04/12/2025
We know many members were concerned by today’s Financial Review story about NDIS therapies. Please be assured that SPA is responding on your behalf, including through our work with Allied Health Professions Australia.
Speech pathology is an evidence-based profession. There is strong research showing that early communication support helps children learn, connect and take part in everyday life. The suggestion that our work lacks evidence does not reflect the research or the progress you see in your work every day.
We also want to clarify claims about NDIS therapy costs.
🔹Therapy spending has remained stable at between 9 and 11 per cent of scheme expenditure for the past 5 years.
🔹NDIS payment data also shows that participants received only 2 to 4 hours of speech pathology in 2024, which is far below what many children need to make meaningful progress. In addition, many providers offer supports that go unfunded by the NDIS.
🔹These services are capacity building and reduce long-term public costs across education, health, mental health and social services.
Families also deserve confidence that their provider is properly qualified. SPA continues to advocate for title protection, including through Ahpra registration, so only qualified professionals can call themselves speech pathologists.
Read the full statement from SPA CEO Lyn Brodie 👇
https://bit.ly/4iFhajq
