title: Improving access to primary mental healthcare for Indigenous Australians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the uptake, population reach and outcomes of primary mental healthcare services provided to Indigenous Australians via the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program between 2003 and 2013, with particular reference to enhanced Indigenous ATAPS services introduced from 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilising ATAPS program data from a national minimum data set and comparative population data, we conducted descriptive analyses, regression analyses and t-tests to examine the uptake of ATAPS services, provider agency level predictors of service reach, and preliminary outcome data on consumer level outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2003 and 2013, 15,450 Indigenous client referrals were made that resulted in 55,134 ATAPS sessions. National Indigenous service volume more than doubled between 2010 and 2012, following the introduction of enhanced Indigenous ATAPS services. Non-Indigenous ATAPS service volume of primary care agencies was uniquely predictive of Indigenous service reach. Preliminary analysis of limited consumer outcome data indicated positive treatment gains and the need to enhance future outcome data collection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerted national efforts to enhance mainstream primary mental healthcare programs can result in significant gains in access to mental healthcare for Indigenous populations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia l.reifels@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reifels
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bassilios
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ewen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pirkis
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044382:Population Groups / Q000208:ethnology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Aboriginal mental health; Indigenous health services; mental health services; primary healthcare