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Medicare Rebates for Speech Therapy – Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare cover speech therapy in Australia?
Yes, Medicare may provide rebates for speech therapy in Australia, but only under certain referral pathways.
Children may be eligible for Medicare rebates for speech pathology through:
- a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) from a GP
- the M10 speech pathology rebate (introduced in March 2026)
- the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders pathway for children being assessed or treated for developmental conditions
Each pathway has different eligibility requirements and referral processes.
How do I get a Medicare rebate for speech therapy?
To access a Medicare rebate for speech pathology, your child must first receive a referral from a doctor.
The steps are usually:
- Visit your GP or paediatrician
- Discuss your concerns about your child’s speech, language or communication development
- Ask whether your child may be eligible for a Medicare referral for speech therapy
Bring the referral to your speech pathology appointment
Our team at Speak & Write can help guide you through the process.
How many speech therapy sessions are covered?
The number of speech therapy sessions available through Medicare depends on the referral pathway.
Typical limits include:
Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM)
Up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year shared across all allied health providers.
M10 Speech Pathology Rebate
Up to 8 assessment sessions and 20 treatment sessions across a person’s lifetime.
Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Pathway
Assessment services and up to 20 therapy sessions following diagnosis.
Your doctor will determine which pathway is appropriate for your child.
Do I need a GP referral for speech therapy?
You do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist privately.
However, if you want to claim a Medicare rebate for speech therapy, you will need a referral from:
- a GP (for CDM or M10 pathways), or
- a paediatrician or specialist doctor (for neurodevelopmental assessment pathways).
You can only claim the Medicare rebate after the date of your referral. You can get started with us, but will not be able to claim through Medicare until after your referral date.
How much is the Medicare rebate for speech therapy?
Medicare provides a partial rebate for speech pathology services.
The rebate amount is set by Medicare and does not cover the full cost of a speech therapy session, meaning there will be an out-of-pocket fee.
Our team can explain the current rebate amount and how Medicare claiming works when you book your appointment.
Can I use Medicare and NDIS for speech therapy?
Medicare and NDIS cannot be used for the same speech therapy session.
However, families can choose to use:
- Medicare rebates for some sessions
- NDIS funding for other sessions
This allows families to use their funding in a way that best supports their child’s therapy needs.
What speech problems are eligible for Medicare rebates?
Eligibility depends on the specific Medicare pathway, but speech therapy rebates may be available for children with:
- Speech sound disorders (unclear speech)
- Stuttering or fluency difficulties
- Speech difficulties related to cleft lip and palate
- Communication challenges associated with developmental conditions
- Speech or language delays linked to medical diagnoses
- Literacy difficulties due to underlying communication difficulties
A GP or paediatrician will determine whether your child meets the criteria for a referral.
What age can children access speech therapy rebates?
The age limits depend on the pathway.
- M10 speech pathology pathway: available for children and young people under 25
- Complex neurodevelopmental pathway: typically for children under 13
- Chronic Disease Management Plan: available for children or adults with chronic conditions
If you are unsure whether your child may qualify, Speak & Write can help guide you through the options.
When should I see a speech pathologist?
You may wish to speak with a speech pathologist if your child:
- is difficult to understand
- is not using as many words as expected
- struggles to follow instructions
- stutters or repeats sounds
- has difficulty interacting socially
- has concerns with feeding or swallowing
Early support can make a meaningful difference in a child’s communication development and confidence.
Can Speak & Write help with Medicare referrals?
Yes. While referrals must be written by your GP or paediatrician, our team can help explain:
- which Medicare pathways may apply
- what to ask your doctor
- how Medicare rebates work for speech therapy
If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language or communication skills, we’re here to help.
Speak & Write promotes the rights of people (including children, young people and adults) with a disability, as stated under the Disability Services Act 1993. All people with a disability have the same human and legal rights as others and these should be respected at all times.
At S&W, we believe that each person has the right to receive services which respect and promote their legal and human rights and place them at the centre of decision-making across all aspects of their life.
All people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives in ways that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. In the case of young children, that right is vested in their parent or carer.
