OTA Morning Tea – Australia Parliament House

We were proud to host our inaugural morning tea event at Parliament House Canberra earlier this week. Members, MPs, Senators, CAHOs and other government stakeholders joined us to hear about OTA’s pre-budget submission. It was a unique opportunity to share, listen and connect on the important policy issues central to our profession right now. Thanks particularly to the OTA members who joined us from near and far! And a special thank you to Senator Tammy Tyrrell, Dr Claire Pearce and our Chief OT Michelle Oliver for their insightful remarks, alongside our key speaker, OTA CEO Samantha Hunter. 

Read the full speech by OTA CEO Samantha Hunter here: OTA Morning Tea at Australia Parliament House, 2 February 2026.

Thriving Kids Initiative

OTA wishes to let me members know that the Australian Government has today released the Thriving Kids Advisory Group’s Final Report. See link here.

The Advisory Group recommends adopting the proposed model, but the Australian Government still needs to go into more detail and provide a full policy update on the Thriving Kids Initiative.

The Advisory Group recommends that Thriving Kids will be the best way to help parents and families build their own skills and networks and better connect with targeted services that support Australian children. Governments have agreed to invest $4 billion to deliver Thriving Kids. The Commonwealth is providing $2 billion, with $2 billion matched by states and territories. $1.4 billion of the Commonwealth’s contribution will go directly to support states and territories.

To ensure states and territories have enough time to implement Thriving Kids the roll out will now commence on 1 October 2026, with full implementation by 1 January 2028.

While the Advisory Group has released the Final Report, the Australian Government still needs to explain how the Thriving Kids Initiative will be implemented and the workforce funded. OTA will be reviewing this Final Report, and we will prepare a response to the Australian Government. We will be preparing a response in consultation with our members, and in particular, in consultation with our paediatric NRG.

This consultation builds on our previous consultation with members over the last 6 months since Minister Butler announced the idea of the Thriving Kids Initiative on 20 August 2025. In developing OTA’s submission to the Inquiry into the Thriving Kids Initiative, consultation included convening a Roundtable with academic experts, targeted consultation sessions with members working across different relevant settings, a survey out to all members, and conversations with individual members. OTA also convened a Paediatric National Reference Group to discuss Thriving Kids and the impact on the OT workforce. OTA began policy development in consultation with members before Thriving Kids was announced, with the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group that informed the development of an Advice to Governments paper on foundational supports - early childhood.

OTA will continue to consult with members and advocate for the interests of the OT workforce, as the Thriving Kids Initiative continues to develop.

We invite members to share any feedback to OTA about the Thriving Kids Advisory Group – Final Report via email to: policy@otaus.com.au.

Advocating for access to high-quality allied health in Aged Care

OTA has made two submissions relating to aged care reform. In our response to the Senate’s review of the Aged Care Rules, in which we emphasised the need for a regulatory framework that supports access to high-quality, multidisciplinary services across all aged care settings. We highlighted the importance of funding models that promote preventive care and reablement, and safeguards that recognise the rigorous regulatory requirements occupational therapists already meet. We also raised concerns about the impact of increasing administrative burden on workforce sustainability, particularly for OTs working across multiple sectors or as sole traders, and called for consistent implementation of worker screening to support a sustainable allied health workforce. 

In our submission to the Senate Inquiry into the transition of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to Support at Home, OTA reiterated the need for reforms that enable older people to age safely and independently at home. We raised concerns about the current assessment model’s ability to identify and appropriately refer older people with complex needs, and emphasised the importance of adequate funding under the new Support at Home program to ensure access to equitable, high-quality care. 

Both submission are available below.

OTA Submission: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Review of the Aged Care Rules

OTA Submission: Senate Inquiry into transition of CHSP to Support at Home Program

DVA Member Forum: Q&A follow up

OTA hosted a free member forum on 25 November for OTs practising under the DVA scheme. The forum included presentations from DVA staff and enabled members to ask a range of questions which DVA has now answered in a Q and A document. These include clarification about when it is appropriate to bill for telehealth consultations for patients being discharges from hospital. DVA appreciated the feedback and questions asked during the session and have committed to improving some DVA forms and resources as a direct result of member feedback. Members can review a recording of the forum, and read the Q and A document provided by DVA, on their OTA CPD library:  Course: OTA Member Forum – DVA Update.