Policy and Advocacy Disability Update June 2024

Last Wednesday an amended NDIS Bill passed Federal Parliament’s House of Representatives. The Bill will now go before Senate for approval, where it is likely to face opposition. Recent amendments to the Bill include removing a transitional funding measure, limiting NDIA's power to request information for reassessments, clarifying conditions for NDIA payments, and allowing participants to seek more funding under specific circumstances. Read OTA’s response to the legislation amendments here. The Senate Committee is expected to table its report in late June. We will continue to update members as the Bill progresses.

OTA is preparing for the release of the NDIA’s 2024 pricing decision which will set NDIS prices for the next 12 months, OTA made a submission in April calling for a price increase to cover the impacts of inflation.

OTA is working with AHPA to provide feedback to the NDIA’s National Mental Health Sector Reference Group, and its consultation on key NDIS Reforms relating to psychosocial disability, including the proposed Early Intervention Pathways, specialist navigators, and foundational supports. OTA is advocating strongly for high quality supports, which include OT services.

AHPA's NDIS Registration Support website has been updated. AHPA’s NDIS Registration support website has been streamlined with a new format which has been designed to make it easier to decide whether to register, via which pathway and where to find the resources you need. Key updates to assist with compliance have been made in response to:

• Legislative changes related to emergency and disaster management
• Current worker screening, identity and code of conduct compliance requirements.

All changes to the website are listed under the 'updates' tab, including a new webinar detailing and demonstrating the updates. More information is available on the AHPA website here.

On 4 June 2024, an occupational therapist was sentenced to six years in prison for dishonestly obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the federal department of social services. Read OTA's response here. 

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