Government Resources
      •  Enhanced Primary care Plan
      •  Carers Allowance

  Links To Resources
  ABC Health report on “Gap kids”

What is it?
The program was introduced by the government to provide more preventative care and improve the co-ordination of care for people with chronic medical conditions and complex care needs.

Who is eligible?
Your GP determines if you are eligible. In general, if you require services such as a speech pathologist, audiologist, occupational therapist, optometrist or a psychologist then you can consider applying.

How do you apply?
You need to see your GP so that an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan can be prepared. This will involve an assessment of your child’s needs and establishing that at least two allied health professionals, such as a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, or audiologist etc. are required. Your GP will consult with you as to which services to include in the plan.

What do you receive?
Maximum of five services per patient each calendar year. You will receive a rebate from Medicare for $47.85 per service, with out-of-pocket costs counting towards the extended Medicare safety net. You will need to pay the gap yourself.

What does your allied health professional have to do?
Your GP will give you a rebate form which needs to be completed by the allied health professional. You then take this form to Medicare to receive the rebate (once services have been completed). The allied health professional must report back to the referring GP.

Please use the above information as a guide only. For further information consult your GP or Medicare. Or go to www.health.gov.au – look under A-Z Index, go to E – Enhanced Primary Care Program.

To email us please click here: Contact SPEECH

Depending upon the needs of your child you may be eligible to receive Carer’s Allowance from Centrelink.

Carer’s Allowance is a supplementary payment for the parent or carer who provides the daily care and attends to the special needs of a child with a disability or severe medical condition at home.
Carer’s Allowance is a set amount of $100.60 per fortnight

Carer’s Allowance is not subject to an income or assets test
The application includes a medical report that needs to be signed by your GP or Paediatrician. The medical report is a detailed checklist of the level at which your child is functioning in various areas including communication, self-help (toileting, washing) etc.
Other professionals working with the child such as a speech and language pathologist may provide supporting information as to the child’s level of functioning.

The application also requires that caring for the child’s needs requires a minimum 14 hours/week additional time (eg. attending therapy, attending specialised education programs, additional time needed to work on communication skills throughout the day, additional time needed for personal care such as feeding, toileting, bathing) that otherwise would not be required if the child did not have such special needs.

Application forms are available at Centrelink or from their website below
Please use the above information as a guide only. For more information contact:

Centrelink Disability, Sickness and Carers on 13 2717 or go to: www.centrelink.gov.au

To email us please click here: Contact SPEECH

www.speech-language-therapy.com
Excellent Australian website for parents with quality information and a fantastic freebies section with links to many child speech related worksheets and other resources.

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia. Good Public Information section with some excellent fact sheets.

www.pspawa.com.au
The Private Speech Pathologist Association of Western Australia represents over 70 speech pathologists working in private practice. Great for finding a private speech pathologist in WA and great links for ages and stages of language development.

www.raisingchildren.net.au
Australian Parenting Website with a good range of topics and links.

www.ngala.com.au
Good general parenting website.

www.natl.org.au
Noah’s Ark Toy Library and Resources Centre – excellent range of resources available for loan, including story bags developed by speech pathologists.

www.dyspraxia.com.au
Australian Dyspraxia Association - Good comprehensive site to assist families with Dyspraxia.

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Dyspraxia Foundation UK – excellent site for parents.

www.speech-express.com
Speechville Express – US website for parents produced by the CHERAB (Communication Help, Education, Research, Apraxia Base Foundation

www.tsh.org.au
Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre in Wembley offers education programs to children with specific language impairment, chronic middle ear infections and Dyspraxia. Audiology appointments are also available.

www.ladswa.com.au
Learning Attentional Disorders Society
Provides support to parents and families affected by learning and attentional disorders.

www.dyslexia-speld.com
Excellent West Australian site to assist families with Dyslexia

www.rucsn.org.au
Resource Unit for Children with Special Needs, Inc was established in 1987 with its primary role to facilitate the inclusion of children with additional needs in Child Care in Western Australia.

www.earlyyears.wa.gov.au
Good “mums and dads” section which gives plenty of information about services available including helplines etc.

www.meerilinga.org.au
Meerilinga Young Children's Foundation offers a wealth of experience, information and guidance on children and early childhood for parents concerned with the healthy development and parenting of their children. Follow the links to Families and Children.

www.therapyfocus.org.au
Therapy Focus is a community service organisation that provides therapy and professional services in home, school and community settings.
Good links and resources information.

www.schoolsplus.det.wa.edu.au
The Department of Education and Training website explaining Schools Plus program.

http://www.psych.curtin.edu.au/clinics/stuttering.htm
Clinic accepts clients of all ages. Therapy is conducted by students under strict supervision by qualified speech pathologists.

http://www.pmh.health.wa.gov.au/health/infant_care/play.htm
Play ideas pamphlets - Produced by the Play and Learning Program at the State Child Development Centre

Secondary Resources

www.goodbeginnings.net.au

Any enquiries about SPEECH(WA) can be e-mailed to us by clicking here Contact SPEECH

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This story looks at recent findings from the UK and USA and highlights Australia’s need to drastically improve services for children with speech and language disorders.

For an ABC transcript click below, then click PAST PROGRAMS,  then type in gap kids.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/

To email us please click here: Contact SPEECH