October is National Mental Health Month, an opportunity to consider how we can help more Australians access mental health support when they need it.

 

At AIA Australia, we're strengthening the support available through AIA Embrace, with a focus on helping  clients access appropriate care earlier and supporting their ongoing wellbeing with enhancements to My Psychologist and Mind Coach, plus our new premier partnership with Beyond Blue. Understanding what’s available can help you have more useful conversations with your clients. Knowing who is eligible and where to find further information gives you a practical way to introduce the wellbeing support available alongside their insurance.

When someone is ready to seek psychological support, finding an available appointment and managing the cost of treatment can be hard. Our coming enhancement to My Psychologist is designed to address this.

 

Our existing support offering already helps reduce the cost of accessing psychological care through a $60 subsidy and provides eligible clients with access to an initial psychologist appointment within seven business days.

Building on these strong foundations, our upcoming enhancements will make support even more accessible and affordable. Eligible clients and their families (including children aged 13 years and over) will be able to access an initial psychologist appointment within five business days of booking.

 

In addition, individuals with Medicare eligibility, a valid Mental Health Care Plan and a GP referral will be able to access bulk-billed sessions, subject to their remaining Medicare entitlements, we’re reducing the cost further resulting in no out-of-pocket costs for eligible sessions.

My Psychologist will be available to eligible clients experiencing mental health concerns, including those without an existing insurance claim. You can raise this support when a client first mentions concerns about their mental wellbeing.

 

Fee-for-service options will also be available where the required plan or referral is absent, or Medicare-funded sessions have been exhausted. The enhanced service is coming soon.

Our refreshed Mind Coach program provides four telehealth sessions focused on one or two priorities identified with the client. These may include rebuilding a routine managing feelings of overwhelm, developing confidence or connecting with treatment and community services. Clients receive practical strategies and a personalised plan they can continue using after the program ends.
 

Mind Coach can support clients across condition types, subject to suitability. It provides brief, non-clinical coaching that complements existing treatment and rehabilitation support.
 

If your client describes feeling overwhelmed with life stressors or finding appropriate support, contact us at AU.RehabAdministrators@aia.com to discuss whether Mind Coach may be suitable.

Our Premier Partnership with Beyond Blue brings together AIA's experience in life and health insurance with Beyond Blue’s national reach and mental health expertise. This partnership has a shared focus on prevention and early intervention, encouraging people to seek support sooner.

 

Together, we will prioritise insights, tools and digital solutions that support earlier help-seeking. Workplace mental health is also a focus, including supporting employers to address psychological risks and promote mentally healthier work environments.

 

The partnership's priorities extend to thought leadership and advocacy aimed at reducing systemic barriers to early mental health support, alongside community reach and impact. This work supports our broader commitment to helping people access support before their mental health reaches crisis point.

National Mental Health Month provides a timely opportunity to revisit the wellbeing support available through AIA Embrace. Understanding each service’s purpose and access conditions can help you guide clients towards further information relevant to their circumstances.

 

To discuss an AIA Embrace mental health program or nominate a client for consideration, contact your AIA contact or email AU.RehabAdministrators@aia.com.