FAQs

 Clients can access speech pathology services either directly or through a referral from a healthcare or education professional. Common pathways include:

• Direct Booking: You or a family member can make an appointment without a formal referral.

• GP Referral: Required for some Medicare rebates (e.g., Chronic Disease Management Plan).

• NDIS Referral: Support coordinators or therapists can assist participants in accessing services.

• School/Teacher Referral: Educators may recommend therapy for school-aged children.

• Other Health Professionals: Occupational therapists, psychologists, or paediatricians may refer as part of a broader care plan.

If you're interested in our services, getting started is easy! Simply complete our referral form, available under the 'Forms' section. 

This form helps us gather all the necessary details to support your needs.  If you have any questions or need assistance along the way, don't hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.

Initial assessments help us understand an individual’s communication abilities, developmental profile, and mealtime needs. This information guides clinical decision-making and helps ensure therapy recommendations are appropriate, individualised, and evidence-based.

If a recent assessment has already been completed, we may be able to use existing information to guide intervention planning.

At Nova Speech Clinic, we support individuals of all ages with a range of communication and mealtime needs. Assessment type and duration will depend on the nature and complexity of the difficulty.

Some assessments may take one session, while others may require multiple appointments.

To support engagement and reduce fatigue, sessions for young children or individuals with complex needs are generally limited to one hour at a time.

During the booking process, we will ask questions to help determine the most appropriate assessment pathway. In some cases, a combination of assessments may be recommended, such as communication and swallowing assessments.

Following the assessment, we review and analyse the results before preparing a report or summary outlining:

• Assessment findings
• Clinical observations
• Recommendations and next steps
• Therapy and support options
• Suggested intervention goals where appropriate

We may also provide strategies, resources, or referrals to support ongoing participation and communication in everyday environments.