Speech & Language Therapy

About This Service

Communication That Works in the Real World

Speech pathology — delivered by a qualified speech-language pathologist — addresses the full range of communication and swallowing challenges that affect people with disability across all ages and life stages. This includes how clearly someone speaks, how well they understand and process language, how they express themselves when words are difficult, and how safely they eat and drink.

At Safe Hands Disability, we coordinate speech pathology as part of your broader NDIS support plan. That means your speech pathologist doesn't work in isolation — they work alongside your support workers, educators, family members, and other therapists so that what happens in sessions is practised and reinforced across every setting where you live, learn, work, and socialise.

Speech therapy is funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in most NDIS plans. Early childhood speech therapy may also attract additional funding through the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention pathway. Contact us and we'll review your plan to confirm what's available.

Speech pathologist working with a client on communication

Who We Support

Speech Therapy Across Every Age Group

Speech pathology looks very different for a two-year-old with a speech delay compared to a 65-year-old managing communication changes after a stroke. Select an age group below to see what we focus on and what goals look like in practice.

Early Childhood (0–5 years)

The early years are the most critical window for language development. Children who receive speech therapy early — before school — have significantly better long-term outcomes for language, literacy, and social participation. Our early childhood speech pathologists work directly with children and their families, coaching parents and carers to embed communication support naturally into everyday routines.

First words and early vocabulary development for late talkers
Two-word and multi-word combinations and sentence building
Articulation and speech sound development (lisps, substitutions, unclear speech)
Early AAC introduction for non-verbal or minimally verbal children
Understanding and following instructions at home and in childcare
Feeding and swallowing difficulties in infants and toddlers
Early autism communication intervention (parent-mediated approaches)
Hanen "It Takes Two to Talk" and "More Than Words" parent programs

Sample NDIS Goals — Early Childhood

"Liam will spontaneously use 50 or more different words to request, comment, and greet across home and childcare settings."

"Aisha will combine two words to make requests (e.g. 'more juice', 'daddy come') in 4 out of 5 opportunities during mealtimes."

"Noah will use his communication board to make a choice between two preferred activities independently, without physical prompting, in 8 out of 10 trials."

"Mia will eat pureed texture foods safely without coughing or choking across 90% of mealtimes at home."

School Age (6–12 years)

At school age, communication challenges become increasingly visible — and increasingly impactful. Difficulty understanding complex instructions, weak narrative skills, unclear speech, or poor social pragmatics can affect learning, friendships, and confidence. Our school-age programs work in close partnership with teachers, teacher aides, and families to ensure therapy targets carry into the classroom where they're most needed.

Following multi-step classroom instructions and processing verbal information
Narrative and storytelling skills — retelling events, sequencing stories
Phonological awareness, reading, and spelling support (literacy link)
Social communication — turn-taking, topic maintenance, reading social cues
Fluency therapy (stuttering) using the Lidcombe Program and camouflaging strategies
Continued AAC development and training for teachers and peers
Voice and verbal expression for children with selective mutism or motor speech disorders

Sample NDIS Goals — School Age

"Ethan will retell a familiar story using a minimum of 5 story grammar elements (character, setting, problem, action, resolution) in structured and naturalistic activities."

"Sophie will follow 3-part instructions in a classroom setting without needing them repeated, in 3 out of 4 trials across 4 consecutive sessions."

"James will initiate a topic, maintain it for at least 4 conversational turns, and close it appropriately in role-play scenarios with an adult."

"Zara will use her high-tech AAC device to answer questions and share information in classroom group activities without adult prompting."

Teenagers (13–17 years)

Adolescence brings new communication demands — secondary school, friendships, social media, and the beginning of the transition to adult life. For teenagers with disability, this stage also brings important NDIS planning transitions. Our speech pathologists work on the communication skills teens need to navigate this stage with confidence, including the ability to advocate for themselves in meetings, on the phone, and with new people.

Self-advocacy — expressing needs, disagreeing respectfully, asking for help
Complex social language — sarcasm, humour, implied meaning, workplace communication
Interview and job readiness communication skills
Reading comprehension and written expression for senior school
Fluency (stuttering) management for social confidence
Voice therapy including support for transgender teens
AAC transition to adult devices and communication strategies

Sample NDIS Goals — Teenagers

"Riley will independently explain their disability-related support needs to a new teacher or employer, using a prepared script and without adult prompting."

"Jordan will identify when a social interaction has broken down and use at least 2 repair strategies to restore the conversation."

"Chloe will use stuttering modification techniques (cancellation, pull-out, preparatory set) to maintain conversation fluency during phone calls."

