OTA to present at Senate Inquiry on NDIS Amendment Bill

OTA will appear before the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee's hearing into the NDIS Amendment Bill on Thursday 30 July. Michelle Oliver, OTA’s Chief Occupational Therapist, and Jessica Szwarcbord, Head of Policy and Advocacy, will represent OTA at the hearing, drawing on our two submissions to the Committee.

OTA will advocate for three practical, targeted amendments to the Bill: qualified assessors, pricing transparency and registration alignment. These recommendations reflect extensive member feedback on workforce sustainability, service quality and participant outcomes under the proposed reforms.

OTA will also highlight the essential role occupational therapists play in the NDIS, and the risks posed by provisions that could reduce access to qualified allied health professionals, and respond to Senators' questions on the Bill's key areas.

We'll share the key outcomes from the hearing with members shortly afterwards.

Thank you to all members who contributed feedback that shaped OTA's submissions. Your insights continue to strengthen our advocacy.

Support the NSW Thriving Kids Petition

More than 2,500 people have already signed the NSW Thriving Kids Petition, which OTA launched a few weeks ago with the NSW Allied Health Providers Group. The petition calls for occupational therapists and the broader allied health workforce to be meaningfully included in the design and delivery of Thriving Kids. NSW OTA members, NDIS participants, families, carers and people with lived experience are encouraged to sign by 3 October.

Sign the petition.

NSW Thriving Kids update

It has been deeply disappointing that private practice occupational therapists in NSW have been receiving unsuccessful outcomes from the first tranche of procurement for Thriving Kids services.

The NSW Government has advised that occupational therapists will be included in the design and approach to Thriving Kids.

DCJ is exploring a procurement panel for private allied health practitioners, with further information expected from September 2026.

Potential uses of the panel include:

• In-reach support for playgroups or peer support groups under general supports.
• Individual or group therapy under targeted supports where provider capacity or specialisation is limited.
• Flexible commissioning to support service coverage in areas with limited allied health workforce.

OTA will continue to advocate for occupational therapists to be central to the rollout of Thriving Kids in NSW. Paediatric occupational therapists are an existing workforce that already supports children on the NDIS.

Occupational Therapy Resolution at ALP National Conference

OTA has welcomed the passage of a resolution at last week’s ALP National Conference in Adelaide recognising the essential role of occupational therapists in early childhood supports and the Thriving Kids Initiative.

The resolution backs timely, evidence-based support for children aged 0–8 and calls for the Thriving Kids Initiative to protect family choice, continuity of care and access to multidisciplinary allied health services.

OTA will continue advocating for implementation that includes frontline clinicians, peak bodies and established community-based providers so that the reforms work for families across Australia.

IHACPA releases 2026–27 Work Program

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has released its 2026–27 Work Program, outlining its priorities for health and aged care pricing and costing. In April 2026, OTA provided detailed feedback on the draft work program, advocating for pricing and funding models that better recognise the full value and cost of occupational therapy services – including multidisciplinary care, indirect clinical activities, functional outcomes and the true cost of delivering services across hospital, community and aged care settings.

We welcome IHACPA’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the Cost Bucket Review, continuing work to strengthen costing and classification systems, and refining the Aged Care Financial Report and Quarterly Financial Report. The work program does not explicitly commit to improving the collection of allied health-specific data or capturing the full scope of OT services within these reforms. OTA will continue advocating for pricing and funding approaches that better recognise the complexity, value and true cost of occupational therapy services.

Read the work program here.

Share your insights on multidisciplinary team care

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is seeking input from allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, to help shape the future of multidisciplinary team care across the region. Your perspectives will inform a roadmap to strengthen collaborative care, identify barriers and support better health outcomes. Participants in online focus groups or one-on-one consultations will be reimbursed $150 per hour for their time. Register your interest by completing this form by 3pm on Monday 3 August.

ACT mental health workforce survey now open

The Mental Health Community Coalition (MHCC) has opened its 2026 Mental Health Community Sector Workforce Survey. ACT occupational therapists who provide services or supports to people experiencing mental health challenges are encouraged to participate. The survey seeks information from individual workers about their experiences in the sector. The MHCC says the findings will be used to support advocacy for the ACT mental health community sector and help ensure its workforce needs and contributions are recognised.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed here.