The AHPA Insider
Thursday 18 December 2025

End of Year Message from the CEO

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of reform that has brought both challenges and opportunities for the allied health sector. The commencement of the Aged Care Act 2025 and ongoing NDIS changes have reshaped our environment, requiring resilience and strong advocacy for equitable access to allied health services.

We continue to advocate for the expansion of Commonwealth Prac Payments to support undergraduate clinical placements beyond social work, strengthening the pipeline of future allied health professionals. Alongside this, our ongoing push for endorsement of the draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy remains central to embedding allied health within national health system planning. Progress in digital health has also been encouraging, with new healthcare identifier legislation laying the groundwork for safer, more connected care and moving us closer to a fully interoperable environment.

The Aged Care Act 2025 represents a significant step forward in protecting the rights of older Australians and improving service quality. However, the absence of guaranteed allied health access in both Support at Home and residential care highlights a critical gap. Without dedicated funding to meet clinical demand, the Act’s vision of reablement risks being compromised, with consequences for older people’s independence and for the sustainability of the wider health system.

A decade after allied health was described as the “untapped potential” of the Australian health system, progress has been made but barriers persist. Despite strong evidence of value, allied health professionals remain underrepresented in leadership and funding. To fully realise their contribution, Australia must invest in workforce planning, equitable funding, and integrated policy frameworks that recognise allied health as essential to a sustainable health system. This call is reinforced in Have we fully untapped the potential of allied health in the Australian healthcare system? (Australian Health Review, 2025).

As we look ahead to 2026, our commitment is clear: to champion allied health as a cornerstone of better outcomes for individuals, communities, and the nation’s health, disability and aged care systems.

Bronwyn Morris-Donovan
AHPA CEO

AHPA’s Pre-Budget Submission 2026-27

Workforce development
Targeted investment to grow, skill and retain the allied health workforce, ensuring capacity keeps pace with rising demand across health, aged care and disability. A future-ready workforce reduces service gaps, supports regional and rural access and underpins long-term system sustainability. 

Funding accessible care
Modernise allied health funding programs to improve access to timely, evidence-based care. Well-designed funding models support early intervention, reduce downstream costs and deliver better outcomes for individuals while improving value for public investment. 

AHPA responds to AFR article suggesting there is “no evidence NDIS therapies help kids thrive”

AHPA has released an independent response to recent claims in the Australian Financial Review suggesting there is “no evidence NDIS therapies help kids thrive.”

AHPA strongly rejects this assertion. Allied health professionals – including physiotherapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and social workers – are university-qualified, accredited, and embedded in Australia’s health system. Their therapies are delivered within a documented evidence-based framework and have been shown to improve developmental outcomes, support education, and reduce long-term costs.

Therapy supports account for just 10% of NDIS expenditure, yet they are among the few investments that can reduce future government spending by building capacity and preventing decline. Early intervention is particularly critical, with evidence showing that allied health therapies help children meet developmental milestones and participate fully in education and later employment.

AHPA emphasises that NDIS-funded allied health therapies are delivered by regulated professionals, not “unknown providers,” and that cutting therapy supports risks undermining participant outcomes, especially in regional and remote areas already facing workforce shortages.

AHPA meets with Minister Rae

Earlier this month, AHPA met with the Hon Sam Rae MP, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, to discuss the urgent need for stronger allied health provision in aged care.

While recent reforms have aimed to improve the system, older Australians continue to face critically low access to allied health services, with home and residential care falling well short of recommended levels. Unlike nursing and personal care, allied health has no mandatory benchmarks or ring-fenced funding, leaving many older people out of pocket or without the care they need.

AHPA highlighted that this under provision undermines the Aged Care Act’s commitment to reablement and the Government’s policy of supporting older people to live at home longer. Instead, gaps in allied health lead to higher rates of hospitalisation and premature entry into residential care, increasing both inequity and the national burden of disease.

The meeting focused on the importance of equitable access, nationally consistent assessment processes, and embedding multidisciplinary care models so that allied health professionals can play their vital role in delivering comprehensive, quality care for all older Australians.

National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan Released

Croakey Health Media article highlights scope of practice reforms

A recent article in Croakey Health Media highlighted national discussions on scope of practice reforms, noting that Australia’s treasurers now have a direct interest in their progress given the potential to strengthen the health workforce and improve access to care.

AHPA CEO Bronwyn Morris-Donovan pointed out that while working at top of scope is important, the more pressing challenge is securing endorsement of the draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy. Without this framework, the sector lacks clear supply and demand mapping, and workforce shortages – particularly in regional, rural and remote areas – are compounded by inadequate funding.

AHPA’s response also stressed the need to “deeply integrate” allied health into all care systems, including health, aged care and disability services. Strengthening primary care reforms, including in scope direct referral, continues to be a priority.

NDIS Annual Pricing Review Consultation

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has opened consultations for the 2025–26 Annual Pricing Review. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on pricing arrangements and price limits to help ensure the NDIS continues to deliver sustainable, high‑quality supports. Submissions close on 8 February 2026.

Opportunity for Allied Health Professionals – Preschool Boost Menu

The Office for Early Childhood Development has opened a supplementary procurement round to expand the Preschool Boost Menu, an online directory connecting Flying Start preschool partner services with quality, evidence-informed allied health supports and early childhood programs.

Two separate Registration of Interest processes are now open – one for Allied Health Professionals and one for providers of early childhood development programs – with applicants welcome to apply for either or both. This initiative helps preschools address developmental vulnerability in 3- and 4-year-old children by funding evidence-based interventions, educator training, mentoring, and family programs. Online information sessions will be held in January and February 2026, and applications close on 30 January 2026 (AHPs) and 13 March 2026 (program providers) via the SA Tenders and Contracts website.