Speech Therapy Services - How do I access them?

Accessing health services can be confusing for many caregivers, and navigating funding options only adds to the load! With waitlists for most health services becoming increasingly common, we’ve broken down the speech therapy services and funding options available.

Accessing Speech Therapy

You’ve found out that your child would benefit from speech therapy. Where to from here? There are a number of options for exploring speech pathology services, ranging from private practice to the public health service.

Private Practice

Private speech pathology practices provide services in various areas. These include early intervention (under five), school aged, adolescent and/or adults. Areas of practice may include:

·       Speech sounds;

·       Language;

·       Stuttering;

·       Voice;

·       Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC);

·       Literacy;

·       Written communication;

·       Swallowing;

·       And more!

Some private practices are ‘generalist’ practices, like CommuniKids Speech Therapy! This means they will see clients for a range of reasons. Other practices have specific areas they see clients for. This is particularly common for voice, AAC and swallowing/feeding clinics.

Private practices vary in the types of funding they take. Many private practices currently accept private funding and NDIS funding. Some practices are also able to accept NDIA funding, which is a form of funding management accessible through NDIS plans. It is recommended that prospective clients and their family call clinics they’re interested in to determine if the speech therapy clinic is the right fit.

Disability Services

Some companies operate in the disability sector. This typically involves larger, multidisciplinary practices offering a range of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy and more. Some disability companies will also offer other NDIS services such as support work and plan management. NDIS funding is accepted for these services.

Public Health Sector

For families who may find it challenging to access other services, the public health sector offers multidisciplinary services for children through the Child Development Service (CDS). This service can only be accessed by children who do not have NDIS funding. A referral is needed in order to access services, and waitlists are often long (over 12 months). More information can be accessed here: https://www.cahs.health.wa.gov.au/Our-services/Community-Health/Child-Development-Service/Eligibility-and-referrals

Language Development Centres

Whilst not strictly a speech therapy service, Language Development Centres (LDC) are schools with onsite speech therapists who work collaboratively with teachers and education assistants (EAs), developing programs suitable for children with language delays and disorders. The LDCs are typically accessible from Kindy through to Year Two/Three for children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Children with other diagnoses such as autism are not eligible for the LDC. To be selected, an LDC application must be completed by a referring speech therapist. A psychologist referral and teacher report are often required as well. LDCs are not speech therapy clinics and typically do not offer individual services.