“It takes about 10 years to graduate students to meet current demand. With 200 more, we can close that gap more quickly,” she said.
However, the ACPA is more ambitious in its 2022-2023 pre-budget proposal, calling for doubling the enrollment capacity of graduate psychology colleges from 1,000 to 2,000.
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Shortages are particularly acute in some rural and rural areas of Australia, Hunt said, and incentives such as scholarships and cancellation of student debt need to be provided.
Professor Allan Fels, chairman of Mind Australia, one of the largest providers of mental health support services, said any effort to address the labor shortage should not be limited to clinical psychologists. .
“Workforce issues include emerging shortages of nurses, social workers and psychiatrists, particularly in the public health system, and the problem is growing across rural and rural Australia,” Fels said. Stated.
“My concern is that mental health rises to the top of policy priorities every few years, but will soon be overtaken by other demands for public funding. Demand in disability and other health areas has surpassed it as a priority.”
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Health Minister Mark Butler, who will host a forum on January 30 to advocate for leading experts and Medicare-backed mental health services on how to make them more sustainable and equitable, said the government is “working for everyone”. We are committed to expanding the reach and supply of psychological services.”
He said this includes “building the mental health workforce and developing new digital and direct service models.”
Ann Ruston, health spokeswoman for the Coalition, said the government’s decision not to extend psychology sessions with temporary additional Medicare grants without addressing underlying workforce issues is an important step for mental health practices. He said it would put more pressure on people.
“Rather than cut back on additional psychology sessions, the Labor government should address the critical labor shortage in the mental health sector at a time when Australians are facing natural disasters, cost of living pressures and rising household utility bills. We need to provide concrete solutions to address these issues,” Ruston said.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, opinion and expert analysis by Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up for the weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.
