The AHPA Insider
Tuesday 21 July 2026

AHPA in Canberra: Advocating on Prac Payments, NDIS and more

Last month, AHPA returned to Parliament House and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to discuss some of the biggest issues impacting the allied health sector.

A key focus was presenting our petition to expand access to the Commonwealth Prac Payment program to all allied health students, alongside Independent Federal MP Dr Helen Haines and Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock. The petition had received more than 43,000 signatures at the time of tabling and remains open for anyone who would like to add their name.

AHPA continued its work to address the biggest potential risks and impacts of the NDIS Bill, engaging key decision-makers to advocate for amendments to the Bill and for workforce transition funding to support the sector. Discussions also covered the significant impact of Thriving Kids implementation, the outcome of this year's Annual Pricing Review for the NDIS, and the proposed annual price cap for veterans accessing DVA-funded allied health supports.

At a time of substantial reform and uncertainty, collaboration across the sector is more important than ever. We thank our members and the many sector representatives working together to represent allied health professionals and their vital role in supporting our community.

Meeting with Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

AHPA recently met with Deputy Commissioner Mel Metz and Assistant Commissioner Emma Jobson from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to raise concerns about accountability under Support at Home against the Aged Care Quality Standard on clinical care, as well as ongoing concerns about consumers' access to allied health services in residential aged care.

Ministerial meetings on Thriving Kids and workforce impacts

Last week, AHPA met with the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Small Business, to discuss the impact of Thriving Kids and future NDIS changes on allied health providers, particularly small to medium businesses. This meeting builds on conversations AHPA has been having with the Minister's team in recent months.

AHPA is calling on the Commonwealth to undertake workforce modelling on the impact of NDIS changes, and to provide allied health workforce transition supports. We welcomed the Minister's constructive engagement and look forward to further discussions as reform work continues.

AHPA also met with ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith to discuss opportunities and challenges for the allied health workforce in the ACT, with a focus on the design and implementation of Thriving Kids. AHPA looks forward to continued engagement with the ACT Government to ensure ACT residents can access the allied health services they need.

NDIS Bill update

AHPA has provided a supplementary submission to the Senate Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, reinforcing the recommendations from our initial submission and highlighting concerns with the interim report's recommendations.

AHPA is deeply concerned that, while the interim report recognises some of the key concerns raised about the Bill, its recommendations do not adequately reflect the evidence provided by participants, allied health and other providers, and the broader disability community. In particular, the interim report does not recommend any amendments to the Bill itself before it passes. AHPA considers this unsafe and unsatisfactory, as it does not appear to reflect the substantial feedback provided to the Committee, nor adequately address the identified risks. If the Bill is to proceed, amendments are required.

AHPA's response, which will be publicly available here, includes a range of recommendations to address risks in the Bill.

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications roundtable

AHPA recently attended a roundtable hosted by Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia (ATSA) on the operation of the Assistive Technology - Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme under Support at Home. We appreciated the opportunity to engage alongside a diverse range of providers and suppliers, with representatives from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing hearing firsthand about current challenges in the scheme.

The day was grounded in the experiences of older people, identifying underlying causes where the scheme is not serving them well and focusing on practical solutions. AHPA looks forward to working with other stakeholders and the Department to ensure all consumers get the AT-HM they need, when they need it.

DVA allied health consultation

AHPA welcomes the significant increase in fees for DVA services announced in the Federal Budget 2026/27. We also welcome the move away from the treatment cycle model. However, there are important questions about how the proposed annual cap on allied health services will be implemented, who will be able to exceed the cap, and how decisions about additional services will be made.

AHPA has received extensive feedback from members about the cap's implementation and its disproportionate impact on some veterans, with more veterans expected to exceed the cap than DVA's initial guidance suggested. More detail about the modelling underpinning these changes will be needed alongside much greater clarity around access to additional funding.

DVA will open consultation on the new allied health arrangements announced in the Budget from August 2026. Providers, veterans, families and peak bodies are encouraged to register interest now to receive updates and contribute feedback as consultation activities get underway. Complete the expression of interest form by Friday 31 July 2026, 5pm AEST.

ACDHS Awards 2026 - Submissions open

Award categories:

• Allied Health Education – Innovation Award

• Allied Health First Nations – Leadership/Engagement Award

• Allied Health Research – Impact Award

Award recipients will receive a $3,000 cash prize and framed award certificate.

Submissions close 28 August 2026. Find out more and submit a nomination.