Media Release: 13 December 2022
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - the national peak body for tertiary-trained counsellors and psychotherapists - welcomes the Medicare Better Access evaluation report, including its acknowledgement of gaps in mental health care service provision.
The independent University of Melbourne review report, released on 12 December, found that although the reach of Better Access has continued to expand, only 5% of Australian adults received at least one session of psychological treatment through the program in 2021, while 21% of adults experienced a mental health disorder. Utilisation favours people on higher incomes in major cities, the report found.
PACFA represented the counselling and psychotherapy profession on the review’s Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Group. Counsellors and psychotherapists are currently unable to access Medicare rebates via the Better Access initiative.
‘While we understand the review was focussed on existing Better Access mental health service providers, like psychologists and psychiatrists, PACFA is pleased that the report’s recommendations look at how to address service provision gaps and how to honour the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement,’ PACFA CEO Johanna de Wever said.
‘We agree with the conclusion that “it will be important to maintain positive outcomes for those who use Better Access while increasing access for those who are currently missing out”.’
PACFA welcomes the report’s recommendation to expand the number of psychological therapies on offer, as well as to explore complementary models of service delivery to Better Access.
‘We strongly assert these models should include counselling and psychotherapy services, even for low-intensity needs, and offer both face-to-face and digital delivery options to respond to client need and preference,’ Ms de Wever said.
PACFA applauds the involvement of people with lived experience of mental health conditions in the report, who told reviewers they generally preferred face-to-face sessions as it was easier to establish rapport and trust with their mental health professional.
Counselling and psychotherapy services for mild to moderate mental health issues, such as mild to moderate anxiety or depression arising from relationship concerns or grief/loss, can prevent issues escalating to more serious or chronic mental illness.
The report acknowledged that many mental health professionals who are eligible for rebates under the Medicare Better Access initiative - such as psychologists and psychiatrists - are currently at capacity.
Meanwhile, a 2020 workforce study found that 27% of PACFA member counsellors and psychotherapists want more work, and more than a third are based in regional and rural areas, as opposed to 17% of psychologists and 15% of psychiatrists.
‘Counsellors and psychotherapists are expert allied health practitioners with equivalent training to other professionals funded through the Better Access framework,’ Ms de Wever said.
‘Providing a counselling or psychotherapy service in private practice when other practitioners are subsidised by the government is not viable.
‘Counsellors and psychotherapists provide a vital allied health service and must be included in government planning and implementation, to ensure an expert mental health workforce is available for the future benefit of all Australians.’
PACFA will continue to lead the counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices professions to be able to play a key role in providing mental health support to Australians.
For interviews or more information, please contact:
Stephanie Francis
PACFA Communications Manager
E: [email protected]
M: 0487 494 031