2016-17 Pre-Budget submission

• The APS recommends the Government support initiatives to support the mental health of families, children and young people, including through:
  • national expansion of KidsMatter and MindMatters; and
  • working with the Australian Psychological Society in initial scoping,design and implementation planning for the development of new Child and Family Wellbeing Centres.

• The APS recommends Better Access referral processes be streamlined, including by enabling referrals via letter from GPs and by making Mental Health Treatment Plans optional for GPs.

• The APS recommends Government consider a trial to evaluate the effectiveness of new pathways for GPs to refer people with mild mental health disorders to evidence-based therapist-assisted e-therapies and/or group therapies, with step-up pathways to face-to-face services where required.

• The APS recommends that Government ensure people with chronic or complex severe mental illness have access to an appropriate number of specialised psychology treatment sessions, as assessed by clinical need (i.e. between 30 to 50 sessions per year).

• The APS recommends Government implement the recommendations of the National Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing as an urgent priority.

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