SWSPHN’s allied health team look back at all that was achieved in 2026 in the final The Common Ground newsletter for of the year.
In 2026, we launched The Common Ground newsletter to provide allied health professionals across South Western Sydney with a dedicated source of local information, professional development, sector updates and opportunities to connect with primary care.
We introduced our Spotlight on allied health series, profiling local professionals and the work they do across our region.
We have also taken the conversation outside. Our allied health team visited providers across Fairfield, speaking directly with speech pathologists, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists and psychologists about their experiences and the barriers to working effectively with general practice. Allied health professionals were invited to join SWSPHN’s Clinical Council for the first time and contribute their expertise to regional clinical advice and decision-making.
We introduced the Practice Noticeboard to help allied health professionals find consulting space and employment opportunities in local general practices, and sought allied health perspectives through Local Health Forums and surveys on issues including children’s health and older people’s access to health and aged care.
The Common Ground CPD – what we’ve learned
During the past year, The Common Ground CPD series has brought GPs, nurses and allied health professionals together to explore multidisciplinary approaches to chronic pain, obesity, falls, mental health, ADHD and diabetes.
The sessions have focused on real cases and practical issues – from improving referrals to pain services and understanding the roles different professions play in obesity and falls management, to working together to support people with complex mental health needs, ADHD and type 2 diabetes.
We’ve also listened to your feedback. You told us you wanted less presentation and more interaction, so we’ve changed the format. Sessions now focus on fewer key messages, with more time for cases, discussion, questions and learning from each other. Our new speaker pack helps presenters build this approach into every session.
If you haven’t joined us yet, The Common Ground is an opportunity to learn alongside other health professionals caring for people in our community.
The expansion of multidisciplinary care
There has been continued movement towards expanding access to allied health services through the MBS.
From 1 March 2026, stuttering, speech sound disorders and cleft lip and/or palate were added to the list of eligible disabilities for allied health assessment, diagnosis and treatment services under the MBS M10 item group. Eligible patients under 25 can access up to eight allied health assessment services.
This follows changes introduced in July 2025, which expanded the MBS services which accredited practising dietitians and accredited exercise physiologists can provide for people with complex neurodevelopmental disorders and eligible disabilities, including participation in relevant case conferences. While these changes are relatively modest, they are part of the broader conversation about how Medicare can better support multidisciplinary primary care.
The MBS Chronic Condition Management Services Review is also underway and is considering further changes to referred allied health services, including the number and length of services, group services and which allied health professions are eligible to provide them. A targeted consultation on draft recommendations for the first stage of the review was completed in March 2026.
Further public consultation is planned as the review progresses. Allied health professionals can register their interest in participating in consultation by emailing the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing at MRACAlliedHealth@health.gov.au.
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