CANCELLATIONS
The Art of Mindful Psychology understands that from time to time appointment times may need to be changed or cancelled. However, unlike brief medical appointments, it is impracticable to fill a psychology appointment that runs for 1 hour or more at short notice. With adequate notice, Nicole can accommodate your requests and reschedule or cancel your appointment. By providing adequate notice you avoid incurring a cancellation fee, allowing us reasonable time to notify a client on the waiting list to fill your cancelled appointment time, providing feasible notice to all parties.
If for some reason you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please allow a minimum of 48 hours’ notice, (i.e. call, SMS or email prior to 10.00 am two business days before your scheduled appointment), otherwise you will incur a fee.
Cancellation fees for Private Clients:
- Two-Business-Days prior to the scheduled appointment day, contacting before 10.00am – No fee incurred.
- Two-Business-Days prior to the scheduled appointment day, contacting after 10.00am, yet before 5.00pm – incur 50% of regular session fee.
- One-Business-Day prior to the scheduled appointment day, or ‘No-Shows’ to appointments – incur 100% of regular session fee.
Cancellation fees for NDIS participants:
- Cancellation fees for clients with NDIS funding will be charged according to the current NDIS price guide. For further information on the NDIS Cancellation Policy, please read tab below.
Clients are expected to remember their appointments and arrive on time.
The definition of ‘short-notice cancellation’ was temporarily broadened between 25 March and 30 June 2020, where participants were required to give ten (10) business days’ notice if they did not want to pay the full cost of a support service they cancelled.
The definition of short-notice cancellations reverted back to two (2) business days for most support from 1 July 2020.
From 30 March 2020, providers are able to claim 100 per cent of the agreed support price for a cancellation at short notice.
The NDIS Cancellation Policy defines a short-notice cancellation if the participant:
- does not show up for a scheduled support within a reasonable time, or is not present at the agreed place and within a reasonable time when the provider is travelling to deliver the support; or
- has given less than two (2) clear business days’ notice for a support that meets both of the following conditions:
- the support is less than 8 hours continuous duration; AND
- the agreed total price for the support is less than $1000; or
- has given less than five (5) clear business days’ notice for any other support.
The aim of the Cancellation Policy is:
- To reduce disruptions to the psychotherapist’s diaries and loss of time in preparation because of client late cancellations, late rescheduled and missed appointments.
- Make sure that other clients do not miss out on the opportunity to access therapy.
- Reduce the income loss as a direct result of client cancellations, late rescheduled and missed appointments. We are a private practice, therefore if a client cancels or reschedules late or does not arrive for their scheduled appointment the psychologist loses income.
- To reduce the level of late cancellations, late rescheduled and missed appointments.
NDIS Funding
Clients who have NDIS packages may use their funding to cover or partially cover the fees for services at Art of Mindful Psychology if their package is self-managed or plan-managed by a third party. There may be out-of-pocket expenses for clients whose NDIS packages are plan-managed. Please contact Nicole Osborn or your Support Coordinator directly for further information.
The funding category that can be used to claim Therapeutic Support Individual Counselling at our service is Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. The item code is 15_043_0128_1_3 Counselling.
- Provision to a participant of a support to facilitate self-knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth, and the optimal development of personal resources, to help the participant work towards their personal goals and gain greater insight into their lives.
REBATES
Some psychological therapy services may be eligible for rebates through your Private Health Insurance extras cover. Please contact your insurance provider to confirm your eligibility for rebates. Upon payment of your fees upon request we can provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your health insurer for a rebate.
Please note that Private Health funds vary widely in the amount of rebate that can be claimed and you should contact your insurer about this.
OHS Statement
THE ART OF MINDFUL PSYCHOLOGY is committed to providing an environment that is safe and without risk to employees, volunteers, participants, colleagues, contractors and visitors. We comply with all legislative requirements of health and safety. We aspire to eliminate all risks to health and safety that is reasonable and practical.
Please note that at the time of writing The Art of Mindful Psychology (AoMP) does not employ any individuals. This policy is written with awareness of those around me in a range of practice environments.
AoMP complies with all COVID health and safety guidelines presented by the Australian Government. We are committed to regularly updating and complying with requirements put in place. This includes front line requirements, hand washing, sanitising, mask wearing, social distancing, maintaining numbers per space requirements, COVID testing, isolation and vaccinations.
AoMP is committed to:
- Observing, noticing, calling, encouraging and sharing best practice to all areas of safety and health.
- Support unwell/injured employees and support them back to work as safely as possible.
- Training of safety performance.
