3.6 What are the socio-demographic characteristics of consumers who have received Better Access services?

Having examined annual rates of uptake of Better Access items, and changes in trends in uptake over time, the socio–demographic characteristics of people receiving Better Access services were then profiled. Table 3.10 shows the distribution of annual Better Access uptake rates according to four key socio–demographic factors – age, gender, geographical region and socio–economic disadvantage – for 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Changes in uptake according to the various socio–demographic characteristics are examined the following section, hence interpretation focuses on the 2009 data. The following patterns were observed:

• Uptake increased with age, peaking among adults in the 25–34 year and 35–44 year age groups, then decreased with age thereafter.
  
  
• Uptake among young people aged less than 15 years and older people aged 65 years or more was considerably lower than for all other age groups. It should also be noted, however, that relatively lower access by young people is not unique to Better Access: young people access all mental health services less often than other members of the population^{5, 27, 40} possibly because they are less likely to perceive that they have a need for mental health care.^{41, 42}
  
  
• Overall, females used Better Access services to a greater extent than males, by a ratio of approximately 1.7:1.
  
  
• In absolute terms, more than two–thirds of people who used Better Access services (65.5% in 2009) reside in capital cities. However, after adjusting for the population size of each category of geographical region, the age–standardised uptake rates were found to be slightly lower for capital cities (53.7 per 1,000 population in 2009) than for other metropolitan centres and rural centres (59.0 and 57.6 persons per 1,000 population in 2009, respectively). Rates were around 12% lower for people residing in other rural areas (47.3 per 1,000 population in 2009) and around 60% lower for people in remote areas (21.5 per 1,000 population in 2009) than for people in capital cities.
  
  
• In absolute terms, the percentage of people who used Better Access services decreased steadily as level of socio–economic disadvantage (as defined by quintiles on the IRSD) increased. However, after adjusting for the population size in each quintile of socio–economic disadvantage, the age–standardised rates show that uptake rates were around 10% lower for people in the most disadvantaged areas (48.5 persons per 1,000 population in 2009) than in all other areas (ranging from 52.4 to 53.6 persons per 1,000 population in 2009).

Top of pageUptake by age within gender was examined to see whether the patterns of uptake by age were similar in both males and females. Figure 3.6, figure 3.7 and figure 3.8 show uptake by age group for each gender, for 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The figures show that:

• The female preponderance in uptake was not evident in the youngest age groups and was relatively small in the oldest age group.
  
  
• For both males and females, uptake increased with age, peaking among adults in the 25–34 year and 35–44 year age groups, then decreased with age thereafter.
  
  
• Although annual rates of uptake have increased, the age–gender patterns have not changed over the 2007 to 2009 period.

It is also helpful to consider how the age–gender patterns correspond to the prevalence of common mental disorders – affective, anxiety and substance use disorders – in the Australian community. Figure 3.9 and figure 3.10 plot the prevalence rates for 12–month mental disorders (from the 2007 NSMHWB) and rates of persons using Better Access by age group for males and females (per 1,000 population in 2009). These figures show that the relative gap between Better Access use in 2009 and 12–month disorder prevalence was greatest for young people aged 16–24 years. For males aged 16–24 years, rates of persons using Better Access services were equivalent to 17.8% of the prevalence rates for this age–gender group. The corresponding percentages for males in other age categories were: 23.4% for 25–34 year olds; 27.7% for 35–44 year olds; 25.8% for 45–54 year olds; 33.7% for 55–64 year olds; 30.9% for 65–74 year olds; and 35.6% for 75–84 year olds. For females the percentages were: 25.9% for 16–24 year olds; 36.2% for 25–34 year olds; 39.5% for 35–44 year olds; 35.6% for 45–54 year olds; 40.8% for 55–64 year olds; 46.1% for 65–74 year olds; and 42.0% for 75–84 year olds. However caution should be exercised in interpreting these figures because it cannot be assumed that all people using Better Access services had one of the mental disorders assessed by the 2007 NSMHWB.

