Patients across South Australia could face longer wait times and reduced access to care as the state risks losing its vital occupational therapy workforce due to an unresolved and unfair pay gap.

Australia, 10 June 2025: Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) is calling on the South Australian Government to urgently act on the widening pay disparity between occupational therapists (OTs) and their nursing colleagues, amid critical Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiations for public sector allied health professionals. With the release today of statistics showing record levels of ramping, OTA is calling on the government to recognise the importance of OTs in the effective management of the state’s health care system. When allied health, including occupational therapy, is well-resourced, it contributes to preventing hospital admissions in the first instance. It also increases the efficiency of hospital discharges, ensuring that not only is the patient medically stable, but also that they are safe to be discharged from hospital, minimising repeat admissions. With the current offer falling short of what is needed to stem the workforce crisis, public health OTs are deeply concerned that the proposed agreement does little to address the severe recruitment and retention challenges across the profession.

"Occupational therapists in South Australia are being pushed to breaking point," said Michelle Oliver, Chief Occupational Therapist at OTA. “We’ve seen small steps in the right direction during these negotiations, but nothing close to what’s needed to stabilise the workforce or value the vital work that OTs provide. The release of the ramping numbers today once again highlights the contribution that OT makes to the South Australian health system and why we should be financially recognised for that.”

A persistent and unjustified pay gap between occupational therapists and nurses who perform equally complex clinical roles has left many feeling frustrated and undervalued. Some OTs stand to earn tens of thousands less annually than their nursing peers, despite comparable responsibilities and qualifications. This gap, long recognised but insufficiently addressed, is worsening an already fragile workforce. Senior OTs report ongoing difficulties recruiting and retaining Level 2 and 3 clinicians, leading to an overreliance on early-career staff and, increasingly, the substitution of OT roles with other professions. These short-term fixes place professional identity, quality of care, and student supervision at risk. “Without appropriate pay and professional recognition, we are losing experienced staff to other sectors or interstate,” said Ms Oliver. “The public health system is running on borrowed time unless the Government makes meaningful, long-term investment in its allied health workforce.” Occupational Therapy Australia is currently writing to key Ministers, outlining the profession’s concerns and calling for immediate improvements in pay equity and working conditions for public health OTs.

“Our message is simple: if South Australia wants to build a sustainable, high-quality healthcare system, it must start by valuing the people who hold it together,” said Ms Oliver.

The Health Services Union (HSU) is planning a collective action on Tuesday 10 June to highlight the urgent need for reform.

Occupational Therapy Australia

Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) is the professional association and peak representative body for occupational therapists in Australia. There are more than 30,000 registered occupational therapists working across the government, non-government, private and community sectors in Australia. Occupational therapists (OTs) are allied health professionals whose role is to enable their clients to engage in meaningful and productive activities.