What speech pathologists work on
Speech pathology covers two big areas: communication, and eating and drinking. Under the NDIS, speech pathology supports must be delivered by a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, as recognised by Speech Pathology Australia.
Common NDIS goals include:
- Speech sounds and being understood by others
- Understanding and using language, from first words to complex sentences
- Social communication, such as conversation, turn taking and reading social cues
- Stuttering and voice
- Reading, writing and spelling where it relates to disability
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): signs, symbols, communication boards, apps and speech generating devices
- Swallowing (dysphagia) and safe eating and drinking
Communication devices and AAC
For people who cannot rely on speech, a speech pathologist usually leads the choice of AAC. They assess communication, run device trials, write the evidence the NDIA needs, set up vocabulary, and train the people around the person to use it. The device itself is assistive technology and is funded separately from the therapy, with evidence requirements that depend on its cost.
Swallowing and mealtime management plans
If you have difficulty swallowing because of your disability, the NDIS may fund a speech pathologist to assess your swallowing, provide therapy, write a mealtime management plan, and train family and support workers to follow it. It may also fund low cost equipment and thickener products.
A mealtime management plan tells everyone who supports you how to help you eat and drink safely, such as food and drink textures, positioning and pace. Everyone who supports you at mealtimes should follow it. The NDIS does not fund dysphagia support while you are in hospital, or swallowing problems from a short term illness or surgery. The health system covers those, including tests to diagnose dysphagia.
Speech pathology for children
Speech pathology is one of the most common supports for young children with developmental delay or disability. For children younger than 9, it is often delivered as part of early childhood supports, sometimes by a team with one key worker, in the places the child already spends time such as home, childcare or kinder.
From 1 October 2026, Thriving Kids supports start rolling out outside the NDIS for children 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. Nothing changes about NDIS access for children until 1 January 2028, and children already in the NDIS keep their plans.
How much speech pathology costs
The 2026/27 NDIS price limit for speech pathology is $193.99 an hour in most of Australia, $271.59 in remote areas and $290.99 in very remote areas. Speech pathologists can charge less, but cannot charge agency managed or plan managed participants more than the limit. Self managed participants are not bound by price limits.
Report writing, resource preparation, travel and short notice cancellations can also be claimed under the Pricing Arrangements, if they are in your service agreement. Ask for an estimate before any big report or AAC application.
Which budget pays
Speech pathology is usually paid from the improved daily living skills part of your Capacity Building budget. Since 1 October 2026 that budget is reduced by 10% when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed, under a support determination. Communication devices sit in your Core or Capital budget depending on cost, and are not part of that reset.
Finding a speech pathologist
Demand is high and waitlists can be long, so start looking early. Look for someone with experience in your area of need: early language, AAC, adult neurological conditions and swallowing are quite different specialties.
- Ask whether they work in clinics, homes, schools or by telehealth
- For AAC, ask how many device trials they run and which systems they know
- For swallowing, ask about their dysphagia experience and mealtime plans
- If you are agency managed, you need a registered provider. Plan managed and self managed participants can also use unregistered speech pathologists