No, you don’t need a referral to see a Speech Pathologist at Limestone Speech. However, a referral will be required for you to access any rebates from Medicare.

We currently offer 60 minute sessions (45 minutes of face-to-face time and 15 minute progress note).

At Limestone Speech we aim to promote the safety and wellbeing of children we provide support and services to. It is therefore compulsory for a parent or caregiver to attend speech pathology sessions when your child has an appointment in our Mount Gambier or Naracoorte clinics. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit in the room with their child and therapist or just outside the room (so they can hear what is going on and are aware of what is happening in sessions at all times).

Parents and carers will also be encouraged to follow through with any therapy that was completed or recommendations that were spoken about or demonstrated during the session. This will help your child get the most out of their speech pathology sessions.

Limestone Speech can provide speech pathology sessions under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan. Only a person with a chronic medical condition and complex care needs can access this plan. A chronic medical condition is one that has been, or is likely to be present for at least six months. A person is considered to have complex care needs if they require care from a multidisciplinary team consisting of their GP and at least two other health or care providers. NOTE: Asthma can be classified as a chronic medical condition and a paediatrician can be one of the health or care providers. A person can be referred to an eligible allied health professional by their GP for up to five individual sessions per calendar year. The patient will need to present the referral form to the allied health professional at the first consultation unless the GP has previously provided it directly to the allied health professional. From the 1st of July 2023, the rebate from Medicare is around $58 per session.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sight impairment, hearing impairment, deafblindness, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Cri du Chat syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Microcephaly or Rett’s disorder may be eligible to receive a rebate from Medicare for up to 4 sessions (per lifetime) for children under 13 years to assist with assessment, diagnosis and development of a treatment plan. They may also be eligible for up to 20 treatment sessions (per lifetime) for children under 15 years. A child with Autism can be referred by a Consultant Psychiatrist or Paediatrician and a child with another eligible disability can be referred by a specialist, Consultant Physician, or GP for these sessions. From the 1st of July 2023, the rebate from Medicare is around $81.90 per session.

You will first need to pay the full amount on the day of consultation. If you are eligible for a rebate from Medicare, you can claim the rebate automatically using our online Medicare rebates claiming service. Otherwise, you can take your invoice to a Medicare office at a later date or use the Express Plus Medicare app to claim your rebate.

Yes. Your private health fund may cover some or all of the consultation cost - depending on your level and type of cover. Speech pathology needs to be included in your policy. After paying for the session in full on the day, you can take your paid invoice to your private health insurer and receive a rebate.

Yes, Limestone Speech is a registered NDIS provider. This means you will be able to access speech sessions if there has been funding allocated under therapeutic supports in your child’s NDIS plan. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides support for Australians with a disability, their families and carers. To check if you meet the eligibility criteria click here. If you meet the criteria and you would like to become a participant, call 1800 800 110 and ask to make an Access Request.

At Limestone Speech we work exclusively with children. If you are an adult looking for speech pathology services you can contact Country Health Connect in Mount Gambier.

If your child has swallowing difficulties, please contact Country Health Connect.

Bring along any letters or reports you have. This may include a paediatrician letter, psychology or occupational therapy report or even reports from speech pathologists you have worked with previously. It would also be helpful to bring any referrals you may have e.g. a doctors referral to access Medicare rebates and/or a copy of your child's NDIS plan if they have access to this funding.