Post- Federal Budget 2024-25 Activity from OTA

Following on from the delivery of the 2024-25 Federal Budget on Tuesday 14 May 2024, OTA attended a NDIS reform community forum with Minister Bill Shorten on the evening of Wednesday 15 May in Canberra. 

Minister Shorten talked through the recent budget announcements focusing on NDIS. OTA was pleased to hear the Minister express his gratitude for the good work that OTs do in the scheme. OTA will be advocating strongly to continue to be engaged as the reform agenda is implemented by Government and advocate strongly for the value that OTs play within the scheme.

OTA attended the MHA policy forum on Thursday in Canberra and heard from Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon Emma McBride MP and Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler who talked through the budget announcements to expand the range of free mental health services including the funding of Primary Health Networks to bring on other allied health supports to provide coordination and support to patients with complex needs.

OTA also heard from Bronwyn Field, First Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health and Aged Care. OTA was pleased to hear that the Department has confirmed Mental Health OTs are part of the workforce contemplated in the announcements related to Mental Health services. 

Also on 16 May we attended a budget Q&A session with Amber Shuhyta, Assistant Secretary of the Allied Health and Service Integration Branch at the Department of Health and Aged Care, an event organised by Allied Health Professions Australia.