Policy and Advocacy Disability Update 13 May 2024

OTA remains highly active in the NDIS review space.

On 27 March 2024 the Senate referred the provisions of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. OTA has accepted an invitation to provide evidence to the Committee. We will keep members updated on how this unfolds.  OTA is also preparing a submission to the Committee, informed by feedback received from OTA’s NDIS NRG. OTA’s CEO Samantha Hunter wrote to individual Members of Parliament to address key issues in the Bill that may affect the provision of OT services. More information about the Bill is available here.

In late April we ran a forum to support members to keep up to date with the NDIS review and the Government’s response. The session attracted over 480 attendees and included a presentation on the NDIS Bill and a Q&A session with a panel of OTs. OTA members who missed the session can access the recording here.

OTA met with representatives from the Department of Social Services early this month to outline the important role of OT in early childhood, in the context of their work in developing a foundational supports strategy.

On 13 May 2024, OTA will host a targeted roundtable with OTA members working in the paediatric NDIS space. Discussions will focus on the implications of the NDIS review recommendations and the proposed Bill as they relate to paediatric OT practice. Outcomes will ensure that the concerns and perspectives of our members working in this area are properly represented and considered in OTA’s response to these changes.

Finally, in late April OTA provided a submission to the NDIS Provider and Worker and Registration Taskforce to inform the policy approach for the new NDIS registration scheme. This submission was informed by responses we received to a survey, which was completed by over 300 members.