Access to and affordability of medical specialists

In March 2026 the Minister for Health and Ageing asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability to inquire into access to and affordability of medical specialists in Australia. The inquiry covers waits and barriers, referral pathways, out-of-pocket costs, the effect of delays on patients, and new models of care.

We are a psychology practice, not a medical specialty. We made a submission because much of our work is diagnosis. People are referred to us to be assessed and diagnosed, for ADHD, autism and other conditions, and many then see a psychiatrist or paediatrician for medication or specialist care. Medicare treats our part of that work unevenly.

See also our submission to the Senate inquiry into ADHD services and to the NSW inquiry into mental health care.

Psychiatrists are few and concentrated in major cities. Our region has the lowest GP supply in Greater Sydney and some of its fastest population growth. People pay for an assessment, then a rising specialist gap, and wait in between.

• Fund the assessment behind the diagnosis. A capped Medicare item for psychological assessment and diagnosis for people aged 25 and over, starting with ADHD and tied to a written report, with adult autism assessment as a second stage. ADHD should also be added to the conditions covered by the existing assessment items for people under 25.
• Make one report do the work once. A national standard for psychological assessment reports used in ADHD and autism diagnosis, agreed between the medical colleges and psychology bodies, so specialists can rely on them rather than repeat them. The psychiatrist’s one-off assessment item should build on that report where one exists.
• Let the team talk. Medicare already pays for mental health case conferences between doctors and psychologists, but only for some patients. We asked for them to cover people referred for a diagnostic assessment.
• Plan specialist access where the growth is. Outer-metropolitan growth areas with low GP supply, such as Camden and Campbelltown, should count as areas of need in workforce programs, alongside regional and rural areas. Fee and waiting time data for psychiatry and paediatrics should be published by region.

None of this changes who can prescribe. It pays for assessment, diagnosis and coordination work that already happens.

Not yet. We lodged it on 16 October 2026. The committee has extended submissions to 27 November 2026 and has not published ours yet.