Funding

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

We are a registered NDIS provider, and can provide therapy under the Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living category. For more information please see the NDIS information page.

Private Health Insurance

Private Health Insurance rebates may be available, depending on your policy.

Talk to your private health provider for further information or look at your insurance app, website or policy. Many funds with extras provide coverage for speech pathology and psychology therapy, and usually for each family member. Some also provide coverage for assessment.

Medicare

There are a range of Medicare Plans which may be suitable to support you in accessing therapy:

• GP Management Plan

• Autism Assessment (Complex neuro-developmental assessment referral)

• Autism therapy session (Complex neurodevelopmental treatment referral)

• Allied Health Services under Medicare for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent

• Better Access to Mental Health Care Plan

• Disability Assessment (Eligible disability assessment referral)

• Disability therapy (Eligible disability treatment referral)

Your doctor will assist you to access an appropriate Medicare plan. Some referrals are from GPs and some are from paediatricians. Your rebate amount will depend on which plan you have, which practitioner you see and if you have reached the medicare safety net threshold. Please see below for additional information.

1. GP Management Plan Referrals

GP management Plans assist GPs in coordinating care for patients with chronic conditions. Most Early Start Australia therapists can be seen under a GP management plan referral, including:

• Dietitians

• Occupational therapists

• Physiotherapists

• Psychologists

• Speech pathologists

GP management plan referrals will provide a rebate for individual, in-person sessions (not group), for up to five sessions in any calendar year.

The referring GP will allocate the number of sessions on the referral to each type of therapy.

For example, the GP may provide between one to five sessions to any therapist or combination of therapists, up to a maximum of five sessions for the patient in total across a calendar year.

The Early Start Australia therapist will write back to the GP at each of the first and last treatments with an update. For further information on eligibility and claiming limits, please see here: Allied health referrals for chronic disease health care plans.

2. Autism Assessment and Therapy (Complex Neuro-developmental Disorders and Disabilities)

Previously known as the Helping Children with Autism program and the Better Start for children with disabilities initiative, this referral type supports children and young people and young adults up to the age of 25 with assessment and treatment.

This referral type can be made to allied health practitioners from a paediatrician or psychiatrist.

Psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists at Early Start Australia may accept these referrals.

An assessment referral may be made for up to four sessions.

A patient may be eligible for up to 20 treatment sessions in a lifetime.

A course of treatment is up to 10 sessions maximum.

The allied health practitioner must report back to the referring doctor after any assessment at the end of a course of treatment (maximum of 10 sessions).

A further referral letter is required before a further course of treatment (up to a maximum of 10 sessions) to be eligible for a Medicare rebate.

As of March 2026, disability assessment and treatments referrals will also cover speech sound disorders such as:

• Articulation disorder

• Phonological disorder

• Childhood apraxia of speech

For further information on eligible disabilities, please see here:

• Requirements of services for complex neurodevelopmental disorders and eligible disabilities

• Complex neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorders) MBS flow chart of services

• Eligible disability MBS flow chart of services

3. Allied Health Services under Medicare for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent

Medicare provides specific allied health services for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent to support access to ongoing care following a health assessment or as part of chronic condition management.

This includes a rebate on up to 10 allied health services per calendar year. The GP will decide how many sessions, and the type of therapy needed. Therapists are required to provide written reports back to the referring GP at the end of the referral.

4. Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme

Under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist, an individual may be eligible for up to 10 rebated individual sessions with a psychologist each calendar year.

Mental Health Care Plans support individuals with treatment of mental health difficulty, as identified by the referring doctor.

An initial referral may be for up to six sessions.

The referring doctor will then need to provide a review for a further four sessions to attract a rebate.

You will need to provide Early Start Australia with a referral letter before the 7th session for Medicare rebates to apply.

Your Early Start Australia therapist will also write back to the referring doctor at the 10th or final session with an update.

Up to two of the 10 sessions in a calendar year may be for parent or carer participation.

Who can provide this service?

Psychologists (except for provisional psychologists) can work under Mental Health Care Plans.

For further information on eligibility, referral validity and calendar year claiming limits, please see here: Allied health referrals for mental health care plans.

5. Disability Assessment (Eligible disability assessment referral)

These referrals support assessment and diagnosis for people who are suspected of having an eligible disability, to help inform diagnosis, treatment planning, and access to appropriate supports.

Who can make a referral?

An eligible disability assessment referral can be made by a GP or a specialist, such as a paediatrician or psychiatrist. The referring doctor determines whether the person meets the Medicare eligibility criteria and whether this referral type is appropriate.

Who is eligible?

Medicare defines a specific list of eligible disabilities, including (but not limited to):

• Cerebral palsy

• Down syndrome

• Fragile X syndrome

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

• Significant vision or hearing impairment

• Genetic and chromosomal conditions listed under the Medicare scheme

What does the assessment cover?

Eligible disability assessment referrals allow allied health practitioners to:

• Assist the referring doctor with diagnostic assessment, and

• Contribute to the development of a treatment and management plan.

Medicare allows:

• up to 8 assessment services in a lifetime,

• delivered in blocks of up to 4 sessions per referral,

Who can provide assessment services?

Under Medicare, assessment services may be provided by eligible allied health practitioners, depending on the referral and clinical need, including:

• psychologists

• speech pathologists

• occupational therapists

• physiotherapists

The referring doctor specifies the appropriate discipline(s) on the referral.

6. Disability therapy (Eligible disability treatment referral)

These referrals support access to therapy services that form part of a treatment and management plan developed by the referring doctor.

