nearby at first. Be You also says that teaching children to put themselves in someone else's shoes helps them relate better to others and manage conflict.
Better Health Channel says most children feel shy from time to time, but shyness severely limits the lives of some. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne says a child who is anxious a lot, with feelings that cause distress or physical symptoms like stomach aches, may have an anxiety disorder. It lists regularly avoiding everyday situations like school, social events and playing with friends as a sign of anxiety. For severe shyness, Better Health Channel says you may like to consider professional help from a counsellor or psychologist.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne says a child may like playing with other children at childcare with support from educators, but struggle to make friends at school when play is more independent. If you think your child may be autistic, it says to take them to their regular doctor (GP), and if your child is young you could also speak to their Maternal and Child Health Nurse. A GP can refer you to a health professional with special training who can assess your child, such as a paediatrician, child psychologist or child psychiatrist.
The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says that if you are concerned about your child's ability to manage their own feelings, or you are not seeing it improve as they get older, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
