Quarterly update –Member news

The last three months have seen the close of the NDIS Review, the launch of the Scope of Practice Review, and ongoing advocacy to further the interests of OTs working in mental health, aged care and workers compensation schemes.

In August OTA lodged its final written submission to the NDIS Review in response to the Review Panel’s Interim Report. This submission is the last of five OTA has prepared on behalf of its members, which are available on our website – scan the QR code to view them: a warm thank you to all those who contributed their time and wisdom. meeting, Sam highlighted the value and role of OTs in aged care and our concerns about the levels of OT representation in reforms and residential aged care settings. OTA is coordinating ongoing engagement with Michael and his team.

In August, we followed up our written submission by attending several consultation opportunities organised by the NDIS Review Secretariat for allied health professions and peaks. OTA has also provided more in-depth feedback on the treatment of psychosocial disability both within and outside the NDIS directly to the Review Panel and through our Mental Health Australia membership. OTA attended a face-to-face briefing in Melbourne in late September, during which members of the Review Panel explained the direction of the review and next steps.

Ongoing impact of AN-ACC

OTA, along with Allied Health Professionals Australia (AHPA) and other allied health representatives continues to lobby with the Department of Health and Aged Care and key stakeholders to raise concerns about low levels of allied health service provision in residential aged care and the associated impacts on older people and allied health professionals.

• Key issues submission: a comprehensive submission advocating for 24 key improvements (January 2023)

• NDIA Quality and Safeguarding Framework (May 2023)

• NDIS Safeguarding Proposals (May 2023)

• OTA response to NDIS Pricing and Payments Issues Paper (July 2023)

• OTA response to the NDIS Review Interim Report (August 2023)

These submissions were informed by feedback from our NDIS National Reference Group, as well as our individual members. We’d like to extend

The NDIS Review Panel has now delivered their final report to the Disability Reform Ministers. It’s now expected the Federal Government will consult with state, territory, and local governments, before outlining their response to the recommendations. Following the publication of the government response to the panel’s recommendations, there is likely to be a lengthy implementation period involving further consultation about the details of implementation. OTA will continue to advocate strongly for our members during this time.

In September OTA’s CEO Samantha Hunter, along with members of the Government & Stakeholder Relations team, met with Michael Lye (Deputy Secretary of Department of Health and Aged Care) and Thea Connolly (First Assistant Secretary for Home and Residential Division). During this

To inform advocacy efforts, OTA developed and released a survey seeking feedback from allied health professionals on the consequences of aged care reforms on the provision of allied health services and clinical outcomes in residential aged care, one year on from the commencement of the AN-ACC tool. The survey was circulated broadly to all allied health professions via their peak bodies, and builds on a similar survey conducted in October 2022. The latest results show ongoing reduction to the OT workforce and clinical hours across residential aged care. There is also an ongoing reduction to individual treatment sessions with a preference towards group sessions.

OTA will work with AHPA and other allied health peaks to use this data to build key messaging and advocacy materials to continue highlighting the impacts of residential aged care reforms on access to occupational therapy and other allied health professions, delivery of quality care and clinical outcomes.

OTA was pleased to attend the August National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) meeting in Canberra. NACA is a representative body of 48 peak national organisations in aged care, comprising consumer groups, providers, unions, and health professionals. The alliance meets quarterly to work together to determine a more positive future for aged care in Australia. The August meeting was an opportunity to connect with a range of key stakeholders in the aged care sector and to hear updates from senior leaders across the federal government. NACA members heard from a range of senior leaders from across the federal government, including Nigel Ray (Deputy Chair of the Aged Care taskforce), Ian Yates (Interim Inspector General for Aged Care), senior staff from the Department of Health and Aged Care who talked about the program of aged care reforms, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission regarding aged care standards, and the Department of Home Affairs regarding skilled visas.

The Aged Care Taskforce (Taskforce) is currently reviewing funding arrangements for aged care and developing options for an aged care system that is ‘fair and equitable for everyone in Australia’. In August OTA provided a submission on behalf of members in response to the Taskforce’s Draft Aged Care Funding Principles. OTA also attended an in-person consultation with members of the Taskforce in September. The funding principles will underpin the Taskforce’s recommendations, which will be outlined in the final report due to government in December 2023.

