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Cost the major barrier to psychological care

9 April 2025  

  • Survey finds 96% of psychologists in private practice had to turn away clients or delay care due to financial barriers
  • Peak body calls on all Federal election candidates to commit to a fairer, more accessible mental health system for all Australians
  • Walk-in mental health centres will not address complex mental health issues requiring long-term psychological care  

A survey* by a peak psychology body into Federal election priorities around mental health has found cost is the major barrier to accessing services, with 92% of psychologists saying cost is the number one barrier for patients to access services and 80% citing the limited number of Medicare sessions. The

Australian Association of Psychologists' (AAPi) survey also found that 67% believed psychology and mental health was either a low priority, or a non-priority for the Federal Government, with 90% saying government funding for mental health was inadequate.

In response to a question about government funding priorities for mental health and psychology, 90% said Medicare rebates for psychologists should be increased, 86% said the number of Better Access sessions should be increased; and 65% said incentives for bulk billing should be introduced for psychologists.

AAPi Executive Director, Tegan Carrison, said the survey results highlighted a mental health system struggling under the weight of cost, capacity constraints, geographic inequities, and systemic inefficiencies. 

“Our survey provided us with concerning evidence from psychologists working at the coalface in our communities that deep, long-term investment is crucial in creating more affordable and accessible mental health care,” she said. 

“While we welcome the focus on mental health by both parties this week, walk-in centres are not the answer for complex mental health issues and ongoing psychological care, and you need to win the postcode lottery to get access to a centre.  

“A Medicare card is only worth its weight if it gives you a decent rebate and the rebates for psychology appointments have been too low for too many years.

“We urge all parties to demonstrate they are serious about mental health by backing structural reforms that will improve access, reduce inequality and sustain our workforce into the future,” she said.

Ms Carrison said psychologists across every electorate were seeing clients rationing their care or turning clients away, due to cost and structural limitations of the current system.

“Our survey showed that 72% called for an increase to the Medicare rebate for all psychology sessions. We need to see an equal rebate for equal work with equal outcomes.

“Increasing the rebate for all psychology sessions to a realistic amount of $150, at least in line with the cost of living, would dramatically improve affordability and access for everyone, especially for vulnerable people,” she said. 

“We call on all sides of politics to work together to deliver sustainable, equitable mental health reform that benefits every Australian.”

Ms Carrison said AAPi was urging all parties and candidates to restore the 20 Better Access sessions; commit to ending the two-tier rebate system; raise the Medicare rebate to $150; protect psychology’s role in the NDIS; and support the future workforce with paid placements and expanded training pathways. 

Other key findings from the survey were as follows: 

  • the requirement for a GP referral to access mental health was repeatedly cited as a barrier due to delays, lack of understanding, and shortages of GPs 
  • the two-tier rebate system - where clients of clinical psychologists receive a higher rebate than that of all other psychologists - was the biggest challenge for psychologists in the next three to five years  
  • poor remuneration, burnout, and lack of support are pushing psychologists to leave the profession
  • a lack of qualified professionals in rural and regional areas, limited services, and the burden of travel for clients
  • NDIS reforms have caused confusion, reduced access, and declining trust for its clients, with many feeling traumatised, isolated, and unsupported
  • the role of psychologists in the NDIS is not being respected or appropriately funded.

Key findings and supporting fact sheets can be viewed here.

A summary of the survey results can be viewed here.

*The survey was conducted by AAPi in March 2025, collating answers from 1005 respondents. 

ENDS 

 

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About AAPi 

AAPi is a not-for-profit peak body for psychologists that aims to preserve the rich diversity of psychological practice in Australia. Formed in 2010 by a group of passionate grassroots psychologists, AAPi’s primary goal is to address inequality in the profession and represent all psychologists and their clients equally to government and funding bodies. Its primary mission is to lobby for equitable access for the Australian public to professional psychological services such as Medicare Better Access Scheme and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.