In this submission to the Senate inquiry, QAMH highlights the interconnected role of primary care and community-based mental health services, and how limited GP access is driving greater reliance on community services as the first point of contact.
Drawing on insights from QAMH’s Regional, Rural and Remote Roadshow, the submission shows that gaps in timely GP access reduce opportunities for early support, increasing the risk of deterioration and avoidable presentations to emergency departments or hospital care. While telehealth can help address access gaps, it is most effective when complementing, not replacing, local face-to-face services.
To address these challenges, QAMH calls for Medicare reform that supports integrated, mixed-team models of care. This includes recognising the role of community-based mental health services, peer workers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and strengthening coordination across the rural mental health eco system.
