The Sherpa & Medicare Rebates

Medicare eligible private practice midwives AND International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)…What does that even mean?!?

It means Medicare rebates and a Midwife who can prescribe, as required, combined with the expertise of an IBCLC when it comes to the nuances and complexities of breastfeeding - the best of both worlds.

Midwives journey with their women, with their families.

They are like the sherpa on the mountains that new mothers climb - guiding them, supporting them, as they carve out their unique path.

IBCLCs typically don’t get the same journey with their families.  IBCLCs are considered experts in their field, and just like the orthopaedic surgeon you see for the broken bones, but not for the rehabilitation; the IBCLCs are usually seen for the crisis moments and then the mother will return to her ‘sherpa’ - (midwife, obstetrician, GP or perhaps child health nurse).

However, here at Full Circle,  we are both Medicare Eligible private practice midwives (sherpa’s) and IBCLCs (experts in breastfeeding).  So in our humble opinion, this union of the breath and the depth of knowledge and skills allows families to get the best of both worlds.  We get to journey with our families both antenatally and postnatally. We see those high postnatal mountains ahead and provide the tailored support to get our unique families to their top…and we celebrate your unique summit together.

So consider your postnatal journey as important as your pregnancy journey.

Know that when you come with a referral letter for an antenatal consultation or a postnatal consultation (in the first 6 weeks following the birth), you can receive substantial Medicare rebates for our support.

The Medicare rebates can make all the difference when it comes to affording the continuity and expert care that any mother needs and deserves. Additionally, you can receive private health rebates (depending if you have private health and the type of coverage) for our lactation support services beyond the 6 week postnatal mark.

For further details to understand pricing and health rebate benefits, please shoot us an email at fullcirclelactation@gmail.com. Please see our service link on our website for Medicare rebate prices alongside our service prices.

For an example of a referral letter, please see our website (under the tab referrals) or simply email us for the template.

We look forward to supporting you on your unique journey.