Despite some welcome announcements the Australian Psychological Society (APS) is disappointed that the federal government has failed to meet the mental health challenges of the nation at a time where floods, fires and the pandemic continue to cause devastation, as never before.
Based on initial analysis President Tamara Cavenett said the APS was concerned with the lack of funding, planning and commitment for mental health needed in this year’s budget.
“The government is only meeting 35% of their workforce target while one in three psychologists are unable to take on new patients. Before the pandemic, it was 1 in 100.”
“Making university funding on par with dentists, GPs, psychiatrists and veterinarians is critical to the future of the psychology in Australia. The government can’t deliver on its promises without the workforce to back it up.”
“Despite record demand to see a psychologist and worsening cost of living pressure the budget fails to reduce gap fees for people in crisis and contemplating suicide.”
“We needed a budget that lowered gap fees and got psychologists into schools and the regions. Sadly, the opportunity has been missed.”
Approximately 50 per cent of adult mental illness begins before 14 years of age and recent research has found 40 per cent of young Australian’s attempting self-harm or thinking about suicide during the pandemic.
“The government’s own Inquiry recognised prevention and early intervention as the cheapest and most effective forms of mental health treatment and recommended more psychologists in schools.”
“Children, parents and teachers are all crying out for this support.”
While funding towards additional placements and supervisors and the introduction of case conferencing as an MBS item number is very welcome, several crucial reforms have been avoided, namely:
Funding university places on par with GPs, veterinarians, dentists and psychiatrists
Committing to the 1:500 psychologist to student ratio at all public, private and independent high schools in line with the government’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Inquiry
Expanding Medicare coverage and lowering the gap fee for patients
Providing regional relocation incentives to psychologists on par with GPs, and
Making the additional 10 per annum Medicare-funded psychology sessions a permanent feature of the Better Access program.
While the Government has funded numerous reviews, reports and commissions in the mental health space over recent years, this Budget sadly fails to deliver on action when it’s needed.
