The Queensland Government's 2026–27 Budget continues significant investment in the state's health system, with mental health featuring as part of a broader commitment to improving access to healthcare, particularly in regional and rural communities. While much of the funding continues existing commitments, there are several initiatives relevant to psychologists, particularly in youth mental health, perinatal mental health, early intervention and workforce development.
Continued investment in mental health services
The Budget provides $394.4 million over four years, together with $104.7 million per year ongoing through the Queensland Mental Health Levy, to continue delivering priority mental health, alcohol and other drug services.
Key investments include:
- $49.6 million for mental health infrastructure supporting people experiencing mental illness, alcohol and other drug issues, and mental health crises, including suicidality.
- $50 million in capital funding, together with operating funding, to establish new Youth Step Up Step Down facilities providing 24-hour community-based care for young people experiencing acute mental illness.
- $52.5 million to deliver 30 additional mother and baby mental health beds, expanding access to specialist inpatient care for women experiencing severe perinatal mental illness.
- Continued investment to strengthen Queensland's lived and living experience workforce, particularly across regional, rural and First Nations communities.
- Ongoing work to embed trauma-informed approaches across Queensland Government services.
These investments reinforce the importance of community-based mental health care and multidisciplinary service delivery. As these services expand, psychologists will continue to play an important role in assessment, treatment and recovery-oriented care.
Early intervention through Healthy Kindy Kids
One of the most significant new initiatives relevant to child development is the expansion of Healthy Kindy Kids.
The Budget allocates $8.8 million in 2026–27, as part of a $37.5 million investment over five years, to progressively expand the program statewide.
Healthy Kindy Kids will provide free vision, hearing and speech and language development checks for children attending kindergarten before they commence Prep, with approximately 60,000 children expected to be screened each year once the program is fully implemented.
While psychologists are not identified as the primary workforce delivering the screening program, earlier identification of developmental concerns is highly relevant to psychology. Early screening can facilitate timely referral for comprehensive psychological assessment where broader developmental, cognitive, behavioural or mental health concerns are identified.
AAPi has consistently advocated for greater investment in prevention and early intervention. As Healthy Kindy Kids rolls out, it will be important that children identified through screening can access timely psychological assessment and evidence-based intervention where required. AAPi will advocate for the inclusion of psychologists in this program.
Continued investment in Queensland's public health system
The Budget includes $8.766 billion under the National Health Reform Agreement to support Queensland's public hospitals and health services, including public mental health services, outpatient care, emergency departments, subacute care, education and research. This include $355.2 million to continue the Building Rural and Remote Health Program, improving health infrastructure and services in regional and remote Queensland.
Supporting the health workforce
The Budget also includes initiatives aimed at strengthening the health workforce, including continued funding to support women returning to work following career breaks.
While welcome, there are no major psychology-specific workforce initiatives announced in this Budget. Addressing workforce shortages, particularly outside metropolitan areas, remains an ongoing challenge for the profession. AAPi will continue our advocacy in this area.
The Queensland Budget continues substantial investment in public mental health services, youth mental health, perinatal mental health and early intervention. The expansion of Healthy Kindy Kids is a positive step towards identifying developmental concerns earlier and supporting children before they commence school.
However, the Budget contains relatively little targeted investment in expanding the psychology workforce or improving access to community-based psychological services. As demand for mental health care continues to grow, investment in psychologists remains essential to ensuring Queenslanders can access timely, evidence-based assessment and treatment across the lifespan.
AAPi will continue advocating for greater investment in psychology services, workforce growth and early intervention to improve mental health outcomes and reduce pressure on Queensland's broader health system.
Further information can be found here.