Bridging the mental health gap: Our Founders Story

In Australia where distances between communities can stretch for hundreds of kilometers, access to specialised healthcare has long been a challenge. This is particularly true for mental health services in rural and regional areas, where the shortage of psychiatrists leaves many without the care and support they need. It was this gap that Dr. Zelko Mustac and his daughter Anita recognised, sparking the idea for a telehealth platform that could reach anyone, anywhere in Australia. 

A Father-Daughter Vision

Dokotela was founded in 2017 when Dr. Zelko Mustac, an experienced psychiatrist, started offering telehealth consultations to remote parts of Australia. He did this in an effort to bridge the gap between patients in remote areas and access to quality mental healthcare. 

The start of his journey wasn't without obstacles and in his early days of his telehealth practice, Dr. Mustac faced many technical and logistical challenges that made remote consultations difficult. Connection problems, scheduling conflicts, and payment difficulties were just some of the issues he faced. It was his daughter and now CEO, Anita Mustac, who recognised these challenges as an opportunity. "My clever daughter saw my distress and came up with a whole new online platform," Dr. Mustac explains.

Anita had witnessed firsthand the stark inequality in mental healthcare accessibility across the country, as well as the dedication of rural GPs trying to help their patients without specialist support. "When I saw how committed these rural doctors were to their communities, and how limited their access to specialist support was, I knew we had to do something," Anita explains. "These patients deserved the same quality of care as those in major cities."

Dokotela’s growth has been significant since its humble beginnings. Dr. Mustac & Anita launched Dokotela's first telehealth consult from a small cubicle, with just two employees operating out of a co-working space. Today, the company has grown to employ over 45 staff, expanded into a dedicated office in Bondi Junction, and established a network of 50 psychiatrists. Despite this growth, Dokotela’s commitment remains unchanged: to provide accessible, specialist mental health care to Australians, regardless of location.

Outside of their work in telepsychiatry, Dr. Mustac and Anita both make time for what matters most. Dr. Mustac enjoys tennis and is rarely seen in the office without Baxter, his loyal four-legged companion. Anita balances her leadership responsibilities with family life, raising two young children and catching the occasional wave on weekends

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The Dokotela Difference

What sets Dokotela apart is its commitment to a proven, collaborative care model that places patients at the centre of a coordinated, team-based approach. Rather than positioning the psychiatrist as the sole provider of care, Dokotela supports a model where psychiatrists work alongside GPs, psychologists, care coordinators, and other health professionals to deliver integrated, outcome-driven mental health support.

“We didn’t want to create just another telehealth platform,” says Anita. “We wanted to design a system that genuinely solved the challenges faced by patients, doctors, and the healthcare sector as a whole.”

This model enables the psychiatrist to act as a consultant—supporting primary care providers to manage and treat complex mental health presentations effectively. By doing so, it not only expands access to psychiatric expertise but also builds the capability of local clinicians to deliver ongoing care.

For example, a patient in regional Australia experiencing moderate depression might have a small number of consultations with a Dokotela psychiatrist, who confirms the diagnosis, creates a treatment plan, and supports the GP in implementing it. The GP, psychologist, and care coordinator then manage the patient’s ongoing care—while the psychiatrist remains available for advice, freeing them up to assist more patients in need.

Flexibility and responsiveness are central to this approach. Dokotela customises its services to suit the needs of its partners and the populations they serve—whether that’s in general practice, corporate health, community mental health, or government-funded programs. This adaptability has allowed Dokotela to successfully collaborate with a wide range of organisations while remaining focused on delivering patient-centred, evidence-based care.

Measuring Impact

The numbers tell a powerful story of Dokotela's impact so far: over 20,000 appointments delivered, touching the lives of more than 10,000 Australians. The network includes over 50 psychiatrists and mental health clinicians, with their psychiatrists bringing an average of 15 years of experience to every consultation.

But beyond the statistics lie even more meaningful outcomes: reduced wait times for patients, improved and measurable outcomes for those experiencing severe and acute mental illness, enhanced capacity within the healthcare network, and valuable support for GPs and allied health professionals through a collaborative community of psychiatrists. In addition to this, through partnerships with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), Dokotela offers funded psychiatry services to eligible patients, ensuring that where possible financial constraints don't stand in the way of someone’s well-being.

Learn more about the PHN programmes.

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Looking Forward

Dokotela’s mission has never been more urgent or important, with Australia’s growing mental health crisis. 

"Our network of telehealth specialists is growing quickly, as we know there is a need to deliver specialist services at scale across Australia," Anita explains. "We are confident that with our growing network of psychiatrists and partners, we can make a real difference."

From a father's frustration with technological limitations to a daughter's vision for better mental health services, Dokotela illustrates how personal challenges can spark innovations that transform healthcare delivery. In bridging the divides that once limited access to mental health care, Anita and Dr. Zelko Mustac aren't just building a successful business, they're building a healthier Australia, one virtual consultation at a time.

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Explore the full range of Dokotela's Online Mental Health Services.

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