Occupational Therapy & Speech Pathology Now Booked Months Ahead
Across Australia, occupational therapists and speech pathologists report booking gaps stretching to 4-6 months. The capacity shortage is systemic, affecting rural and metropolitan areas alike.
What's Driving the Surge
Aging Workforce Exit: Many allied health practitioners hit 65 and are retiring ahead of July 2026 mandatory registration. Registration compliance is expensive—many sole traders are choosing to exit rather than invest in audits and certification.
Wage Competition: Corporate health, early childhood education, and aged care sectors are actively recruiting allied health professionals. NDIS funding rates have not kept pace with broader wage growth.
Participant Growth: NDIS participant numbers continue climbing. More plan-managed and self-managed participants are seeking therapy support, but provider supply hasn't grown proportionally.
Burnout: Working as a NDIS-contracted therapist is increasingly stressful. Documentation burden, frequent audits, and pressure to deliver outcomes are pushing experienced practitioners toward less regulated sectors.
The Market Reality
Allied health providers who remain in the NDIS are booked solid. Some are refusing new referrals. Others are raising rates—taking advantage of supply constraints to improve margins while they can.
For participants with therapy needs, the message is clear: plan ahead. Therapy waitlists are no longer weeks—they're months.