Uptake rates were then examined by socio–demographic group for the major item groups (GP Mental Health Treatment items, Consultant Psychiatry items, Psychological Therapy items, and Focussed Psychological Strategies items). Table 3.11 shows the distribution of annual Better Access uptake by age and gender for each of the item groups. Table 3.12 shows the distribution of annual Better Access uptake by geographical region and socio–economic disadvantage categories for each of the item groups. Focusing on the 2009 data, the tables show that:

• The pattern of uptake by age group was similar for all item groups, and mirrors the pattern for any Better Access item (table 3.10). That is, uptake increased with age, peaking among adults in the 25–34 year and 35–44 year age groups, then decreased with age thereafter.
  
  
• Young people showed the lowest uptake of GP Mental Health Treatment and Consultant Psychiatry items, whereas older people showed the lowest uptake of Psychological Therapy Services and Focussed Psychological Strategies items.
  
  
• The female:male ratio of uptake rates was between 1.7:1 and 1.8:1 for the GP Mental Health Treatment, Psychological Therapy Services and Focussed Psychological Strategies item groups. The female:male ratio for Consultant Psychiatry items was considerably lower (1.2:1).
  
  
• For the GP Mental Health Treatment item group, uptake rates were highest among people living in other metropolitan centres (51.2 per 1,000 population) and rural centres (50.9 per 1,000 population), and slightly lower for people living in capital cities (45.6 per 1,000 population). Compared to people living in other metropolitan regions (the region type with the highest uptake), uptake rates were 18% lower (41.9% per 1,000 population) for people residing in other rural areas and 62% lower (19.5 per 1,000 population) for people in remote areas.
  
  
• There was a similar pattern for the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group. Uptake was highest among people living in other metropolitan centres (21.3 per 1,000 population) and rural centres (20.6 per 1,000 population), and slightly lower for people living in capital cities (17.9 per 1,000 population). Compared to people living in other metropolitan regions (the region type with the highest uptake), uptake was 27% lower (15.6% per 1,000 population) for people residing in other rural areas and 80% lower (4.2 per 1,000 population) for people in remote areas.
  
  
• For the Consultant Psychiatry item group, uptake showed a steady decrease across each category of geographical region from capital cities (5.3 per 1,000 population) to remote areas (1.4 per 1,000 population). Similarly for the Psychological Therapy Services item group, uptake rates steadily decreased from capital cities (10.3 per 1,000 population) to remote areas (1.6 per 1,000 population).
  
  
• Uptake of the GP Mental Health Treatment item group was similar across all categories of socio–economic disadvantage, with the exception of the most disadvantaged areas. Uptake rates for people in the most disadvantaged areas were 10% lower than for those in areas of highest uptake (quintile 2). A similar pattern was found for Focussed Psychological Strategies where uptake rates for people in the most disadvantaged areas were 19% lower than for those in areas of highest uptake (quintile 4).
  
  
• In contrast, uptake of the Psychological Therapy Services and, to a lesser extent, the Consultant Psychiatry item groups, decreased as levels of socio–economic disadvantage increased.

Because the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group subsumes services for three provider types – General Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers – table 3.13 and table 3.14 show the uptake rates by socio–demographic characteristic for these provider groups separately.

Given the preponderance of services provided by General Psychologists, patterns for this group mirror the general patterns for the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group. Focussing on the 2009 data, Table 3.13 shows that persons using Better Access services provided by Occupational Therapist have a somewhat different profile than persons using Better Access services provided by General Psychologists and Social Workers. Occupational Therapists see a higher rate of young people aged less than 15 years. They also see similar proportions of males and females. Table 3.14 shows that the profile of persons seen by region and socio–economic disadvantage is similar across the three provider types, although Occupational Therapists saw a relatively higher rate of persons from the least disadvantages areas in 2009 (NB. this pattern was, however, not evident in 2007 or 2008).
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Figure 3.6 Uptake of Better Access MBS items by age group and sex, 2007

Text version of Figure 3.6

Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.

Age Group	Males Rate per 1,000	Females Rate per 1,000
0-14 years	10	10
15-24 years	25	50
25-34 years	35	65
35-44 years	36	66
45-54 years	30	45
55-64 years	25	40
65+ years	12	20

Figure 3.7 Uptake of Better Access MBS items by age group and sex, 2008

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Text version of Figure 3.7

Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.

Age Group	Males Rate per 1,000	Females Rate per 1,000
0-14 years	18	15
15-24 years	30	63
25-34 years	46	86
35-44 years	50	88
45-54 years	40	72
55-64 years	30	56
65+ years	16	30

Figure 3.8 Uptake of Better Access MBS items by age group and sex, 2009

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Text version of Figure 3.8

Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.

