About 12,400 people live in Lane Cove, roughly 1,700 of them children under 10. The median personal income locally is $1,377 a week. Beyond English, the languages most often spoken at home are Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish. Population, age and language data: ABS Census 2021.
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 pays a rebate for some speech therapy sessions when your GP writes a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and a referral first. Some private health extras policies pay part of the cost. The NDIS early childhood approach covers children younger than 6 with a developmental delay, or younger than 9 with a disability.
Thriving Kids started in October 2026 for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism. It gives information and two phone lines: the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline (1300 654 789) and a child health nurse line (1800 882 436). From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under who apply for NDIS support will be assessed against new criteria. Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low to moderate support needs will no longer be eligible for the NDIS. Thriving Kids will support them.
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
$193.99 an hour
Speech pathology, 2026–27.
Medicare rebate
$63.40 a session
Up to 5 sessions a year with a GP Chronic Condition Management 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.
The speech pathologist asks about your child's health and development, then plays with your child to see how they understand and use words.
2
Assessment
They may use some tests and check inside your child's mouth. Bring any reports from your GP, paediatrician or hearing tests.
3
Goals together
You decide together what to work on first. You can ask for a written report and therapy plan.
Sources: NSW Health; Raising Children Network.
Frequently asked questions
Most children say around 50 words by age 2 and begin combining words into simple phrases. If your child is significantly behind these milestones or appears to be losing words they previously had, a speech pathology assessment is recommended.
Not necessarily. Many children with speech delays do not have autism, and autism can present without significant speech delay. A comprehensive assessment by a speech pathologist and, if indicated, a developmental paediatrician can help clarify the picture.
Some children do catch up naturally, particularly those with 'late talker' profiles. However, early intervention leads to better outcomes, so it's always worth seeking an assessment rather than waiting and watching.
No. You can book a speech pathologist without a referral. To get a Medicare rebate, see your GP first: your GP can write a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and a referral.
This depends on the type of delay and how strong it is. After the first assessment, your speech pathologist suggests a plan and checks progress with you.
