On 11 May 2023, Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Hon Emma McBride and a team of other government officials and stakeholders held a one-day forum at the Members Policy Forum for Mental Health Australia to discuss the fallout from the budget. At this meeting it was announced the Federal Government will invest $300,000 over two years to develop national standards for counsellors and psychotherapists.

The Department will commence the project in the coming months with ACA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation Australia (PACFA) and an external consultant to look at defining national standards across the sector, covering areas such as Education, Accreditation, Supervision, Complaints, Ongoing Professional Development, Credentialling and Pathways. The project is also planned to explore service delivery models and where counsellors and psychotherapists are best placed to deliver services in mental health. 
 
The development of these standards has the potential to stimulate further discussions regarding the role of counsellors and psychotherapists within the sector. The development is expected to run for a two year period with an outcome that will strengthen the profession.