So youโve heard that you can get Australian government funding for seeing a speech therapistโฆ but how does it actually work? Dive in with Pop Speech Pathologist Monique, our Clinical Lead in Language and Literacy and resident expert in all things NDIS (she began her clinical career working in the disability and public health sectors).
Why should you trust us? Pop Online Speech Therapy is a registered NDIS speech therapy provider and has supported hundreds of individuals using NDIS. This means that we can and have provided support to children with NDIS early intervention, as well as support for adults and children requiring NDIS therapeutic supports.
Get in touch with Pop to learn more about our NDIS speech therapy services and our current availability for participants.
Book a Free Discovery Call About Pop’s NDIS Speech Therapy Services
What is the NDIS and Who Can Access It?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded program designed to support Australians with disabilities, including children and adults who need access to services like speech therapy.
NDIS funding is split into two areas:
- Support for individuals between 9 and 65 years old who meet specific eligibility criteria.
- Support for children under 9 years old, including early intervention for children without a formal diagnosis under 6 (NDIS Early Childhood Approach).
To apply for NDIS funding, the first step is to discover which pathway your family needs to take. Weโve broken down the steps by age and diagnosis to help you find out your next step:
What Is The Application Process For NDIS Funding For Speech Therapy: Step-By-Step Guide
For Children Aged 0โ6 Years With No Diagnosis
- Children under 6 can access the NDIS Early Childhood Approach.
For example, if your child doesnโt have a diagnosis yet but youโre noticing delays, this is an option for your family. The process starts with a developmental screener to assess these areas of delay. This might be done in person, over the phone, or via telehealth with the NDIS or your local Early Childhood Partner. - Youโll typically need:
- A questionnaire like the Ages and Stages tool.
- An email or letter from your GP or allied health professional, such as a speech therapist, explaining the concerns.
- Evidence showing delays in 2 or more areas for 12 months or more.
- Evidence showing that support from at least 2 different allied health services, such as speech pathology and occupational therapy will be needed.
For Children Aged 0โ6 Years With a Diagnosis
- If your child already has a formal diagnosis (e.g., Autism), they can apply through the Access Request Form (ARF). This skips the screening step and moves straight to Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI).
For Children Aged 7โ9 Years (Requires Diagnosis)
- For children aged 7 to 9, you will need a formal diagnosis from a professional. The NDIS provides a list of eligible conditions.
- Here are the steps:
- Complete the Access Request Form (ARF), available on the NDIS website. Parents and therapists/GPs should fill this out together.
- Include supporting documentation, such as:
- Evidence of how the condition impacts communication, social, mobility, learning, and self-care.
- Reports from paediatricians or specialists.
For Children and Adults Over 9 Years to 65 Years Old (Requires Diagnosis)
- For people over the age of 9 and adults, the same process is followed as for the 7โ9-year-olds. Completing the Access Request Form is the key step in this process. A GP or speech therapist can guide individuals or parents on how to complete it.
For full eligibility and criteria details, refer to the NDIS eligibility guidelines to see if you meet List A, B, or D criteria.
Who Is Part Of Your
NDIS Support Team?
When youโre approved for NDIS funding, you may be introduced to and work with a range of NDIS partners who will support your journey. Hereโs a breakdown of who they are and how they can support:
- Early Childhood Partner:
- If your child is under 6 without a diagnosis or under 9 with a diagnosis, an Early Childhood Partner will support you through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach. They help families access early intervention services, understand the NDIS, and connect with local supports.
- If your child is under 6 without a diagnosis or under 9 with a diagnosis, an Early Childhood Partner will support you through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach. They help families access early intervention services, understand the NDIS, and connect with local supports.
- Local Area Coordinator (LAC):
- An LAC works in partnership with the NDIS to help individuals aged 9 and over develop their plans and connect with services in their community. LACs are often your first point of contact when accessing the NDIS.
- An LAC works in partnership with the NDIS to help individuals aged 9 and over develop their plans and connect with services in their community. LACs are often your first point of contact when accessing the NDIS.
- Support Coordinator:
- After your NDIS plan is approved, a Support Coordinator can help you implement your plan. They assist with finding and organising providers, navigating services, and ensuring your funding is used effectively.
- After your NDIS plan is approved, a Support Coordinator can help you implement your plan. They assist with finding and organising providers, navigating services, and ensuring your funding is used effectively.
- Plan Manager:
- A Plan Manager helps you manage your funding if you choose plan-managed funding. They pay your providers, keep track of spending, and ensure financial reporting is up to date.
