What we’ve been doing for members

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OTA also wrote to the NDIS Review Panel in July to outline the important role that mental health OTs play within the NDIS and broader mental health system and reiterated our strong expectation that this scope of practice and clinical intervention will remain a vital and funded area within the NDIS.

In June, OTA attended the DSC Annual NDIS conference in Sydney, where we connected with key stakeholders and leaders in the NDIS sector. OTA has also been invited to attend a peak provider forum hosted by the NDIS Review in early August to represent the occupational therapy profession. Additionally, OTA is engaging with AHPA to leverage further opportunities to represent the allied health sector within the NDIS.

The Mental Health OT Community of Practice has made two submissions to the NDIS Review. The CoP has engaged with lived experience advocates to develop a submission that contains specific recommendations to improve psychosocial supports both within the NDIS and in the broader mental health system. Their second submission focused on increasing sensory modulations within the NDIS. OTA congratulates the CoP for their hard work and continued advocacy in this important area and has supported both submissions.

In April, OTA made a submission to the NDIS Annual Pricing Review 2022-23. OTA’s submission called for an immediate increase of 18% to the maximum fee payable for the ‘therapy supports’ item code, due to the complexity OTs experience in servicing NDIS clients (including self-managed clients and clients seeking service in the home), increased inflation and increased business costs. OTA is disappointed with the NDIA’s decision, announced in June 2023, to maintain the therapy supports cap price at the current rate for another 12 months, commencing on 1 July 2023. However, this is not unexpected given the NDIS Review is expected to make a range of recommendations to NDIS pricing arrangements, and OTA is continuing to advocate for better pricing via this avenue.

Following a number of changes in the NDIA’s leadership team in late 2022, OTA has been building connections with new senior leaders within the NDIA, including the Deputy CEO Corri McKenzie, and several Directors. OTA met with four senior NDIA staff in June and outlined a number of issues members are experiencing. OTA highlighted our strong interest in working with NDIA to improve their systems and processes, and NDIA committed to working more closely with OTA when implementing the recommendations of the NDIS Review when they are made public later in 2023.

OTA continues to await the outcome of the Occupational Therapy Fee Schedule Redesign Project. In May, OTA made a submission to the Review of Veterans’ Compensation legislation, which seeks to implement some of the initial recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. OTA’s submission was developed in consultation with OTA’s DVA National Reference Group, and requests the review ensures the current arrangements that enable veterans to access allied health services are not impacted. OTA recently wrote to the Minister for Veterans Affairs

The Hon. Matt Keogh MP and expressed our dissatisfaction with the current fee schedule review. OTA has been invited to meet with his office and will update our members on the outcome of this meeting.

OTA commenced a Workforce Development Project in March this year in response to known challenges being experienced by OTs across the country.

Since the commencement of the project, over 100 OTs have participated in focus groups and stakeholder interviews, and 2,145 responses were received to the survey we released, which will help us to better understand the issues and opportunities for the profession. The insights received through these channels, as well as the thorough literature review and quantitative data analysis that have been completed, will contribute to the development of an action-focused report for OTA to guide our efforts in the workforce space. Visit www.otaus.com.au/workforce to sign up for updates on the project.

In June, OTA appeared before the Parliament of South Australia’s Social Development Committee, alongside OTA member Kobie Boshoff to provide evidence to an inquiry regarding funding for children and students with additional learning needs in public schools and preschools. This evidence was supported by a written submission.

We are strengthening relationships with representatives from workplace injury and transport accident injury compensation schemes in each state and territory and have contributed feedback to several consultation opportunities and fee schedule reviews. This has supported the recognition of mental health occupational therapy by ReturnToWorkSA, WorkSafe Victoria and WorkCover Queensland. WorkSafe Victoria has also increased all occupational therapy fees by 20%.

We remain in discussions with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on several matters, and will continue to work with the TAC on these matters and on its review of the Statewide Equipment Program credentialing process.

OTA’s Hot Topic program series is in full swing with several events held over recent months. Hot Topic events provide an invaluable opportunity for OTs to engage with other OTs, OTA and other key stakeholders to unpack issues impacting them, ask questions and expand their network. The events are intended to ignite conversation and provide information that is practical and relevant to OT clinical practice and/or business operating environments.

OTA recently held two online Hot Topic events, Building Optimal Energy and Resilience for OT Career Satisfaction, and Assistance Animals: The Scope of Occupational Therapy and NDIS Considerations.