Who can make a referral?

An eligible disability treatment referral can be made by:

• a GP, or

• a specialist, such as a paediatrician or psychiatrist.

The referring doctor determines whether the person meets Medicare eligibility criteria and whether this referral type is appropriate.

Who is eligible?

Medicare defines a specific list of eligible disabilities, which includes (but is not limited to):

• cerebral palsy

• Down syndrome

• Fragile X syndrome

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

• significant vision or hearing impairment

• genetic and chromosomal conditions listed under the Medicare scheme

Eligibility is assessed by the referring doctor in line with Medicare requirements.

What does disability therapy cover?

Eligible disability treatment referrals allow allied health practitioners to:

• provide therapy services in line with the individual’s treatment and management plan, and

• support functional development, participation, and therapeutic goals identified by the referring doctor.

Medicare allows:

• up to 20 treatment sessions in a lifetime,

• delivered in courses of treatment of up to 10 sessions,

• with a new referral required before commencing a further course of treatment.

The treating therapist must provide a written report back to the referring doctor at the end of each course of treatment.

Who can provide disability therapy?

Under Medicare, eligible disability treatment services may be provided by eligible allied health practitioners, depending on the referral and clinical need, including:

• psychologists
• speech pathologists
• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• accredited dietitians
• accredited exercise physiologists

The referring doctor specifies the appropriate discipline(s) on the referral.

There are four different types of Medicare rebates available at Early Start Australia. 

If you are not sure which one you are eligible for, speak with your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. 

More information about each referral type can be found below. 

1. Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme 

Under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist, an individual may be eligible for up to 10 rebated individual sessions with a registered psychologist, mental health accredited occupational therapist or mental health accredited social worker in any calendar year. 

Mental Health Care Plans support individuals with treatment of significant mental health difficulty, as identified by the referring doctor. 

An initial referral may be for up to six sessions. 

The referring doctor will then need to provide a review for a further four sessions to attract a rebate. 

You will need to provide Early Start Australia with a referral letter before the 7th session for Medicare rebates to apply. 

Your Early Start Australia therapist will also write back to the referring doctor at the 10th or final session with an update. 

Up to two of the 10 sessions in a calendar year may be for carer and family participation. 

Group sessions of 4-10 participants may also attract a rebate, in addition to the individual sessions. 

Who can provide this service? 

Psychologists (except for provisional psychologists) can work under Mental Health Care Plans. 

Some occupational therapists and social workers with additional training and experience may also be accredited to provide Medicare services under MHCPs. 

For further information on eligibility, referral validity and calendar year claiming limits, please see here: Allied health referrals for mental health care plans. 

2. Chronic Disease Management Plan Team Care Arrangements 

Many Early Start Australia therapists can accept allied health Team Care Arrangement (TCA) referrals. 

Under the care of a GP, allied health Team Care Arrangements assist GPs in coordinating care for patients with chronic or terminal medical conditions. 

A Team Care Arrangement referral may be for any of the following practitioners at Early Start Australia: 

• Aboriginal health workers or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners 

• Dietitians 

• Mental Health Accredited Social Worker 

• Occupational therapists 

• Physiotherapists 

• Psychologists 

• Speech pathologists 

TCA referrals will allow you to receive a rebate for individual, in-person sessions (not group), for up to five sessions in any calendar year. 

The referring GP will allocate the number of sessions on the referral to each discipline. 

For example, the GP may refer between one to five sessions to any discipline and combination of disciplines, up to a maximum of five sessions for the patient in total across a calendar year. 

The Early Start Australia therapist will write back to the GP at each of the first and last treatments with an update. 

For further information on eligibility and claiming limits, please see here: Allied health referrals for chronic disease health care plans. 

3. Complex Neuro-developmental Disorders and Disabilities 

Previously known as the Helping Children with Autism program and the Better Start for children with disabilities initiative, this referral type supports children and young people and young adults up to the age of 25 with assessment and treatment. 

This referral type can be made to allied health practitioners from a paediatrician or psychiatrist. 

Psychologists, speech pathologists and physiotherapists at Early Start Australia may accept these referrals. 

An assessment referral may be made for up to eight sessions in a lifetime. 

The initial assessment referral is usually for up to four assessment sessions and may be spread amongst different disciplines. 

A patient may be eligible for up to 20 treatment sessions in a lifetime. 

A course of treatment is up to 10 sessions maximum. 

The allied health practitioner must report back to the referring doctor at the end of a course of treatment (maximum of 10 sessions). 

A further referral letter is required before a further course of treatment (up to a maximum of 10 sessions) to be eligible for a Medicare rebate. 

For further information on eligible disabilities, please see here: 

• Requirements of services for complex neurodevelopmental disorders and eligible disabilities 

• Complex neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorders) MBS flow chart of services 

• Eligible disability MBS flow chart of services 

4. Eating Disorder Care Plan 

Eating disorder referrals can be made by a general practitioner (GP), paediatrician, or psychiatrist. 

Psychologists and dieticians can work under Eating Disorder care plans. 

Each referral may allow for up to 10 psychology treatment services and up to 20 dietician services. 

Upon re-referral, a patient may be eligible for up to 40 psychology treatment services in a calendar year and up to a maximum of 20 dietician services. 

Some occupational therapists and social workers with additional accreditations may be able to accept eating disorder referrals. 

The allied health practitioner will report back to the referring doctor after the first and last session in any treatment plan. 

Eating Disorder care plans are for patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. 

For alternate eligibility criteria information please see here: Eligibility of an eating disorder health care plan.