policies

To make an appointment, contact us on 0452 643 883 or wordplayaus@gmail.com, or complete the online form here

Initial Consultation

The initial or first consultation is for one hour. This consultation allows the clinician to gain background information about the child and to screen the child’s current speech and language skills. Information is gathered by discussing the child’s birth, developmental and medical history, as well as the parent’s observations of the child’s speech and language skills. How the clinician screens the child’s current skills depends on the child’s age. For younger children this may involve observing the child playing with his/her parent. For older children the clinician may administer screening tests. If no other assessment consultations are required a one page summary of the screening consultation is provided free of charge to the parent. 

Assessment information

A one hour (initial) consultation is usually sufficient for the assessment of:

  • Articulation (Speech)

  • Straight forward expressive language delay.

The clinician will inform you if a more comprehensive assessment is required and how many sessions this will entail and the cost. The number of assessment consultations required will vary depending on the child’s age and the type of communication difficulty. 

Two or three consultations are usually required for the assessment of:

  • Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders

  • Speech Sound Disorders

  • Autism-Spectrum Disorders

  • Literacy Learning Difficulties

A kinder/school visit may be required as part of the assessment process.

NDIS fees

The NDIA sets the fees for funded supports in participant packages, and sets guidelines for the services included. 

Wordplay’s hourly rate for NDIS clients is determined by the NDIS. Payment is required at the appointment. A $10 fee applies to late payments. The NDIS fee for Speech Pathology from 1 July, 2019  is currently set at $193.99 hr for Therapeutic Supports. You can view information about NDIS prices here: http://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-and-payment 

The NDIS prices are reviewed and adjusted annually. Participants plans are adjusted in accordance with the fee change (if you were funded for 10 hours at the old price, you will be given 10 hours at the new price). 

Session lengths are usually either 45 or 60 minutes. You can discuss this with your therapist. Please allow 90 minutes for our first appointment. GST is not applied to NDIS therapy services.

Private paying clients

If you are claiming from a private health fund, it is your responsibility to ask your fund if you are eligible to claim. 

The fee includes

  • Preparing for your session.

  • Writing session notes.

Notes, planning and general resource planning are conducted outside of the session for no extra fee.

We provide the following services at an hourly (or pro-rata) rate

  • Meeting with you in person, on video conference or Skype or on the phone.

  • Meeting with other people that support you (eg teachers, health professionals and other service providers) in person, via videoconference or Skype or on the phone.

  • Talking to equipment and software providers.

  • Analysis of assessments and observations.

  • Writing assessment reports and intervention plans. Reports may be used as a ‘roadmap’ for intervention, to communicate with other people, or for funding of equipment.

  • Progress reports.  You may use these to help develop your NDIS plan.  The NDIS may also request a progress report.

  • Creating custom visual supports (e.g. communication books, chat books, visual timetables, social stories etc).

  • Extensive email support.  Providing high quality support over email takes time.  We may suggest we meet in person or via Skype to make sure you get the support you need.

  • Other services may be offered as required.  We will talk to you about any other service we think you may need.

Travel

Sarah König Speech Pathology offers mobile services.  Services may be offered in the home, school, workplace or at another location of your choosing.    Video conference/ Skype consultations may also be offered as required. Please ask if you would like to learn more.

  • If travel is not included as a separate item in your plan, it will be claimed from the hours in your plan, at a maximum of 20 minutes per session, as per NDIS guidelines.  

  • The NDIS travel calculator is used to determine travel costs.  You can estimate the travel fee here: http://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-and-payment

Cancellations

  • Late cancellations and non-attendance may result in the 90% of your session fee being charged according to our cancellation policy.  This may include any portion of travel already commenced.

  • Fees for cancellation and non-attendance are payable by the NDIS up to 6 hours per plan.  Participants must pay for all other cancellation fees.

  • Outstanding fees need to be paid prior to further services being provided.

  • See cancellation policy provided with your service agreement.

  • Please talk to your therapist if you have any questions about these fees.