Meetings in Canberra
It was a significant month for advocacy as Barrie and Board Member Emmett traveled to Canberra to meet with politicians about collaborating on a public health campaign aimed at increasing physical activity across the country as part of the Federal March 2025 Budget.
Barrie and Emmett met with Claire White, Assistant Director of the Prevention and Wellbeing Policy Section in Canberra, Bridget Archer, MP for Bass Tasmania, WA Senator Louise Pratt, Aria Bolkus, Advisor to the Hon. Mark Butler MP (Minister for Health), Tracey Roberts, MP for Pearce WA, Caterina Giugovaz, Advisor to the Hon. Anika Wells MP (Minister for Sport), Daniel White, Advisor to the Hon. Bill Shorten MP (Minister for the NDIS), and SA Senator Anne Ruston.
These meetings were highly productive, and we are optimistic about working with the government as part of their preventive health strategy to promote physical activity across Australia.
Yoga Therapy and the NDIS
As you may recall from the last newsletter, the Australian Department of Social Services (DSS) released a survey regarding the draft list of NDIS supports. The DSS sought community feedback on various NDIS supports, including those currently classified as “Not value for money/not effective or beneficial.”
Unfortunately, Yoga Therapy has been placed in this category, prompting AUSactive to urgently write to the Minister for the NDIS, requesting that he reconsider this decision and include yoga therapy as an appropriate support service under the NDIS. The Minister has since responded, stating that this decision is currently under review.
On August 20, Barrie also met with Daniel White, Advisor to the Minister for the NDIS, to discuss the exclusion of Yoga Therapy as a recognised service under the NDIS. At the end of the meeting, Barrie specifically asked, “Can I be confident that the recommendation will be reversed?” The response was, “Yes.” However, we will continue to apply pressure.
