OBJECTIVES: Australia’s ‘Better Access Scheme’ (BAS) aims to improve access to mental health care by providing 10 subsidised counselling visits per year for Australians with diagnosed mental health problems.  This study compares improvement in mental health outcomes of Australian women with poor mental health who do and do not uptake the BAS services.  METHODS: The Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health data provided baseline and follow-up measures linked to Australia’s Medical Benefits Scheme data, which provided claims for visits to counselling services under the BAS. Regression models were adjusted for a propensity score estimate on the use of the BAS services based on baseline characteristics. These propensity scores were then used in stratified analyses to investigate the relationship between BAS use and improvement in mental health outcome scores. RESULTS: Women using the BAS services had a lower mean mental health baseline scores compared to those not using the BAS (52.4 vs 62.2, respectively).  Quintile-specific pooled analysis showed statistically significant decreased odds in improvement in follow-up mental health outcomes between women who did and did not use the BAS services (OR: 0.601; 95% CI: 0.43-0.85) after controlling for propensity for treatment.  The odds ratio at follow-up between women that did and did not use the BAS services was statistically significantly increased after adjusting for use of anti-depressant  medications [1.78; CI: 1.18, 2.70], but no statistically significant differences  in mental health outcome scores for women that had completed treatment within 3-months from follow-up [1.78; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.70].     CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the BAS has resulted in women with poorer mental health receiving the government services and improved mental health outcome scores for those women that completed treatment.   With increasing mental health problems in Australia services such as the BAS are vital in assisting recovery.