Disability
We advocate to support and advance the critical role that OTs play in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We lobby for better systems, processes and funding to enable access to safe, quality and value for money OT services for Australians with disability.
Member Priorities
Our members want to see:
- A strong, sustainable and effective NDIS that addresses outstanding issues that negatively affect the experiences of people living with disability and their supporters such as OTs.
- Elimination of delayed plan approvals that result in unacceptable delays in the delivery of supports, including vital assistive technology.
- Funded hours that accurately reflect the time OTs spend with complex or vulnerable clients, who need extensive coordination of services to achieve basic outcomes.
Our Advocacy
OTA is active in representing members interests to improve the NDIS and has undertaken a wide range of activities in recent years to represent members including:
- Engaging with the 2023 Independent Review into the NDIS which saw OTA make 5 submissions and attend multiple meetings with the Review Panel, and resulted in OTA’s policy positions mentioned across the Review’s final Report and Supplementary Analysis.
- Making two submissions on the 2024 NDIS Amendment Bill, and appearing before the Senate Committee inquiring into the Bill and briefing the Opposition on our key concerns.
- Advocating for a NDIS price increase through the NDIA’s Annual Pricing review and other channels.
- Hitting back at NDIS Commission published guidance that suggested that occupational therapists may be overcharging NDIS participants
- Appointment to the 2024 NDIS Worker and Provider Registration Taskforce’s Provider Advisory Group to advocate for reduced regulatory burden under the NDIS Registration scheme, which saw recognition of the regulatory duplication OT’s undergo under the NDIS scheme in the Taskforce’s Final Report.
- Ongoing meetings with Senior NDIA staff to discuss systemic issues and seek clarification and process improvements
- Direct advocacy to the NDIA Minister, Shadow Minister and NDIA CEO on key issues
- Work alongside allied health peaks and AHPA on systemic NDIS issues
- Hosting NDIA themed events and forums for members
- Conducting regular members surveys to understand systemic issues
- Working with our NDIS National Reference Group to identify issues and formulate OTA’s advocacy strategy
- Making media statements on key issues
How you can help
We welcome feedback about:
- Your experiences working with people with disability in the NDIS or the private sector
- Our submissions to the NDIS Review and NDIS Amendment Bill.
We will take your feedback to the government and key stakeholders to advocate for better outcomes for OTs and the people you support.
