Nine actions the incoming government must take to support psychology in Australia

Summary of APS's key election items:

1. Access and funding for mental health services
2. Protect and support psychology within the NDIS
3. Youth mental health
4. Growing the psychology workforce
5. Empowering victim-survivors of domestic and family violence
6. Making aged care more psychologically safe
7. Better services and learning opportunities for First Nations communities
8. Supporting veterans and Defence personnel
9. Promote psychological science and research

This election is an opportunity to harness the expertise of psychologists to create a healthier and more inclusive and productive Australia. Here's what the APS wants to see from the incoming government, as well as details of what the major parties have already promised. 

As the race towards the 3 May Federal Election accelerates, the major political parties are intensifying their final efforts to secure votes and address the issues that matter most to everyday Australians.

"We know from our recent Thinking Futures report that mental health investment and bolstering the psychology workforce are among the top priorities for Australians," says Dr Sara Quinn, President of the Australian Psychological Society. 

"Over 6 in 10 Australians say it's very important for the government to invest in mental health support but only 10% currently think the government is doing enough to offer psychological services to those who need them most. That's a pretty clear call to action," she says.

However, with 1 in 5 Australians expected to face a mental health challenge this year, demand is well and truly outstripping supply. 

"Psychologists are working at capacity, with waitlists the norm. Without a strong workforce, there’s a risk that even the best-funded services won’t reach the people they’re meant to help," says Dr Quinn. 

It was encouraging to see a range of mental health policies making up a portion of the major political parties' campaign promises, says Quinn, which you can see a comparison of below. 

2025 Federal Election – Mental Health Policy Comparison 

A summary of key mental health initiatives announced by the major political parties (Labor, Coalition, Greens) as part of the 2025 Federal Election campaign. 

_{** The Greens advocate for integrating mental health care into Medicare, aiming for universal access, but specific funding details have not been promoted.} 

However, APS is calling for further focus and investment into some of the most critical areas and groups in our community, identified in its research, 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission and via special interest groups made up of practicing psychologists with on-the-ground experience and perspectives. 

"Our psychologists are embedded in every aspect of our community and need access to the resources and funding required to support Australians. We need a system that supports psychologists to provide timely care and ensures no one is left waiting when they need help. 

"As we head to the polls this weekend, we are calling on all parties and candidates to demonstrate strong policy leadership by committing to the following strategic actions." 

1. Access and funding for mental health services 

A core focus of APS's advocacy has been on securing a stronger commitment to improving the affordability and accessibility of psychology services. The APS's 2025 Thinking Futures report highlighted cost and access as the top two barriers to mental health support in Australia. 

This was an even greater challenge for Australians living in remote parts of the country. 

“Our research showed that nearly 3 in 10 people living in rural communities rate the availability of local psychology services as poor or very poor. That simply isn’t good enough,” says Dr Quinn.  

"We have consistently called for 20 – or more if required – Medicare-subsidised therapy sessions per year – which is a critical for supporting individuals with complex or chronic mental health needs – alongside an increase in the Medicare rebates for psychology services." 

APS also calls on the Government to ensure sustainable and equitable access to public mental health care across Australia through Commonwealth-State/Territory collaboration and coordinated funding mechanisms which integrate psychological expertise to address service gaps.  

2. Protect and support psychology within the NDIS 

Another area we've consistently advocated to protect and bolster is psychology's role in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  

Over 646,000 NDIS participants are currently being supported by the NDIS, and we can estimate that roughly a quarter of these people have received some kind of psychological support. 

As a result, the incoming government needs to focus on: 

Protecting access to psychological support services within the NDIS 

Psychologists are vital in supporting people living with disability. Yet current service gaps, funding cuts and system pressures are making it harder for NDIS participants to access the psychological support they need.  

"The government needs to protect and strengthen timely access to psychological support and interventions and recognise psychologists’ unique expertise in understanding the psychological impacts of disability," says Dr Quinn. 

