Speech Therapy Cost in Australia: NDIS, Medicare and Health Funds (2026)

The cost of speech therapy in Australia depends on who provides it and how you pay. There is no set private fee, so each practice sets its own. For NDIS-funded sessions there is a maximum price, and Medicare and private health insurance can pay back part of the cost in some situations.

This guide explains the 2026-27 NDIS price limit for speech pathology, the main Medicare routes, what health funds pay, and the questions to ask before you book. All figures were checked on 17 October 2026.

How much does speech therapy cost in Australia?

No government body sets a fee for private speech therapy. Each speech pathologist or clinic sets its own fees, so it's worth asking before you book.

The clearest public reference point is the NDIS maximum price for a speech pathologist, which is $193.99 an hour in 2026-27. When the NDIA reviewed its prices in 2026, it found this maximum closely matched the market rates it observed.

Medicare and private health funds pay set amounts back, not the whole fee. What you pay yourself depends on the fee, the length of each session, and which funding you can use.

What changes the cost of speech therapy

Speech therapy fees vary for a few common reasons:

• Assessment or therapy: the first appointment is usually an assessment, which can run longer than a regular session. For example, Medicare's under-25 items require assessment sessions of at least 50 minutes and treatment sessions of at least 30 minutes.
• Session length: NDIS prices are worked out by the minute, so a 30-minute session costs less than a full hour.
• Reports: written reports take extra time. The NDIS has a separate item for reports the NDIA asks for.
• Travel: home, kindy and school visits can include travel time. Under the NDIS, the maximum for a speech pathologist's travel time is $97.00 an hour in most of Australia. Ask your provider how they charge for travel.
• Cancellations: the NDIS has a cancellation item, and your service agreement should explain the terms.
• Where the session happens: NDIS maximums are higher in remote and very remote areas.

The NDIS price limit for speech pathology in 2026-27

Since 24 September 2026, NDIS maximum prices have been set by the Minister for Disability and the NDIS in a legal document called a pricing determination. They are listed in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27. For speech pathology therapy (item 15_622_0128_1_3 and its travel item), the maximum prices are:

• National, including Brisbane: $193.99 an hour
• Remote areas (Modified Monash 6): $271.59 an hour
• Very remote areas (Modified Monash 7): $290.99 an hour
• Provider travel (national): $97.00 an hour

The speech pathology price is the same as in 2025-26. The NDIA says the maximum prices reflect the guidance it published in June 2026, and that participants and providers don't need to do anything.

These prices include any GST and are worked out by the minute. They apply to speech pathology delivered by a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, a credential from Speech Pathology Australia. The same maximums apply to the speech pathology items for children with NDIS early childhood supports (item 15_622_0118_1_3).

A maximum price is a ceiling, not a set fee. A provider can charge less.

Who the NDIS price limits apply to

How your plan is managed decides whether the maximum applies:

• NDIA-managed: the maximum prices apply, and providers can't charge more.
• Plan-managed: the maximum prices apply, and your plan manager can't pay more.
• Self-managed: you can agree on a price above or below the maximum, and you pay it from your plan budget.

The NDIS recommends a service agreement that sets out what supports you'll get, how much they cost and how the provider is paid.

NDIS funding for speech therapy in 2026

For NDIS participants, speech therapy is usually paid for from the Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living. The NDIS says this funding can include speech therapy to help with communication. It is stated funding, so it can't be moved to other categories. Therapy must meet the NDIS funding criteria and be delivered by a qualified professional.

Three changes matter this year:

• Smaller budgets: NDIS funding for improved daily living skills supports is reduced by 10%. This applies to plans created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027. Speech pathology items are not on the NDIA's list of supports excluded from the reduction.
• A 90-day limit on claims: from 1 December 2026, participants and plan managers will need to make claims within 90 days of the session.
• Claiming rules: in September 2026, the NDIA said it would shortly publish updated pricing and claiming guidance. Until it does, ask your provider to set out cancellation, travel and report charges in writing.

If you're looking for a provider, our page on NDIS speech therapy in Brisbane explains how we work with NDIS participants.

Children under 9: the early childhood approach and Thriving Kids

For children younger than 9 with developmental delays or disability, the NDIS early childhood approach connects families with an early childhood partner. The partner can help even if your child isn't eligible for the NDIS. For children younger than 6 with developmental concerns, this can include early supports.

Thriving Kids is a new program for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. It started in October 2026, and all supports are due by 1 January 2028. As at late October 2026, the federal Thriving Kids website did not list any services for Queensland.

Our article on navigating NDIS funding for your child's therapy has more for parents.

Is speech therapy covered by Medicare?

Medicare doesn't cover speech therapy as a general service. There are two main Medicare routes. Both need a doctor's referral and a speech pathologist who is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist.

In both, Medicare pays a set benefit for each session. If the clinic's fee is higher than the benefit, you pay the difference.

Medicare rebate for speech therapy with a GP chronic condition management plan

Since 1 July 2025, the GP chronic condition management plan has replaced the old GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements. People often called these a care plan. Plans made before 1 July 2025 can still be used until 30 June 2027.

• Who it's for: people with a chronic condition. This means a condition that has lasted, or is likely to last, at least 6 months, or is terminal. There is no list of eligible conditions. For speech pathology, the person must also have complex care needs, and the GP decides whether a referral will help.
• How many sessions: up to 5 allied health sessions a calendar year, shared across all allied health types, such as speech pathology and physiotherapy. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can get up to 10.
• The rebate: each session must run for at least 20 minutes. The Medicare benefit for a speech pathology session (item 10970) is $63.40.