"Alex will compose a coherent, structured written paragraph on a chosen topic with no more than 3 support prompts from an adult."

Adults

Adults with disability access speech therapy for a wide range of needs — from lifelong communication differences that were never fully addressed, to acquired communication challenges following acquired brain injury, stroke, or progressive neurological conditions. Our adult speech pathologists specialise in both developmental and acquired communication needs, with a strong focus on independence, community participation, employment, and relationship quality.

Aphasia rehabilitation after stroke — word finding, sentence production, reading, writing
AAC for adults with complex communication needs (cerebral palsy, ALS, ABI)
Dysarthria management — improving speech clarity and intelligibility
Social communication and pragmatics for adults with autism
Workplace communication and professional skill development
Communication partner training for family, carers, and support workers
Supported decision-making communication supports
Dysphagia (swallowing) assessment and management

Sample NDIS Goals — Adults

"Michael will use his AAC device to initiate 3 or more social interactions per day with familiar communication partners across home and community settings."

"Sarah will retrieve the target word in conversation within 10 seconds using at least 2 self-cueing strategies, in 7 out of 10 opportunities."

"David will make his needs and preferences understood to an unfamiliar person, using his communication book and supported decision-making strategies."

"Priya will eat regular texture foods safely without coughing or requiring modified fluids across 95% of observed mealtimes."

Older Adults

Older NDIS participants may experience communication changes due to stroke, dementia, Parkinson's, motor neurone disease, or other conditions associated with ageing. Speech pathology in this group focuses on maintaining communication for as long as possible, managing swallowing safety, and training communication partners — including family and care workers — to communicate more effectively with the person they support.

Dementia-focused communication strategies and environmental modifications
Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) assessment and safe mealtime planning
LSVT LOUD therapy for Parkinson's-related voice and speech changes
Post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation and compensatory strategies
Voice changes — hoarseness, reduced projection, vocal fatigue
Communication partner training for family members and paid carers
Supported decision-making tools and communication aids

Sample NDIS Goals — Older Adults

"Margaret's family and support workers will implement 5 dementia communication strategies consistently, reducing communication-related distress across care interactions."

"Robert will use LSVT LOUD techniques to increase vocal volume to a level that is functional for conversation in noisy environments."

"Helen will safely manage minced-and-moist texture foods and mildly thick fluids at all mealtimes without respiratory compromise."

"John will communicate at least 3 daily needs or preferences to familiar carers using a low-tech communication aid without frustration."

What We Treat

Areas of Speech Pathology Practice

Speech-language pathologists have a broader scope of practice than most people realise. Here's what our network of clinicians can assess and treat through your NDIS plan.

Speech — Articulation & Phonology

Difficulty producing speech sounds clearly — substitutions, omissions, distortions. Affects intelligibility in conversation and may impact literacy development in children.

Language — Receptive & Expressive

Understanding language (following instructions, processing questions, grasping complex vocabulary) and expressing ideas, needs, and feelings in words and sentences.

AAC — Alternative & Augmentative Communication

Communication systems for people who cannot rely on speech alone — from low-tech picture boards to high-tech speech-generating devices. Assessment, funding reports, and device training.

Swallowing & Dysphagia

Assessment and management of swallowing difficulties affecting safe eating and drinking. Includes mealtime observation, texture prescription (IDDSI framework), and caregiver training.

Social Communication & Pragmatics

The social rules of communication — turn-taking, topic management, reading non-verbal cues, understanding sarcasm and humour. Often a focus for autistic participants.

Fluency — Stuttering

Assessment and treatment of stuttering across the lifespan using evidence-based programs — Lidcombe for children, intensive programs and management strategies for adults and teens.

Voice

Voice changes including hoarseness, reduced projection, vocal fatigue, and pitch issues. Includes LSVT LOUD for Parkinson's disease and voice feminisation/masculinisation support.

Cognitive Communication

Communication difficulties caused by brain injury, dementia, or neurological conditions — affecting memory, attention, reasoning, and organised communication in daily situations.