Age Group	Males Rate per 1,000	Females Rate per 1,000
0-14 years	25	16
15-24 years	40	75
25-34 years	53	95
35-44 years	55	103
45-54 years	50	86
55-64 years	36	67
65+ years	20	36

Figure 3.9 12–month prevalence of common mental disorders and uptake of Better Access MBS items by age group, males (per 1,000 population)

Text version of Figure 3.9

Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.Top of page

Age Group	Prevalence of affective, anxiety and substance use disorders (2007 NSMHWB) Rate per 1,000	Persons using Better Access services in 2009 Rate per 1,000
16-24 years	225	40
25-34 years	230	50
35-44 years	210	60
45-54 years	180	50
55-64 years	110	40
65-74 years	70	25
75-84 years	50	20

Figure 3.10 12–month prevalence of common mental disorders and uptake of Better Access MBS items by age group, females (per 1,000 population)

Text version of Figure 3.10

Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.

Age Group	Prevalence of affective, anxiety and substance use disorders (2007 NSMHWB) Rate per 1,000	Persons using Better Access services in 2009 Rate per 1,000
16-24 years	300	75
25-34 years	265	100
35-44 years	255	100
45-54 years	240	80
55-64 years	160	65
65-74 years	95	45
75-84 years	65	25

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Table 3.10 Persons receiving any MBS–subsidised Better Access services by age, gender, geographical region and socio–economic disadvantage for 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate per 1,000	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate per 1,000	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate per 1,000
Age group - 0-14 years	41,050	5.8	10.1	61,239	6.4	14.8	81,336	7.2	19.7
Age group - 15-24 years	106,078	14.9	35.9	141,840	14.9	47.3	171,876	15.2	57.3
Age group - 25-34 years	148,378	20.9	50.6	194,595	20.5	65.2	224,648	19.9	75.2
Age group - 35-44 years	161,854	22.8	52.3	213,303	22.4	68.5	249,183	22.0	80.0
Age group - 45-54 years	128,275	18.0	44.1	170,316	17.9	57.5	199,434	17.6	67.4
Age group - 55-64 years	77,508	10.9	33.2	105,049	11.0	43.6	124,944	11.1	51.8
Age group - 65+ years	47,697	6.7	17.3	65,112	6.8	23.0	78,963	7.0	27.9
Gender - Male	259,533	36.5	24.8	347,705	36.5	32.7	419,561	37.1	39.4
Gender - Female	451,307	63.5	42.7	603,749	63.5	56.3	710,823	62.9	66.2
Regiona - Capital cities	477,597	67.2	35.2	632,343	66.5	45.8	740,953	65.5	53.7
Regiona - Other metro	62,255	8.8	36.7	83,489	8.8	48.3	101,922	9.0	59.0
Regiona - Rural centres	92,461	13.0	35.0	127,506	13.4	47.5	155,054	13.7	57.6
Regiona - Other rural	71,572	10.1	28.5	98,863	10.4	38.9	120,434	10.7	47.3
Regiona - Remote areas	6,954	1.0	12.7	9,253	1.0	16.6	12,012	1.1	21.5
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	198,825	28.2	36.1	257,720	27.4	46.1	298,207	26.7	53.4
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	153,894	21.8	33.6	205,515	21.8	44.1	245,822	22.0	52.7
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	142,904	20.3	33.4	192,273	20.4	44.1	228,413	20.4	52.4
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	119,399	16.9	33.2	162,561	17.3	44.6	195,517	17.5	53.6
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	89,651	12.7	29.4	123,408	13.1	40.0	149,683	13.4	48.5
All Better Access items	710,840	100.0	33.8	951,454	100.0	44.5	1,130,384	100.0	52.8

2007 and 2008 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009; 2009 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010.
Region based on RRMA classification. Socio–economic disadvantage based on IRSD classification.
Rates for gender, region and socio–economic disadvantage are age–standardised; Rates for age group are crude.
^a 2007, 1 case excluded due to missing data on RRMA;
^b Approximately 1% of cases excluded due to missing IRSD quintile data.

Table 3.11 Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within item groups, by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Table 3.11 is separated into 4 smaller tables in this HTML version for accessibility reasons. It is presented as one table in the PDF version.

