“Hoping people give up”: Dirk’s mental health insurance battle shows urgent need for super overhaul 

A new Super Consumers Australia investigation 

For Dirk Purcell, the last three years have been hell. The forty-two year old Queensland man worked as an Aboriginal liaison officer at a hospital in north Queensland for 12 years, but it was in the last few years of his work that his job started to take its toll. Without specialist training, he was forced into frontline situations that left him with severe PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

When doctors told him he could never work again, his super fund denied his total and permanent disability (TPD) claim, saying he needed ongoing psychotherapy, despite there being no affordable psychologist in his region. 

Super Consumers Australia’s Director of Advocacy (Communications), Susan Quinn, said Dirk’s fight is not unique – it reflects systemic failures in insurance within superannuation.

“Too many Australians are battling for disability insurance payouts when they’re at their most vulnerable,” Ms Quinn said.

In an ABC story today, the insurance industry is reporting that mental health-related claims now make up 40% of people’s TPD claims outside super.

“Super funds and insurers must ask themselves: is this process efficient, transparent, and compassionate? Right now, it’s failing too many Australians,” said Ms Quinn.

Super Consumers Australia is calling on the federal government to:

• Task the Productivity Commission with a root and branch review of insurance in superannuation, to ensure Australians get value for the billions paid annually in premiums.
• Make insurance claims processes fairer, faster, and more compassionate, particularly for people with mental health conditions, by promptly mandating member service standards.

The full article explores Dirk’s story and the broader systemic issues – read it here