Evidence-Based Practice

Therapy Approaches Our Network Uses

Approach	Who It's For	What It Does
Hanen Programs Early Childhood	Parents and carers of children aged 0–5 with language delays	Trains parents to use responsive interaction strategies in everyday routines — meals, bath time, play — to accelerate language development at home.
Lidcombe Program Fluency	Children who stutter, typically aged 2–6 years (earlier is better)	A parent-delivered, operant-conditioning program with strong evidence for eliminating or significantly reducing stuttering in early childhood. Supervised by an SLP weekly.
Core Vocabulary Approach AAC	Children and adults with complex communication needs using AAC	Focuses AAC therapy on a small set of high-frequency "core words" that can be used across all situations, rather than topic-specific vocabulary. Builds flexible, functional communication.
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) AAC	Non-verbal or minimally verbal children, primarily autistic learners	A phase-based system where children learn to exchange picture cards to communicate. Builds intentional communication and is often a bridge to speech or high-tech AAC.
LSVT LOUD Voice / Neurological	Adults with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders	An intensive, highly structured voice treatment program — 4 sessions per week for 4 weeks — that retrains vocal loudness and carries over into naturally louder, clearer speech.
Narrative Intervention Language / Literacy	School-age children with language and literacy difficulties	Teaches story grammar structure (character, setting, problem, action, resolution) to improve retelling, reading comprehension, and written expression in school contexts.
Social Thinking® / Social Stories Social Communication	Autistic children, teens, and adults; others with pragmatic language difficulties	Frameworks for understanding social situations, expected and unexpected behaviour, and the perspectives of others — building more flexible and confident social communication.
PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) Motor Speech	Children and adults with motor speech disorders (apraxia, dysarthria)	Uses tactile-kinesthetic prompts (physical touch to the face and jaw) to guide the movements needed for accurate speech production — highly effective for apraxia.

Your Journey

What to Expect

From first contact to ongoing therapy, here is exactly what the process looks like when you access speech and language therapy through Safe Hands Disability.

Initial Contact

Reach out by phone or email to tell us about the person you're supporting — their age, their current communication challenges, and what you're hoping therapy will achieve. We'll answer your questions and explain how coordination works. There's no cost or obligation at this stage.

NDIS Plan Review & Provider Matching

We review the NDIS plan to confirm speech pathology is funded. We then match you with a speech pathologist from our network who has experience relevant to the person's age group and presenting needs — and whose availability suits your schedule and location preferences.

Comprehensive Assessment

The first one or two sessions are an assessment — not treatment. The speech pathologist gathers a thorough picture of communication strengths, challenges, and priorities using standardised assessments, structured observation, and detailed conversation with the participant and their family. A written assessment report is provided.

Goal Setting

Goals are written collaboratively — with the participant and family — and directly connected to the NDIS plan's stated outcomes. Goals are specific, measurable, and grounded in the real contexts where communication matters most (home, school, work, community). They form the basis for all treatment and for progress reporting to the NDIA.

Therapy & Practice

Regular sessions — weekly or fortnightly in most cases — combine direct skill work in the session with practice plans for home, school, or work. For children especially, caregiver coaching is built into sessions so that what's learned with the therapist is reinforced consistently between appointments.

Progress Review & Reporting

Every 8–12 weeks, the speech pathologist formally reviews progress against goals and provides a written progress report. This report is invaluable for NDIS plan reviews, NDIA evidence submissions, and coordinating with schools, workplaces, or other therapists.

Generalisation & Transition

The final phase focuses on applying skills independently across all settings — not just in the therapy room. A home communication program, communication partner training resources, and a clear maintenance plan are provided when formal goals are met.

In Practice

What a Session Looks Like

Check-in

The session starts with a brief catch-up — what the week looked like, whether the home practice worked, and any incidents or new communication opportunities to note and build on.

Targeted Skill Work

Focused activity targeting the current therapy goal — this might look like play, structured practice, conversation, technology use, or role-play depending on the person's age and goal.

Generalisation Tasks

Skills practised in real or simulated settings — ordering at a café, following a recipe, navigating a phone call — so gains transfer directly to the places that matter.

Caregiver Coaching

For children and adults needing communication partner support, carers observe and practise the key strategies — so the session's work continues at home, at school, and across every interaction.

AAC & Tool Practice

Where AAC or communication aids are in use, sessions include deliberate practice with the system — building fluency, expanding vocabulary, and problem-solving barriers to use in daily life.

Home Program Update

Every session closes with a clear, practical home activity — specific enough to actually happen, simple enough to fit into a busy routine — so every week builds on the last.

Getting Started

How to Access Speech Therapy

You do not need a GP referral to access speech pathology through an NDIS plan. Here's how to get started.

Contact Us

Call 0466 441 662 or email us. Tell us a little about the person and what you're hoping speech therapy will address. We'll listen and advise on next steps.

Plan Confirmation

We check the NDIS plan to confirm speech pathology is funded under Capacity Building. If it's not in the current plan, we'll advise how to request it at the next plan review with the right supporting evidence.

Provider Match

We match the participant with a speech pathologist whose clinical experience aligns with the presenting needs and age group — considering travel time, telehealth options, and your schedule.

