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Disparities in the use of Medicare-subsidised telehealth mental health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Southeast Queensland.

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Title: Disparities in the use of Medicare-subsidised telehealth mental health services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Southeast Queensland.
Authors: Zhou X; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia.; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Smith AC; Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.; Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.; Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark., Nelson C; Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.; Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia., Suetani S; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia.; Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.; School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia., Frazer Bidjara Nation R; Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia., Borton T; Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia., Potgieter R; Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia., Basit T; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Williams Gamilaroi Nation H; Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Liu Y; School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.; Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China., Zhang L; School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Hou XY; Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia., Bainbridge Gunggari/Kunja Nations R; Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Whiteford H; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia.; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia., Diminic S; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia.; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Source: The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry [Aust N Z J Psychiatry] 2026 Oct; Vol. 60 (10), pp. 952-966. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 07.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Sage Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0111052 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1440-1614 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00048674 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Aust N Z J Psychiatry Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 2012- : London : Sage
Original Publication: [Carlton South, Vic., Australia] : Blackwell Science
MeSH Terms: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples*/statistics & numerical data , Health Services, Indigenous*/statistics & numerical data , Healthcare Disparities*/statistics & numerical data , Healthcare Disparities*/ethnology , Mental Health Services*/statistics & numerical data , National Health Programs*/statistics & numerical data , Telemedicine*/statistics & numerical data, Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Mental Health Teletherapy ; Queensland
Abstract: Objective: This study examines disparities in rates and number of telehealth used among Indigenous Medicare mental health services users in Southeast Queensland.
Methods: We analysed the 2021 Census and Medicare Benefits Schedule data for 298,283 individuals who used MBS-subsidised community mental health services, including 78,048 who used telehealth. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted.
Results: Indigenous Australians were significantly less likely to use telehealth than non-Indigenous Australians (24.66% vs 26.23%, p < 0.001), although difference was small. Video-based telehealth was associated with a significantly greater increase in service use for non-Indigenous Australians than Indigenous Australians (coefficient = -0.76, p < 0.001). Indigenous adults who were female, aged 25-69, or not in the labour force were more likely to use telehealth, while number of telehealth services used was higher among those aged 40+, those who did not speak an Aboriginal language at home, and those receiving psychotherapies or video-based services. Indigenous children aged 12-17 years and those living in the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service region were more likely to use telehealth, while greater telehealth utilisation was associated with psychotherapies and video services.
Conclusions: Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Indigenous Australians were less likely to use telehealth services, particularly for video services and psychotherapies, more likely to rely on general practitioner-delivered services and phone consultations. These patterns suggest systemic and cultural barriers, including cost, service availability, and preferences. Tailored telehealth interventions are needed to address these disparities and promote equitable utilisation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Indigenous health; health services; mental health; telehealth
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260807 Date Completed: 20260929 Latest Revision: 20261001
Update Code: 20261001
PubMed Central ID: PMC13620249
DOI: 10.1177/00048674261470271
PMID: 42565356
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1440-1614
DOI:10.1177/00048674261470271