A Fairer Medicare: Reshaping the Mental Health Care Plan Survey

Thank you for taking the time to read, share, and complete this survey, which was developed by BEING’s National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA) Consumer Advisory Group

We are undertaking this project as part of the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA) to advocate for a more inclusive, flexible, and expanded funding model for the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).

Our goal is to help shape reforms that genuinely reflect the diversity of people’s lives and experiences - particularly those of people from marginalised communities, including rural and remote communities, culturally and linguistically diverse and culturally and racially marginalised communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and others who continue to face systemic barriers when seeking mental health support.

We acknowledge that some of the questions in this survey may be difficult or bring up painful feelings, particularly for people who have experienced harm, exclusion, or frustration within the public mental health system. Participation is completely voluntary, and you are welcome to pause or stop at any time. If completing the survey feels distressing, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust or access support in a way that feels right for you.

Eligibility to participate:

Aged 18 years or over
Living in Australia
Lived or living experience of mental health challenges

Thank you again for lending your voice to this important work. Your insight and lived experience are essential in shaping advocacy for a fairer, more accessible mental health system for everyone.

About You

This section asks a few optional questions about you and your background. Your responses help us understand who is participating in this survey and ensure that a wide range of voices, experiences, and communities are reflected in this work. This information will be used only in an aggregated way to help identify patterns, gaps, and inequities, and to strengthen advocacy for a more inclusive and accessible mental health system.

You are welcome to skip any questions you do not feel comfortable answering.

3.Where are you currently located?
Feel free to utilise this link Categorising local areas if you need more detail, otherwise, if you are unsure please write your town/postcode in 'other' and our team will categorise for you

Metropolitan (CBD + Suburban area)

Rural/Remote

Regional

Peri-urban/Semi-rural

Other (please specify)

4.Do you identify as belonging to any of the following communities or lived experiences?
(Please select all that apply)

5.Have you ever experienced homelessness or periods of unstable or temporary housing?
(For example, staying with friends or family, crisis or emergency accommodation, or having no safe place to stay.)

Yes, currently

Yes, in the past

No

6.Do you currently have a Medicare card?

Yes

No

7.If you do not currently have a Medicare card, you’re welcome to share the main barriers to applying for one.
(Optional — select all that apply)

Citizenship or visa/residency status

Documentation or identification requirements

Not aware of eligibility or how to apply

Language or communication barriers

Digital access or technology barriers

Safety or privacy concerns

Past negative experiences with systems

Other (please specify)

8.Do you currently have access to a GP you trust?

Yes

No

9.Do you know if you are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

Current eligibility criteria
To be eligible, a person must:

Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible visitor with a valid Medicare card
Have a clinically diagnosed mental health condition
Require a moderate level of support
Be likely to benefit from a structured and coordinated approach to managing their care needs
See their usual medical practitioner, GP, or participating medical practitioner (PMP) at the general practice where they are enrolled under MyMedicare

Yes

No

10.If you answered No, please indicate which of the following criteria do not currently apply to you.
(Optional — select all that apply)

I do not have an Australian Medicare card or am not currently eligible

I do not have a formal clinical diagnosis at this time

I do not feel I require a moderate level of support

I am unsure whether a structured or coordinated care approach would be helpful for me

I do not have a regular GP, usual medical practitioner, or PMP (participating medical practitioner)

11.If yes, how long have you been accessing a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

Once only (I have only accessed a MHCP on one occasion)

1–2 years

3–5 years

6–10 years

13.If you take medication for mental health reasons, do you see a psychiatrist for medication management (such as reviews, changes, or prescriptions)?

Yes

No — my GP manages my medication

I am not currently taking mental health medication

14.Do you experience financial stress due to gap payments for psychology appointments?

None — my appointments are fully covered under my Mental Health Care Plan

Minimal — it is inconvenient but has little impact on my finances

Moderate — I need to plan and budget carefully when I have an upcoming appointment

Significant — I can only afford the gap by using credit or borrowing money

Severe — I have to choose between paying the gap and essential expenses (e.g. food, rent, utilities)

15.Do you usually use all 10 Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) sessions available to you each year?

Yes

No

Some years I do, some years I don’t

I am not currently using a MHCP

Accessing 10 or more sessions

Under the current Medicare system, people accessing mental health support are generally limited to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per calendar year through a Mental Health Care Plan.

One aim of this project is to advocate for increased access to sessions, recognising that people’s lives are complex, mental health needs can fluctuate over time, and a rigid, session-limited model does not reflect how recovery, healing, or ongoing wellbeing support actually works for many people.

16.How many mental health support sessions per year do you believe would best support and help maintain your mental wellbeing?

Utilisation of other public services

This section asks about your experiences accessing other publicly funded services. Your responses help us understand where people seek support beyond psychology and how different parts of the system interact.

17.Are there any public mental health services you regularly access alongside, or instead of, a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

Not applicable

Local community mental health services

Helplines (e.g. Lifeline, QLife)

Peer Supported Transfer of Care (peer-led, recovery-focused support available during a six-week transition from inpatient care back to home or community)

Medium- to long-term public outpatient programs

Other (please specify)

The ideal Mental Health Care Plan

We are exploring a new mental healthcare model that aims to expand both access to support and the range of services available. We’d really value your thoughts and insights to help shape this work.

19.If the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) were redesigned or improved, are there any additional supports, changes, or features you would like to see?
(Optional — please share any ideas or experiences that feel important to you.)

20.Is there anything else you’d like to share about the survey questions or your responses?
(Optional — this space is here for any reflections, feedback, or clarifications you’d like to add.)

We recognise that some questions in this survey may bring up difficult feelings or memories. If you need extra support at any time, you may wish to reach out to someone you trust or contact a support service:

Lifeline — 13 11 14 (24/7)
Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467 (24/7)
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
QLife — 1800 184 527 (LGBTQIA+ peer support)
13YARN — 13 92 76 (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 000

Accessibility support
If you need support to access or complete this survey (for example, due to accessibility needs, language barriers, or any other reason), please contact Kylie Smith — BEING Lived Experience Engagement Manager at kylie.smith@being.org.au.