What is to come in 2026
As we approach the end of 2025 Riverina Counselling will be bringing some new changes into the year of 2026 that will be useful for out more regional clients. We will be offering the ability to do weekend and after-hours face to-face therapy in Young! This will mean more local therapeutic supports with a male in a regional area.
We will also be aiming to start providing services under the Medicare Benefits Scheudle (MBS) to provide a rebate to those accessing our services. This provides 10 subsidized sessions per year to support those with mental health difficulties. There will be a gap fee associated with this, but you will be able to apply for a rebate from Medicare once we have this going. This will require a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP to be able to claim it.
As the NDIS begins to shift and change with the announcement of the Threieving Kids program, we will also be expanding the autism support we offer neurodivergent clients. We will be aiming to provide a face to face and telehealth social skills program that is neuroaffirming. This will initially start with adolescents and adults but will likely look to expand into younger children and use play therapy as we go.
This will aim to provide more support to remote communities via face to face and online therapy to places such as Cowra, Forbes and Cootamundra. It is likely that over the next few years we will see drastic shifts and changes in things such as the NDIS and what is offered in the community regarding seeking disability and mental health-based supports. As these shifts happen, it is important as a social worker that we adapt to these changes and aim to still offer services and support to those who will be affected by these shifts.
We will be continuing to offer Autism diagnostic support to those who are also seeking assessments to confirm a diagnosis with a psychiatrist or pediatrician. Over the course of 2026 we will also look to expand the hours we have from after hours and weekends to other appointment times to try and suit families and young people around other commitments. We will also continue to support clients with trauma and other conditions as we go.
It will be interesting to keep an eye on news and media in 2026 to monitor how systems change as the Thrieiving Kids program is rolled out in 2026 and what this will mean for children under 9 with autism and developmental delays. Regardless, young people will still need support; thus,we are looking at ways to try to continue doing this despite these changes.