Aged Care Speech Pathology:
Supporting Safe Swallowing and Communication for Older Australians

Mobile Speech Pathology is the term we use to describe Speech Pathology that comes to you. We are able to deliver the service in your home, or anywhere you prefer in your community. This could be your home, pre-schools, primary schools, childcare centres, high school and nursing homes. Our Mobile Speech Pathology team come to you.

Speech- pathologists are integral in helping to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

This may include ways to improve speech clarity or fluency, or signs, symbols, gestures, and other forms of assisted communication.

Speech pathologists can also assist people who have trouble swallowing food and drink.

Our Speech Pathologists provide a person centred, and goal orientated service. We work with you as a team to provide best in market care. At your first session, the Speech Pathology will be sure to introduce themselves, and listen to your around your concerns, history and why you are engaging in Speech Pathology. They will also review any reports, plans or relevant medical information also.

After listening to your concerns and goals - your Speech Pathologist will take you through a selection of assessments to establish your needs.

After a comprehensive assessment, the Speech Pathology will discuss with your outcomes, and propose an agreed treatment plan to help you achieve your desired goals from treatment.

We have a dedicated customer service team to assist you in booking an appointment. They will discuss with you your needs, any treatment preferences and where you would like to be seen (in your home, community etc).

At Physio Inq we aim to see all new clients as soon as possible - to meet your needs. In many areas we have immediate availability, meaning you can be seen inside 48 hours. In areas of longer wait times, we of course communicate this with you and book a time suitable in the future.

It is helpful if you have any information or reports from your General Practitioner (GP) that may be appropriate and may assist us in understanding what your needs are. If you are an NDIS participant, a copy of your NDIS Plan Goals is also helpful to guide our assessment and identify what areas you may require our assistance.

Our prices vary dependent upon services required and your geographic location. A copy of our price guide can be found here. Our customer service team will provide you with your pricing based on your individual circumstances in your initial contact with them.

If you are NDIA managed, Plan managed, Self managed or Private we are able to easily accommodate payment for our services. For Self managed we offer a Direct Debit mechanism that reduces administration for both you and our therapist, leaving you more time to receive our great services. The direct debit will take place 5-7 days after your appointment to allow you ample time to claim from NDIA beforehand.

EFT/Square payment (more detail below) are also available upon request. For Private clients our therapists take credit or debit card payments on the spot via their Square payment device. you will be issued with an invoice upon completion of your appointment to help facilitate any claim from NDIA or your Health Fund.

If you are NDIA managed, Plan managed, Self managed or Private we are able to easily accommodate payment for our services. For Self managed we offer a Direct Debit mechanism that reduces administration for both you and our therapist, leaving you more time to receive our great services. The direct debit will take place 5-7 days after your appointment to allow you ample time to claim from NDIA beforehand. EFT/Square payment (more detail below) are also available upon request. For Private clients our therapists take credit or debit card payments on the spot via their Square payment device. you will be issued with an invoice upon completion of your appointment to help facilitate any claim from NDIA or your Health Fund.

Rebates from your health fund is dependent on your level of insurance cover. We encourage you to call your personal health fund to ask what your package rebate amount is. It varies from package to package, with some clients earning up to an 80% rebate on the cost of their sessions.

Consultation length varies dependent on your individual needs. Our initial consultations may take up to 1 hour and follow up sessions may vary but most commonly are an hour in duration.

No you do not. At Physio Inq we can see clients without a referral for Speech Pathology. We are able to work with you to establish your needs and assist in getting a referral should that provide additional funding for you for services.

At Physio Inq, we are happy to accept referrals in your preferred method, these include:
Phone: 1300 731 733
Email: [email protected]
Online: https://www.physioinq.com.au/allied-health-referral-form

We are currently covering New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia

Yes. We were one of the first NDIS Allied Health providers in Australia, being involved with the first rollout in NSW. We know NDIS very well and our therapists are highly trained in the scheme.

Yes, we do see clients under My Aged Care who have their packages managed by a Provider. If you would like to see us, we will organise an agreement with your Home Care Package manager to provide services under your package funding.

There is no difference. The term speech pathology is more commonly used in Australia than speech therapy, however they are both the same profession. All speech pathologists/therapists are required to complete a university qualification and be registered with Speech Pathology Australia.

Early Intervention is the term used to describe the services and supports that are available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Speech Pathology has been shown to be very effective as part of an early intervention program.

Yes - Speech Pathology does work for toddlers.

Speech pathologists are university trained professionals who can help toddlers with:

• Speech and sound generation
• language development
• Reading and writing
• Social skills
• Stuttering

Speech Pathologists assist toddlers find the best way to communicate to meet their needs. This might include strategies to improve speech clarity or fluency, or signs, symbols, gestures, and other forms of assisted communication.

Speech Pathologists can work in kindergartens and schools, hospitals, early intervention programs, community health centres, mental health services and private practice.

Your child may benefit from Speech Therapy if they are struggling with communication including:

• Not formulating words or communicating at age appropriate levels
• Problems with others understanding what they are saying
• Difficulty understanding what other people say.
• Frustration with difficulty with communication
• Difficulty projecting their voice
• Stuttering, or
• A speech impediment/list

Yes - Speech pathology can have great results with adults. When we think of lisps and speech impediments, we often only think of children. Yet, there are many reasons why adults could benefit from speech therapy.

An adult who would benefit from speech pathology might have the following symptoms:

• Difficulty speaking clearly
• Issues with swallowing
• Difficulty stringing words and phrases together
• Difficulty reading and writing
• Dry mouth
• Stuttering and lisps
• Chronic sore throat or pain in the vocal cords

Yes - A speech pathologist is trained to assess and treat stuttering. If a child stutters for some years, it can be harmful, even if natural recovery occurs without therapy.

For this reason, it is recommended that all pre-school children who start to stutter receive therapy.

For older children, adolescents and adults, a speech pathologist can recommend treatment to reduce the impact of stuttering on daily life.

Speech therapy assists with challenges of language and communication often experienced by people with autism spectrum disorder. It can help people with autism improve their verbal, nonverbal, and social communication.

A speech pathologist may look to improve spoken language, assist in development or improvement of nonverbal skills such as gestures or signs, or work with someone to learn to communicate using an alternative method (such as pictures or technology).

Under the NDIS scheme we have access to interpreters who can be arranged free of charge to come to the initial assessment to assist with the appointment.

Simply let us know if you need this and we will arrange this for you.

Otherwise, we are able to organise sessions when family members might be present to assist with communication, or match the client with a therapist who speaks the same language if that is available.