F E AT U R E
Quarterly update – Member news
What we’ve been doing for members 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.
National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS Review
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:
• 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 6 otaus.com.au
a warm thank you to all those who contributed their time and wisdom. 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. 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.
Aged Care 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
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.
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. 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
