SLP Spark Alert: To get paid, speech pathology services to NDIS participants need to be ‘NDIS supports’

What’s happened:

With effect from 3 October 2024, NDIS participants cannot claim for supports that are not “NDIS supports”.

Why it matters:

To get paid, speech pathologists (SLPs) need to ensure that their services to NDIS participants are NDIS supports (as defined). The Minister expects providers to be up to speed on the new rules within 30 days of 3 October 2024 (at the latest).

Context:

Section 10 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (as amended) defines NDIS support as a support declared by the rules to be an NDIS support.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) (NDIS Supports) Transitional Rules 2024 are now in effect. Schedule 1 includes a list of supports that are NDIS supports.

Zoom in:

For SLPs, key NDIS supports include:

Early intervention supports for early childhood (Item 17):
- Supports that are evidence-based early childhood intervention supports for children 0-9 years (including children aged 0-6 years with developmental delay) and their families to achieve better long-term outcomes for the child.
- This includes:
  - therapy provided by allied health professionals including speech pathologists;
  - a key worker for a child’s family.
Therapeutic supports (Item 34):
- Supports that provide evidence-based therapy to help participants improve or maintain their functional capacity in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions, functioning (including psychosocial functioning), and community living.
- This includes an assessment by allied health professionals for support planning and review as required.

Bottom line:

All Australian SLPs should review their services, and ensure that their services to NDIS participants are NDIS supports within the meaning of the Act and the Transitional Rules.