Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Australia: legal treatment options, clinical research trials and harm minimisation

The TGA made a decision in mid-2023 to create a pathway for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression as new mental health treatment options. Since then, interested mental health practitioners and organisations have been working hard to implement the changes so these treatments can be offered to eligible people.

As well as current treatments, the clinic research landscape in Australia continues to expand and there are now many trials underway focusing on psychedelic-assisted therapies for a range of mental health disorders.

Meanwhile, the use of psychedelics by everyday people in non-clinical community, natural and home-based settings continues to become more widespread.

This workshop will cover these three areas, with information on:

• Legal psychedelic treatment options, pathways and accessibility
• An overview of clinical research trials in Australia investigating psychedelic-assisted therapies
• A harm minimisation approach for people choosing to use psychedelics in the community

The session is aimed at a broad audience including both community members and health practitioners - anyone with an interest in the topic of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Bring your curiosity and your questions along for an informative and interactive session.

Held as an in-person only event within the Sporulation 2024 exhibition, you’ll also get to check out some great art! 

About the Presenter

Mark Baxter is a Wollongong psychologist in private practice and Director of The Psychology Spot. He has been studying psychedelic-assisted therapies for the past 6 years alongside working in the mental health field for over two decades. Having completed a Certificate of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies and the MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy training, he is part of a team planning to implement a psychedelic-assisted therapy program in 2024. Mark is co-chair of the Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy Interest Group at the Australia Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi).