Psychology referrals, made straightforward.
Clear referral fit, NDIA-literate reporting, and a direct line to the psychologist who does the work.
Wiser Minds is a sole-practitioner psychology service led by registered psychologist Andrew Bechara, providing therapy and assessment to NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. Most support is delivered by telehealth across Australia, with in-person and mobile options in Blacktown and South-West Sydney, and cognitive assessment completed in person. You deal directly with the clinician, not an intake queue.
Self and plan-managed participants · Telehealth Australia-wide · In-person and mobile in South-West Sydney
Who to refer
A quick filter so a referral does not bounce. A good fit when the participant:
- is self-managed or plan-managed
- needs psychological therapy for capacity building
- needs an ADHD, autism, or cognitive assessment
- needs a psychosocial or cognitive functional capacity report
- needs functional evidence for a plan reassessment or access request
- can engage by telehealth, or needs in-person or mobile support in South-West Sydney
.
I am not the right fit, and will say so early, when the participant:
- is agency-managed, and needs a registered NDIS provider
- needs an occupational therapy or physiotherapy functional assessment
- needs a medico-legal or court report
- is in acute crisis and needs urgent or crisis care
Wiser Minds is not a registered NDIS provider. Under NDIS rules, self-managed and plan-managed participants can access psychology without provider registration. Agency-managed participants must use a registered provider.
Reports we provide, and what they support
Every report is an independent clinical assessment written with the NDIA's decision-making in mind. Findings are mapped to the relevant functional domains and to the reasonable and necessary criteria, so the evidence speaks to the question being asked. We document what we find. We do not promise a funding outcome, and that independence is what gives a report weight.
For participants already in therapy, we also provide progress reports tied to plan goals, which document engagement and current functional needs to support continuation of funding at the next reassessment.
Evidence for a change of circumstances
One of the harder parts of your role is assembling enough evidence when a participant's situation has changed and the current plan no longer fits. A diagnosis letter on its own rarely answers the question the NDIA is actually asking, which is about functional impact and what is reasonable and necessary. We can help where:
- the participant's functioning has deteriorated or their support needs have escalated, and this needs documenting against the relevant functional domains
- a condition affecting daily functioning has never been formally assessed, such as ADHD, autism, an intellectual or learning disability, or a cognitive impairment, and a formal assessment would clarify it
- a condition is not a listed condition, but its functional impact still needs evidencing, because the NDIA funds on functional need, not on diagnosis alone
- psychosocial disability needs documenting in the terms the NDIA tends to ask about: the enduring nature of the impairment, its episodic course, and its functional consequences
- a participant has been under-funded, and the gap is the completeness of the functional evidence rather than the underlying need
Our role is to assess honestly and report thoroughly. A defensible, independent report carries weight precisely because it is not written to a predetermined conclusion.
Telehealth, in person, or mobile, matched to the participant
We match the format to the participant and to the question being asked. Telehealth across Australia suits participants who can engage remotely, and removes transport or anxiety barriers that might otherwise prevent assessment. In-person appointments in Blacktown and South-West Sydney, and mobile options for participants who cannot attend a clinic, allow assessment in the participant's own environment, which can produce more valid functional evidence. Cognitive assessment is completed in person.
Mobile and in-home availability depends on the participant's location and the type of support required, and we confirm coverage with you when you refer.
How it's funded
Psychology with Wiser Minds is funded from the participant's Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living, and billed at NDIS price guide rates. For self-managed participants we invoice the participant directly. For plan-managed participants we invoice the plan manager. Assessment and report writing are billed for the clinician time involved, as set out in the price arrangements.
Specific support item numbers and rates follow the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements, which are updated each July, and we confirm these with you when you refer.
Turnaround and capacity
Typical report turnaround depends on the assessment type and is confirmed when you refer, and we are happy to tell you our current availability for new referrals at that point. If a plan date is approaching, tell us your deadline when you refer, and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Working with you
Refer
Send the participant's details and the question you need answered, through the contact form or by email.
Confirm
We check fit and eligibility, then schedule the participant and confirm timeframes with you.
Assess or treat
Delivered by telehealth, in person, or mobile, as suits the participant.
Report and liaise
You receive a clear, NDIA-literate report and progress updates tied to plan goals, with direct contact throughout.
Support coordinator FAQ
No. Wiser Minds works with self-managed and plan-managed participants. Agency-managed participants need a registered NDIS provider.
Turnaround depends on the assessment, and current timeframes are listed above. If a plan date is approaching, tell us your deadline when you refer and we will let you know honestly whether we can meet it.
Yes, we offer in-person and mobile options across Blacktown and South-West Sydney. Cognitive assessment is completed in person. Participants elsewhere are seen by telehealth.
Psychology is funded from the participant's Capacity Building budget under Improved Daily Living, and billed at NDIS price guide rates.
Yes. We provide independent functional reports that map findings to the relevant functional domains and to the reasonable and necessary criteria. We document what we find rather than write to a predetermined outcome.
No. Wiser Minds does not provide medico-legal assessments or reports for court or other legal proceedings.
Refer a participant, or check current availability
Send the participant's details and what you need, and you will hear back within 1 to 2 business days.
Or email info@wiserminds.com.au. More about the clinician on the About page.