Health Services Union of WA (HSUWA) Members working as Allied Health Professionals, including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists, have requested a meeting with the WA Minister for Disability Services, Hannah Beazley. The union is calling for urgent intervention from the Minister as they protest the ill-conceived changes and rapid rollout of recommendations within the NDIA’s annual pricing review.
Members believe the changes will disproportionately impact both the Allied Health workforce and vulnerable NDIS participants in WA.
The changes came into effect on 1 July 2025, after an opaque and shortened NDIA review process, which had no consultation with the WA Allied Health Professionals who deliver services in schools, homes and workplaces for people living with a disability. HSUWA Members hold grave concerns that the changes will almost certainly reduce access to services for these NDIS participants and negatively impact their healthcare and wellbeing in both the short and long term.
The union is calling on the State and Federal Governments to pause the unexpected reductions to rate caps and travel time until the impacts on the WA workforce and participants are more thoroughly considered.
HSUWA Secretary, Naomi McCrae said,
“Members have sent two letters to the WA Minister for Disability Services raising their concerns and asking her to meet, and so far have been ignored.”
“The reductions in pricing will hit the WA Allied Health workforce hit the hardest. A WA Physio is facing a reduction of over $40 per hour and having their paid travel time cut in half.”
“A sensible change, demonstrating a deep commitment to support people living with disabilities, would have been to at least grandfather the status quo in WA until other States aligned, not reduce the funding in WA.”
“Members are justifiably concerned that NDIS providers will reduce services in line with these pricing and travel reductions at the expense of both the workforce and participants.”
“HSUWA Members support some of the most vulnerable people in our community and are essential to providing vital healthcare and disability management at home, in schools and workplaces. Cutting their travel allowance in half will reduce accessibility to allied health services, particularly in regional and remote areas. The potential setbacks for children in WA arising from these changes alone is inexcusable and makes no sense from any perspective.”
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
media@hsuwa.com.au
