Equity in Mental Health Practice

IAAMHP's Advocacy for Equity in Mental Health Practice

Our Purpose: At IAAMHP, our mission is to support a diverse and unified community of mental health practitioners—regulated and non-regulated alike. We strive to ensure high standards of professional ethics, training, and practice so that all Australians can access safe, competent, and inclusive mental health care.

Advocating for Equity in Mental Health Practice

IAAMHP is committed to bridging the systemic gap between regulated professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists) and highly qualified non-regulated professionals (e.g., psychotherapists, counsellors, psychoanalysts). Many of these skilled practitioners are currently excluded from Medicare-funded services due to a lack of formal peak body representation—something IAAMHP aims to change.

We believe professionals with equivalent or higher mental health-specific qualifications deserve fair access to Medicare and NDIS pathways. Our vision includes becoming a national peak body that develops advocacy as well as transparent accreditation framework for mental health professionals who are otherwise excluded.

Our Key Advocacy Goals

• Establishing IAAMHP as an independent, inclusive peak body for mental health workers.
• Developing a robust, ethical accreditation model for qualified non-regulated professionals.
• Promoting recognition of these professionals under funding schemes such as Medicare and NDIS.
• Encouraging equitable treatment across all mental health roles—based on competency, not regulation alone.
• Lobbying for the inclusion of IAAMHP-accredited professionals under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

Medicare & NDIS Access for Mental Health Professionals

Currently, the follwoing non regualted allied health professionals who are not registered with can access medicare through their peak bodies:

• Aboriginal health worker
• Accredited practicing dietitian
• Audiologist
• Diabetes educator
• Exercise physiologist
• Mental health nurse
• Orthoptist
• Social worker
• Speech pathologist

IAAMHP aims to enable similar access for professionals in counselling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and other mental health-focused disciplines.

As part of our professional advocacy plan, IAAMHP aims to develop policies and processes similar to those recognsied by government bodies such as Medicare, Services Asutrlaia, and NDIS. Some useful links are given below to understand how these frameworks function

• Services Australia: HW093 Form – Apply for Medicare/Prescriber Numbers
• Mental Health and Medicare Eligibility
• Medicare Mental Health
• Becoming an NDIS Provider
• NDIS Commission: Provider Registration

Why Reform is Needed

Many non-regulated professionals hold degrees specifically focused on mental health (e.g., Bachelor's or Master's degree in psychology, community mental health, counselling, psychotherapy, or psychoanalysis), often with similar or more in-depth mental health content than health qualifications like social work or occupational therapy. Yet, they face barriers to Medicare and NDIS access simply due to lack of statutory registration or successful peak body representation.

IAAMHP aims to correct this imbalance—respectfully, constructively, and legally—by ensuring mental health workforce diversity is fairly represented, accredited, and included in national care frameworks.

Conclusion

IAAMHP stands for integrity, equity, and transparency in the mental health profession. We will continue advocating for fair access to funding, ethical recognition of professionals, and a stronger, more inclusive future for mental health in Australia.

To learn more about our advocacy initiatives or to join IAAMHP, contact us directly or explore our website for ongoing updates.

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References

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
• Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA)
• Services Australia
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
• Medicare Mental Health
• HPOS – Health Professional Online Services