- A Plan Manager helps you manage your funding if you choose plan-managed funding. They pay your providers, keep track of spending, and ensure financial reporting is up to date.
- NDIA (Agency) Managed Support:
- When funding is NDIA-managed, the agency directly pays your service providers and maintains records of your spending.
- When funding is NDIA-managed, the agency directly pays your service providers and maintains records of your spending.
How Can You Get NDIS Funding For Speech Therapy?
Each NDIS plan and the services provided as part of it are unique to the individual applying for it. This means to receive NDIS funding for speech therapy that it will need to be shown how speech therapy supports a participant to reach their goals.
For example, an adult or childโs listed NDIS goals may be to support learning, relationships, and independence. The parent and GP understand that improving communication skills through speech therapy would support these goals.
A speech therapist would then need to be engaged to provide evidence of the participantโs needs. They would complete an assessment with the adult/child and write a summary that provides evidence of the participantโs needs. This may include an official report with therapy goals and how these relate to areas like communication, mobility, learning, or self-care, tailored to the individualโs need.
Pop has no waitlist for speech therapy assessments, meaning you can fast-track receiving your reports to apply for NDIS funding.
You can learn more about our speech therapy assessment process and online speech therapy at Pop by booking a discovery call with a speech therapist. Alternatively, if you are ready to get started with an appointment, you can complete our booking form.
How Many Speech Therapy Sessions Will Your NDIS Funding Cover?
The number of speech therapy sessions covered will depend on how much funding you receive in your NDIS plan. This is based on the childโs or adultโs needs and the therapy hours outlined in their plan.
The current NDIS rate for speech therapy is $193.99 per hour. This includes 45 minutes of direct therapy time and 15 minutes of non-face-to-face indirect time for preparation, documentation, and planning.
If your NDIS plan allocates $5,000 for speech therapy and each session costs $193.99, you could attend about 25 sessions over the course of the year.
If you already have NDIS funding, you can book a free discovery phone call with Pop to discuss pricing and how many sessions your funding will cover. Pop’s pricing for NDIS speech therapy sessions is in line with the NDIS fee schedule.
How Can You Make Your
NDIS Funding Go Further?
Maximising your NDIS funding means making thoughtful decisions about how you use your allocated therapy sessions. Here are some options to discuss with your speech therapy about how to stretch your funding:
- Attend weekly sessions for 50 weeks of the year, factoring in a short break during the Christmas closure period.
- Align with school terms, attending weekly for 40 weeks and taking breaks during school holidays to match the childโs or adultโs schedule.
- Opt for fortnightly sessions to spread your funding further, while still maintaining regular therapy over an extended period.
Additionally, here are some other ways to get the most from your NDIS funding:
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- Use telehealth to avoid travel fees. Travel costs can be as high as $50-100 per session, so telehealth can help you avoid these extra charges.
- Opt for longer, less frequent sessions if appropriate (e.g., 45-minute sessions every fortnight instead of 30-minute weekly ones).
- Make the most of your speech therapistโs advice by following through with recommended strategies at home. This can help the child or adult to progress faster and make the most of the therapy provided.
- Explore funding for additional supports like training for parents, carers or support workers to help continue therapy at home.
- Refer a friend or family member who is also in need of speech therapy. At Pop, you can earn 50% off your next session after your friend completes their first session.
Start Your NDIS Speech Therapy Journey with Pop Today!
The NDIS system can feel overwhelming so itโs valuable to work with a speech therapy service who has all the tips and resources to help your family navigate it.
Pop has advocated for thousands of clients to receive and renew NDIS funding. Our therapists keep you informed and involved in every step along the way.
Ready to start your NDIS speech therapy journey with Pop?
Book in a discovery call with one of our speech therapists to learn more about our online service, or jump straight to our booking form if you are ready for your first appointment.
References:
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). Early Childhood Approach: For children younger than 9. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/families-and-carers/early-childhood-approach-children-younger-9
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). How NDIS works. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/how-ndis-works
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). What is the Access Request Form?. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/how-apply-ndis/what-access-request-form
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). Using your NDIS plan. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). How we decide if you’re eligible. Retrieved from https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/home/becoming-participant/applying-ndis/how-do-we-decide-if-youre-eligible
Leapinโ. (2022). NDIS provider travel costs & activity-based transport. Retrieved from https://www.leapin.com.au/news/ndis-provider-travel-costs-activity-based-transport/
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (n.d.). Pricing Arrangements. Retrieved from https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements
This info is relevant as at 3 February 2025.
It is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be an official endorsement, diagnosis or recommendation. Please contact NDIS directly for the most accurate and up-to-date recommendations.ย
