OTA Members Forum Part Two – Now 90 minutes, starting at 4pm 

Following strong engagement and feedback from members at our first Thriving Kids Initiative (TKI) forum earlier this year, we’re hosting a second session to go deeper into implications of the Final Report, and to hear more from members about their thoughts, experiences, concerns and suggestions. 

 

In early February, Minister Mark Butler released the Thriving Kids Advisory Group’s Final Report, setting out the roadmap for TKI to begin on 1 October 2026, with full implementation by 1 January 2028. This marks one of the most significant reforms to supports for young children since the NDIS began. 

The Initiative has substantial potential. It could provide meaningful benefits for children under nine with developmental delay or autism and offer broader universal supports for families. With Occupational Therapists identified as key contact points, the report reinforces what many families already experience: OTs are central to early childhood support. 

However, alongside this opportunity, OTA continues to identify major risks that must be addressed to ensure the system is safe, effective, and workable for children, families, and the workforce. We also heard these concerns expressed loud and clear in our previous Members Forum. 

• Continuity of supports when children move from the NDIS into TKI 

• How “low to moderate” needs will be assessed, and who is qualified to carry out these assessments 

• Restrictions on access to therapy, especially if allied health professionals are sidelined in assessment or service pathways 

• Impacts on the OT workforce, including private practice sustainability and the ability to recruit and retain clinicians in rural and remote areas 

• Unclear pathways as children age out of TKI, with a real risk that some could be left without supports altogether 

• The need for clear commissioning and funding models: without flexible funding and commissioning models that enable occupational therapy businesses of all sizes, including private practices, to provide services under Thriving Kids, there is a significant risk of market failure, and reduced access to supports for families and children 

• Ensuring continuity for children leaving the NDIS: Children cannot be left worse off or without essential therapy supports during the transition 

• Support for effective and emerging models: Investment is needed in approaches that have shown to be effective for children with low to moderate support needs. 

• Social model of disability and human rights should be at the centre: some members are concerned that Thriving Kids, if not designed in alignment with best practice, will default to a medicalised or behaviourist model. 

For TKI to succeed, we need clarity, thoughtful planning, and a system that prioritises children and families over administrative boundaries. 

The questions around funding and commissioning are important and OTA is planning to advocate strongly on this issue. OTA is seeking suggestions from members in this Members Forum about how providers could be commissioned and how funding could work to safeguard access to occupational therapy, including through private practice. We welcome suggestions from members, including insight into the places and spaces in which you work to demonstrate the breath of settings across metro, regional, remote and rural locations that occupational therapy business operate within. 

You can watch the previous Members Forum on Thriving Kids for an overview of the report and can access our OTA’s responses to questions asked in that Forum via your member portal. 

You can also review the Thriving Kids Advisory Group Final Report here: 
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/thriving-kids-advisory-group-final-report?language=en 

This session is suitable for: 

OTA members and occupational therapists working under the NDIS and/or with children and families. 

WORKSHOP DETAILS

FACILITATOR: 

Michelle Oliver - Chief Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Australia.

PRESENTERS:

Jessica Szwarcbord - Head of Policy, Advocacy, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Occupational Therapy Australia.

Ailsa Leslie - Head of Professional Practice, Occupational Therapy Australia.

Daniel White – Strategic Government, Stakeholder Relations & Policy Specialist at Occupational Therapy Australia 

Guest Speakers: TBC 

DATE:

Thursday 19 March 2026 at 4pm for 90 mins 

TIME:

4:00 to 5:30 pm AEDT 

Please login 10 minutes before the scheduled presentation time  

Presentations will commence at 4:00 pm AEST. 

The session will run for approximately 90 minutes.   

VENUE 

This is a 100% virtual event. You will receive an email with details to access the event the prior to the scheduled event date. 

DISCLAIMER

All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, and changes.  

All resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.  

An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or info@otaus.com.au  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (T&C)

Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here

CONTACT US

Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878