The federal and ACT governments have signed a $38 million agreement to boost mental health and suicide prevention services as part of the territory's pandemic recovery.

The funding comes as local airlines move to take advantage of the federal government's further easing of COVID-19 restrictions in a bid to reboot Australia's pandemic-ravaged travel sector.

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Under the ACT deal, the Commonwealth will spend $25.2 million and the Barr Labor government $12.9 million over the next five years.

New services particularly for those known in the mental health sector as the "missing middle" will be established.

Some $8.3 million will go to addressing gaps in the system and providing more integrated care for adults and older Australians.
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A further $9 million will be channelled into improving access to multidisciplinary team care for children in line with the National Head to Health Kids Hub model.

More than $9 million will flow to the territory's headspace centre to improve access and early intervention for at-risk young people, while $6 million will boost aftercare services following suicide attempts or suicidal crises.

Another $2.8 million is being directed towards perinatal mental health screening and $1.9 million will be used to tackle eating disorders.

In addition, the two tiers of government will share more data and further integrate referral pathways.

More jobs are also likely for the sector.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the agreement will ensure ACT residents have access to support when and where they need it.

"This landmark agreement will be of immense benefit to everyone in the ACT and will support our ongoing national recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said on Sunday.

Meanwhile two airlines have so far responded to efforts to woo travellers back into the air.

Virgin Australia has announced discounts on up to 1.5 million flights, including short-haul international destinations.

However it's international visitors the federal government most hopes to entice.

While still needing to be fully vaccinated, from April 17 they will no longer require a negative test result to board a flight to Australia.

Qantas on Sunday subsequently announced a new direct passenger route between Dallas Fort Worth and Melbourne and an increase in Los Angeles to Melbourne services.

Victorian Trade Minister Martin Pakula says with a total of 12 weekly flights to the US, the carrier should bring around 105,000 visitors a year to the state, creating more than 800 tourism and aviation jobs.

"These new flights provide excellent connections for Australians ... and allow Melbourne to tap into an enormous inbound tourism market from cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, Houston, Washington DC and Miami," said Qantas customer boss Stephanie Tully.

The airline launched a campaign on Friday to internationally showcase the country.

The ads feature iconic local landscapes, while sporting and cultural stars sing I Still Call Australia Home with members of the Australian Girls Choir, National Boys Choir and Gondwana Choir.

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA:

NSW: 17,450 cases, one death, 1171 in hospital including 47 in ICU

Victoria: 7466 cases, five deaths, 260 in hospital including 19 in ICU

Tasmania: 1517, no deaths, 29 in hospital including one in ICU

ACT: 799 cases, no deaths, 45 in hospital including three in ICU

Queensland: 7738 cases, one death, 284 in hospital including 13 in ICU

Northern Territory: 281 cases, no deaths, 14 in hospital

WA: 7197 cases, four deaths, 215 in hospital including 10 in ICU

South Australia: 3815 cases, no deaths, 158 in hospital including six in ICU

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