Federal Election 2025: Pressure on mental health workforce acknowledged

Tuesday 8 April 2025

At an early morning press conference at a headspace centre in Sydney’s west, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced his election commitment for mental health; while federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler, acknowledged the pressures facing Australia’s mental health workforce.

Announcing a $1 billion pledge for mental health if re-elected, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s plan would see more headspace sites and Medicare Mental Health Centres around the country and investment in the mental health workforce, in the form of additional training places.

Specifically, $90 million would be spent to support an additional 1,200 training places for mental health professionals, including peer workers.

When the Minister for Health was asked whether there was anything more that could be done to retain the mental health workforce, he spoke about the Labor Government’s funding injections into hospitals to help alleviate pressures on the workforce and said that he was committed to building up the workforce.

Minister Butler also referred to a new, national model for providing mental health care – the National Early Intervention Service – which was funded in a previous budget and would be implemented from 1 January 2026.

This new model, delivered via digital technology, would aim to help people who have mild to moderate mental health challenges with early support, as a means to prevent these challenges from becoming more severe. Minister Butler said it was about, “establishing a system of care that meets everyone’s needs.”

Minister Butler went on to explain that Labor’s plan to help meet everyone’s needs involved better access to mental health support, in the form of a $225 million investment in 31 new or upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres. These centres offer free mental health support on a walk-in basis, without the need for a Medicare card.

The pledge also includes more than $200 million for 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace sites; as well as $500 million for 20 specialist care centres for young people with more severe mental health challenges, such as personality disorders, eating disorders and early psychosis.

The Liberal Party have also focused on improving young people’s mental well-being, in particular. In an election commitment made during his budget reply speech, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pledged $400 million to youth mental health services, if elected.

Restoring the number of subsidised psychology sessions from 10 to 20 was one of the core components of the commitment, but the Liberal’s plan would also include an expansion of the National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health.

The centre undertakes research, develops new models for offering support and provides training for youth mental health support services.  

Follow the Western Australian Association for Mental Health on Facebook or LinkedIn for more updates on the mental health sector.