FAQ

Mind Medicine Australia is a registered charity working to alleviate the suffering and suicides caused by mental illness by expanding treatment options through the safe, clinical use of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat depression, trauma, addictions and other intractable conditions.

MMA’s wholly clinical focus includes building a national ecosystem encompassing professional development for health practitioners through the world-leading Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT™), patient access pathways, medicine supplies, regulatory and research advancements, clinical rollouts and widespread awareness and education. MMA made global history through its successful rescheduling applications for psilocybin and MDMA making Australia the first nation in the world to reschedule these medicines for clinical use in 2023.

Our mission is to reduce suffering by building a clinical ecosystem that includes:

1. Patient access and clinical rollouts
2. Awareness and knowledge building
3. Professional training and education
4. Research

Conventional treatments for mental illness do not work for everyone. Psychedelic-assisted therapies have shown promising results for people experiencing conditions such as PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, addictions, OCD, eating disorders, end-of-life stress, cognitive decline, cluster headaches, fibromyalgia and more.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to remission in 60-80% of cases of anxiety and depression[1,2], whereas current existing treatments lead to remission in a maximum of 15% of cases.

MDMA-assisted therapy can lead to remission in 60-80% of cases of trauma (PTSD), whereas current existing treatments lead to remission in a maximum of 10% of cases.

To date, there have been 617+ current and completed trials for psychedelic therapies.

[1] Griffiths, R. R. et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. Journal of psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181-1197.

[2] Ross et al. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30-12:1165-1180.

Yes. As of July 1, 2023, Authorised Prescriber psychiatrists in Australia are permitted to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and MDMA for PTSD. This is as a direct result of MMA’s applications to reschedule psilocybin and MDMA.

All treatments must occur in regulated clinical environments under the supervision of qualified professionals. You can find a list of Authorised Prescribers in Australia here and our CPAT™ Alumni Directory here.

From July 2023 to 31 December 2025, no adverse events were reported to the TGA for either MDMA or psilocybin used under the Authorised Prescriber program. Over 450 patients have been treated so far in Australia and this number is increasing rapidly.

Treatment is only ever delivered in medically controlled settings, under protocols approved by an HREC and the TGA, and patients never take the medicines home. Thorough training for every member of the treatment team is central to keeping patients safe, and is one of the reasons HRECs and the TGA require specific training such as MMA’s CPAT™.

Source: TGA Freedom of Information releases.

Studies also report a low risk of addiction, no toxic effects at therapeutic doses, and strong safety outcomes when administered by trained professionals in a clinical setting.

Eligible patients can receive treatment through Authorised Prescriber clinics located across Australia, as well as at the Mind Medicine Australia Clinic and Centre of Excellence in Melbourne.

In fact, more than 25 clinics across Australia now offer treatment, and more than 450 patients have been treated under 123 Authorised Prescriber approvals (63 for MDMA and 60 for psilocybin). Over 200 of our CPAT™ graduates are already working in this fast-growing field, achieving extraordinary outcomes.

Clinical psychedelic therapies are fundamentally different from recreational drug use. These treatments utilise pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin and MDMA administered in safe, controlled settings under the guidance of two trained therapists.

These treatments are part of a structured therapeutic process that includes screening and preparation, dosing sessions, and integration therapy. They are strictly medical interventions and not recreational experiences.

A standard treatment program typically includes screening for suitability, several preparation sessions, one to three supervised medicine dosing sessions, and follow-up integration therapy to support long-term benefits.

The exact treatment plan is tailored to each individual based on their diagnosis and specific needs. The duration is usually from three to four months in total.

Learn more about the process of psychedelic-assisted therapies here.

The cost of treatment varies depending on the provider, the number of sessions required, and the patient’s condition.

Financial assistance options include MMA’s Patient Support Fund (offering up to $10,500 or more (on a needs basis) for eligible patients), as well as coverage through NDIS, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Medicare rebates, Medibank and other health insurers, private payment, and early access to superannuation.

You can learn more about funding options here.

Yes, and it is growing fast. Since psilocybin and MDMA became available through the TGA’s Authorised Prescriber (AP) program, the number of treatment teams and patients has risen sharply, and 2026 has seen the strongest growth to date:

• +37% growth in MDMA Authorised Prescribers in the first half of 2026, with new approvals up around 90% on the same period in 2025.
• +58% growth in psilocybin Authorised Prescribers in the first half of 2026, with new approvals up around 270% on the same period in 2025.
• ~140% increase in patients treated with MDMA or psilocybin since 31 December 2025. MMA estimates more than 450 patients have now been treated, compared with 188 reported to the TGA at that date.

Every new Authorised Prescriber needs a trained team around them. Each patient is treated by two therapists, and a single course of treatment can involve up to 70 therapist hours over two to three months. A psychiatrist running a significant PAT program may need upwards of 20 therapists in their team. This is creating strong demand for trained clinicians, particularly clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who can take the lead therapist role.

Sources: TGA Freedom of Information releases (May 2025, February 2026, August 2026). The patient figure is an MMA estimate.

The world-leading Mind Medicine Australia Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT™) is a part online and part face-to-face professional training program that provides healthcare and mental health professionals, and other eligible practitioners, with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively administer psychedelic-assisted therapies (PAT) in clinical settings. More than 750 psychiatrists and other clinicians have completed this program. Many rate it as the best professional training they have completed. Please see testimonials here.

