It's been another busy week for the AAPi team, with advocacy continuing across the NDIS, workforce development, private health, and national mental health reform.

This week, we participated in the Western Australia Thriving Kids consultation, continuing our advocacy to ensure psychologists are central to the design and delivery of this major national reform. We are working to ensure children, young people and families have timely access to psychological care and that the expertise of psychologists is appropriately recognised as the program develops.

AAPi participated in the NDIS Outcomes Framework Workshop, bringing together advisory and reference groups to help shape how participant outcomes will be measured into the future.

We also attended a national Allied Health Sector NDIS meeting, continuing to advocate for psychologists and the important role they play in delivering evidence-based supports under the Scheme.

We met with private health insurer HCF this week to discuss opportunities to improve processes for psychologists and their clients. Developing stronger relationships with private health insurers is an important part of our broader advocacy to reduce administrative burden and improve access to psychological services.

In significant news, the Senate Inquiry into the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill has been extended until 14 August, delaying the Government's original plan to pass the legislation before 30 June.

The extension provides more time for scrutiny of the proposed reforms and follows successful negotiations with The Greens.

AAPi has been heavily engaged throughout this legislative process, including providing submissions and advocating to protect participant access to psychological supports. We will continue to monitor the Bill closely and advocate for improvements that protect both participants and psychology providers.

We have also updated our NDIS pricing information, with helpful guidance available here.

This week also saw a significant milestone for the allied health workforce. More than 43,000 Australians have signed the national petition calling on the Australian Government to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment to include all allied health and psychology students. AAPi proudly supports this campaign alongside Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), recognising that unpaid mandatory placements create significant financial barriers for many psychology students. Expanding the Prac Payment would help reduce placement poverty, strengthen the future psychology workforce, and improve access to psychological services for Australians.

The NSW and Queensland Governments have released their annual budgets, and we have provided a summary of these in today’s newsletter.

Later today we will be meeting with the DVA and we continue to advocate for increased access and better processes.

Behind every meeting, consultation and submission is the same goal: ensuring psychologists have a strong voice wherever decisions are being made. Whether it's advocating for better NDIS policy, influencing national mental health reforms, improving private health processes or strengthening the future workforce, AAPi remains committed to representing the profession and delivering practical outcomes for our members.

We have a jam-packed newsletter today, and I hope you enjoy reading the updates and information.

The AAPi 2026 National Conference is shaping up to be our most exciting yet, bringing psychologists together from 19–21 October on the Gold Coast for three days of learning, connection, and professional growth. 

Featuring expert-led presentations, interactive sessions, peer networking opportunities, and up to 22 CPD hours, (oh, and did we mention, puppies?!) the conference offers the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with colleagues, and recharge in a stunning setting.

Don't miss out! Early bird pricing for Digital On-Demand registrations closes on 30 June.

If you're planning to attend - either in person or online - and would like to claim your registration as a professional development expense in this financial year's tax return, be sure to register before 30 June.

Concerns about psychology training reforms 

AAPi's concerns about the proposed changes to psychology education and training were recently featured in this article by the Medical Republic. AAPi's Executive Director Tegan Carrison told the publication that the reforms do not adequately address known workforce challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas, and risk reducing the current standard of psychology education and training. Tegan also highlighted the lack of detail around the proposed psychology assistant role, including its scope, supervision requirements and place within the broader mental health workforce. AAPi continues to advocate for workforce reforms that address access and workforce shortages while maintaining high standards of training and public safety.

NDIS Pricing Review outcomes

AAPi Executive Director Tegan Carrison’s comments were featured in Health Services Daily, where she welcomed the NDIS price increase for psychologists as a “significant outcome for the profession,” while urging continued collaboration with government, participants and carers to ensure reforms do not negatively impact access to supports. Tegan's comments appeared alongside broader sector discussion on pricing changes and sustainability across allied health services.

