Health Services Daily highlighted AAPi's call for 20 subsidised sessions per year this week. Director Carly Dober discussed the session numbers in relation to the latest partner violence figures, saying adequate support was needed for those people impacted by this trauma.
“While these declines might show that community education is working, we still need to focus on those who need significant mental health support due to the trauma and stress that comes with these kinds of experiences," she said.
“People’s trust and safety in the world and their self-confidence are often shattered after gendered violence experiences, and they need support in building up their lives to be whole again.
“These issues are rarely resolved in 10 psychology sessions. Psychologists know that 20 sessions is far more appropriate and what the research tells us we need.”
In response to claims by Health Minister Mark Butler that cutting the number of MBS funded sessions has improved equity, with more Australians accessing mental health services, as per the findings of the Better Access evaluation report, Ms Dober said rates of bulk billing in allied health are still tracking downwards and the Medicare rebate must be increased.
“The access and affordability issue has not been solved with the cutting of 10 extra sessions,” she said.
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