Data from OTA’s recent survey of 600 OTs across Australia paints a concerning picture for future access to OT services under the NDIS, following the NDIA’s devastating pricing decision.

On 11 June 2025, the NDIA announced it would freeze OT therapy rates at $193.99/hour (for a seventh consecutive year) and halve the travel reimbursement rate that providers can claim from 1 July 2025. This decision has major consequences for the delivery of OT services, many of which require travel to conduct assessments and provide therapy in a client’s home, school, or other natural setting.

OTA’s 2025 NDIS Provider Survey attracted strong engagement from occupational therapists across Australia with an overwhelming response from 600 occupational therapists. This data gives us valuable insights into how the OT sector is faring and the insights are deeply concerning, raising questions about the future access to occupational therapy and the disturbing prospect of reduced services and practice closures affecting thousands of participants across Australia.

OTA’s data and member feedback shows that NDIA’s latest pricing decision will significantly reduce access to occupational therapy services, particularly in regional and home-based settings.

Data shows that 14% of providers expect to exit the sector in the short-term, meaning up to 1,267 practices will close. Service closures and reductions are estimated to impact up to 17,320 participants (2.4% of current scheme) who will no longer be able to access occupational therapy services, including up to 4,560 participants in outer regional and remote areas.

Key insights from OTA’s 2025 NDIS Provider Survey

• 39% of OTs do not expect to remain profitable under the new rules and a further 43% are unsure of their future business prospects.

• 55% report that they made no profit in 2024–25.

• 14% plan to exit the NDIS within 1–3 years and a further 51% are considering it.

• 95% say that client access will decline as a result of the pricing decision, affecting a conservative estimate of more than 11,704 clients and up to 17,320 clients, including between 3160 and 4560 participants in outer regional, remote and very remote areas who will lose access.

As a result of the price freeze and travel cuts OTs will be changing their service delivery in the following ways:

• 92% will reduce travel and outreach

• 63% will reduce regional/remote services

• 24% will stop taking complex client cases

• 21% will reduce client loads.

Concerningly, 79% of OTs report that they already have a waitlist for services, with 52% having a wait of 12 weeks or more to see an OT, which means that the pricing decision will result in even longer wait times for those who continue to provide NDIS services.

The decision to halve the amount that OTs can charge to reimburse their travel costs will also have a devastating impact on almost all occupational therapists who offer travel to deliver therapy and assessments in a client’s natural environment to achieve the best outcomes for both the participant and the scheme.

OTA’s survey data shows that 95% of OTs are already offering some travel to service clients in their home or another location, and 56% travelling daily to provide services.

98% say that travel reimbursement is important to their service viability, with 51% reporting it is critical to their business model to deliver assessments and therapy in a clients’ natural environment.

Our survey data shows that 85% of OTs are already absorbing travel costs as their current travel exceeds the NDIS travel cap rules at least some of the time, and 29% say that they exceed the travel cap more than 75% of the time.

As a result of the travel rate cut, 72% of OTs report that it will significantly increase the financial strain on their practice, and 86% will limit the distance or regions they currently service as a result of the travel rate cut, while 33% will completely stop offering home and community visits.

NDIA’s latest pricing decision was made without any formal consultation with the disability sector, unlike previous years. It was also made despite NDIA’s own report acknowledging that occupational therapists are already in shortage across Australia.

To inform their pricing decision, NDIA used Medicare and Private Health Insurance data, which is not comparable in the complexity, scope, or delivery of NDIS-funded OT services. They also sampled a very small number (50) of OT fees through online searches to benchmark current prices. Ignoring data provided by OTA in January 2025 from more than 200 sources which shows that occupational therapists are commonly charging around the same rate as the current NDIS price, or more, for private services.

OTA will be sharing the results in meetings in Canberra this week with Independent MP Helen Haines, and Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, and Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh. OTA will also be handing our signed NDIS Pricing petition to decision makers, which has been signed by more than 16,000 people.

To reverse these service disruptions and reductions, OTA’s NDIS Petition calls for the following actions by the NDIA Board and Federal Government, to protect participants and stem the loss of experienced and caring therapists from the scheme:

• Reverse the 50% NDIA travel cut for occupational therapy services - 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.

• Deliver an immediate 7% 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

• 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 a summary of the key results from OTA’s 2025 NDIS Provider survey here.

Read OTA’s 2025 Provider Survey Full Report here.