Rural mental health workforce access

AAPi Director Dr Naomi Malone highlighted the unequal access to psychological care in rural Australia in this Daily Telegraph article, noting that rural communities carry a disproportionate burden. She said rural areas have less than half the psychology workforce available in metropolitan regions and called for targeted incentives to attract and retain psychologists in regional and remote communities, so access to care is not determined by location. “Mental health care should be available where people live, not only where the workforce happens to be concentrated.”

As announced in our special edition newsletter on 22 June, the maximum NDIS hourly rate for psychology will increase to $252.99 per hour, effective 1 July 2026 - a $20 increase on the current national rate.

This is a significant outcome for the profession, particularly at a time when many other disciplines have seen either no increase or reductions to pricing.

The new NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits introduce broader reforms that will affect how psychology services are delivered, claimed and monitored under the Scheme.

AAPi has released a detailed member update explaining what the new pricing means for psychologists, with additional information now added to provide clarification regarding travel claiming.

AAPi has published analyses of the 2026–27 Queensland and NSW State Budgets, highlighting the initiatives and investments most relevant to psychologists and the profession.

Queensland Budget 2026–27

Our analysis covers the continued investment in mental health services, early intervention through Healthy Kindy Kids, investment in Queensland's public health system and health workforce initiatives, along with what these measures mean for psychologists.

Read our full Queensland Budget analysis here.

NSW Budget 2026–27

In this analysis we look at the continued investment into mental health infrastructure, the funding for the Thriving Kids initiative and for community mental health services, workforce measures and domestic and family violence programs, and what these investments mean for psychology.

Read our full NSW Budget analysis here.

AAPi has collated a range of new resources published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to help psychologists navigate MBS M10 services for patients with complex neurodevelopmental conditions and eligible disabilities.

The collection includes fact sheets, frequently asked questions, referral pathway flowcharts and an eLearning module covering the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of eligible patients.

Access the full suite of resources here.

If you're a healthcare provider working with families during pregnancy and new parenthood, this PANDA course is a great place to start if you want to understand more about mental health in the perinatal period or if you would like to refresh your knowledge. Mental health challenges in the perinatal period are common, and this 30 minute course summarises the key knowledge needed to understand perinatal mental health and support families.

Funding announced to support employment for Autistic Australians

The Australian Government has awarded more than $900,000 to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand Inc to deliver training and resources aimed at improving employment outcomes for autistic Australians. Funded through the National Autism Strategy, the initiative will support autistic job seekers and business owners while helping employers and employment providers build more inclusive workplaces through greater awareness of workplace adjustments, employee rights and psychologically safe practices.

New consensus statement sets standards for paediatric end-of-life care

A new National Consensus Statement outlines essential elements for safe, high-quality paediatric end-of-life care in Australia. The statement sets out nine guiding principles and ten core elements to support culturally safe, child- and family-centred care, providing a best-practice framework for healthcare services delivering end-of-life care to children.

Government funds research to improve menopause care

The Australian Government has announced funding for new research aimed at improving menopause care and decision-making for women. Led by Professor Martha Hickey and funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project scheme, the project will develop an evidence-based online decision aid to help women make informed choices about Menopausal Hormone Therapy. The tool will be co-designed with women, clinicians and key stakeholders to support shared decision-making and improve access to consistent, high-quality menopause care.

Evaluation report released for national perinatal mental health programs

The final independent evaluation of the Perinatal Mental and Wellbeing Program and the National Perinatal Mental Health Check has been released. Conducted by the University of Queensland, the report assesses the design, implementation, outcomes and overall effectiveness of the programs, providing insights into their impact on supporting perinatal mental health across Australia.

NSW: Portable long service leave available for community services workers

Portable long service leave is now available for full-time, part-time and casual workers in the NSW community services sector, including those delivering community services or employed by organisations whose main purpose is to provide them. Eligible workers can access up to six weeks of long service leave after seven years of service in the sector. Workers will be invited to register once their employer includes them in a service return.