OTA contributed to AHPA’s submission to the Federal Government’s proposed Aged Care Act. Our points highlighted the need to define quality care, ensure older people receive the same level of funding and access to care that others receive through Commonwealth funded schemes, and that the eligibility criteria should support early intervention services.

Deakin University has been developing a comprehensive suite of training developed by expert OTs designed for OTs. The first module was released on 30 June, with a focus on Mental Health Assessment and Planning. The second module, Mental Health Systems, Diagnoses and Co-occurring Factors, has now been released. This module includes training on mental health frameworks, systems, and legislation, common mental health diagnoses and treatments, occupational therapy models of practice and recovery-oriented practice, trauma-informed practice, child and adolescent developmental stages and attachment theory, substance use disorders, gambling, and other addictions, culturally aware practice and LGBTIQA+ aware practice.

The mental health capability framework has been used to drive the development of the eLearning modules, which support the pathway for OTs seeking OTA mental health endorsement. Scan the QR code for more information on registering for the modules:

In September, OTA travelled to Canberra for Mental Health Australia’s (MHA) Parliamentary Advocacy Day. The event coincided with the release of MHA’s 2023 Report to the Nation, which includes an annual independent benchmark survey, and called for the Australian Government to put mental health reform on the agenda.

The aims of the advocacy day were to ensure the Government makes assertive changes that increase access to early intervention and digital mental health support; increase funding for psychosocial services outside the NDIS; and increase people’s access to timely care by building the mental health workforce.

OTA delegates Alissa Fotiades (General Manager, Government & Stakeholder Relations) and Geoffrey Lau (member volunteer) spent the day at Parliament meeting with Members of Parliament and advocating on behalf of OTs working across the mental health sector.

In August, the Australian Government announced a Scope of Practice Review, titled Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce.

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This review arose out of recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Reform Taskforce.

Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce is an independent review, led by Professor Mark Cormack. It will look at evidence about health professionals’ (including OTs) ability to deliver on their full scope of practice in primary care.

As an initial consultation step, the Review has published its Terms of Reference, to which OTA has provided a comprehensive submission. The OTA submission sets out the current scope of OT practice in Australia, the key barriers to utilising OTs to their full scope, and possible enablers to unlock their potential. A copy can be found on the OTA website – scan the QR code: scholarly literature, an online survey of over 2,000 OTs, 20 interviews and ten focus groups. We look forward to sharing the Workforce Development Plan with the profession upon finalisation.

OTA remains in discussions with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on several matters including parity issues relating to the TAC’s ‘Above Rate Service Agreement’ and the TAC’s current review of the Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP). OTA conducted a survey to capture member feedback about the SWEP process, which will inform our engagement with the TAC.

OTA has also been advocating for changes to the various workers compensation Acts to enable OTs to issue certificates of capacity under these schemes. We will keep members updated on the outcomes of our efforts.

The Review Panel intends to conduct three further phases of stakeholder consultation during 2024, ahead of publishing the final report in December 2024. OTA will continue to engage with the Review throughout this period.

In August, OTA met with Minister for Veterans Affairs Matt Keogh’s Chief of Staff to follow up on a recent letter we sent to the Minister about the Occupational Therapy Fee Schedule Redesign Project, in which we expressed our dissatisfaction with the current fee schedule review. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has informed OTA that the project is currently on hold.

OTA will continue to liaise with DVA on the fee schedule, and on the DVA’s equipment schedule. We are also working to ensure OTs have more support to resolve issues and complaints.

As outlined in previous editions of Connections, OTA commenced a Workforce Development Project in March 2023 in response to challenges being experienced by OTs across the country. This project will identify actions OTA can take to support the occupational therapy workforce over the next five years.

The project is nearing completion and has used an evidence-based approach involving extensive consultation with the profession. This included an examination of occupational therapy workforce data, review of over 300 articles from the international and national