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Observational Study
. 2026 Mar;60(1_suppl):74-94.
doi: 10.1177/00048674251409017. Epub 2026 Jan 24.

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)

Vikas Arya  1 , Caley Tapp  2   3 , Dianne Currier  1 , Philip Burgess  2   3 , Julie Byles  4 , Xenia Dolja-Gore  4 , Meredith Harris  2   3 , Long Khanh-Dao Le  5 , Cathrine Mihalopoulos  5 , Katrina Scurrah  1 , Matthew J Spittal  1 , Jane Pirkis  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

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)

Vikas Arya et al. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2026 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to provide a picture of who uses Better Access treatment services, how they do so and what the benefits are.

Methods: We conducted an observational prospective study involving independent cohorts from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men [TTM]) and the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH). We used data from two pairs of baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) waves for those aged ⩾ 18 in TTM and those in the 1989-1995, 1973-1978 and 1946-1951 cohorts in ALSWH. Using survey data and linked Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) claims data, we identified participants with 'mental health need' at T0 who had and had not used Better Access treatment services between T0 and T1.

Results: Proportions of Better Access users varied across study cohorts and analyses, with 45% being the highest. Those who used Better Access treatment services typically accessed 5-6 sessions, usually from clinical psychologists and/or psychologists. Between half and three-quarters paid out-of-pocket costs (usually $80-$100/session). Typically, around half of those who used Better Access had better mental health at T1 than T0. Severity of mental health problems at baseline was strongly predictive of both Better Access use and improvements in mental health.

Conclusion: Australian adults with mental health need make varying use of Better Access treatment services, but the programme appears to serve those with high levels of need relatively well.

Keywords: Better Access; allied health professionals; anxiety; depression; mental health services; primary care; psychological therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Time series plot displaying wave analysis results over years 1996-2021 for four cohorts, with black and white circles differentiating the waves included in the analysis..
Figure 1.
Waves included in each analysis for each cohort.
Comparative study of Better Access treatment use by cohorts across different waves of TIA and TI, with varying psychological therapy service delivery.
Figure 2.
Participants selection and use of Better Access treatment services by study, cohort. a. Better Access treatment use identified by claims against all MBS items associated with psychological therapy services delivered by clinical psychologists and all MBS items associated with focussed psychological strategies delivered by psychologists, social workers, OTs and GPs/PMPs.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Changes in mental health over time, by study, cohort, analysis and measure (cont.).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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