Like many Australians, Brooke Bottrell has largely tuned out of the federal election, overwhelmed by the demands of finding medical specialists and support for her stepdaughter and son.
Her 10-year-old stepdaughter had been receiving care from youth mental health service headspace in Coffs Harbour but was deemed too complex for the service.
“She’s experienced body shaming and suicidal thoughts,” Ms Bottrell said.
“Adding autism to that mix makes finding support services almost impossible.”
Support available for young people and families
- The Butterfly Foundation: National helpline 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673), 8am–midnight, 7 days a week
- ReachOut Australia: Confidential peer support and wellbeing resources
- Headspace: State and territory centres or online support at eheadspace
- Kids Helpline: 24-hour support on 1800 55 1800
- Lifeline: 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14
Ms Bottrell said it took two years to secure a child psychologist for her now 11-year-old son — only for the specialist to later relocate 150 kilometres away to Port Macquarie.
Now, her son’s ongoing therapy sessions are conducted via telehealth.
She described the process of accessing mental healthcare as a “drawn-out battle” and called for more action from both major parties.
“The cost is massive. Public system services just aren’t available,” Ms Bottrell said.
In the closely contested regional electorate of Cowper, access to youth mental health services has emerged as a major election issue.
A Salvation Army pre-election survey identified healthcare, mental health, and housing affordability as the top concerns for voters in Cowper.
Gaps in care
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that around one in seven young people experienced a mental health disorder over the past year.
Emily Fraser, clinical lead at headspace Coffs Harbour, said youth in Cowper and other regional areas faced challenges accessing affordable care due to a lack of specialists.
“We often see gaps in ADHD and autism assessments, which require a psychiatrist or paediatrician’s report,” Ms Fraser said.
“Accessing GPs who prescribe ADHD medication is extremely limited — it’s like finding hen’s teeth.”
While headspace offers free early intervention for 12–25-year-olds, some young people fall outside their scope.
Coffs Harbour clinical psychologist Basia Radlinska noted children under 12 could face a two-year wait for mental health support.
“If you want to understand the wait, try getting a child under 10 assessed,” Dr Radlinska said.
Policies targeting the ‘missing middle’
Candidates vying for the Cowper seat have focused on helping the “missing middle” — youth whose mental health needs fall between early intervention and acute services.
Sitting Nationals MP Pat Conaghan said he personally knew families who had to travel to Queensland for autism and ADHD assessments.
The Coalition has pledged $400 million toward youth mental health, including expanding headspace centres and restoring 20 annual Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.
Dr Radlinska welcomed expansions to headspace, saying they are essential but highlighted that more complex cases still often fall through the cracks.
Labor candidate Greg Vigors said his party would invest similarly, with a focus on building new Medicare mental health centres across Australia.
Independent candidate and former nurse Caz Heise also supports restoring access to at least 20 mental health sessions per year.
“We’re seeing mental health statistics getting worse, not better, and there’s been no real push to change that,” Ms Heise said.
Dr Radlinska said it was encouraging to see all parties prioritizing youth mental health but praised Labor’s focus on expanding services for the missing middle.
She noted that the new Medicare mental health centre in Coffs Harbour had already made a big difference.
“We’ve had one for six months now, and it’s going really well,” she said.
Brooke Bottrell hopes that whoever forms government will prioritize regional mental health services.
“We desperately need more funding and trained services out here,” she said.
“If any candidate shows they’re committed to that, they’ll have my vote.”