S&W is committed to pursuing these rights and adopting the principles of a person-centred philosophy in all practices, programs and service delivery models. These include the principles of equality, independence, participation, choice and inclusion.
S&W supports and strives to maximise opportunities to assist people with a disability and their families to participate inclusively in, and contribute to, their community according to their individual and cultural needs.
S&W will act in accordance with:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which recognises that people with disabilities have the right to access the same opportunities as all citizens with full and effective inclusion in society.
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 2006 which recognises that all children have the same rights and freedoms regardless of race, background, faith or disability.
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) which makes disability discrimination unlawful and aims to promote equal rights, opportunity and access for people with disabilities.
Advocacy is the process of standing alongside an individual who is disadvantaged, and speaking out on their behalf in a way that represents their best interests. The aim of advocacy is to achieve beneficial outcomes for the client while ensuring they retain as much control as possible over how it is carried out. An advocate may provide information and advice in order to assist a person to take action and resolve their own concerns, or they may take a more active role in representing the person’s rights to another individual or organisation.
People need advocates for many reasons. Some clients can successfully advocate on their own behalf. Other clients may experience difficulty speaking up for themselves.
In these instances, an advocate may:
- Assist the client to access services
- Assist the client to change services
- Ensure that the service chosen is appropriate
- Communicate with the service provider
- Negotiate suitable resolutions when a complaint or dispute has arisen
If a client, family member or carer of our organisation has asked you to be their advocate, this means that they would like you to act on their behalf. You may be a family member or a friend of the person, or a member of an advocacy service.
Clients and prospective advocates should be aware that interpreters cannot be used as advocates, as they have a distinct role in interpreting communication between two or more parties.
Advocacy may involve speaking, taking action or writing on behalf of an individual (or group) who has a limited ability to exercise their rights. Advocacy is a mechanism to facilitate client rights, and you may be requested to support the client in exercising those rights. Examples of rights you could be asked to support include:
- The right to privacy and confidentiality
- The right to respect and dignity
- The right to quality services
- The right to information to inform decision-making
- The right to choice and control
- The right to make and resolve complaints
- The right to non-discriminatory services; and
- The right to protection of legal and human rights, and freedom from abuse and neglect
A support person may assist the nominee in their contact with the organisation in the following ways:
- Providing assistance with communication
- Ensuring information is understood
- Attending to the personal support needs
- Being a point of contactEnsuring their best interests are represented
Individuals accessing our services may nominate a support person or advocate of their choice to provide support. Parents, elders, relatives or legal representatives are accepted as support persons for individuals accessing our services and are required to complete our Client Advocate/Support Person Nomination Form to confirm the nomination. If you require assistance with completing this form, we can assist you.
If you are looking for an advocate or some support to advocate more effectively on your behalf, you can contact one of the following organisations:
For more information about Advocacy services available in your area you can visit Disability Advocacy Network Australia at www.dana.org.au
Indigenous Disability Advocacy Service (IDAS)
P : 02 4722 3524
W : idas@idas.org.au
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA)
P : 1800 629 072
W : www.mdaa.org.au
People with Disability Australia (PWDA)
P : 1800 422 015
W : www.pwd.org.au
N?A
Children under 13 years old who are being assessed for complex developmental conditions such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Global developmental delay
- Intellectual disability
- Other neurodevelopmental conditions
These conditions can affect speech development, language skills, learning and social communication.
A referral for this pathway must come from a paediatrician or specialist doctor.
Medicare may fund:
- Allied health assessment sessions as part of a multidisciplinary evaluation
- Up to 20 therapy sessions following diagnosis
Speech pathology assessments may look at:
-speech clarity
-language development
-social communication
-early literacy skills
A screener allows parents to have peace of mind regarding whether their child's communication skills are progressing age-appropriately.
If difficulties are identified in any of the areas screened (speech, expressive and receptive language, fluency and social language), a full assessment will be recommended for your consideration.
.avif)
Mon 13th & Fri 17th April 2026
10:00am - 12:00pm
What we will screen:
