Speechies in Business

Helping Speech Pathologists in private practice focus on what matters most: their clients

Business Tips and Resources

Speech pathologists should consider notifications and continuity of supports for clients over the holiday period

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As we approach the holiday season, a few reminders:

  • NDIS participants have a right to timely and appropriate support.
  • Planned interruptions to services should be announced ahead of time, explained and agreed with participants ahead of time.
  • When needed for the safety, health or wellbeing of a participant, alternative arrangements should be in place to support them over the break.
  • To avoid miscommunication and client frustration, it’s a good idea to give all clients and the general public plenty of notice about your holiday opening hours. 

Here’s what we say:

Read more: NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators (Version 4), Core Module 2.

Australian SLP Spark Alert: Australian SLPs must review their marketing materials and websites ASAP!

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The big picture:

On 13 November 2024, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) warned providers to review their advertising about NDIS services as a matter of urgency.

Why it matters:

Now that new laws are in place about NDIS supports, the ACCC is going after “problematic advertising practices” targeting NDIS participants. All marketing and advertising materials must: 

  • be true and accurate; and
  • not mislead or deceive.

Zoom in:

Speech language pathologist (SLP) services and products are not automatically NDIS approved or funded for all participants. When marketing services and products to NDIS participants, SLPs must not use terms like:

  • “NDIS approved”
  • “NDIS funded”
  • “NDIS accredited”
  • “NDIS endorsed”  

or anything else that suggests services are funded or approved by the NDIS. 

Bottom line:

The ACCC is monitoring provider advertisements closely to ensure they follow the rules, and “will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action” if they “consider advertising is false or misleading”. 

Read more:

NDIS providers put on notice about consequences of misleading advertising | ACCC

Allied health providers must review services for young participants to ensure they’re NDIS supports

Allied health providers: get up to speed on the key NDIS reforms that will affect your practice (a free resource)

See also: 

SPA Code of Ethics – Advertising (updated with effect from 1 July 2024)

Code of Conduct – Non-registered Health Practitioners – section 10 (NSW)

NDIS Code of Conduct – Part 2, Section 4.

Advertising and promotions | ACCC

Australian SLP Spark: NDIS Reminder: update your invoice systems before 2 November 2024

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The big picture:

The NDIS CEO expects SLP providers to be up to speed on the new NDIS rules before 2 November 2024 (i.e. by close of business on Friday, 1 November).

Why it matters: 

  • From 3 October 2024, participants can only spend NDIS funding on things that are in the approved list of NDIS supports, and cannot spend NDIS funding on anything in the non-NDIS supports list (other than a replacement support exception).
  • SLP services and invoices need to reflect the new laws. 
  • As a condition of processing, many plan managers are now requiring confirmation from SLPs that our services are, in fact, NDIS supports.

What to do: 

  • Make sure your services are “NDIS supports” within the meaning of Schedule 1 of the new Rules.
  • Update your invoices to include a statement about NDIS supports. 

Zoom in: 

  • To get paid efficiently, include enough detail in your invoices to allow third parties to substantiate that your services are NDIS supports.
  • Example invoice wording: “This is an NDIS Support as described in column 2 of [item 17/item 34] in the table in clause 1 of Schedule 1 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) (NDIS Supports) Transitional Rules 2024.”
  • The exact statement/item numbers on invoices will depend on your service mix – and how much space is available in your template invoice fields.  

Go deeper: 

Read:

More from us:

SLP Spark: Each speech pathologist should buy their own professional indemnity insurance

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The big picture

Some Australian speech pathologists think buying their own insurance is a waste of money, and that they can rely on their employer’s insurance if they get sued. 

But:

Your employer might:

  • not buy enough insurance;
  • forget to pay their premium;
  • go bust; or
  • claim (with their insurer) that your alleged actions or failures aren’t covered by their policy.

Zoom in

As health professionals, every Australian SLP is required to maintain appropriate indemnity insurance arrangements, including under the:

  • statutory Codes of Conduct applicable to SLPs as unregistered health practitioners or professionals; and
  • NDIS Code of Conduct applicable to registered and unregistered providers.

Bottom line

SLPs can and do get sued for professional negligence. Litigation is expensive. SLPs should seek professional advice as to the type and amount of insurance they need. We think you should have at least $20 million of coverage.

Read more

Code of Conduct – Non-registered Health Practitioners: see section 13.

NDIS Code of Conduct for Providers: see paragraph 50.

Disclaimer: we have done our best to ensure that this information is correct as at the date of publication (1 October 2024). The information is intended to be general only and is not legal advice. Formal legal or other advice should be sought for particular circumstances or for matters arising from this information.

How to navigate conflict with other people

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Interpersonal conflicts are common. They can make us worry and react in regrettable ways that make us feel bad about ourselves. Sometimes, we withdraw from relationships, which is also not good for us.

Conflict with people can lead to lots of bad outcomes: reduced focus and creativity, worse decision making, and unhappy relationships.

None of us is perfect when it comes to relationships. When you are in conflict with someone else, there are several strategies you can use to find a healthy way forward:

  • Remember your perspective is just one amongst many. Sometimes, we forget that we all have different viewpoints and values and think that our view is correct and all other views are uninformed, irrational or biased. Thus is not always true – not everyone sees things that same way and that’s okay.
  • Be aware everyone is biased (including you!). We sometimes assume that other people’s behaviour is due to their personality, when it might just be due to their situation. Ask someone you trust to help you reflect on the ways you might be seeing the situation unfairly.
  • Avoid black and white thinking. Sometimes, when we disagree with others, we start to think that the other person is an opponent or even enemy! Rather than thinking it’s ‘you versus them’, focus on the decision or situation instead and try to make progress on it. Think of yourself and the other person as sitting on opposite sides of a seesaw and work together to find a balance.
  • Know your goals: Avoid drama and stay focused on your goals, e.g. you want a healthy relationship that will last into the future, and you want to feel less angry/frustrated after interactions. Make a list of your goals and circle the most important ones. You don’t need to be best friends with the other person – focus first on having a functional, respectful relationship.
  • Don’t gossip or look for drama: It’s perfectly fine to seek help with sorting out your feelings and to check in with others. But choose who you speak with carefully and look for people who are constructive and who will challenge your perspective – people who will help you solve the specific problem.
  • Experiment: There is no one way to solve interpersonal conflicts. Your strategy will depend on the situation and the people involved. Experiment and see what happens: e.g. decide that for two weeks you will listen to the other person, and not interrupt, and focus on what they are saying (rather than how they say it). Try to summarise what the other person is saying, and check you have understood them. Try to interrupt your conflict patterns of the past.
  • Stay curious: People are complex! Try to learn more about the other person. Do not approach conversations with aggression or defensiveness, but with creativity and with genuine questions about them. Think about a future when you have overcome the conflict.
  • Don’t give up: With good faith efforts and hard work, you can resolve most interpersonal conflicts.

Key source: Gallo, A. (2022) How to Navigate Conflict with a Coworker, Harvard Business Review, September/October.

For more on supervision, check out our book “How to supervise speech pathologists properly in private practice“.

This infographic also appears in a recent issue of Banter Booster, our weekly round up of the best speech pathology ideas and practice tips for busy speech pathologists, speech pathology students, and other interested readers.

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