Funding - Parramatta Speech, Language and Literacy Solutions
Parramatta Speech, Language & Literacy Solutions is registered to provide Speech Pathology services to children with Autism under the ‘Helping Children with Autism’ initiative, as well as to children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, hearing impairment and vision impairment as part of the ‘Better Start – Helping Children with Disability’ funding program.
The following information is a summary of the information provided on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) website.
Helping Children with Autism Early Intervention Funding
Children aged zero to six years who have been diagnosed in Australia with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are eligible to receive funding of up to $12 000 (maximum of $6000 per financial year). This funding can be accessed up until a child’s seventh birthday and can be used to pay for early intervention services provided by a range of early intervention professionals who are members of the Helping Children with Autism Early Intervention Service Provider Panel. The professionals on the panel include:
- Speech Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
Up to 35% of a child’s Early Intervention funding may be used to purchase resources, to a maximum of $2,100 per financial year, or $4,200 in total. Resources must be assessed by an Early Intervention Panel Provider as being integral to the child’s therapy.
The diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder must be made by one of the following:
- a State/Territory Government or equivalent multidisciplinary assessment service
- or a private multidisciplinary team or
- Paediatrician or
- Psychiatrist.
A multidisciplinary assessment team must consist of a Psychologist and Speech Pathologist but may also include an Occupational Therapist.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/HelpingChildrenWithAutism/
Better Start for Children with Disability
The Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start) initiative includes up to $12,000 in funding for early intervention services and treatments for eligible children. Eligible children are those who are aged under six years and who have been diagnosed with:
- Down syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Fragile X Syndrome, or
- A moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment, including deafblindness.
Eligible children must be registered before their sixth birthday and families will have until their child turns seven to use the early intervention funding.
The funding can be used to pay for early intervention services provided by a range of early intervention professionals who are members of the Better Start Early Intervention Service Provider Panel. The professionals on the panel include:
- speech pathologists
- audiologists
- occupational therapists
- physiotherapists
- psychologists
- orthoptists
Parents or carers of eligible children will need to register their child for the Better Start early intervention funding before the child turns six years of age. Registration of eligible children is managed by the dedicated Registration and Information Service (RIS), which is operated by Carers Australia.
To register a child for the Better Start early intervention funding parents and carers must call the RIS on 1800 242 636.
To successfully register a child for the early intervention funding, parents or carers must be able to provide the RIS with evidence of:
- the child’s age (e.g. the child’s birth certificate or passport)
- the child’s residential address (e.g. a recent utilities bill or rates notice)
- the child’s diagnosis
- residential status, and
- the child’s Centrelink generated Customer Reference Number (CRN).
Further information can be found at:
