New report on NDIS Psychosocial Access

OTA has endorsed a new report from the Australian Psychosocial Alliance which is calling for better NDIS access for people with Psychosocial disability. The Access Denied: Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS report draws on first-hand insights from consumers, participants, carers and others involved in the system, NDIS statistics and organisational data, and highlights decreasing NDIS access rates for people with psychosocial disability, and offers clear recommendations to ensure people with psychosocial disability have access to the support they need, when they need it.

Read the report at www.psychosocialalliance.org.au/campaign

Seeking Expressions of Interest for our Paediatric National Reference Group

OTA is inviting members to join our new Paediatric National Reference Group. Help shape OTA's advocacy and contribute to an equitable, evidence-based approach to early childhood supports.

Please submit your application via this link by 5 November 2025.

1 November 2025 – The New Aged Care Act becomes a reality

The introduction of the new Act is now only days away. This follows many months of consultation on the Aged Care Rules, a delay in its implementation, and continuing confusion and concerns about the implications of the new Aged Care Act on the delivery of services and how older people will be impacted.

The implementation of the new Aged Care Act on 1 November introduces a range of reforms. These include the new home-based aged care program, Support at Home, which will replace the existing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs.

OTA recognises this is a period of continuing anxiety and confusion for members, especially with the myriad of informational resources that have been released by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, for providers.

OTA has prepared practice resources to support our members during this transition. These resources provide a summary of the Support at Home Program's key details and offer practical preparation considerations for practitioners. You can find these resources here.

OTA welcomed the passing of the new Act, applauding its focus on the older person receiving care and a new human rights focus. However, our support for the Act, OTA has been advocating on some of the specific details of the new system and the rules guiding its implication.

In particular we will continue to advocate for the Government to review and amend the lifetime funding cap of $15,000 for home modifications. We will monitor the impacts of this and other potential unintended consequences of the implementation of the Act on the provision of OT services and the well-being, safety and independence of older people receiving aged care services.