OTA Statement: Scope of Practice Review Final Report

OTA welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Scope of Practice Review, led by Professor Mark Cormack and its recommendations to unlock the potential of the Australian health workforce. It is critical that Government acts to enact the reforms and works alongside the allied health sector to build a strong professional culture, policy environment and funding system that recognises and utilises the full scope of the occupational therapy profession and enables better consumer access. 

The Scope of Practice review was announced in the 2023 Federal Budget by Minister for Health Mark Butler, and seeks to identify opportunities to remove the barriers stopping health professionals working to their full scope of practice in primary care.  

With a current exit rate of 8% (with more OTs leaving the profession than entering it)*, it is critical that the full scope of occupational therapy practice is recognised by both the Australian consumer, employers and funding bodies. OTA’s 2023 Workforce Development Project identified that inability to practice at full scope is a key driver in professional dissatisfaction and can lead to occupational therapists to exit the profession.  

OTA engaged extensively throughout the review, making an initial submission and providing further inputs during additional rounds of consultation.

We are pleased that the Review’s Final Report has recognised the limited awareness by treating practitioners and consumers about the scope and benefits of allied health services, and the barriers that affect occupational therapists from practicing to full scope. 

The review has proposed a range of policy reforms to commonwealth and state and territory governments to encourage better utilisation of the health and allied health workforce, including:

• Funding reform to move away from fee-for-service payments towards blended payments that enable access to multidisciplinary health care 

• Changes to legislation and regulation to enable practitioners to work in more primary health settings where safe and appropriate 

• A national planning approach for the primary health workforce 

• Cross-professional mapping of professional skillsets to build cross-professional understanding and consumer recognition 

• Cross-professional supervision opportunities 

• Enabling some health professionals to make direct referrals to specialists, supported by technology, with accredited hand therapists able to make referrals to hand surgeon and plastic surgeons, where clinically indicated due to fractures, tendon ruptures and other conditions. 

OTA particularly welcomes the recommended move toward blended funding, and further investment in primary health services, which would move away from fee for service approaches and enable more multidisciplinary care options. Occupational therapists are extremely limited in how they can serve consumers’ healthcare needs through current Medicare rules and funding.  

During the review consultation OTA advocated for occupational therapists to be able to make referrals to a range of specialists including Neuropsychiatrists, Gerontologists, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons and Paediatricians and we see this is a missed opportunity which we continue to pursue. 

*Scope of Practice review Final report, 2024: Table 2 Health workforce retention rates 2023.

Comments attributable to OTA CEO Samantha Hunter 

“Occupational therapists have so much to offer the Australian health system, in both prevention and treatment of health issues including chronic conditions. We urge Government to act swiftly on the Review’s recommendations to better utilise this key health workforce, reduce strain on an already overburdened GP system, and help more Australians live healthy and fulfilling lives.” 

Comments attributable to OTA Chief OT Michelle Oliver 

“Occupational therapists are uniquely placed as a profession because of their key focus on function and ‘occupation’ and support for individuals to regain and maintain overall health and wellbeing. Whether it is support for mental health, chronic pain, diabetes, arthritis, impacts of cancer or many other health conditions, occupational therapists work with patients to gain or maintain function and develop lifelong healthy habits. They can be of great benefit to Australia's primary health system and we must ensure that more Australians can access an occupational therapist if they need one.” 

OTA are here to support its members and will continue to keep you updated via our channels.