AAPi's calls for 40 rebated sessions for survivors of sexual abuse, childhood trauma and complex mental health needs were covered extensively by ABC today, with news items across many radio stations, an extended TV interview and an online feature story.
In a media statement, AAPi Executive Director, Tegan Carrison, said the currently available maximum of 10 sessions per year were inadequate in treating people with mental health needs as a result of trauma.
“There is no research to support limiting sessions with a psychologist. Ten sessions are woefully inadequate for so many situations where a client sees a psychologist under the Better Access scheme,” Ms Carrison said.
“Our psychologists working closely with survivors of sexual abuse tell us that their clients are being forced to ration their sessions, or simply cannot afford to see a psychologist on a regular basis despite needing to do so.”
The AAPi's Ms Carrison said the government needed to address "inadequate" rebates for the scheme by raising them to $150.
"Bulk-billing incentives and rural and remote loadings for psychologists is another important initiative that needs to be urgently introduced," she said.
Ms Carrison said she feared that recent government initiatives would barely scratch the surface of support required for victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
President Sahra O'Doherty spoke to ABC TV on the issue - watch the full interview here.
"The research shows us very clearly that we need at least 40 sessions in order to get sustainable change and growth for that person, and that's whether we're using CBT or whether we're using advanced therapies such as schema therapy. We need to be using that research and that clinical practice to back up how therapy is delivered," she said.
"What we really need is more government investment and have these Medicare sessions extended even beyond what was offered during Covid and the 20 sessions that were available then."
Director Carly Dober's comments are included in this news item on ABC Radio Melbourne.
You can listen to a survivor speaking about her experience in this news item on ABC Radio Adelaide.
Read the online story here.