In the Herald Sun and Courier Mail today, on Budget Eve, AAPi is advocating for our members, our clients and the sustainability of our industry. AAPi is urging the government to consider four straightforward, achievable and cost-effective recommendations to address the national mental health crisis. These are:
- ONE-TIER Medicare rebate for clients of all psychologists
- RAISE the Medicare rebate to $150 a session to enable more affordable treatment
- IMPLEMENT the Productivity Commission recommendation for up to 40 rebated sessions a year
- ESTABLISH a provisional psychologist Medicare rebate which would allow an immediate increase in the workforce available to provide affordable care, whilst supporting provisional psychologists and their employers through reliable funding
We cannot afford the crisis ahead of us if we do not immediately take action. These four simple solutions would drastically ease the mental health catastrophe. It is no longer looming; it is here and now. AAPi will be relentless in our efforts to advocate for all psychologists to be respected and remunerated equitably, to reduce the barriers for clients seeking help and to support the overwhelming demand for the mental health services our nation needs.
Access the article here or the PDF here.