FAQ

Speech pathologists are trained to assess and provide therapy for children who experience communication difficulties, including speech sounds, language, socialising, writing, reading, swallowing, and even using your voice. It’s never too early to ask questions or seek advice. Speech pathology may be beneficial if:

• you or others have difficulty understanding your child’s speech
• your child has difficulty following instructions or understanding new information
• you often have to repeat or rephrase information and/or instructions for your child
• your child’s vocabulary and/or ability to form sentences and tell stories is not as great as other children of the same age
• your child stutters
• your child speaks very loudly, very softly, or with a harsh or husky voice
• your child is not keeping up with schoolwork or has below average reading and spelling skills
• your child has difficulty communicating appropriately in social settings

Please call us on 5260 1840. We will take your details including name, date of birth, email address, phone number and reason for referral. Then we will email you a link to complete our background information form. Once you have completed this, we will contact you to book an initial appointment. All initial appointments go for 60 minutes and are held in clinic.

No, not to book an appointment. You will, however, need a doctor’s referral (Chronic Disease Management Plan) to access a Medicare rebate (see below).

Our fees are based upon the type of service we provide and the time that we spend with you. We offer a range of services including assessments, reports, treatment sessions and programming. These services will be tailored to your individual needs. Our current fees can be found HERE. Please contact us to discuss what may apply in your individual circumstances.

Private health insurance funds generally include speech pathology in their “extras” cover options, so you may be eligible for rebates depending upon your level of cover. You will need to contact your health fund directly to determine the rebates you will receive.

You may also be eligible for rebates through Medicare. Your doctor will need to complete a Chronic Disease Management Plan before you attend speech pathology. You will be required to pay for your speech pathology services at the time of your appointment and then we can process the Medicare refund on your behalf.

We work with plan- and self-managed NDIS participants. You will need to sign a service agreement outlining the costs and processes involved during the term of your plan.

If you have a plan-managed plan we will bill your plan manager directly and receive payments from them.

If you have a self-managed plan, you pay each time you attend a session and you will need to enter the information on your invoice to the NDIS portal yourself to be reimbursed.

The number of appointments required will vary depending on the communication difficulties identified, the clients’ response to treatment, and the amount and quality of practice done between therapy appointments. It is important to remember that our work is not a ‘quick fix’ and it usually takes a number of months or even years to make significant progress.