Whale Shark Occupational Therapy

02/07/2025

Feeling proud to share that our voices have reached Kate Chaney MP’s newsletter!

Thank you, Kate, for generously listening to local allied health professionals and for highlighting the real impact of recent NDIS rate cuts. Your advocacy to the Minister for NDIS participants, women and small businesses delivering essential services means so much to our community.

We’re grateful to have such a dedicated MP representing our electorate.

katechaneymp

Image description: A group of five people stands side by side in a well-lit room, dressed in professional and colourful attire. The background features framed artwork and a bulletin board. The image is framed by a teal border on the left and right sides. On the left side, white text reads “In Kate Chaney MP’s newsletter!” vertically. At the top, bold navy text says “NDIS Update.” Below the photo, there is a detailed message about recent NDIS changes and their impact on allied health professionals, small businesses, and vulnerable community members. The message includes a note of advocacy to the Minister, highlighting concerns about the reform’s unintended consequences.

30/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Zhi1CVj9z/?mibextid=wwXIfr

29/06/2025

27/06/2025

Today, four allied health professionals including myself met with our local MP Kate Chaney to raise our concerns and share our deep disappointment about the upcoming NDIS funding and travel changes rolling out next week.

We discussed the devastating impacts these changes will have on NDIS participant's access to therapy, their livelihoods, and long-term health and education outcomes. We also highlighted how these changes strip Participants of choice and control; core principles of the NDIS.

We shared facts, figures, and real-world insights about how these changes will flow on to impact WA's health and education systems.
Kate has written to Minister Jenny McCallister, expressed her intention to speak in Parliament, and is committed to advocating on this issue.
We're so grateful for her time and support, and we remain fiercely committed to advocating for the rights and wellbeing of the individuals and families we support.

I have published the information that we shared with MP Kate Chaney on my website, if you wish to use this information in your own advocacy: https://whalesharktherapy.com.au/ndis-advocacy

Photo left to right: Physiotherapist Nicole from Western Kids Health, Speech Pathologist Rachel from Sunshine Speech Pathology, MP Kate Chaney, Dietitian Kim Dutkowksi, and myself Hayley Smith from Whale Shark Therapy Services.

26/06/2025

Keep going; keep advocating you beautiful therapists, families, individuals and everyone else doing their part

Credit Wawawiwa design

25/06/2025

“Any increase in cost of the NDIS will translate very quickly into strong economic gains, through high levels of increased employment and local level economic activity dispersed throughout local communities”. Page 4.

“The direct benefit of the NDIS is likely to exceed the value of expenditure markedly… This is particularly the case during an economic downturn. Research strongly supports the conclusion that health expenditure has the greatest impact during times of economic
decline… and consequently any decision to reduce NDIS funding would be contrary to historical evidence supporting such expenditure during times of economic instability... As the Productivity Commission 2011 report states very clearly, “(t)he bottom line is that benefits of the NDIS would significantly exceed the additional costs of the scheme.” (p941)” Page 19.

6 days until the changes kick in on July 1.

Please see the linktree in my bio that has links to petitions, where you can find who the parliamentary member is for your electorate and their contact details: linktr.ee/whalesharktherapy

Quotes from the report, “False Economy: The economic benefits of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the consequences of government cost-cutting” by Per Capita for National Disability Services, published November 2021: https://percapita.org.au/our_work/false-economy-the-economic-benefits-of-the-ndis-and-the-consequences-of-government-cost-cutting/

Image description: A dark blue/ green background of the ocean underwater. White text on top saying, “Any increase in cost of the NDIS will translate very quickly into strong economic gains, through high levels of increased employment and local level economic activity dispersed throughout local communities. More information in the caption.”

24/06/2025

Due to recent NDIA changes, the travel rate therapists can bill for has been halved, with only 18 days’ notice. This takes effect from 1 July 2025. As a result, therapists—including myself—may need to adjust the areas we can viably travel to for in-person appointments.

For new referrals, my in-person catchment area will now be: Carine, Doubleview, Gwelup, Innaloo, Karrinyup, North Beach, Osborne Park, Scarborough, Stirling, Trigg, Wembley Downs, Woodlands.

Telehealth appointments (phone or video) remain available for all other locations.

These changes will apply unless the NDIA decision is reversed before 1 July.

