Submission to the inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders. The demand for mental health services has markedly increased since 2020, yet the psychological workforce has not grown to meet this demand. We considered the current consultation timely in terms of the growing demand for services across the care sector, increasing concerns about labour shortages, and the need to ensure the quality and safety of service provision – as evidenced in several recent Royal Commissions and Government inquiries across Australia. In addition to identifying Queenslanders at greatest risk of developing ill mental health, the APS has identified the following initiatives in which different levels of Government should invest to improve Queensland’s mental health outcomes:

• Investment in the State public sector psychology workforce and service quality
• Growing the psychology workforce
• Improving consumer access to psychological support by fully harnessing digital capabilities
• Specific initiatives for parents in the perinatal period
• Specific initiatives for children and youth; and
• Specific initiatives in the disability and aged-care sectors

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