Table 3.11a Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within GP Mental Health Treatment Items, by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	31,251	5.0	7.7	46,403	5.7	11.3	61,963	6.4	15.0
Age group - 15-24 years	92,869	15.0	31.4	123,855	15.1	41.3	150,664	15.5	50.2
Age group - 25-34 years	132,666	21.4	45.3	170,806	20.9	57.2	197,275	20.3	66.1
Age group - 35-44 years	143,485	23.2	46.4	185,370	22.7	59.5	216,295	22.3	69.5
Age group - 45-54 years	112,444	18.2	38.6	146,845	18.0	49.6	171,963	17.7	58.1
Age group - 55-64 years	66,806	10.8	28.6	89,980	11.0	37.3	107,041	11.0	44.4
Age group - 65+ years	39,346	6.4	14.2	46,403	6.7	19.2	66,635	6.9	23.5
Gender - Male	217,822	35.2	20.8	290,608	35.5	27.3	351,621	36.2	33.1
Gender - Female	401,045	64.8	38.0	527,130	64.5	49.1	620,215	63.8	57.8

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Table 3.11b Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Consultant Psychiatry Items, by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	4,157	4.7	1.0	4,397	4.7	1.1	4,645	4.6	1.1
Age group - 15-24 years	14,841	16.9	5.0	15,703	16.8	5.2	17,515	17.4	5.8
Age group - 25-34 years	17,313	19.7	5.9	18,563	19.8	6.2	19,811	19.7	6.6
Age group - 35-44 years	18,273	20.8	5.9	19,422	20.7	6.2	20,556	20.5	6.6
Age group - 45-54 years	15,313	17.4	5.3	16,189	17.3	5.5	16,853	16.8	5.7
Age group - 55-64 years	10,043	11.4	4.3	10,968	11.4	4.4	11,465	11.4	4.8
Age group - 65+ years	8,007	9.1	2.9	8,764	9.3	3.1	9,589	9.5	3.4
Gender - Male	39,912	45.4	3.8	42,690	45.5	4.0	46,063	45.9	4.3
Gender - Female	48,035	54.6	4.5	51,046	54.5	4.7	54,371	54.1	5.0

Table 3.11c Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Psychological Therapy Services Items, by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	9,167	9.3	2.2	15,302	10.1	3.7	20,521	10.8	5.0
Age group - 15-24 years	14,689	14.9	5.0	22,272	14.7	7.4	28,089	14.8	9.4
Age group - 25-34 years	20,943	21.2	7.1	32,067	2.2	10.7	38,833	20.5	13.0
Age group - 35-44 years	22,943	23.3	7.4	234,419	22.7	11.1	42,581	22.5	13.7
Age group - 45-54 years	17,296	17.5	5.9	26,343	17.4	8.9	32,286	17.0	10.9
Age group - 55-64 years	9,720	9.9	4.2	15,192	10.0	6.3	19,180	10.1	8.0
Age group - 65+ years	3,854	3.9	1.4	5,922	4.0	2.1	7,928	4.2	2.8
Gender - Male	34,562	35.0	3.3	54,298	35.8	5.1	69,254	36.6	6.5
Gender - Female	64,050	65.0	6.1	97,289	64.2	9.1	120,164	63.4	11.3

Table 3.11d Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Focussed Psychological Strategies Items, by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	18,146	8.0	4.4	26,972	8.6	6.5	37,535	9.9	9.1
Age group - 15-24 years	31,441	13.9	10.	43,879	14.1	14.6	54,531	14.4	18.2
Age group - 25-34 years	47,644	21.1	16.3	64,278	20.6	21.5	75,585	19.9	25.3
Age group - 35-44 years	53,578	23.7	17.3	73,528	23.6	23.6	87,006	22.9	27.9
Age group - 45-54 years	41,642	18.4	14.3	56,632	18.1	19.1	67,950	17.9	23.0
Age group - 55-64 years	23,703	10.5	10.2	32,855	10.5	13.6	39,603	10.4	16.4
Age group - 65+ years	10,015	4.4	3.6	13,891	4.5	4.9	17,074	4.5	6.0
Gender - Male	76,293	33.7	7.3	107,092	34.3	10.1	134,895	35.6	12.7
Gender - Female	149,876	66.3	14.3	204,943	65.7	19.2	244,389	64.4	22.9

Notes for table 3.11

2007 and 2008 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009; 2009 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010. Rates for gender are age–standardised; Rates for age group are crude.