Please feel welcome to reach out via the enquiry button on my website:
whalesharktherapy.com.au/contact

If you are a therapist working with Participants in these suburbs, but you can no longer service these areas due to the budget cuts, and are seeking to link them with an Occupational Therapist who can provide services in these areas, please feel welcome to contact me via my website.

Thank you.

Image description: A calm blue ocean background has white text on top that lists: “Telehealth, Carine, Doubleview, Gwelup, Innaloo, Karrinyup, North Beach, Osborne Park, Scarborough, Stirling, Trigg, Wembley Downs, Woodlands. More information in the caption regarding the updated catchment area for new referrals.”

23/06/2025

23/06/2025

🗣️ Calling all OTs – it’s time to speak up!

We’ve created a new guide to help you meet with your local MP about the NDIA’s 2025 Annual Pricing Decision and its devastating impact on occupational therapy services.

The guide includes talking points, a follow-up email template, and tips to help tailor your advocacy. Together, we can help MPs understand what’s at stake, especially the damage being done by:
❌ The OT pricing freeze (unchanged since 2019)
❌ A 50% cut to travel claiming

These decisions are already forcing providers to reduce or stop NDIS work, putting participant access to essential therapy at risk.

📥 Download the guide and take action
✍️ Sign our petition calling on the Australian Government and NDIA to reverse these decisions, pay OTs fairly, and protect access to services

🔗 Find both at: https://otaus.com.au/ndis-pricing-campaign

Every voice counts. Every signature builds pressure. Let’s make change happen.

23/06/2025

Please click on the original post and let Senator Jordan Steele-John know 🙏

20/06/2025

The NDIA’s systems resulted in a disability car seat taking going to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and three years of family fighting to get approved, resulting in a total cost of $32,000.

“Lachlan was regularly travelling unsafely, with the upper part of his body out of his child restraint and his Australian standard child restraint was not meeting his comfort, safety, and support needs. In response to this, Lachlan’s parents embarked on a three year long journey to find an appropriate car travel solution for their son. Lachlan was assessed by an allied health professional as needing a special purpose child restraint (Carrot 3000). However, this lengthy process came at an emotional and financial cost, with Lachlan’s family unable to travel together as a family unit during this period. Additionally, the ultimate cost of the Carrot 3000 totalled nearly $32,000. This resolution was also only achieved by Danielle and Luke persevering with their case to the Federal Government’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal.”

The NDIS needs reform to support its sustainability, but slashing frontline rates with 18 days notice is not the answer. Let’s focus on where the real waste is. I welcome the NDIS to engage in consultation with Providers and Participants to support the development of more cost effective systems.

11 days until the changes kick in on July 1.

Please see the linktree in my bio that has links to petitions, where you can find who the parliamentary member is for your electroate and their contact details: linktr.ee/whalesharktherapy

From page 4 of Mobility and Accessibility for Children in Australia Ltd (MACA)’s submission to the NDIS, dated 29 March 2023:https://assets.macahub.org/downloads/MACA_NDIS_review_submission.pdf

Image description: A blue background of choppy ocean water. White text on top saying, “NDIA systems resulted in a disability car seat taking three years & the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to approve, at a total cost of $32,000.”

19/06/2025

The NDIA halving the therapy travel rate will likely result in therapists decreasing or stopping mobile therapy services.

The caregivers of people with disabilities will have to shoulder the extra load; reducing or juggling work, study, and other family responsibilities while transporting their young, adolescent or adult child/ren with disabilities to and from appointments.

For 77% of the NDIS Participants that I work with, the primary caregiver and coordinator of therapy services is their mother. This unpaid labour would be perpetuated by reducing therapist travel rates, which further entrenches gender inequality.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies report titled, “Building the evidence base for the National Carer Strategy” on page four states, “unpaid carers generally experience poorer wellbeing, income, employment and education outcomes relative to their non-carer peers, and these effects tend to be worse the greater the level of caregiving (hrs/week and intensity of caring)”.

12 days until the changes kick-in on July 1.

Please see the linktree in my bio that has links to petitions, where you can find who your electorate government member is, and their contact details: linktr.ee/whalesharktherapy

Image alt text: a whale shark comes up to the surface (to feed or regulate its body temperature). White text says, “Halving therapy travel rates means less mobile therapy providers, so more travel for caregivers; negatively impacting caregiver education, employment, income and wellbeing.”

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