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On behalf of myself and Katherine Utry, our General Manager of Policy and Government Relations, I want to share an update on where we are in our NDIS advocacy, what has happened since our last communication, and the steps we are taking next to keep the momentum going.

Recently, Katherine and I walked the corridors of Parliament House in Canberra carrying your stories—stories of the participants whose lives you help transform, the challenges your practices face, and your passion for the difference physiotherapy makes every day.

In our meetings with MPs, it was clear that our campaign had reached far and wide. They told us they had read your emails, spoken with you in their electorates, and heard first-hand about the impact of the NDIS pricing decisions. Many admitted that our grassroots campaign had opened their eyes, giving them a deeper understanding of what is at stake—not just for physiotherapists, but for participants, families and communities.

This impact is the result of our collaboration. The APA’s targeted advocacy, combined with your stories, has positioned us to work directly with decision makers and engage in genuine, solutions-focused conversations. We are now at the table with MPs, advisers and departmental officials who understand that physiotherapy has a critical role in the NDIS.

Why this matters to all of us

Correcting the flawed approach to physiotherapy pricing within the NDIS will take time, robust economic analysis and ongoing collaboration. But the stakes extend beyond the NDIS. Decisions made here often set precedents for other national funding mechanisms and state-based compensable schemes, such as workers compensation and motor vehicle accident insurance.

That means what happens in the NDIS does not only affect disability physiotherapists or participants—it shapes the broader funding environment for physiotherapy across Australia. If undervaluation is allowed to continue, it risks spreading across the health system, limiting access to physiotherapy for even more people.

This is why the APA is committed to addressing the issue head-on. We are making it clear that undervaluation is unacceptable, while providing evidence of the true value physiotherapy delivers. Decision makers must recognise the essential role our profession plays in maintaining health, preventing disability and supporting people to live and participate fully in their communities.

Our next steps

Here’s how we are moving forward:

• commissioning Nous Group to deliver a health economic analysis to validate and strengthen our case on NDIS pricing

• seeking regular member input through polls to track and report the real-world impacts of pricing changes

• collaborating with partners across the sector and identifying new avenues for influence

• developing briefing materials and resources that demonstrate physiotherapy’s value in the Scheme for use in both government relations and member advocacy.

How you can help

Your role in this advocacy remains vital. You can:

• share your story: real-world impacts give our case strength

• respond to our surveys: your feedback provides the data to back our arguments

• keep us informed: if you are contacted by an MP, let us support and align your engagement so our message remains unified and strong.

We have already made progress, and that progress comes from collaboration. Let’s keep moving forward, together, until the NDIS reflects the true value of physiotherapy and protects access to quality care across all funding systems.

I look forward to continuing this conversation with you here in PhysioHub. Check out my video on why the NDIS matters to us all and let me know what types of updates you prefer in the comments.