Streamlining regulatory and administrative processes 

Psychologists working within the NDIS often face unnecessary bureaucratic and regulatory barriers that divert time and resources away from participant care.  

Streamlining these processes would enable more efficient, effective service delivery and properly value the professional contribution of psychologists to participant outcomes. 

Clarifying foundational and psychosocial supports 

Psychologists must be included in the development and delivery of foundational and psychosocial supports, both within and outside the NDIS.  

"Their involvement – alongside the APS – will ensure support systems are clinically sound, accessible and aligned with participants’ diverse needs," says Dr Quinn. 

 3. Youth mental health 

Due to a variety of factors – including but not limited to: continued aftershocks of the pandemic, cost-of-living challenges, climate anxiety, social/geopolitical anxiety – youth mental health is in a precarious position. 

The COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report, which was released in 2024, states that: “Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing were significantly impacted by the pandemic” (p. 370). Therefore, additional funding and investment in their mental health should be a priority within the next 12 to 18 months. 

APS strongly believes that the incoming government needs to focus on: 

Expanding access to youth mental health care 

All young Australians deserve affordable, accessible mental health support. Fully subsidising mental health care for people under 25 would ensure early intervention during critical developmental stages and build a stronger future for our country. 

Strengthening mental health programs in schools 

Embedding more psychologists and evidence-based psychological interventions in schools would provide vital support for children and adolescents, helping to address mental health challenges early and effectively.  

4. Growing the psychology workforce 

As one of our three broad objectives outlined in our 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission, strengthening the psychology workforce has never been more important. 

"Psychologists' work is as important as that of the doctors, teachers and first-responders in our community. Each are working to create healthier and more resilient Australians, so it's time the government took serious action to not only address workforce shortages, but to grow the profession," says Dr Quinn. 

“Labor’s commitment to fund 1,200 new mental health workers is a welcome start, but it must be the floor, not the ceiling. We need these roles to go to psychologists and psychiatrists with the expertise to meet rising demand." 

This should look like: 

Strengthening the future psychology workforce 

Addressing workforce shortages – especially in regional and underserved areas – requires greater investment in psychology education and training. Funding for tertiary programs must be increased, with parity across all areas of practice. 

“We know there is strong interest among psychology students and provisional psychologists to work in regional and rural areas – 73% have expressed a willingness to do so. Now, it’s up to the government to make this an attractive and achievable reality for more of them.” 

Extending the Commonwealth Prac Payment to psychology students 

This would begin to ease the financial burden of university practical placements and help attract a more diverse cohort into the profession, which then allows the profession to better serve the diverse Australian community. 

Continued support for supervision and professional development  

Continue to invest in resources for the training and supervision of psychologists to ensure a robust and diverse psychology profession working to its full scope of practice.    

Explore PsyBA-approved Supervisor Training here.

Enable a digitally capable and future-ready profession 

The Government needs to support psychologists to make use of safe, responsible and best-practice digital technologies, such as AI-enabled technology, to support their practices and their patients.  

"AI isn't going anywhere. It's time for investment into learning how to use AI ethically and effectively in the psychology profession." 

5. Empowering victim-survivors of domestic and family violence 

Addressing the psychological impacts of domestic and family violence has been a key priority for the APS in 2025 – which we explored in depth in our latest Thinking Futures report. 

It has also been a hot-button issue in the lead up to the election, with many community members and advocacy/academic groups calling for the government and other political parties to speak up about their plans to address women's safety.  

In the fourth week of a five-week political campaign, the Labor Party and the Coalition did release their plans, however there was a notable gap when it came to psychological support. 

"The majority of Australians [64%] told us that they were extremely concerned about domestic and family violence, and 70% believe psychologists are extremely important in supporting victim-survivors," says Dr Quinn. 

We want to see: 

Timely psychological support for victim-survivors  

The incoming Government should fund psychology services for Australians affected by domestic and family violence, recognising this is a national crisis that has profound mental health impacts and social costs.  

