ArticleThe Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry2026
Consumers' experiences with and outcomes from Better Access: Results from a national survey.
Article in The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Uptake, utilisation and costs of treatment through Better Access from 2018 to 2022: An analysis of Medicare Benefits Schedule data.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Examining Better Access use by Australian adults using data from two longitudinal studies (Ten to Men and the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health).The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Observational
- Who uses Better Access treatment services? A re-analysis of data from the usual care arms of two randomised controlled trials.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Accessibility and responsiveness of Better Access treatment services: Insights from the use of linked administrative data in the evaluation of Better Access.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Examining the effectiveness of the Better Access initiative using data from real-world practice settings.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Evaluation of Australia's Better Access initiative: An overview.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Review
- Australia's Better Access initiative: A survey of provider and referrer views.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- A virtual consultative forum on future reforms to Better Access.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveWe sought consumers' views about Better Access, which funds sessions of care with eligible providers via the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
methodsWe surveyed a stratified random sample of consumers who saw a clinical psychologist, psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist (OT) via Better Access during 2021. The survey focussed on consumers' experiences with receiving treatment through Better Access, and the outcomes of this treatment. Survey data were linked to MBS claims data for consenting participants.
resultsIn total, 2013 individuals completed the survey; linked MBS data were available for 1317 (65.4%). The majority (85.2%) were satisfied with their care, although they raised some issues, particularly around affordability. When asked to rate their mental health before and after treatment, 91.9% indicated it had significantly improved. Overall, 77.5% attributed this improvement to treatment by the mental health professional. For the full sample, baseline self-rated mental health was predictive of improvement, as was the number of sessions. For the sub-sample with linked data, these factors also predicted improvement, as did whether they paid a co-payment.
conclusionIn general, consumers who use Better Access appear to appreciate the programme and benefit from the care it provides. However, affordability remains an issue.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.