Background:
Psychologists are integral to addressing complex health conditions, yet their capacity to work interprofessionally in primary healthcare remains underutilised in Australia. Despite global evidence supporting interprofessional practice (IPP), barriers such as professional silos, funding constraints, and logistical challenges limit psychologists' engagement. This paper reports the development of an evidence-informed model to enhance the uptake of IPP in primary healthcare clinics.


Objectives:
This paper aims to:
Identify barriers preventing psychologists from working interprofessionally in primary healthcare settings.
Present evidence-based strategies and a practice model to overcome these barriers.
Demonstrate how psychologists can leverage this model to improve collaborative care delivery.


Methods:
A three-phase qualitative study was conducted. Phase 1 involved interviews with 20 health professionals from diverse primary care settings to identify barriers. Phase 2 applied the CDC's Social-Ecological Framework to categorise barriers and explore solutions, including a case study on cost and technology. Phase 3 integrated these findings with Kotter's Change Model and design-thinking principles to develop a practical implementation framework.


Results:
Nine key barriers were identified, including cost, limited understanding of IPP, and logistical challenges. Solutions emphasised multi-level interventions, such as professional education, improved communication systems, and technology-supported coordination. The resulting model provides a step-by-step guide for clinics to embed IPP, adaptable to diverse settings.


Conclusion and Implications:
Psychologists can play a pivotal role in advancing IPP by adopting structured change frameworks and design-driven solutions. The proposed model provides clinics with a roadmap to foster collaboration, reduce fragmentation of care, and enhance outcomes for clients with chronic and complex needs. This research contributes both theoretically, by integrating socio-ecological and change management approaches, and practically, by offering psychologists and their colleagues a viable pathway to implement IPP in everyday practice.