28/06/2025
Four fixes the NDIA must make—Now
The APA calls on the NDIA to act immediately on these critical issues to protect participant access and the viability of physiotherapy services:
Abolish the price reduction and index prices properly: Physiotherapy price guides in the NDIS have not changed since 2019, ignoring rising operational costs putting immense pressure on providers. This further decrease critically devalues vital care and disrespects the essential and life-changing care that physiotherapy provides to participants within the NDIS. The APA calls unequivocally for this decrease to be abolished and that the NDIA rectify the neglect of a five-year price freeze by indexing the physiotherapy price guide to 13.5%.
Restore travel funding: The intended 50 per cent reduction in travel funding will force clinicians to make difficult decisions about travelling to provide care in homes and natural environments such as schools and sporting facilities. The APA calls for the NDIA to reverse this decision and restore travel budgets.
Support rural and regional community needs: The NDIA intends to eliminate the higher price loadings previously applied in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. This change will result in a net reduction of up to $40.06 per hour in those regions, critically impacting the availability of physiotherapy service delivery in communities in very real need of sustainable care.
Remedy gender-based undervaluation: The Fair Work Commission has rightly identified that physiotherapy has long been devalued as a female-dominant profession and has recommended substantial pay rises across the board. The NDIA has a responsibility, and a moral obligation, to ensure it works to support, not obstruct, these legal requirements.
