Country SA Primary Health Network (PHN) is the primary health network covering the country regions of South Australia.
Established by the Federal Government, PHNs are now operating Australia-wide.
The key objectives of the PHNs are to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and to improve the coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
Services Offered
Psychological therapy services address identified service gaps for people in under-serviced groups, including those in rural and remote areas, where there are barriers to accessing Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) based psychological intervention, making optimal use of the available service infrastructure and workforce.
This program provides evidence based, short term psychological intervention to people with a diagnosable mild, moderate, or in some cases severe mental illness, or to people who have attempted, or are at risk of, suicide or self-harm where access to other services is not appropriate.
The easiest way to access our services is via a referral from your GP. If they are unfamiliar with our programs please direct them to our website.
Fees and Payment
Most counselling services are free with a mental health care plan from your GP.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
