How do I make a booking?
A GP referral is not required to arrange for a speech pathology or occupational therapy assessment. You can self-refer filling in our enquiry form.
Initial Telephone Discussion or Email Enquiry
You can call us on (02) 8404 0715 or email info@sydneyspeechclinic.com.au to discuss your concerns. An appointment can then be scheduled if necessary or you will be given the details of other local services if we feel that our service is not suited to your needs at this time. If you decide to go ahead with an appointment booking, you will be sent a confirmation email and will be asked to complete an online questionnaire to help us plan for the initial assessment. This background information forms the basis of the assessment and providing this in advance will allow us to spend less time on paperwork and more time directly with you/your child during the initial session.
Assessment
The assessment process involves gathering information and utilising a variety of assessment tools to determine the needs of the client. It may be appropriate to carry out a formal assessment with standardised tests in some cases, particularly for those approaching school age and older children. An assessment session generally lasts for 60 – 90 minutes (which includes time for discussion). A detailed assessment report will typically be emailed to you within 3 weeks of the assessment.
Therapy
Depending on the outcome of the assessment, you may be offered a block of therapy in order to work on improving specific skills. Sessions are tailored to the clients’s individual needs and activities for home practice are recommended to aid learning and achieve the best results. We like to take a positive, fun and family-centred approach and family members are encouraged to be involved in the therapy process as much as possible. Therapy sessions of 45 or 60 minutes are usually recommended depending on the person and may be offered weekly, fortnightly or more/less frequently depending on the areas of need.
Fees
Fees vary depending on the nature of the assessment and duration of treatment sessions. Please feel free to contact the clinic to request the current fee schedule.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers.
You or your child may be able to access NDIS support if you;
- Have a permanent disability that significantly affects the ability to take part in everyday activities;
- Are aged less than 65 when they first enter the NDIS;
- Are an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa; and
- Live in Australia where the NDIS is available.
Sydney Speech Clinic is registered with the NDIS. We are approved to be able to provide NDIS support with funding applications, 1:1 speech pathology and group therapy programs.
Rebates
Private Health Funds
Sydney Speech Clinic is registered with all major health funds. Private health fund rebates may apply depending on the type and level of your private health cover. To determine your eligibility, please contact your health fund directly.
Medicare – Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Items
Sydney Speech Clinic is registered with Medicare (under the Allied Health Initiative) to provide speech pathology and Occuptional Therapy services to those who meet the Medicare requirements. A GP Management Plan under The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) initiative entitles eligible recipients to up to 5 sessions (per calendar year) that are partially covered by Medicare. A GP is responsible for determining whether an individual is eligible to receive a CDM Plan and the paperwork for a GP management plan is necessary before you can start to claim via this service.
A useful information sheet for GPs from Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) can be downloaded here:
Speech Pathology and the CDM program – Info sheet for GPs
Therapy services provided by us will need to be paid in full and then we can process your Medicare rebate for you using our practice management software. Each of the 5 CDM sessions attract a rebate of approximately $54 from Medicare (up to date as of March 2022) although this may be more if you have reached the safety net. In general, those eligible for a CDM plan will have a chronic condition (present for longer than 6 months) and complex care needs that require ongoing care from a multidisciplinary team consisting of their GP and at least two health care providers (e.g. speech pathologist, occupational therapist, audiologist, psychologist).
For more information please contact your GP or refer to http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbsprimarycare-chronicdisease-pdf-infosheet
Cancellation Policy
Please give as much notice as possible if you need to cancel an appointment. A significant amount of time is spent planning for scheduled appointments and other clients may be on a waiting list for your appointment time. Given enough notice, your cancellation can be offered to someone else.
If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, we ask that you inform us with at least 2 full clear business day’s (Monday-Friday) notice before your appointment . If you miss a session without cancelling or cancel with less than 2 full clear business day’s notice of your appointment, you will be required to pay for the session in full.