earlybloom.
Find support

Falling behind with reading or numbers: what to look for and where to get help

Struggling at school with reading, writing, or maths.

  • 2,600+Providers listed
  • 1,005Suburbs covered
  • FreeFor families to use

Understanding learning difficulties

Many parents worry when they notice their child is developing differently from other children the same age. These feelings are common, and help is available. Many allied health professionals in Australia work with children in this area.

Below are the services that most often help children with learning difficulties, and what each one does.

Recommended services to explore

Seeing your GP about this? Make a short summary to take with you.

Providers who can help with learning difficulties

See providers near you

Show more providers for learning difficulties

Find supportive care by state

Cost & funding

Fees depend on the service, the provider and the length of the session. Ask each provider for their fees before the first visit.

Medicare does not pay for tutoring. For a psychologist, Medicare pays a rebate for some sessions when your GP writes a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral first. Ask the psychologist whether a rebate applies to a learning assessment before you book.

If your child has an NDIS plan that includes these supports, you can use it. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can also use providers that are not NDIS registered. If the NDIA manages your plan, you must use registered providers.

  • NDIS price limit

    $252.99 an hour

    Psychology, 2026–27.

  • Medicare rebate

    $101.55 a session

    Psychologist, up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Note: NDIS price limits are the national maximums for NDIA-managed and plan-managed plans (NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27); remote areas have higher limits. Medicare rebates are from MBS Online, 1 July 2026. Providers can charge more than the rebate. Assessment fees come from provider websites in April 2026.

Work out what you might pay: cost calculatorRead our guide to NDIS early intervention funding

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a learning difficulty and a learning disability?

'Learning difficulty' is a broad term for challenges with academic skills. 'Learning disability' (or Specific Learning Disorder) refers to a persistent, significant difficulty in reading, writing, or maths that is not explained by intelligence or opportunity.

Can learning difficulties be diagnosed by a school?

Schools can identify areas of difficulty and provide support, but a formal diagnosis of a Specific Learning Disorder is made by a registered psychologist through standardised assessment.

What supports are available for children with dyslexia?

Evidence-based literacy interventions (such as structured synthetic phonics programmes), adjustments at school (extra time, assistive technology), and educational psychology support can all help. Early identification makes a significant difference.

Explore related developmental topics