The AHPA Insider
Thursday 14 May 2026

Federal Budget heavy on reform – except in health, disability and aged care

AHPA was pleased to host a member-facing post Budget briefing this morning, with senior representatives from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs joining us to unpack key measures. Discussion covered the NDIS, Thriving Kids, primary care and veteran’s care, with members raising important questions about implementation and impact.

AHPA has also released a statement responding to the 2026–27 Federal Budget. While framed as a Budget of reform, little has shifted for allied health. Access continues to decline across disability, aged care, mental health and primary care, and rural and remote communities remain chronically under resourced. Tightened NDIS pathways, falling aged care access and a primary care agenda focused almost entirely on general practice leave millions without the supports they need.

New investment for veterans is welcome, but it also underscores how far Medicare rebates have fallen behind the real cost of delivering care – and how urgently broader reform is required. As Australia’s largest primary care workforce, allied health cannot be left out of “ambitious” reform without consequences for the community.

Digital health funding welcomed

AHPA is pleased to see the continued investment announced in the Federal Budget 2026-27 toward building a secure and interoperable digital health ecosystem. Sustained commitment to digital programs of work is essential to driving efficiencies that improve consumer access to allied health.

Funding to expand Share by Default requirements in My Health Record, expected to include GP Chronic Condition Management plans, along with ongoing support for the Sparked program, will help ensure allied health professionals can access key documents earlier and more reliably.

AHPA looks forward to continuing its work with the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Sparked program to ensure allied health professionals are both connected to My Health Record and able to contribute data via the use of national information standards.

AHPA responds to Minister Butler as NDIS reform bill reaches Parliament

Last month, Minister Butler announced the most significant structural reforms to the NDIS since the scheme began, aiming to reduce annual growth to the National Cabinet target of 5–6% after actuarial advice that spending is projected to exceed forecasts by $13 billion over the next four years.

AHPA acknowledges the need for reform – the scheme must be sustainable, and funds must reach the people it was designed to support. However, we were deeply concerned by Minister Butler’s claim that the NDIS overhaul will “redistribute” Australia’s allied health workforce toward aged care, hospitals and veterans’ services – an assumption not supported by evidence.

We outlined these concerns in our opinion piece, You cannot fix allied health in aged care by cutting disability funding, and in AHPA’s full response to the reform announcement.

With the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill tabled in Parliament today, AHPA will continue engaging with government to ensure reforms reflect the realities of the allied health workforce and the needs of the people who rely on it.

AHPA engages nationally on Thriving Kids

AHPA has engaged with all States and Territories regarding the implementation of Thriving Kids and has so far held discussions with NSW, ACT, WA and Victoria. This included a meeting this week with the WA Minister for Disability Services, Hannah Beazley (pictured below).

AHPA continues to advocate for consistent assessment processes, commissioning models that include private allied health providers, and transition support for the allied health workforce.

Consultation processes are underway or expected to begin shortly across several jurisdictions. The WA market survey closes this Sunday, 17 May. In Tasmania, consultation will commence in the coming weeks, with details now available. Sector webinar recordings from this month will be made available for NSW and WA. The NSW provider EOI is currently open and will close on 29 May.

Health ministers release response to NRAS Complexity Review

Australian Health Ministers met last week and have released a communique outlining their full response to the actions recommended in the final report of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) Complexity Review. This follows their initial response in September 2025, which identified priority actions for Ahpra and the Health Workforce Taskforce (HWT). With the latest communique, all actions from the review have now been formally considered.

Two elements are particularly relevant for self-regulating professions:

• Updated NRAS guidance is expected late 2026, confirming that professions seeking NRAS inclusion will have access to revised criteria and application guidance later this year.

• Further work on an alternative regulatory model (actions 2.3 and 2.5) has been accepted in part and subject to resourcing.

AHPA has met with the HWT, which has advised that progressing this work requires additional funding, with a decision expected in late July.

We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they progress.

AHPA welcomes new Board members

Allied Health Professions Australia held its Annual General Meeting yesterday, and was pleased to welcome three new Board members, each bringing valuable expertise and fresh perspectives.

• Zena Burgess, Australian Psychological Society

• Jessica Landers, Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association

• Nigel Polak, Australian Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia

Their leadership will help guide our strategic direction for the year ahead as we continue strengthening the voice of allied health across Australia.

DVA Provider e-News

DVA is refreshing how it shares updates with health providers, with DVA Provider e‑News becoming the new monthly newsletter designed to make staying informed simpler and more streamlined.

Current subscribers will automatically receive the new edition when it launches.

Help shape research priorities for in-home aged care in Australia

Researchers from Monash University and Silverchain are partnering to identify Australia’s most important research priorities for in‑home aged care. If you receive in‑home care, work in the sector, or simply care about its future, you’re invited to take part in a short survey. Participants will go into the draw to win one of 10 $50 eGift Cards. For questions or support, contact ncha.nacren@monash.edu or 03 9904 4822.

[This study has been approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC). Project title: Research priorities for Australian Home Care. Project ID: 50152].

Dementia Australia – Support at Home program survey