Conditions we see
If you or your GP think bipolar disorder might be part of the picture, or you already have a diagnosis and need a treating psychiatrist, we can assess you, write a plan and share your care with your GP over the long term.
In plain words
Bipolar disorder is a long-term mood condition. People with it have periods of very low mood (depression) and periods of unusually high or irritable mood, called mania or, in a milder form, hypomania, and these changes can disrupt work, relationships and everyday life.
It is diagnosed by a doctor after ruling out physical causes and looking carefully at the pattern of mood over time. Treatment usually combines medication, psychological therapy and steady day-to-day routines, with regular review.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Source: Healthdirect: Bipolar disorder.
When to ask
Many people with mood symptoms are looked after well by their GP and a psychologist. It is usually worth asking your GP about a psychiatrist when one of these sounds familiar.
What we add
Bipolar disorder is recognised from the pattern of mood over years rather than how you feel on one day, so much of the psychiatrist’s work goes into piecing that history together and keeping it current with your GP.
Related services: Ongoing psychiatry care, Medication review
Your first appointment
The most useful thing you can bring is a rough timeline of your mood. Note the periods when you were very low, and any times you needed much less sleep than usual, felt unusually driven or took risks you would not normally take. Approximate dates are fine, and a few words for each period is plenty.
It also helps to bring a list of every medicine you have taken for your mood, with doses if you have them, and any letters from past hospital stays or earlier specialists. You are welcome to bring a partner or family member, who may remember some episodes differently from you and can fill in gaps.
Referral and scope
If your GP already prescribes for you, ask them to include your current medicines and any earlier psychiatrist letters with the referral, so the psychiatrist starts with the full history.
Your GP will find the steps on how to refer. To check we're the right fit, send a short enquiry and leave clinical details out.
If you become acutely unwell with mania or severe depression, your GP, a public mental health service or an emergency department is the right place for that care, and we can help with planning and review once things settle. Everything we see and don't see is listed on our page for referrers.
Outcome Health Psychiatry & Mental Health Services is a private service and is not a crisis service. If you need help now, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Fees
Most people with bipolar disorder start with an initial consultation for ongoing care and then have regular follow-up reviews, with nurse practitioner appointments in between if they are part of your plan.
Medicare rebates are estimates only and depend on referral type, eligibility, consultation duration, the item actually billed and the psychiatrist’s clinical judgement. The Medicare Safety Net, DVA arrangements, third-party funding, payment processing fees and cancellation fees are not included in the gap estimates.
Payment is required in advance for all appointments. The full schedule, including every item, is on our fees and FAQ page.
Questions
Usually, yes. That is how we work. The psychiatrist starts or adjusts treatment and, once you are stable, your GP continues prescribing with a letter from us after every visit. We keep reviewing with you every 3–6 months.
That is a good reason to come. The assessment looks at your mood over months and years, and you and your GP receive a written outcome, whether that is a diagnosis or an explanation of what else might be going on.
We are not set up for acute illness or crisis care. If you are very unwell right now or thinking about harming yourself, call 000, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to your nearest emergency department, and let your GP know.
Care starts with an initial consultation for ongoing care (item A2), which is $800, with an estimated out-of-pocket cost of about $530 after the Medicare rebate. Most reviews after that are short follow-ups (A3) at $390, or longer ones (A4) at $500 when there is more to cover. The rebate figures are estimates, and each appointment is paid for beforehand.
Resources
How we work · June 2026
Shared care is how most ongoing mental health treatment actually works in Australia. Here is what it means in practice, who does what, and how it makes specialist care sustainable.
How we work · June 2026
Before you ever walk into a psychiatry appointment, you should know exactly what to expect. Here's the structure of a first appointment with us: what we'll ask, what you'll leave with, and how long it takes.
How we work · June 2026
Telehealth psychiatry has changed what specialist mental health care looks like in Australia. Here is a clear look at when it fits well, when it does not, and what to expect if you are considering it.