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Table 3.12 Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within item groups, by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Table 3.12 is separated into 4 smaller tables in this HTML version for accessibility reasons. It is presented as one table in the PDF version.

Table 3.12a Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within GP Mental Health Treatment Items, by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	409,726	66.2	30.1	536,955	65.7	38.9	629,356	64.8	45.6
Regiona - Other metro	54,412	8.8	32.1	72,338	8.8	41.9	88,461	9.1	51.2
Regiona - Rural centres	83,886	13.6	31.8	112,733	13.8	42.0	136,679	14.4	50.9
Regiona - Other rural	64,583	10.4	25.8	87,387	10.7	34.5	106,479	11.0	41.9
Regiona - Remote areas	6,259	1.0	11.5	8,325	1.0	15.0	10,853	1.1	19.5
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	166,993	27.2	30.3	213,745	26.4	38.2	247,452	25.7	44.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	133,250	21.7	29.1	176,150	21.8	37.8	211,256	22.0	45.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	127,172	20.7	29.8	168,322	20.8	38.6	199,709	20.8	45.8
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	106,734	17.4	29.8	142,999	17.7	39.3	172,162	17.9	47.2
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	79,550	13.0	26.1	108,181	13.4	35.1	130,682	13.6	42.4

Table 3.12b Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Consultant Psychiatry Items, by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	65,122	74.0	4.8	68,976	73,6	5.0	72,968	72.7	5.3
Regiona - Other metro	7,325	8.3	4.3	7,680	8.2	4.4	8,545	8.5	4.9
Regiona - Rural centres	8,029	9.1	3.0	8,803	9.4	3.2	9,923	9.9	3.7
Regiona - Other rural	6,788	7.7	2.7	7,587	8.1	3.0	8,229	8.2	3.2
Regiona - Remote areas	683	0.8	1.2	699	0.7	1.3	769	0.8	1.4
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	30.219	34.7	5.5	31,605	34.2	5.6	33,274	33.6	5.9
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	19,694	22.6	4.3	20,673	22.4	4.4	21,954	22.2	4.7
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	14,644	16.8	3.4	15,629	16.9	3.6	17,127	17.3	3.9
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	12,486	14.4	3.5	13,618	14.7	3.7	14,484	14.6	4.0
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	9,924	11.4	3.2	10,910	11.8	3.5	12.070	12.2	3.9

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Table 3.12c Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Psychological Therapy Services Items, by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	76,808	77.9	5.7	115,363	76.1	8.4	141,792	74.9	10.3
Regiona - Other metro	7,278	7.4	4.3	11,835	7.8	6.9	15,777	8.3	9.2
Regiona - Rural centres	8,486	8.6	3.2	14,350	9.5	5.4	18,069	9.5	6.7
Regiona - Other rural	5,605	5.7	2.2	9,377	6.2	3.7	12,860	6.8	5.1
Regiona - Remote areas	435	0.4	0.8	662	0.4	1.2	916	0.5	1.6
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	38.208	39.2	7.0	55,542	37.1	10.0	67,343	36.0	12.1
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	21,137	21.7	4.6	32,795	21.9	7.1	41,567	22.2	8.9
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	18,793	19.3	4.4	28,644	19.1	6.6	35,733	19.1	8.2
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	10,857	11.1	3.1	18,355	12.3	5.1	23,903	12.8	6.6
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	8,579	8.8	2.8	14,283	9.5	4.7	18,346	9.8	6.0

Table 3.12d Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services within Focussed Psychological Strategies Items, by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	149,689	66.2	11.1	204,302	65.5	14.8	245,718	64.8	17.9
Regiona - Other metro	22,073	9.8	13.1	29,667	9.5	17.3	36,573	9.6	21.3
Regiona - Rural centres	30,835	13.6	11.7	44,377	14.2	16.6	54,942	14.5	20.6
Regiona - Other rural	22,196	9.8	8.8	31,795	10.2	12.5	39,655	10.5	15.6
Regiona - Remote areas	1,376	0.6	2.5	1,894	0.6	3.3	2,394	0.6	4.2
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	64,895	28.9	11.8	86,150	27.8	15.5	101,759	27.1	18.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	52,436	23.3	11.5	71.610	23.1	15.4	87,039	23.2	18.7
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	44,560	19.8	10.5	61,859	20.0	14.3	75,452	20.1	17.4
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	36,790	16.4	10.3	52,521	17.0	14.5	64,808	17.2	17.9
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	25,904	11.5	8.5	37,209	12.0	12.1	46,666	12.4	15.2

