Funding
At Eat Speak Play, we are dedicated to supporting families in accessing the necessary funding for speech therapy, feeding therapy and allied health assistant services. We aim to make the process straightforward and clear, helping you navigate the available options to ensure ongoing care for your child.
Medicare
Families may be eligible for the Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP), which can help cover the cost of therapy. Eligibility for this plan is assessed by your GP and is based on your child’s specific health needs.
Payment Process: If approved, the plan allows for a partial rebate on up to five allied health sessions per year. As of the 1st of January, 2026, the rebate is currently $61.80 per session. Full payment on the day of service is required before claiming the rebate, as we do not bulk bill. Please contact Medicare for more specific guidance on reimbursement.
Medicare M10 Item Group
This funding option is available for children diagnosed with complex neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and other recognised disorders (click here). To qualify, eligibility is assessed by a paediatrician or GP and children must show impacts across at least two areas: adaptive functioning, cognition, attention, social and emotional development, language, or executive function.
From the 1st of March, 2026 children with the following conditions will also be eligible for funding under the M10 item group:
Suttering
Speech sound disorder (including, but not limited to, articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and dysarthria)
Cleft lip and/or palate
If approved, this funding allows for:
Up to eight sessions for allied health assessments
Up to 20 sessions for allied health therapy
As of the 1st of January 2026, the rebate for this Medicare item is $87.25 per session.
Payment Process: If approved, the plan allows for a partial rebate on up to 4 allied health assessment sessions and 20 allied health therapy sessions per year. Full payment on the day of service is required before claiming the rebate, as we do not bulk bill. Please contact Medicare for more specific guidance on reimbursement.
Private Health
Our team of speech pathologists are fully registered and hold Medicare provider numbers, making therapy services eligible for private health rebates. Your ability to claim will depend on your health fund and the level of extras cover you have. Please check directly with your provider for details on your plan’s benefits.
NDIS
We offer therapy services under the NDIS Early Childhood Supports and Therapeutic Supports – Capacity Building categories. We work with families who are either self-managed or plan-managed.
Please be aware that services delivered by Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) may be claimed through NDIS but are not covered under private health or Medicare.
For more details on funding options and how to access support, reach out to our team or explore our resources online.