Have your say: help us advocate for better NDIS pricing

The NDIA’s 2026 Annual Pricing Review is now open for consultation. Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) is preparing a robust submission to address key issues affecting occupational therapists working under the NDIS, including the impact of travel cuts and the ongoing price freeze.

Our submission will also raise concerns about the NDIA’s pricing methodology, particularly the selective use of private health insurance and Medicare data to infer session lengths and hourly rates.

To support this work, we encourage all members to complete our 10-minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCZ6299. The survey closes 23 January 2026.

NDIA Provider survey

The NDIA has also released a Provider Survey as part of the Annual Pricing Review. OTA has concerns that this survey is very limited in scope, asks only a small number of questions, does not address provider viability, and includes a very short response field.

For this reason, we are not actively encouraging members to complete the Provider survey, as OTA will be submitting comprehensive feedback that addresses provider viability as well as the issues raised in the survey. Members who wish to provide an individual response can do so via the Provider Survey, which closes 8 February 2026.

However, OTA is actively encouraging members to invite their clients to complete the NDIA’s Participant Survey on NDIS pricing. This survey is more detailed and explores a range of issues, including travel costs, whether access to services has been impacted, and whether the travel cuts should be reversed.

We encourage members to share this survey with participants who are concerned about access to occupational therapy services. This survey can be completed here and closes 8 February 2026.

WorkSafe Victoria: updated ADL assessment requirements

WorkSafe Victoria has updated its Household Help Services and Equipment and Related Services guidelines. These updates include the introduction of a revised WorkSafe ADL assessment form, along with additional guidance materials for providers.

Use of the new ADL form now attracts a flat rate of $970 (item codes OT320 / ADL002), replacing the previous hourly rate of $170.81 per hour (maximum four hours).

WorkSafe has also introduced a Quality Assurance Program to support providers in meeting ADL assessment standards under the Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services. As part of this program, some OTs may be contacted by WorkSafe’s Clinical Panel to review and discuss ADL assessments. This is intended as a supportive quality process, not a compliance action.

More information is available on the WorkSafe website.

For enquiries, contact: provider@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Tell us about the impacts of the new Aged Care Act

OTA is keen to hear from members about their experiences under the new Aged Care Act, particularly how providers are implementing the Support at Home program.

Last month, member feedback helped inform OTA’s advice to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors on early implementation issues, including pricing approaches for occupational therapy services. As the reforms continue to bed down, we are hearing that challenges remain for OTs delivering services on the ground.

To ensure our advocacy continues to reflect current member experiences, we have re-opened the survey. Your feedback will help strengthen OTA’s ongoing discussions with government and the Department and highlight where implementation may not be aligning with the intent of the Act.

Take the survey here.

New Aged Care practice resources

To support the profession through the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and related reforms, OTA has released a new practice resource for members outlining the Strengthened Aged Care Standards and how they may translate into occupational therapy practice.

This resource – Practice resource: Occupational Therapy and the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – along with others related to Short-Term Pathways in Support at Home, is available on the OTA Aged Care Advocacy Page under ‘Aged Care Act’.

This resource supports occupational therapists and key stakeholders to understand how the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards relate specifically to the occupational therapy scope of practice.