Notes for table 3.12

2007 and 2008 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009; 2009 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010. Region based on RRMA classification. SE Disadvantage, socio–economic disadvantage based on IRSD classification. Rates for region and socio–economic disadvantage are age–standardised.
^a 1 case excluded due to missing RRMA in 2007, 9 cases in 2009;
^b Approximately 1% of cases excluded due to missing IRSD.

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Table 3.13 Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Provider Type (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Table 3.13 is separated into 3 smaller tables in this HTML version for accessibility reasons. It is presented as one table in the PDF version

Table 3.13a Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by General Psychologists (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	16,870	7.9	4.1	24,695	8.5	6.0	33,821	9.7	8.2
Age group - 15-24 years	29,853	14.0	10.1	40,892	14.1	13.6	50,365	14.5	16.8
Age group - 25-34 years	45,282	21.2	15.4	59,932	20.7	20.1	69,956	20.1	23.4
Age group - 35-44 years	50,597	23.6	16.4	68,214	23.5	21.9	79,768	22.9	25.6
Age group - 45-54 years	39,362	18.4	13.5	52,586	18.1	17.8	62,482	17.9	21.1
Age group - 55-64 years	22,539	10.5	9.7	30,617	10.6	12.7	36,422	10.5	15.1
Age group - 65+ years	9,460	4.4	3.4	12,849	4.4	4.5	15,603	4.5	5.5
Gender - Male	72,528	33.9	6.9	99,953	34.5	9.4	124,498	35.7	11.7
Gender - Female	141,435	66.1	13.5	189,832	65.5	17.8	223,919	64.3	21.0

Table 3.13b Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Occupational Therapists (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	552	27.4	0.14	1,287	34.8	0.31	2,094	41.0	0.51
Age group - 15-24 years	228	11.3	0.08	465	12.6	0.15	556	10.9	0.19
Age group - 25-34 years	299	14.9	0.10	453	12.2	0.15	542	10.6	0.18
Age group - 35-44 years	367	18.2	0.12	582	15.7	0.19	737	14.4	0.24
Age group - 45-54 years	318	15.8	0.11	500	13.5	0.17	623	12.2	0.21
Age group - 55-64 years	158	7.9	0.07	278	7.5	0.12	364	7.1	0.15
Age group - 65+ years	89	4.4	0.03	136	3.7	0.05	187	3.7	0.07
Gender - Male	844	42.0	0.08	1,635	44.2	0.16	2,437	47.8	0.23
Gender - Female	1,167	58.0	0.11	2,066	55.8	0.19	2,666	52.2	0.25

Table 3.13c Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Social Workers (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by age and gender, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Age group - 0-14 years	807	7.4	0.2	1,201	6.0	0.3	2,040	7.2	0.5
Age group - 15-24 years	1,444	13.2	05	2,747	13.6	0.9	3,944	13.9	1.3
Age group - 25-34 years	2,228	20.4	0.8	4,237	21.0	1.4	5,518	19.5	1.8
Age group - 35-44 years	2,791	25.6	0.9	5,126	25.4	1.7	7,144	25.3	2.3
Age group - 45-54 years	2,093	19.2	0.7	3,812	18.9	1.3	5,256	18.6	1.8
Age group - 55-64 years	1,063	9.7	0.5	2,093	10.4	0.9	3,024	10.7	1.3
Age group - 65+ years	492	4.5	0.2	941	4.7	0.3	1,350	4.8	0.5
Gender - Male	3,151	28.9	0.3	6,018	29.9	0.6	8,806	31.1	0.8
Gender - Female	7,767	71.1	0.7	14,139	70.1	1.3	19,470	68.9	1.8

Notes for table 3.13

2007 and 2008 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009; 2009 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010. Rates for gender are age–standardised; Rates for age group are crude. Rates for items provided by Occupational Therapists are given to 2 decimal places as many of the estimates in this group are small.

