There are many meaningful ways to get involved this week and help shape the future of our profession. Your input is critical to strengthening our collective impact and ensuring occupational therapy is heard where it matters most – in policy discussions, funding decisions, and reform agendas.

Join AHPA for a live Digital Health webinar

Digital health is fast becoming the baseline for allied health practice – shaping how care is delivered, coordinated and reimbursed across Australia’s health system. For allied health professionals, connecting with national digital health products is becoming essential to maintaining quality, efficiency and visibility within an evolving care landscape.

Be at the forefront of this transition and register for AHPA’s free 1-hour webinar on Wednesday 4 March from 5–6pm AEDT. The session includes live Q&A and a CPD certificate.

Presenters:

• Anita Hobson-Powell – Australian Government’s Chief Allied Health Officer
• Chen Li – Accredited Hand Therapist
• Bronwyn Morris-Donovan – Chief Executive Officer, AHPA
• Jackie O’Connor – Digital Health Lead, AHPA

Find out more and register today.

Thriving Kids Initiative – Member Forum | 24 February 2026

We’ve had an excellent response so far to next week’s Member Forum where we will be discussing the recently released Thriving Kids Advisory Group Final Report and sharing updates on our advocacy. We want to hear directly from OTs working in early childhood, schools, mental health, community, private practice and beyond about what’s working, what isn’t and what governments need to know.

The free event includes a live Q&A and is open to OTA members. We encourage OTs working with children under the NDIS or with children and families to attend. Don’t miss this chance to have your voice heard – register before 11.55pm on 22 February.  

See full details and register here.

Help end placement poverty for OT students

The national petition calling for expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment to include all allied health students – including OT students – is gaining momentum. Mandatory unpaid placements create significant financial hardship for students and act as a barrier to completing degrees. Expanding placement support is essential to strengthening and sustaining the future workforce.

OTA supports Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) in calling for equitable placement support across health disciplines, alongside Dr Helen Haines MP and Senator David Pocock.

Sign the petition today.

Equitable access to placement support must be a national priority.

Have your say on the NDIS New Framework Plan Rules

The Department of Health, Disability & Ageing (DHDA) is consulting on the draft NDIS New Framework Plan Rules, which will guide how planning will work from mid-2026 for some participants aged over 16. The rollout will be phased, and participants will be notified by the NDIA before anything changes for them. OTA will be advocating on this significant reform in multiple ways. This includes engaging in this consultation process, as well as collective advocacy through AHPA. OTA is preparing a submission to Government - and we want your input to shape it. Please complete our short survey by 12 noon on 3 March 2026. Your feedback will directly support OTA’s advocacy for members and the profession.

Start survey.

Read today’s joint statement from AHPA and the allied health peak associations in response to the Australian Government’s new planning framework for the NDIS here.

Countdown to the SA election – email your local MP today!

South Australia’s state election is on 21 March 2026. OTA has been meeting with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and crossbenchers to keep OT workforce solutions on the agenda, informed by SA member input and workforce evidence. Now we need South Australian OTs to help amplify these election-ready proposals across health, Thriving Kids early childhood reforms and return to work. Use OTA’s pre-written email tool to write to your local MP. It only takes two minutes. Just add one sentence and, ideally, request a meeting.

See OTA’s South Australian Election Campaign page for all the details. This is where you will find the election proposals and a helpful guide for meeting with your local MP.

The more constituents MPs hear from, the more impact we’ll have.