02/03/2026
🌟 Big Medicare Update for Families!!
More children and young people can now access speech pathology rebates.
Medicare has expanded eligibility for diagnosis and treatment support for children and young people under 25 with a wide range of developmental disabilities and communication needs.
💡 What’s new?
More conditions now covered, including
stuttering, speech sound disorders (articulation, phonological, childhood apraxia of speech), cleft lip/palate, hearing impairment, Down syndrome, FASD, Fragile X, cerebral palsy, and many more.
✅Up to 8 Medicare‑rebated assessments (per lifetime) to support diagnosis.
✅Up to 20 Medicare‑rebated therapy sessions (per lifetime) once diagnosed.
✅GPs, paediatricians, and specialists can now refer directly for both assessment and treatment.
👶 Who is eligible?
Children and young people who:
are under 25, have a Medicare card,
are not admitted to hospital, and
have a valid referral from a GP or specialist.
🗣️ What this means for families
This expansion makes it easier to:
access early assessment,
receive timely speech pathology support,
reduce out‑of‑pocket costs, and
coordinate care with your GP and other professionals.
💛 Speechability is here to help