Medicare for people under 25: autism, stuttering, speech sound disorders and more

Medicare has separate items for people under 25 with:

• a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism: a paediatrician or psychiatrist writes the plan and referral;
• an eligible disability: a GP or specialist can write the plan and referral. The list includes conditions such as hearing impairment, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Since 1 March 2026, it also includes stuttering, speech sound disorders, and cleft lip, cleft palate or both. Speech sound disorders include articulation and phonological disorders and childhood apraxia of speech.

These items cover up to 8 assessment sessions (each at least 50 minutes) and up to 20 treatment sessions (each at least 30 minutes) in a lifetime. They are shared across speech pathology, occupational therapy and other allied health, and treatment comes in courses of up to 10 sessions. The Medicare benefit is $89.50 for each assessment or treatment session (items 82005 and 82020).

Late talking or a language delay on its own is not on the eligible disability list. Our article on speech therapy for autism covers the autism route in more detail.

Private health insurance and speech pathology

Extras cover, also called general treatment cover, can include speech therapy, depending on your policy.

• Most funds limit how much you can claim for each session and each year.
• Each fund sets its own waiting periods.
• You can't claim Medicare and private health insurance for the same session. If your extras policy covers speech pathology, you may be able to use it for sessions after your Medicare sessions run out.
• Medicare and private health insurers can require the speech pathologist to be a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist.

Before you book, ask your fund whether your policy covers speech pathology, how much it pays back per session, your yearly limit and any waiting period.

Public speech therapy options in Queensland

Some public services offer speech pathology through the health system or your child's school. They have eligibility rules, so ask about waiting times. In greater Brisbane, the Children's Health Queensland Child Development Service sees children aged 0 to 9 with complex developmental concerns, through a referral. In Queensland state schools, talk to your child's teacher or principal, who can arrange specialist advice, including from a speech-language pathologist.

Questions to ask before you book

• What do you charge for the first assessment, and for each session?
• How long are sessions?
• Do you charge for written reports?
• Do you charge for travel to our home, kindy or school?
• What happens if we need to cancel?
• Can you work with my Medicare referral or health fund?
• If I have an NDIS plan, how will sessions be claimed, and what does the service agreement say?

Speech therapy at Queensland Therapy Center

Queensland Therapy Center is a registered NDIS provider, and we work with participants whose plans are NDIA-managed, plan-managed or self-managed. Our speech pathologists in Runcorn see children from age 2 and adults, at our clinic or at home, school or kindy across Brisbane's southside. Our team includes Certified Practising Speech Pathologists.

Clients without NDIS funding are welcome. Contact us before you book and we'll tell you our current rate and what it includes. You don't need a referral to book, and support coordinators and health professionals can use our referral form.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a speech pathologist cost per hour?
There is no set private fee, so it depends on the clinic. For NDIS-funded sessions in 2026-27, the maximum is $193.99 an hour in most of Australia, including Brisbane. Ask each clinic for its fees before you book.

Is speech therapy covered by Medicare in Australia?
Partly, with a doctor's referral. Medicare pays a set amount through a GP chronic condition management plan. People under 25 with autism or an eligible disability can use other items. You pay any difference between the fee and the benefit.

How many speech therapy sessions does Medicare cover?
Up to 5 allied health sessions a calendar year under a GP chronic condition management plan, shared across allied health. For people under 25 who qualify, up to 8 assessment and 20 treatment sessions in a lifetime, also shared.

Does the NDIS pay for speech therapy?
Usually, from Improved Daily Living in the Capacity Building budget, when it meets the NDIS funding criteria. For plans created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027, funding for improved daily living skills supports is reduced by 10%.

Can I claim speech therapy on private health insurance?
Extras policies can include speech therapy, usually with limits per session and per year, and waiting periods set by each fund. You can't claim Medicare and your health fund for the same session.

Do I need a referral for speech therapy?
Not to book with a speech pathologist. You need a doctor's referral to claim Medicare.

Sources

• NDIS: NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (effective 24 September 2026; Part 1, Appendix 4 Table 33, Appendix 5 Table 52, Part 4), NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26, Annual Pricing Review for 2026-27 prices, pricing arrangements, what are the NDIS pricing arrangements, pricing updates, self-managed funding, service agreements, capacity building supports, therapy supports, changes to support budgets from 1 October, list of supports not included in budget reductions, early childhood approach.
• Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: funding changes for NDIS supports, about the changes to the NDIS, about Thriving Kids, Thriving Kids in states and territories.
• Medicare Benefits Schedule: items 10970, 81360, 82005 and 82020; notes AN.15.3, MN.3.1, MN.10.1, MN.10.2 and MN.10.3; factsheet on the addition of stuttering, speech sound disorders and cleft lip and/or palate.
• Services Australia: GP chronic condition management plan.
• Commonwealth Ombudsman (privatehealth.gov.au): what Medicare covers, what is covered, general treatment cover, waiting periods.
• Speech Pathology Australia: overview of the regulation of health professionals, Medicare expansion for speech pathology.
• Better Health Channel: speech pathologist service. Children's Health Queensland: referral forms (Child Development Service). Queensland Department of Education: supports at school for students with speech, language and communication difficulties.

Written by Wenjin Zhang, Clinic Director, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. Last updated October 2026. General information only, not advice for your situation.