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Table 3.14 Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Provider Type (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Table 3.14 is separated into 3 smaller tables in this HTML version for accessibility reasons. It is presented as one table in the PDF version

Table 3.14a Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by General Psychologists (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	142,074	66.4	10.5	190,092	65.6	13.8	226,362	65.0	16.5
Regiona - Other metro	21,321	10.0	12.6	28,114	9.7	16.4	34,289	9.8	20.0
Regiona - Rural centres	28,959	13.5	11.0	40,889	14.1	15.3	49,872	14.3	18.7
Regiona - Other rural	20,294	9.5	8.1	28,890	10.0	11.4	35,689	10.2	14.0
Regiona - Remote areas	1,315	0.6	2.4	1,800	0.6	3.2	2,203	0.6	3.9
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	61,184	28.8	11.1	79,915	27.8	14.3	93,188	27.0	16.7
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	49,883	23.5	10.9	66,999	23.3	14.4	80,727	23.4	17.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	42,046	19.8	9.9	57,251	19.9	13.2	69,447	20.1	16.0
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	34,756	16.4	9.7	48,676	16.9	13.4	58,931	17.1	16.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	24,607	11.6	8.1	34,460	12.0	11.2	42,897	12.4	13.9

Table 3.14b Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Occupational Therapists (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	1,337	66.5	0.10	2,384	64.4	0.18	3,491	68.4	0.26
Regiona - Other metro	164	8.2	0.10	424	11.5	0.25	549	10.8	0.32
Regiona - Rural centres	259	12.9	0.10	549	14.8	0.21	594	11.6	0.22
Regiona - Other rural	236	11.7	0.10	319	8.6	0.13	438	8.6	0.17
Regiona - Remote areas	15	0.7	0.03	25	0.7	0.04	31	0.6	0.05
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	561	28.1	0.11	1,056	28.7	0.20	1,647	32.5	0.31
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	414	20.8	0.09	786	21.4	0.17	1,050	20.8	0.23
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	447	22.4	0.11	699	19.0	0.16	969	19.2	0.23
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	367	18.4	0.10	684	18.6	0.19	799	15.8	0.22
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	206	10.3	0.07	451	12.3	0.14	595	11.8	0.19

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Table 3.14c Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services by Social Workers (within the Focussed Psychological Strategies item group), by region and relative socio–economic disadvantage, 2007, 2008 and 2009

	2007 N persons	2007 % of persons	2007 Rate (per 1,000)	2008 N persons	2008 % of persons	2008 Rate (per 1,000)	2009 N persons	2009 % of persons	2009 Rate (per 1,000)
Regiona - Capital cities	6,739	61.7	0.5	12,902	64.0	0.9	17,514	61.9	1.3
Regiona - Other metro	651	6.0	0.4	1,238	6.1	0.7	1,913	6.8	1.1
Regiona - Rural centres	1,733	15.9	0.7	3,193	15.8	1.2	4,856	17.2	1.8
Regiona - Other rural	1,747	16.0	0.7	2,750	13.6	1.1	3,820	13.5	1.5
Regiona - Remote areas	48	0.4	0.1	74	0.4	0.1	173	0.6	0.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 5 (Least)	3,385	31.3	0.6	5,675	28.4	1.0	7,667	27.4	1.4
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 4	2,297	21.2	0.5	4,155	20.8	0.9	5,798	20.7	1.2
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 3	2,209	20.4	0.5	4,224	21.2	1.0	5,498	19.7	1.3
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 2	1,781	16.4	0.5	3,458	17.3	1.0	5,525	19.8	1.5
SE Disadvantageb - Quintile 1 (Most)	1,157	10.7	0.4	2,457	12.3	0.8	3,470	12.4	1.1

Notes for table 3.13

2007 and 2008 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009; 2009 figures have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010. Region based on RRMA classification. SE Disadvantage, socio–economic disadvantage based on IRSD classification. Rates for region and socio–economic disadvantage are age–standardised. Rates for items provided by Occupational Therapists are given to 2 decimal places as many of the estimates in this group are small.
^a 1 case excluded due to missing RRMA in 2007, 9 cases in 2009;
^b Approximately 1% of cases excluded due to missing IRSD.