How mental health support works in Australia
Australia has a layered mental health system that can be confusing to navigate, especially when you are already struggling. The good news is that significant support is subsidised through Medicare and several free national services exist for crisis and ongoing support. The bad news is that the right entry point is rarely the most obvious one, and many people end up paying full price for services they could access free or heavily subsidised.
For most non-crisis situations, the standard path is to see a GP, request a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), and then use that plan to access subsidised sessions with a psychologist, mental health social worker, or occupational therapist. For acute crises, dial 000 or use one of the 24/7 phone services listed below. For ongoing support that does not require a clinical diagnosis, the free phone and online services from Beyond Blue, Lifeline, and headspace are excellent.
Mental Health Treatment Plan: the main Medicare pathway
The Mental Health Treatment Plan, often called an MHTP or "GP mental health plan", is the gateway to subsidised therapy in Australia. Here is how it works:
- Book a long appointment with your GP (45-60 minutes). Some GPs charge a private fee for this; others bulk bill
- Discuss your symptoms. The GP completes a structured assessment and writes the plan
- Receive a referral to a psychologist, mental health social worker, or accredited mental health OT
- Attend up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year with Medicare paying $96.65 (general psychologist) or $141.85 (clinical psychologist) per session
- Review after 6 sessions with your GP, who can renew the plan for the remaining 4 sessions
- You pay any gap between the Medicare rebate and the practitioner's fee. Typical out-of-pocket: $0 (bulk bill) to $150+ per session
Free and 24/7 services
| Service | Phone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | Crisis support, 24/7 |
| Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 | Depression, anxiety, 24/7 |
| Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 | People affected by suicide |
| 13YARN | 13 92 76 | First Nations crisis support, 24/7 |
| Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800 | 5-25 year olds |
| 1800RESPECT | 1800 737 732 | Domestic, family and sexual violence |
| MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78 | Men's emotional health |
| Open Arms | 1800 011 046 | Veterans and families |
| QLife | 1800 184 527 | LGBTIQ+ peer support |
| headspace | 1800 650 890 | 12-25 year olds, online and in-person |
Free online cognitive behavioural therapy programs
- MindSpot (mindspot.org.au): free online CBT for anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD - assessed and supervised by clinical psychologists
- This Way Up (thiswayup.org.au): online courses, some free with GP referral
- MoodGYM: free self-help cognitive behavioural skills for low mood and anxiety
- Mental Health Online (mentalhealthonline.org.au): free assessment and CBT-based programs
- SANE Australia: free phone and online counselling for complex mental health
Frequently asked questions
What if I do not have Medicare?
If you are on a temporary visa without Medicare access, all the free phone and online services above are still available to you - they are not Medicare-funded. For face-to-face therapy, your OVHC or OSHC policy will usually cover psychology sessions to varying degrees. Community health centres, university student counselling, employer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and not-for-profit services like Lifeline community-based counselling are also available without Medicare.
I cannot afford the gap fee for a psychologist - what are my options?
Several options exist. Bulk-billing psychologists are rarer than bulk-billing GPs but they do exist - search "bulk billing psychologist near me" or call your local Medicare-funded headspace centre (12-25), Primary Health Network, or Community Mental Health Service. Most universities offer free psychology services through their student wellbeing units. Many large employers offer free EAP sessions (typically 3-6 per year). Some not-for-profit services like Relationships Australia and Anglicare offer sliding-scale fees.
Can my GP prescribe antidepressants and anxiety medication?
Yes. Australian GPs are legally able to prescribe most psychiatric medications including SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilisers, and short-term anxiety medications. You do not need to see a psychiatrist for routine prescriptions, although a psychiatrist referral is appropriate for complex cases, severe symptoms, or when first-line medications are not working. Psychiatrist appointments require a GP referral and a long wait (often 3-12 months for non-urgent cases).
Are there mental health services specifically for migrants?
Yes. Transcultural mental health services exist in every state, with bilingual clinicians and culturally specific programs. Search "transcultural mental health" plus your state name. The Embrace Multicultural Mental Health project has resources in 28 languages. The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is free on 131 450 and can be used in any mental health appointment.
What about workplace mental health support?
Most large Australian employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) that include 3-6 free counselling sessions per year for employees and immediate family. EAP is fully confidential and the employer never sees session content. Ask your HR team or look in your employee handbook for the EAP provider name and phone number.
What if I am in immediate crisis?
If you are in danger of harming yourself or someone else, call 000 (police, ambulance, fire). For urgent but non-life-threatening crises, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or your state's Mental Health Acute Care Team via the state Mental Health Access Line. Hospital emergency departments treat psychiatric emergencies and you do not need a GP referral. Free crisis text services include Lifeline Text (0477 13 11 14, Thursdays-Sunday evenings, expanding) and Beyond Blue Web Chat.
What this guide does not cover
- Specialist psychiatric care - requires GP referral, usually long waits, partly Medicare-subsidised
- Inpatient psychiatric admissions - usually arranged via the emergency department or community mental health team
- NDIS-funded mental health support - for people with permanent psychosocial disability
- Child and adolescent specific services - CAMHS (state-funded) and headspace are the main pathways for under-18s and 12-25s
- Workers' compensation for mental injury - covered by your employer's workcover policy if work-related
For the official list of subsidised mental health items, see Department of Health - Better Access Initiative.