The 2025-26 Federal Budget handed down last night was a missed opportunity to meaningfully address Australia’s ongoing mental health crisis, particularly the critical workforce shortage within allied health. While we are pleased to see several health-related initiatives, the lack of substantial support for the mental health sector, and underutilisation of the counselling and psychotherapy workforce, remains concerning.

That said, we were pleased to see counsellors acknowledged for the third consecutive budget. This time in the area of smoking and vaping cessation:

“The Australian Government is providing funding to scale up state Quitline capacity and quit services to support increased demand through additional workforce, training for Quitline counsellors, and enhanced use of technology. This will enable equitable access to smoking and vaping cessation advice and support regardless of location, including through minimum hours of operation and targeted approaches for high-risk populations to remedy disparities in areas of need.”

We also welcome the continued investment in digital health, including efforts to strengthen digital integrated care through My Health Record, and the five-year investment of $42.2 million to deliver the National Autism Strategy and implement its first action plan.

At ACA, we remain committed in our advocacy for greater recognition and utilisation of counsellors and psychotherapists across the mental health system. While we did not expect to see funding allocated for the implementation of the National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists – given the standards are not finalised yet – we are optimistic that momentum will build post-Federal Election. We will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and Aged Care on this important project.