Service Agreement

A service agreement is completed before any sessions begin — outlining what's being delivered, how often, at what NDIS rate, and the participant's rights and responsibilities.

First Appointment

The initial assessment session is typically booked within 2–3 weeks of referral acceptance. We confirm all logistics with you in advance and ensure the setting works for the participant.

We accept referrals from: participants, parents and carers, support coordinators, local area coordinators, GPs, paediatricians, early childhood educators, schools, hospital discharge teams, and other allied health providers. Self-referrals are always welcome — you don't need to go through a coordinator.

NDIS Funding

How Speech Therapy Is Funded in Your NDIS Plan

Support Category

Speech pathology is funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in most NDIS plans. For children under 9 accessing early intervention, additional funding may be available through the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) pathway.

NDIS Price Limits

Speech pathology is billed at the NDIS Therapy Support rate — currently $193.99 per hour (2024–25 rates). This covers assessment, direct treatment, caregiver coaching, report writing, and case coordination. Travel for home or community visits is charged separately at approved rates.

AT Reports & Assessments

If AAC equipment is needed, the speech pathologist writes an Assistive Technology assessment report that forms part of the NDIS funding request. This is billed from the Improved Daily Living budget and is a critical document for obtaining AT funding approval.

Not Currently Funded?

If speech pathology isn't in the current NDIS plan, we can help you request it at the next review by preparing a functional needs letter and connecting you with the right clinical evidence. Early intervention plans especially can be revisited with new clinical supporting documentation.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need a formal diagnosis to access speech therapy through the NDIS?

For children aged 0–6, the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) pathway does not require a formal diagnosis — only evidence of a developmental concern. For school-age children and adults, having an NDIS plan that includes speech pathology funding is what matters, not the specific diagnostic label. We can guide you on what evidence is most useful to include in a plan review request.

Which part of the NDIS plan covers speech therapy?

Speech pathology is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living (Support Category 15). For children in early intervention, it may fall under the Early Childhood category instead. Some plans also include speech therapy funding under Improved Learning or Improved Living Arrangements depending on how goals are framed. Contact us and we'll locate the correct funding line in the specific plan.

How is NDIS speech therapy different from what a school speech therapist provides?

School speech therapists are funded by the Department of Education and typically focus on curriculum-related communication skills — classroom participation, literacy, and following instructions. NDIS speech therapy addresses the full range of a participant's communication needs across all settings, including home, community, and social life. The two can and should work in parallel — we actively coordinate with school speech services to avoid duplication and share strategies.

What is AAC and how do I know if my child or family member needs it?

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication — any system that supplements or replaces speech. It includes low-tech options like picture boards and communication books, as well as high-tech speech-generating devices (SGDs). A speech pathologist assesses whether AAC is appropriate based on the person's communication profile — not on a fixed threshold of speech ability. Importantly, research consistently shows that introducing AAC does not stop speech development; it supports it. The speech pathologist will also write the AT assessment report needed to obtain NDIS funding for a device.

Can speech therapy help with eating and swallowing difficulties?

Yes. Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) is a core area of speech pathology practice. Speech pathologists assess swallowing safety through observation and, where needed, instrumented assessments (videofluoroscopy or FEES). They prescribe food texture modifications using the IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) framework, provide mealtime management strategies, and train carers and support workers in safe mealtime practices. This is particularly important for participants with neurological conditions, cerebral palsy, or acquired brain injury.

How often will sessions need to happen?

Frequency depends on the person's goals, age, and NDIS budget. Children in early intervention typically benefit from weekly sessions, especially in the initial phase. School-age children and adults often access fortnightly sessions with strong home programs in between. Some programs — like LSVT LOUD and Lidcombe — have a fixed intensive schedule. Your speech pathologist will recommend a frequency and we'll make sure it fits within the plan's available hours before sessions begin.

Do parents and carers need to be involved in sessions?

For children, caregiver involvement is not just helpful — it is essential for good outcomes. The Hanen approach and most early childhood speech therapy models are explicitly designed around parent coaching. For adults, the level of family involvement depends on the individual and their preferences. Communication partner training — teaching family members and support workers how to communicate more effectively with the person they support — is always available and often highly impactful.

Can speech therapy sessions be delivered via telehealth?

Yes. Many speech pathology goals — particularly for language, social communication, AAC training, and parent coaching — are well-suited to telehealth delivery. This can increase frequency of contact while reducing travel demands. Telehealth is not appropriate for all goal types (for example, swallowing assessments and some motor speech work require in-person contact), but our clinicians will advise on what combination of in-person and telehealth works best for each participant.

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