Policy and Advocacy update

NDIS Bill passes through Parliament

Despite widespread opposition from the disability and allied health communities, Parliament has passed the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. The Bill will lead to real harm by cutting $37.8 billion from the NDIS over the next four years, restricting access to the Scheme, and limiting how funding is spent. The cost of these reforms will fall on participants and the people who support them.

Parliament passed this legislation despite overwhelming evidence and criticism from people with disability, their families, and the broader community. Throughout the process, OTA has advocated strongly for a NDIS that protects both participant access and a sustainable occupational therapy workforce. We met with representatives, wrote submissions, and appeared at the Senate Inquiry calling for practical amendments to mitigate some of the Bill’s most damaging provisions.

In the final stages, the Government adopted several amendments in response to sector feedback. These are welcome but fail to address the wide-ranging concerns raised throughout this process.

This is not the end of the reform process. Attention now shifts to the rules and implementation that will follow, including how some participants transition to schemes such as Thriving Kids.

Our work continues through this next phase. We will keep pushing for a truly sustainable NDIS. You can help by joining our No OTs, No NDIS campaign here.

OTA takes advocacy to Canberra

OTA's Chief Occupational Therapist Michelle Oliver was in Canberra on Monday 17 August for a series of meetings across the political spectrum, at a critical juncture for the NDIS.

Michelle met with Dr Mike Freelander, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs Michael McCormack, and the offices of Minister Matt Keogh and Dr Anne Webster, pressing the case for a strong occupational therapy workforce – one that is able to keep delivering for NDIS participants and veterans alike.

Michelle's message was consistent and clear: occupational therapists are being squeezed by policy settings across the NDIS, Thriving Kids and veterans' affairs. Eight years of pricing freezes and 12 months of travel funding cuts have eroded access to care in rural and remote areas, where the need is often greatest.

On Thriving Kids, Michelle argued occupational therapists must remain central to the model, warned against devolving support to unqualified providers, and pointed to children already losing access to care under current arrangements. On veterans' affairs, she raised concerns that the $5,000 allied health cap is forcing veterans to make difficult decisions about their care, compounded by poor communication of the changes.

Throughout, Michelle pressed for genuine consultation, clinician-led assessment, and stronger recognition of the essential role occupational therapists play across the care economy.

Michelle also appeared live on Sky News to discuss the proposed changes to the NDIS Amendment Bill.

Advocacy like this ensures decision makers hear directly from the profession at the moments that matter most.

Last chance to complete the 2026 NDIS Provider Survey

We know NDIS work can feel like an uphill battle some days, and we want to make sure your experience counts. OTA wants to know how the NDIS is really affecting you and the participants you support. Last year, more than 600 occupational therapists spoke up, and their voices shaped our submissions, our representations to government and our No OTs No NDIS campaign.

Your responses are confidential. Share only what you're comfortable with. We report on this data in aggregate form only, and no individual business or practitioner will be identified. It only takes around 15 minutes. There are 30 questions, but you're welcome to skip anything that isn't relevant to your practice. There's also a free text box at the end if you'd like to share more.

Whatever your experience, we want to hear it. The more OTs who take part, the stronger our voice for the profession and the people we support.

The survey closes on Sunday 23 August. Complete the survey here.

OTA supports calls for clinically informed aged care assessments

OTA welcomes the Senate’s vote calling for the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) to be abolished and replaced with a tested assessment system designed with clinical experts. The motion also calls for clinical professionals to be restored to the assessment process and for human override of automated decisions. This is a positive step towards ensuring aged care assessments better reflect older Australians’ individual circumstances, functional needs and goals.

The vote follows recent Four Corners reporting highlighting significant concerns with automated aged care assessments and the experiences of older Australians navigating the system.

OTA welcomes these changes, which align with feedback from members that assessment and funding outcomes do not always reflect clinical need, contributing to professional frustration, moral distress and workforce sustainability concerns.

OTA will continue to monitor the Government’s response and update members as further details emerge. To help inform our ongoing advocacy, we encourage members to continue sharing their experiences of aged care reform implementation with us at policy@otaus.com.au.

Act now: Email your MP about Thriving Kids

From 1 October, the new Thriving Kids Initiative will begin rolling out across Australia. OTA supports the goal of earlier support for children and families but we are deeply concerned that occupational therapists are not explicitly included in the model, putting continuity of care, family choice and access to essential therapy at risk.

Now is the time to act. It takes just 30 seconds to email your state and federal MPs and ask them to protect children's access to occupational therapy. Every email helps strengthen our message: Thriving Kids needs OTs.

Find out more and email your state and federal MPs here.

Rollout of Thriving Kids in Western Australia

On 1 October, Thriving Kids will begin to roll out around Australia. In Western Australia the model for Thriving Kids has five parts:

Information, advice and navigation
Family-based capacity building supports
Therapeutic group and individual supports
Programs for children with autism, families and carers
Supports by Aboriginal-led organisations

Find out more here.

Applications now open for WA Thriving Kids Family and Children Support Program

The Western Australian Government has opened applications for the Thriving Kids Family and Children Support Program, with grants of $250,000 to $2 million available over two years to establish or expand community-based supports for children aged 8 and under with development concerns, developmental delay or autism and their families.

Eligible applicants include incorporated not-for-profit community organisations, local governments and community groups applying through an eligible auspice. Private for-profit occupational therapy and allied health practices do not appear to be eligible to apply directly. However, the program encourages consortia, partnerships and collaborative approaches, and OTA is seeking further clarification about opportunities for private practitioners to participate in funded service delivery.

A non-mandatory online briefing on 1 September will cover eligibility, assessment requirements and the application process. OTs and organisations interested in the program are encouraged to register, particularly those considering potential partnerships.

Briefing registrations close at 12 noon (AWST) on 28 August
Applications close at 3pm (AWST) on 30 September

Find out more and register for the briefing here.

OTA supports call for National Allied Health Workforce Strategy

OTA supports Allied Health Professions Australia’s call for the Australian Government to release the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy. With more than 300,000 allied health professionals – including occupational therapists – working across health, disability, aged care and veterans’ care, coordinated workforce planning is critical. OTA supports a strategy that strengthens workforce data and planning, builds a sustainable workforce pipeline and improves access to allied health services, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities.

Updated Aged Care Act eLearning: Embedding rights in practice

Module 3 (Release 2) of the new Aged Care Act eLearning series, Embedding rights in practice, has been significantly updated to support aged care providers and workers to put the new Act into practice. The updated module includes new content on supported decision-making, an enhanced focus on cultural safety, and practical guidance on implementing rights-based approaches in aged care.

Members working in aged care are encouraged to complete or revisit the updated module to familiarise themselves with these important requirements.

NSW workers compensation reform session for allied health professionals

SIRA is hosting an online information session for allied health professionals on upcoming changes to NSW workers compensation legislation on Thursday 27 August, 2–2.45pm AEST.

From 1 October, health providers, insurers and workers will operate under a new “reasonable and necessary” provision. The session will outline what the changes mean for allied health professionals and how to prepare, as well as reforms relating to psychological injury and permanent impairment that commenced on 1 July.