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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 15(3)

Australian primary mental health care: improving access and outcomes

Justine R. Fletcher A D , Jane E. Pirkis A , Bridget Bassilios A , Fay Kohn A , Grant A. Blashki B and Philip M. Burgess C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Level 3 Dawson House, The Park, Wacol, Qld 4076, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: justine.fletcher@unimelb.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 15(3) 244-253 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY08072
Published: 9 September 2009

Abstract

The progressive achievements over time of the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program are examined using a web-based, purpose-designed minimum dataset that collects provider-, consumer- and session-level data on the projects. Findings indicate that the ATAPS projects have established themselves over time as a cornerstone of mental health service provision in Australia. Despite the more recent introduction of the complementary Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule program, the ATAPS projects have continued, since 2001, to attract substantial numbers of general practitioners and allied health professionals and deliver services to significant numbers of consumers. The profile of consumers being referred to the projects is now very consistent, with the majority being women with high prevalence disorders who may have had difficulty accessing mental health care in the past. The nature of sessions being delivered through the projects has also reached a point of consistency, with the majority being individual-level, cognitive behavioural therapy-based sessions of around 1 h in length. The only variation in session delivery is related to the charging of a co-payment. There is good evidence that the projects are achieving positive outcomes for consumers.

Additional keywords: allied health, mental health reform, psychology.


Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, which also made available the Medicare Benefits Scheme data for the Better Access program. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to Strategic Data Pty Ltd for developing the minimum dataset and the Divisions of General Practice for managing the ATAPS projects.


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