Ahead of the 2025 federal election, OTA has compiled a summary of major party commitments relevant to occupational therapy practice and the broader allied health sector. This analysis focuses on primary care, disability, mental health, aged care, veterans’ health, rural and remote health, workforce development, and First Nations health.

Note: This information is based on party announcements and published materials reviewed by OTA. Focus is limited to issues directly or indirectly relevant to occupational therapy and the allied health sector.

Detailed Summary

Primary Care and Allied Health Reform

• Labor has committed to expanding bulkbilling incentives for general practitioners, alongside investments in Urgent Care Clinics and expanded telehealth services (via 1800Medicare from 2026). These measures may create additional access points for allied health services. Labor has also indicated support for broader primary care teams, potentially incorporating allied health professionals.

• Coalition supports the expansion of Urgent Care Clinics but has maintained a GP-centric model, with no specific announcements referencing allied health.

• Greens propose adding ADHD and autism assessments to Medicare, involving a range of practitioners (though not explicitly occupational therapists), indicating broader support for multidisciplinary roles in assessment and care.

Mental Health

• Labor has pledged $1 billion to expand free public mental healthcare, including 31 new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres and 58 expanded headspace centres. Over 1,200 new training places for mental health professionals and peer workers have been announced, creating potential workforce development opportunities for occupational therapists.

• Coalition has committed $400 million towards youth mental health services, including expansion of headspace centres and restoration of the Suicide Prevention Research Fund, although no specific allied health initiatives were detailed.

• Greens support broader mental health reforms and an expansion of Medicare coverage for mental health services. Allied health professions are not explicitly referenced.

Disability and NDIS

• Labor has not made specific disability-related announcements mentioning allied health during the campaign period assessed. Broader healthcare funding may indirectly benefit people with disability.

• Coalition has made no new disability-specific announcements regarding allied health services.

• Greens advocate for expanded support services under the NDIS and greater investment in early intervention, although allied health professions are not specifically mentioned.

Aged Care

• Labor announced $60 million for aged care infrastructure in Darwin, under broader reforms supported through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program. This initiative includes workforce capacity building, which may involve occupational therapy roles.

• Coalition matched Labor’s commitment to increased aged care infrastructure investment but did not outline further initiatives regarding the aged care workforce.

• Greens support expansion of community-based aged care services but have not provided allied health-specific proposals.

Veterans' Health

• No new veterans’ health commitments specifically mentioning allied health or occupational therapy were made by Labor, the Coalition, or the Greens during the campaign period assessed.

Workforce and Rural Access

• Labor announced investment in new health training infrastructure, including funding for the Flinders HealthCARE Centre (South Australia) and a Health and Engineering Wing at CQUniversity (Cairns). These initiatives will expand student training capacity for occupational therapy and other allied health professions.

• Coalition committed $100 million to upgrade regional medical training infrastructure and create 200 additional Commonwealth Supported Places for medical students. While focused on medicine, these investments may indirectly support allied health service delivery.

• Greens advocate for improved rural health access and enhanced support for multidisciplinary teams but have not outlined specific strategies targeting the allied health workforce.

First Nations Health

• Labor and the Greens expressed support for the Respectful Election Guidelines developed by Indigenous Allied Health Australia, reinforcing the importance of culturally safe debate and engagement. No specific new funding for First Nations allied health services was announced during the campaign period assessed.

• Coalition made no new First Nations health commitments specific to allied health.