The Australian Psychological Society (APS), peak body for psychology, is calling for urgent consideration of large language artificial intelligence (AI) models and other digital mental health services (DMHS) to ensure they do not solidify existing inequities, create new problems, and result in other unintended consequences within mental-health service delivery in Australia.
In its 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission, the APS cautions that as AI and DMHS continue to evolve rapidly, detrimental effects on the mental health and wellbeing of Australians, the provision of mental health services, as well as the psychology workforce are likely unless steps are taken to ensure they are reliable, safe, effective and appropriately integrated.
While the APS is aware of the powerful possibilities that AI and other DMHS afford, the APS is calling for collaborative benchmarking and evaluation of large language AI models and other DMHS.
“Australian psychologists and the APS are committed to harnessing technological innovations which improve equity, access and patient experience,” said APS President Dr Kelly Gough.
“The APS recognises the substantial benefits and potential risks associated with AI applications in healthcare and wants to maximise the opportunities they can afford both safely and ethically.
“With the current cost of living crisis, Australians are finding it harder than ever to access vital mental health services and we know the popularity of AI and DMHS is growing.
“However, there are significant gaps in our collective understanding about the use, experiences and consequences of AI by Australians and the potential risks involved.
“Digital and AI-based mental health solutions that are not integrated with models of care based in human relationships and experience create serious concerns for society."
The APS also notes that the rapid introduction of AI and digital mental health services has significant implications for the psychology workforce, including training quality, scope of practice, supervision, clinical accountability, and professional sustainability. Without clear standards, evaluation and psychologically informed governance, there is a risk that these technologies could increase pressure on an already stretched workforce, undermining care quality and shifting risk onto practitioners and consumers.
“Psychologists are not opposed to innovation, but we are concerned about the impact of poorly regulated digital tools on training pathways, early career practice and clinical responsibility,” said Dr Gough.
“AI tools must support and never substitute for professional judgement, ethical care and human relationships. That will require careful design, evaluation, and integration with the existing psychology workforce.
“We urgently need psychology-informed solutions which benefit patients, health professionals, policy makers and the Australian community," Dr Gough added.
As Australians continue to experience cost of living pressures, the ongoing effects of climate-related disasters and other collective trauma events, along with daily life stressors, the APS 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission provides reform solutions through innovative and future-facing investments. It focuses on three overarching objectives:
- Preparing for the future by strengthening and future-proofing the psychology workforce to meet Australia’s growing mental health and wellbeing needs, including through the appropriate use of AI and DMHS
- Ensuring access and equity to make psychology services more accessible, affordable, and responsive to community need, and
- Supporting our youth by ensuring that young Australians receive timely, evidence-based care that promotes learning, development, and long-term wellbeing.
Each initiative in the submission is projected to generate benefits, including economic returns, that are far greater than the costs to implement and deliver them.
Specifically, the APS is calling on the Government to fund 10 initiatives designed to support effective mental health services in Australia:
- Develop a National Psychology Workforce Strategy
- Extend Commonwealth Prac Payments to postgraduate psychology students
- Collaborative benchmarking of AI and Digital Mental Health Services
- Sustain and scale the APS Disaster Response Network (DRN)
- Increase and index Medicare rebates for psychology services
- Enable psychologists to determine treatment length
- Streamline GP mental health appointments
- Improve youth access to psychology services
- Extend the flexibility of family and carer participation sessions under Better Access, and
- Restructure MBS items related to the Assessment of Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
The proposed initiatives build upon the APS’ strong track record of working closely with the Government and other existing partnerships in this field.
“To ensure current and future generations are resilient, we are recommending costed, targeted, fiscally sustainable solutions that allow Government to achieve positive outcomes for all Australians”, said Dr Gough.
“The APS is uniquely equipped to engage with Government to increase understanding of the mental health needs of Australians and to address them through innovative and cost-effective solutions. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Government to deliver these important initiatives,” Dr Gough concluded.
If you would like a copy of the APS 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission please contact: [email protected]
For more information, or to arrange an interview call the APS Media team on 03 8662 3358 / 0435 896 444, or email.
The APS is the largest professional organisation for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 25,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to people’s lives, through improving psychological knowledge and community wellbeing.