Support for the workforce to respond to DFV  

Support the APS in developing a DFV Professional Support Network which provides specialised training for psychologists to support peers, health professionals and DFV workers.  

6. Making aged care more psychologically safe 

As outlined in our 2023 position statement about psychologists working in residential care, it can be a confronting experience for older people as they transition into a new shared-living environment and potentially experience poor physical health/fragility, a loss of independence or sense of purpose, and/or loneliness or mental health challenges. 

"We owe it to our older generations to help them step into this next phase of their lives with a sense of dignity, respect and mental resilience," says Dr Quinn. 

This is why APS is calling for the incoming government to: 

Embed psychological services in aged-care settings  

More psychologists in these facilities will help address the mental health and wellbeing needs of older Australians, improving their quality of life and wellbeing.  

Increase psychological training for aged care staff 

Psychologists can provide training for aged care workers on the psychological aspects of aging, including managing dementia-related behavioural and cognitive concerns  and supporting general mental health and wellbeing. 

Explore APS's on-demand training on delivering mental health services in residential care. 

7. Better services and learning opportunities for First Nations communities 

To deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australia must invest in culturally appropriate services and strengthen First Nations leadership within the psychology workforce. This includes: 

Culturally appropriate, community-led services

Funding is needed to develop and expand mental health services that are culturally safe and led by First Nations communities, ensuring care that supports the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Growing First Nations representation in psychology

Targeted scholarships and professional development initiatives are essential to encourage more First Nations Australians to pursue careers in psychology, enhancing the delivery of culturally responsive care across the country. 

"We have been supporting First Nations psychology students via the Bendi Lango bursary since 2006 – which offers financial support for postgraduate psychology students from a First Nations background. However, further government investment would help us to have an even greater impact." 

8. Supporting veterans and Defence personnel 

Australia has a responsibility to deliver better mental health outcomes for current and former Defence personnel through sustainable funding and a commitment to trauma-informed care. 

Implementing reform and sustainable funding 

The full implementation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s recommendations must be prioritised, with psychologists – and the APS – actively involved in the implementation phases. 

Increase fees for DVA psychology services 

DVA fees for psychology services must also be increased to ensure that veterans and their families receive high-quality, sustainable care. 

Investing in long-term mental health support 

Further structural and policy reforms, including stronger investment in preventative and trauma-informed mental health services, are critical to supporting the ongoing wellbeing of ADF personnel, veterans and families. 

9. Promote psychological science and research 

Finally, in order to further psychology's impact and uncover novel solutions to growing psychological challenges, we need further investment into emerging research areas and in applying psychological science to the development of programs and policy. 

"Now is the time to double down on this critical research and application of psychological science. We're facing new challenges each and every day, and the context we're operating within continues to shift.  

"Psychology is a profession grounded in science and evidence. Now is the time to strengthen our commitment to research and its application,” says Dr Quinn. 

“As the challenges we face grow more complex and the context continues to shift, it is essential to invest in translating psychological science into practice. This will enable the mental health sector to operate more effectively and take a preventative approach, rather than responding only after problems emerge.” 

This means: 

Secure funding for psychological research 

The incoming Government should ensure there are stable and equitable pathways for funding innovative research in psychological science and practice which enhance the wellbeing of Australians, and which position Australia at the forefront of evidence-based mental health and wellbeing practice. 

Embed psychological science across public policy  

Make full use of the extensive capability and expertise of psychological scientists and psychologists – as a profession of scientist-practitioners – throughout the public policy process, including in policy and program design. 

Looking forward 

The APS will work closely with the next government to keep these strategic priorities on the agenda. 

“True progress in mental health care comes when we invest in the people who provide it, and the people who need it," says Dr Quinn. 

"Almost 9 million Australians have experienced a mental health issue at some point in their lives. A system built around them – that is resourced, staffed and equitable – is one that will endure.”