- Reviewing OH&S responses for continuous improvement.
- Ensuring tools and equipment are updated, safe, serviceable and available for use.
- Encourage and support reporting of hazards and incidents, following reporting protocols of site if on location.
- Identifying hazards and implementing controls.
- Taking appropriate immediate action following the report of an injury, incident or near miss.
- Review and update controls and processes where necessary after an incident.
- Awareness of OH&S practices in a range of practice environments, including AoMP’s environment.
- Establish and maintain a health and safety management system consistent with the nature of AoMP’s practice.
- Identify and maintain compliance with health and safety obligations and other requirements relevant to AoMP.
- Engage qualified persons to ensure effective implementation of best OH&S practice.
- Provide future OH&S training.
- Develop and maintain a culture that encourages all personnel to actively manage health and safety risks.
- Provide and include colleagues in decision making of OH&S practices and policies.
- Define, document and communicate health and safety responsibilities.
- Actively identify and manage workplace health and safety risks. Identify hazards, risks and implement risk controls.
- Ensure hazards and incidents are documented and promptly reported, and investigated where necessary, with control measures implemented to eliminate or minimise the risk of recurrence.
- Maintain physical infrastructure and associated environment, including buildings and equipment, in a condition that ensures it is safe to use.
- Establish, maintain and monitor progress of all OH&S practices.
- Everyone is responsible for ensuring their own health and safety in the workplace, and the health and safety of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.All colleagues, participants, volunteers, visitors and contractors are responsible for identifying and reporting hazards in the workplace.
To source a printable copy of AoMP’s OSH Policy Statement, please refer to the PDF document AoMP_Policy_OHS_Statement_2021(PDF 111KB)
INCIDENT
Nicole ensures she follows and updates incident, injury and illness courses and procedures including first aid, anaphylactic training and CPR.
Nicole attends workshops, such as Sane Suicide Prevention, and more to maintain up-to-date knowledge of practices and strategies. In addition, her psychological training has enabled her to support individuals and families through grief and loss, as well as the mental, physical, social and emotional impacts of COVID.
Nicole is an alumni member for both universities of New England and Griffith University. She continues to study and maintain updates of readings on both psychology and autism, and remains in contact with her Professors.
THE ART OF MINDFUL PSYCHOLOGY (AoMP) complies with incident reporting system that is consistent with the relevant guidelines of NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission; the NDIS Incident Management and Reporting Incidents Rules 2018–2021.
Incident reporting is key element of quality improvement and safety. It is the responsibility for all AoMP contractors, clients and management to report incidents and ensure that they are fully investigated and reported following the specified requirements by NDIS Commission and Department of Human Services.
To learn more about our Incident Management systems, download the AoMP_Policy_Incident Report_2021 (PDF 107KB).
For full report including the Incident Recording Forms, please download AoMP_Policy_Incident Report_Form_2021 (546KB)
Following a serious incident involving one or more people, AoMP will notify the Commission of any serious incident, and complete an Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness form for the injured person(s) within 24-hours and file it confidentially with the client’s records after completion.
AoMP have two Incident Report forms:
- Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness form AoMP_Incident_Injury_Trauma_Illness_Record_Form_2021
- Incident Event Record form AoMP_Incident Event_Record_Form_2021
The Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness form is completed and filed confidentially after ALL incidents that occur during our services. This documentation can be used by the NDIS Commission during further investigations of the incident.
The Incident Event Record form is for AoMP use only, to document any additional, confidential information around a serious incident. This may include information about friendships, recent changes in the client’s home life, recent happenings within the service program, and brainstorming of ideas to reduce the likelihood of future events.
COMPLAINTS
Nicole has followed and implemented complaints and management systems in her previous workplaces, including St Marys in St Kilda East, Radio 6PR, and more.
Currently Nicole implements similar complaint systems, ensuring individuals are heard, supported and cared for. Nicole is guided by APHRA and the NDIS, and openly speaks to individuals of any concerning matters.
Nicole stands for the rights of individuals and makes no hesitation in reporting individuals or organisations who do not stand for the welfare and wellbeing for, and of an individual or family member, particularly for those who do not have the skills to speak for themselves.
This policy is intended to refer to complaints related to the care, support and education of persons with disabilities, and the general operation of Art of Mindful Psychology (AoMP) services. It excludes complaints relation to supporting staff industrial and employment matters, occupational health and safety matters (unless they affect the safety of the clients).
Please refer to the document AoMP Complaints Feedback 2025 (PDF 147KB) for further information on the Complaints Management system.