Work off fines with mental health treatment.
Eligible treatment for a mental health disorder is an alternative to paying your fine under a Work and Development Order (WDO).
Psych Point is an approved Hardship Partner
We love helping eligible Queenslanders address their fines with treatment.
Eligibility for a WDO due to Mental Illness
To be eligible for a QLD WDO on the grounds of a mental health disorder, an individual must:
- Have a diagnosed mental illness (mental health disorder) that has been declared by a treating doctor, psychiatrist, mental health clinician or health practitioner.
- The nature, severity and duration of this diagnosed condition must be documented.
- The documentation must be dated no earlier than six months before the WDO date.
In practice, we have found that a referral from a GP, such as for Medicare rebated psychologist sessions through the Better Access scheme, often satisfies the diagnosis requirement. This is because the referral for this scheme should list the mental health disorders or symptoms. Other evidence may also be sufficient for this purpose.
How to get a WDO and treatment through us
Referral
Ask your GP for a psychologist referral under the Medicare Better Access to Mental Healthcare scheme.
This is important evidence of a mental health disorder. Alternatively, provide different evidence.
Book
Book your psychologist session while mentioning you want a QLD WDO in the comments.
Complete the emailed intake form; we will apply to SPER on your behalf.
Therapy
Each month, we will advise SPER about your attendance and compliance.
SPER writes off $1,000 of fines for each full month of treatment plan compliance until all the eligible debt is satisfied.
What to Expect
As a Hardship Partner, we are committed to ensuring that our treatment includes all the necessary elements to meet the relevant criteria for a QLD WDO on the grounds of Mental Illness. This includes ensuring that the treatment is under a compliant treatment plan and is provided by a clinician appropriately qualified to offer this service.
Eligible and Ineligible Debts
WDO-eligible debt with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) may include fine and penalty debts issued by Queensland. However, it is important to note that not all debts can be included in a WDO. For instance, debts such as compensation and victim restitution are ineligible.
Cost of a Queensland WDO
There is no additional cost for a WDO. You only pay for the treatment and fees like late cancellation fees.
Medicare rebates
Medicare’s Better Access to Mental Healthcare scheme is a promising way to address both the evidence of a mental health disorder and qualify for rebates for psychologist sessions.
Medicare Better Access to Mental Healthcare scheme
Medicare
$58.15 / Gap Saver (GS)
$200 upfront then $141.85 rebate
Medicare
$48.15 / Gap Saver Concession (GSC)
$190 upfront then $141.85 rebate
Eligible Mental Health Treatment
SPER has criteria for which psychologist treatment is eligible for a WDO. Our understanding is per the table below.
Psychologist treatment auspices | Eligible WDO activity? |
---|---|
Worker’s compensation psychologist treatment | No |
Medicare treatment from a psychologist | Yes |
Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) counselling by a psychologist | Yes* |
NSW Victim Services counselling by a psychologist | Yes* |
QLD Victims Assist counselling by a psychologist | Yes |
Department of Veterans Affairs treatment from a psychologist (excluding Open Arms) | Yes |
Private payment for psychologist treatment | Yes |
Private health insurance extras rebated psychologist treatment | Yes |
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) psychologist treatment | No |
* Psych Point’s role as a Hardship Provided was expanded by SPER on 17-05-2023 to include WDO activities funded by Victims of Crime programs in jurisdictions other than QLD (QLD already qualified). While Psych Point can do this as a Hardship Partner, this may or may not be true for other Hardship Partners. This table is relevant for Psych Point as a Hardship Partner, and clarification should be sought if seeking a WDO through a Harship Partner other than Psych Point to see if your funded activity qualifies if seeking a WDO with them.
Similar interstate programs
We are a sponsor and hardship partner interstate. Click to find out more.