Following the federal election, PACFA is set to advocate for counsellors and psychotherapists to the new Albanese Government and new federal MPs.
PACFA has written to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the new federal Health Minister Mark Butler and the Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride.
PACFA will seek meetings with these key members of the Albanese Government and other newly-elected federal MPs, to discuss the policy platform outlined in our Election Statement 2022, including Medicare rebate access for Registered Clinical Counsellors and Registered Clinical Psychotherapists and removing GST for counsellors and psychotherapists.
PACFA will be telling the Albanese Government, and the newly-elected federal Greens and independent MPs, about the highly-trained, highly-skilled workforce of PACFA-member counsellors and psychotherapists, and how they can be better-utilised in the country's mental health crisis.
Among those re-elected are Senator Jacqui Lambie and Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie (pictured meeting PACFA President Dr Di Stow), who have both expressed their support for the increased utilisation of counsellors and psychotherapists within the allied and mental health workforce. PACFA looks forward to continuing our relationship with both MPs and congratulates them on their re-election.
In our media release on 24 May 2022, PACFA President Dr Di Stow said counsellors and psychotherapists were already providing therapy to clients whose anxiety and depression is caused or exacerbated by issues that voters are keen for the new government to address, such as climate change, cost of living, family violence and housing affordability.
‘What we’re asking from the Albanese Government for counsellors and psychotherapists is support to provide the support, by way of policy measures like Medicare rebate access and removal of GST for counsellors and psychotherapists,’ she said.