Information for providers

A full range of counselling and psychological care service options are offered, including:  

• counselling support from a psychologist, a specialist community service organisation or other mental health professional. 
• supportive group work.
• Aboriginal Cultural Healing.
• alternative complementary services such as therapeutic case management, animal assisted therapy, somatic therapy as well as art, music and dance therapy. 

This list of professionals may be eligible to provide counselling and psychological care services:

• Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Mental health nurses
• Psychiatrists
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers
• Psychotherapists
• Counsellors

Noting all practitioners must be registered with a professional association, for example, AHPRA, APS and AASW.

Service providers need to be apply and be approved before they can provide counselling and psychological care. See the National Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service Victoria Program Requirements for Providers document for more information.

To apply as a provider for the National Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service (CPC) – Victoria:

1. Read the National Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service Victoria Program Requirements for Providers document which outlines the requirements to be listed to provide CPC services in Victoria.
2. If you meet the CPC provider requirements, complete and return all sections of Form A: Application to provide services and attach a copy of the following: 
   • insurance (public liability up to $10 million and professional indemnity up to $5 million) with a reputable insurer
   • relevant professional qualifications
   • current registration with relevant professional association.
3. the department will review the application and may contact the applicant to request further information about the application.
4. The department will advise the applicant in writing as to whether the application is successful or not. 
   Once approved and before you start offering counselling and psychological care, you will need to:
   • request permission and verify that the person accessing support has an eligible unique redress identification number (also known as an RV number). 
   • contact the service via phone on 1800 716 869 or by emailing cpc@dffh.vic.gov.au to confirm the service session details and submit Form B: Proposed Client Service Plan.
   • provide the service with your standard rate of payment and agree on the number of sessions to be delivered.

People are eligible if they have received an offer of redress from the National Redress Scheme or have indicated they would like to access counselling and psychological care services. The service is also available to people in close connection to those who have received an offer of redress, for example family, extended kin, close friends or connections which are family-like. These services will be with an approved provider of their choice.

Allowing for choice, there are 2 options available for people when making decisions about counselling and psychological care support available to them:

1. Continuing seeing their own therapist or provider. This may be possible if the provider is eligible to register for counselling and psychological care with the service.
2. Contacting the National Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service – Victoria to discuss their needs and explore options and obtain help to access available support. 

You are able to request more than the initial number of sessions allocated for a client. You will need to seek consent from the client before completing and sending the extension request form on behalf of the person you are providing support to. 

To request and submit completed extension request forms, contact cpc@dffh.vic.gov.au.

1. Make invoices out to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, National Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service – Victoria.
2. Send the invoice to cpc@dffh.vic.gov.au.