Liberal’s Darcy Dunstan vows party will reinstate 20 medicare-funded counselling sessions

If elected the Coalition would fully fund more counselling sessions, its local candidate vowed after a Geelong psychologist said therapy should not be a “privilege for the wealthy”.

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Brendan Meagher wants more counselling sessions to be covered by Medicare. Picture: Alan Barber

Liberal candidate for Corangamite Darcy Dunstan says the Coalition will increase Medicare-funded counselling sessions from 10 to 20, following a Geelong psychologist’s call to make therapy more affordable.

Clinical psychologist at Mind Health Care in Geelong, and a former national chair of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists (APS), Dr Brendan Meagher, said the Labor Party’s 2022 move to slash funded counselling sessions from 20 to 10 had made therapy a “privilege for the wealthy”.

Mr Meagher said the “revolving door” approach of just 10 sessions was distressing for clients, demoralising for psychologists and costly for the nation.

“Imagine needing 12 to 18 sessions of psychology for proper treatment of your depression but only having government funding for 10,” he said.

“If those with cancer or heart disease were told they could only receive part of their necessary treatment – there would be national outrage.”

Mr Meagher said while Labor had argued capping sessions allowed more people to access treatment, inadequate care left many without lasting improvements.

He said people often only sought help until the immediate distress reduced, then discontinued treatment, only to return later in crisis.

“A system that gives everyone a little help ultimately fails almost everyone,” he said.

“We need an immediate restoration of 20 Medicare-funded psychology sessions and an increase in the Medicare rebate to better reflect the true cost of providing care.”

Clinical Psychologist Dr Brendan Meagher says the current system is failing almost everyone. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Dunstan said it was outrageous to see Labor cut access to Medicare mental health sessions in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“It would be totally unacceptable to cut a treatment plan in half for any other cohort of patients, so why should it be acceptable when it comes to mental health support?” Mr Dunstan said.

“A Dutton Coalition Government will restore full access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support, on a permanent basis.”

Liberal Corangamite candidate Darcy Dunstan says a Dutton Coalition Government would restore full access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support, on a permanent basis. Picture: Alison Wynd

But Labor’s federal Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker, said increasing sessions would ultimately limit people’s access to treatment in a system with restricted resources.

“We know the problem with doubling the number of sessions, without doubling the number of psychologists, is it creates a bottleneck in the system and a whole lot of people end up not getting access to any services at all,” Ms Coker said.

Member for Corio and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the Labor government was taking the crucial steps needed to deliver much-needed reforms, including expanding the range and reach of mental health services, growing the mental health workforce, and funding other critical services.

In 2024, the APS joined with other national organisations to push for an increase in the 10-session limit.

Their online Change.org petition has received more than 27,000 signatures since October last year.

Originally published as Liberal’s Darcy Dunstan vows party will reinstate 20 medicare-funded counselling sessions