Report: Allied health peak bodies meeting with Minister Jenny McAllister's office

About the meeting

The NDIS 2025-26 Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) was recently released. Read this article to see how it impacts osteopaths.

As the wider allied health sector has been significantly affected by these changes, we have collaborated with other peak bodies to take action. The halving of provider travel funding impacts osteopaths working under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and adds further access barriers for participants living in outer metro, regional and remote communities, and the association released a statement in response to these changes. The changes reduce participant choice and control and we’re calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to meaningfully consult with the association and the allied health sector.

In the days after the PAPL was released, several peak bodies came together to discuss a unified approach. A joint media statement (of which the association was a signatory) from allied health peak bodies was collaboratively developed, calling for a halt and review of price limit changes, and full reinstatement of provider travel funding.

Following the release of the joint media statement, the combined efforts of the signatories secured a meeting with the office of Jenny McAllister (Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme). Alongside Alexander Norden, Policy Officer at the association, representatives from Dietitians Australia, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Australian Podiatry Association, Australian Psychological Society, Exercise & Sports Science Australia, Occupational Therapy Australia and Speech Pathology Australia met with Ross Willing and Neva Frecheville, advisors from Minister McAllister's office on Tuesday 24 June. 

Alongside the other peak body representatives, we explained the significant impacts that the price limit and provider travel cuts have on their profession. Allied health service providers are already under immense pressure and are absorbing costs due to increased inflation and NDIS reporting requirements. All peak bodies reported that many members are considering ceasing their work in the NDIS if these cuts are implemented as they will no longer able to manage their business expenses, and many are operating at a loss already. This disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable members of the disability community was strongly emphasised to the Minister's advisors. 

The commitments from Minister McAllister’s office

• Engage with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and understand the reasoning for the price limit and provider travel cuts from their side, and the history up to this point.
• Communicate the allied health peak bodies requirement for meaningful consultation around NDIS cuts and changes that affect allied health professionals, and our desire to co-design a better solution for allied health.

Next steps

The Minister's advisors asked the group to determine what solutions we could present to the identified issues and clearly provide them to both the department and the NDIA. This conversation will continue between the allied health peak bodies and in the AHPA Disability Working Group meetings.

We will continue to advocate for an individual line item for osteopathy as part of this engagement, alongside the other asks.

While the collaborative group will continue to engage with both Minister McAllister's office and the NDIA, and we will keep you up to date.

Read our summary of the PAPL changes and their impact on osteopathy here.