VMIAC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Modernising Referral Pathways Consultation
and thanks the Specialist Affordability Section of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for
its consideration of this submission.
Mental health consumers face significant and persistent barriers when attempting to access
specialist care. While this consultation focuses on referral settings and administrative processes,
it is important to recognise that referral validity is only one component of a much larger access
problem. For many consumers, the difficulty lies not in obtaining a referral, but in securing timely,
affordable, and appropriate specialist care once a referral has been made.