This program is both for prescribing psychiatrists, as well as other mental health professionals who will be delivering the treatment as part of a multidisciplinary team. Eligible professions include psychiatrists, medical practitioners, psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, allied health professionals, addiction specialists, pharmacists, spiritual carers, and selected complementary medicine practitioners.

The training is delivered by a world-class Faculty made up of global leaders in the field. It teaches best practice for the delivery of PAT, with a focus on psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine-assisted therapy. These are the three psychedelic medicines with regulatory approval in Australia.

For more information or to apply, visit the program website.

The current TGA requirements define who can work as part of the multidisciplinary teams that are required to deliver psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy as part of the TGA’s Authorised Prescriber (AP) program. Treatment is delivered by a therapeutic dyad of two therapists for each client.

At least one of the two must be registered with a National Board, as a clinical psychologist (Psychology Board, with endorsement), a medical practitioner with general registration (such as a psychiatrist or GP), a nurse with mental health experience, or an occupational therapist, and their scope of practice must include psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

The other therapist can come from a broader range of backgrounds, including psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, art and yoga therapists, complementary health practitioners and others.

The Authorised Prescriber psychiatrist is responsible for determining that every member of the dyad has appropriate skills, training and competence in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, such as is provided by CPAT™, with these decisions subject to HREC oversight. Ultimately the AP has final say on who they would like as part of their team.

Source: https://consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/targeted-consultation-ap-scheme-for-psychedelics/

We can confirm that MMA’s CPAT™ is accepted and highly regarded by both HRECs and the TGA as suitable training to allow clinicians to work in teams delivering psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) has less regulations around who can work to deliver treatment. CPAT™ graduates will be able to deliver KAP – either by prescribing themselves or partnering with a medical doctor who can prescribe.

CPAT™ graduates are already working in treatment teams across Australia.

• Under the TGA’s updated Authorised Prescriber requirements, MDMA and psilocybin treatment is delivered by a therapeutic dyad, and there are two ways to be part of it:
  1. As the registered practitioner in the dyad. Every dyad must include at least one therapist registered with one of the following National Boards, whose scope of practice includes psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and who can demonstrate appropriate skills, training and competence, as determined by the Authorised Prescriber psychiatrist and subject to HREC oversight.
     CPAT™ training meets these requirements:
     1. Psychology Board, with endorsement as a clinical psychologist
     2. Medical Board, with general registration
     3. Nursing and Midwifery Board, with mental health experience
     4. Occupational Therapy Board
  2. As an additional practitioner in the dyad. The other therapist doesn’t need to hold one of the registrations above. This pathway is open to a broader range of practitioners, including psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and others, with only their suitability determined by the Authorised Prescriber psychiatrist.

  Source: https://consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/targeted-consultation-ap-scheme-for-psychedelics/

• Authorised Prescriber – psychiatrists can apply to the TGA and an HREC to prescribe MDMA or psilocybin and lead their own program. MMA can support you through this process (see MMA Consulting Services).
• Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) – either prescribing yourself or partnering with a medical doctor who can prescribe.
• Working with MMA – MMA connects graduates with opportunities in the field, including referral pathways to the MMA Clinic and other Clinics, and onboarding into therapy pairs (dyads).

Many graduates also go on to form their own clinical groups and teams with colleagues they met during the course. The multidisciplinary mix of each cohort means you will finish the course with a network of prescribers and therapists who are building programs of their own.

Graduating from CPAT™ is the start of your journey in this field, not the end. MMA continues to support alumni through:

• An Alumni Directory – each graduate will receive a profile to update with photo and details on the MMA directory which is featured on our website.
• Alumni communications sharing opportunities in the field, including referral pathways and team placements.
• Ongoing education through MMA’s CPAT™ professional development sessions for graduates, global webinar series, summits and other educational events, which can also count towards your CPD.
• Professional mentoring for CPAT™ graduates as they begin working in PAT.
• Clinical supervision – for psychiatrists on the Authorised Prescriber pathway, MMA can arrange supervision from senior psychiatrists with PAT experience while you build your clinical experience. Supervision can be direct or indirect, depending on the complexity of care and your experience.
• Introduction to MMA Clinic and other clinics already delivering psychedelic-assisted therapies.

1. Contribute to the Mind Medicine Australia Patient Support Fund (PSF) to directly subsidise the treatment costs for those in need.
2. Donate to Mind Medicine Australia to support psychedelic research, public education and therapist training.
3. Spread the word to your friends, colleagues and networks about the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
4. Submit your application for our Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT™).
5. Complete the Fundamentals in PAT Online course.
6. Register for and attend our Global Webinar Series.
7. Keep up to date with the latest news about psychedelic medicine by accessing information from Mind Medicine Australia’s website and subscribing to our regular newsletter. Click here and scroll down to subscribe.
8. See the progress we have made in Mind Medicine Australia’s Seven Years of Transforming Mental Health in Australia.
9. Subscribe and listen to the Mind Medicine Australia Podcast series.
10. Purchase the first Australian book of true healing stories, which reinforces the life-changing and life-saving impact of psychedelic-assisted therapies for a range of mental illnesses and addictions.
11. Purchase our range of unique merchandise and support our Product Partners.
12. Share our 2-minute animation about psychedelic-assisted therapies far and wide!
13. Volunteer to work with Mind Medicine Australia. We are a small organisation doing big things. If you feel you have the skills and time to lend us a hand, please get in touch.