There are many meaningful ways to get involved this week and help shape the future of our profession. Your input is critical to strengthening our collective impact and ensuring occupational therapy is heard where it matters most – in policy discussions, funding decisions and reform agendas.

Our members are at the heart of our policy and advocacy work and we welcome your feedback. Please reach out to us at policy@otaus.com.au.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Countdown to the SA election – email your local MP today!

South Australia heads to the polls on 21 March 2026. OTA is calling for practical, election-ready commitments to strengthen the OT workforce, improve hospital patient flow, strengthen Thriving Kids, and progress Return to Work reform. Please take 2 minutes to email your local MP / candidate using our pre-written email tool.

Visit our campaign page to find out more.

Let’s work together to end placement poverty for OT students

Have you signed the petition? OTA is backing Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), alongside Dr Helen Haines MP and Senator David Pocock, in calling for the expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment to include all allied health students. Occupational therapy students complete extensive mandatory unpaid placements, often at significant personal cost. This reform would reduce the financial hardship and strengthen Australia’s future health workforce.

Every signature counts – sign the petition today.

2026 Mental Health Sector Expo | 5 March

Next week, OTA will be hosting a booth at Parliament House Canberra as part of the Mental Health Sector Expo. The Expo aims to provide Mental Health Australia members with opportunities to showcase their organisations to federal parliamentarians, highlight sector achievements, and promote the availability of mental health supports and services in local electorates. Please email policy@otaus.com.au with any mental health policy issues you would like us to raise on behalf of OTs.

See details here.

NDIS UPDATES AND CONSULTATION

Getting it Right: A new definition of NDIS Providers

Consultation closes 28 February!

OTA is currently preparing a submission around the Government’s ‘Getting it Right’ initiative, which plans to change the definition of an NDIS provider. Changing the definition will underpin the NDIS regulatory model, enabling the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) to focus on registration of providers based on the risk of the supports they provide. The Government is seeking the views of the disability community, the sector and other members of the public on which providers should be required to register with the NDIS Commission to provide supports to NDIS participants in the new model.    

See more information here.

NDIS 2026 Annual Pricing Review consultation

OTA is calling for a decisive pricing response to stabilise and strengthen the occupational therapy market under the NDIS. Specifically, OTA recommends the following:

1. Deliver an immediate 11% uplift to OT hourly rates – OTs have now weathered 7 years of frozen NDIA maximum fee rates, in a period of record inflation and rising business and household costs. Providers are at their limit and are absorbing costs, and many are closing. 
2. Reinstate 100% travel funding for occupational therapy as a core component of service delivery. OTs must travel to conduct therapy and environmental assessments in a client’s natural setting like their home, school or in the community. This is best practice, is required by the NDIS Practice standards, and is not a provider choice. 
3. Develop a fit-for-purpose allied health pricing model – NDIA needs to work with the allied health sector and OTA to review therapy support pricing and ensure that NDIA rates reflect real costs, and include report writing, travel and MDT consultations. 
   
   Read OTA’s submission here.

NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee – consultation open

The NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee is reviewing a range of supports to provide advice to government, and public consultation is now open. Your feedback will help government improve outcomes for NDIS participants. 

The consultation focuses on: 

• early intensive behavioural intervention
• positive behaviour support for older children and adults
• robot-assisted gait training
• social skills training as a disability support for children and young people

 
Consultation closes on 29 March. OTA will also prepare a submission to Government.  

More information on the public consultation is available here.

AGED CARE UPDATES

Aged care assessment pathway scrutinised at Senate Estimates

OTA is pleased to see Senator Anne Ruston support our lines of enquiry about the efficacy of the current aged care assessment pathway in the February Senate Estimates. In the session held on 11 February, Senator Ruston directly questioned if the assessment tool accurately identifies allied health need, given consistent feedback of reduced referrals and engagement across the allied health profession following the introduction of the Support at Home program.

Read a summary of this session here.

OTA Support at Home Survey

OTA is seeking your feedback to understand how the implementation of the Support at Home program and related changes to assessments have affected you and the people you support. Your insights will help OTA speak to the key issues and changes needed to support our workforce to deliver high quality services to older people across Australia and build data on areas that are currently not being monitored.

This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your responses will remain confidential and anonymous. 

Further information about the survey can be found here.

If you have any questions about this survey or feedback on the aged care reforms, please contact policy@otaus.com.au.

SIRA REVIEW

Reforming health provider regulation (NSW personal injury schemes)

SIRA is undertaking an independent strategic review of health provider regulation across NSW personal injury schemes, focused on improving compliance, collaboration and outcomes. OTA has lodged a high-level submission supporting clearer, consolidated obligations, proportionate risk-based oversight, and structured engagement with peak bodies to support workable implementation and reduce duplication with existing professional regulation. We will provide further updates as outcomes are announced.