OTA Morning Tea at Parliament House – the State of OT in Australia

Occupational Therapy Australia is proud to be hosting an inaugural OTA Morning Tea at Australian Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 2 February 2026.

All members have been invited to join OTA CEO Samantha Hunter as she delivers a State of the Nation Update, covering the role of OTs in Australia, how OTs are addressing national health challenges, and OTA’s role in shaping the Government’s Thriving Kids initiative.  

OTA will provide a summary of key insights and outcomes following the event.

Victorian public mental health OT workforce spotlighted amid EBA talks

This week, OTA met with senior Victorian Department of Health industrial relations representatives to discuss the implications of the Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement (EBA) for the occupational therapy workforce.

We raised member concerns about the widening pay gap between allied health and nursing in public mental health settings, the associated risks for retention and team culture, and the need for workforce planning that explicitly recognises and delineates mental health OT roles.

We also discussed the Fair Work Commission’s gender undervaluation findings relevant to health awards and the importance of timely implementation of wage outcomes, alongside broader system impacts such as recent changes to graduate funding arrangements.  

The agreement has been submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval. Once approved, it will become operative seven days later and implementation of the agreement’s provisions will commence. 

Tasmania: OTA feedback on Mental Health Continuum of Care

Occupational Therapy Australia has lodged a submission with Primary Health Tasmania in response to the Mental Health Continuum of Care (MHCoC) draft service model. OTA supported the model’s intent to reduce fragmentation and strengthen coordination and continuity of care, and emphasised the importance of explicitly including occupational therapy in service specifications and procurement criteria. OTA also highlighted the need for commissioning arrangements that enable participation by small and private providers, and for intake and assessment processes to capture functional impact and participation needs (alongside clinical presentation) so consumers are matched to the right supports. 

OTA Federal Budget Submission 2026: Investing in Thriving Kids and the OT workforce

Occupational Therapy Australia has lodged its Federal Budget Submission 2026, calling for targeted investment to support the Government’s rollout of Thriving Kids and strengthen the occupational therapy workforce.

OTA is seeking funding across five key initiatives to ensure children, families and communities can access timely, effective occupational therapy services:

1. $1.4 million to support workforce transition for occupational therapists under the first phase of Thriving Kids
2. $2.3 million to attract and retain occupational therapists in rural and remote areas through targeted incentives
3. Support for effective and emerging service models (outlined in Appendix 1) that demonstrate positive outcomes for children with mild to moderate support needs
4. $3 million to deliver a series of Thriving Kids Access Forums for families, supporting equitable access to care
5. $3.98 million investment in occupational therapy clinical student placements to build a skilled future workforce

Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen service delivery, improve access for families, and ensure Thriving Kids delivers meaningful outcomes nationwide.

View the full Federal Budget Submission.