In a significant stride towards enhancing mental health care accessibility, the Albanese Government, in collaboration with state and territory authorities, has unveiled a visionary 10-year National Mental Health Workforce Strategy. This forward-looking plan will guide concerted efforts over the next decade, ensuring Australians receive the mental health support they need, precisely when they need it.
Recognizing the current demand for mental health services surpassing available resources and an uneven distribution of the workforce across the nation, the Strategy lays out a clear blueprint. It aims to attract, train, optimize, support, and retain a diverse workforce capable of meeting both current and future needs.
Central to this strategy is the cultivation of the rural and remote mental health workforce, along with a focus on increasing representation from First Nations communities and other priority populations. The Albanese Government has committed $586.9 million in the 2023-24 Budget to kickstart priority initiatives under this groundbreaking strategy.
One of the primary initiatives involves an investment of $91.3 million to address bottlenecks in psychology training. This includes the creation of 500 new postgraduate psychology positions, funding for 500 one-year internships for provisional psychologists, and provision of 2,000 fully subsidized supervisor training slots, including 1,000 refresher spots. Additionally, psychology higher education pathways will be redesigned to facilitate long-term reform.
Furthermore, $17.8 million will be allocated to upskill the broader health workforce in mental health, benefiting undergraduate nurses, midwives, and allied health students. This endeavor will also establish national standards for counselors and psychotherapists.
Building upon previous investments, the Albanese Government has allocated $18.3 million for the National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Program Pilot and $32 million for the continuation of the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health.
Comprehensive mental health reform hinges on the availability of a skilled and diverse workforce. An independent review of the Better Access program, offering Medicare-subsidized psychology sessions, revealed that workforce limitations are impacting the equitable distribution of mental health services, disproportionately affecting low-income households and individuals in rural and regional Australia.
By enhancing workforce availability, we aim to build equity and accessibility in mental health services, setting the stage for enduring reform. Together, we’re forging a path towards a mentally healthier, more inclusive Australia.
