Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census

Karen Hayes; Simon McDonald; Rosalind Bye; Liz Thyer; Kristy Coxon

Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census

Karen Hayes (Developer)
, Simon McDonald (Developer)
, Rosalind Bye (Other)
, Liz Thyer (Other)
, Kristy Coxon (Other)

Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences

Western Sydney University-Campbelltown Campus
University of Western Sydney

Research output: Non-textual outputs, including Creative Works › Web publication/site

Abstract

Improving Access to Occupational Therapy Across Australia
Access to health services shapes health outcomes. For many Australians—especially those living in rural and remote areas—distance can be a major barrier to care. This project measures spatial accessibility to occupational therapy (OT) services across the entire country, using an advanced method called the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA).

Our goal is simple: to make inequities visible so that policymakers, health planners, and communities can advocate for fairer distribution of services.

Why This Matters
Policy changes affect real lives.
Recent changes to policy particularly in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have suggested that therapists should not be paid as much to travel to people's homes, work, or schools. This is where OTs do their work and it makes a real difference. Reduced funding means OTs might not be able to travel far which will mean that lots of people might miss out.

Occupational therapy is vital:
OT helps people with disability, chronic illness, and older adults live independently and participate fully in daily life. Limited access means reduced opportunities and quality of life.

Spatial justice:
Everyone deserves equitable access to health services, regardless of where they live.

The dashboard:
This dashboard empowers you to:
- Identify areas of greatest need.
- Support evidence-based workforce planning.
- Advocate for equity in access to essential OT services.

Original language	English
Publisher	Charles Sturt University - Spatial Analysis Team
Media of output	Online
Publication status	Published - 26 Mar 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Access to Document

https://csu-span.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bef9db9da2dd46b1aaf62dd043307aacLicence: CC BY-ND

1 Commissioned report (public)
1 Submissions to inquiries and consultations

Outreach or out-of-reach: Access to occupational therapy services in Australia
Hayes, K., McDonald, S., Coxon, K., Thyer, L. & Bye, R., 26 Mar 2026, Australia: Services for Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH). 42 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report (public)

Open Access
Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) submission: Thriving Kids Initiative
Maloney, C. & Hayes, K. (Contributor), 10 Oct 2025, Australia: Parliament of Australia. 7 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Submissions to inquiries and consultations

Open Access
File

Cite this

Hayes, K., McDonald, S., Bye, R., Thyer, L., & Coxon, K. (2026). Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census. Web publication/site, Charles Sturt University - Spatial Analysis Team. https://csu-span.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bef9db9da2dd46b1aaf62dd043307aac

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abstract = "Improving Access to Occupational Therapy Across Australia Access to health services shapes health outcomes. For many Australians—especially those living in rural and remote areas—distance can be a major barrier to care. This project measures spatial accessibility to occupational therapy (OT) services across the entire country, using an advanced method called the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA). Our goal is simple: to make inequities visible so that policymakers, health planners, and communities can advocate for fairer distribution of services. Why This Matters Policy changes affect real lives. Recent changes to policy particularly in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have suggested that therapists should not be paid as much to travel to people's homes, work, or schools. This is where OTs do their work and it makes a real difference. Reduced funding means OTs might not be able to travel far which will mean that lots of people might miss out. Occupational therapy is vital: OT helps people with disability, chronic illness, and older adults live independently and participate fully in daily life. Limited access means reduced opportunities and quality of life. Spatial justice: Everyone deserves equitable access to health services, regardless of where they live. The dashboard: This dashboard empowers you to: - Identify areas of greatest need. - Support evidence-based workforce planning. - Advocate for equity in access to essential OT services.",

author = "Karen Hayes and Simon McDonald and Rosalind Bye and Liz Thyer and Kristy Coxon",

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Hayes, K , McDonald, S, Bye, R, Thyer, L & Coxon, K, Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census, 2026, Web publication/site, Charles Sturt University - Spatial Analysis Team. <https://csu-span.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bef9db9da2dd46b1aaf62dd043307aac>

Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census. Hayes, Karen (Developer); McDonald, Simon (Developer); Bye, Rosalind (Other) et al.. 2026. Charles Sturt University - Spatial Analysis Team.

Research output: Non-textual outputs, including Creative Works › Web publication/site

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T1 - Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia

T2 - An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census

A2 - Hayes, Karen

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A2 - Bye, Rosalind

A2 - Thyer, Liz

A2 - Coxon, Kristy

PY - 2026/3/26

Y1 - 2026/3/26

N2 - Improving Access to Occupational Therapy Across Australia Access to health services shapes health outcomes. For many Australians—especially those living in rural and remote areas—distance can be a major barrier to care. This project measures spatial accessibility to occupational therapy (OT) services across the entire country, using an advanced method called the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA). Our goal is simple: to make inequities visible so that policymakers, health planners, and communities can advocate for fairer distribution of services. Why This Matters Policy changes affect real lives. Recent changes to policy particularly in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have suggested that therapists should not be paid as much to travel to people's homes, work, or schools. This is where OTs do their work and it makes a real difference. Reduced funding means OTs might not be able to travel far which will mean that lots of people might miss out. Occupational therapy is vital: OT helps people with disability, chronic illness, and older adults live independently and participate fully in daily life. Limited access means reduced opportunities and quality of life. Spatial justice: Everyone deserves equitable access to health services, regardless of where they live. The dashboard: This dashboard empowers you to: - Identify areas of greatest need. - Support evidence-based workforce planning. - Advocate for equity in access to essential OT services.

AB - Improving Access to Occupational Therapy Across Australia Access to health services shapes health outcomes. For many Australians—especially those living in rural and remote areas—distance can be a major barrier to care. This project measures spatial accessibility to occupational therapy (OT) services across the entire country, using an advanced method called the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA). Our goal is simple: to make inequities visible so that policymakers, health planners, and communities can advocate for fairer distribution of services. Why This Matters Policy changes affect real lives. Recent changes to policy particularly in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have suggested that therapists should not be paid as much to travel to people's homes, work, or schools. This is where OTs do their work and it makes a real difference. Reduced funding means OTs might not be able to travel far which will mean that lots of people might miss out. Occupational therapy is vital: OT helps people with disability, chronic illness, and older adults live independently and participate fully in daily life. Limited access means reduced opportunities and quality of life. Spatial justice: Everyone deserves equitable access to health services, regardless of where they live. The dashboard: This dashboard empowers you to: - Identify areas of greatest need. - Support evidence-based workforce planning. - Advocate for equity in access to essential OT services.

M3 - Web publication/site

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ER -

Geographic access to occupational therapists in Australia: An Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) analysis based on 2024 Ahpra registration data and the 2021 Census

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Outreach or out-of-reach: Access to occupational therapy services in Australia

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) submission: Thriving Kids Initiative

Cite this