Finding and selecting a provider to help your child, yourself, and/or your family is an important decision.
Like all health professionals, allied health practitioners differ in training, experience, and personality. The best choice is a therapist who has the skills and expertise to meet your needs and requirements and is a good “fit” – someone you and/or your family member likes and with whom you feel connected.
Importantly, not all therapists have experience working with children with a developmental delay. Although a therapist may possess excellent skills and expertise, it takes several years of experience working with a client group to provide best practice intervention. Additionally, many organisations have effective supervision in place to support effective and evidence-based practices, even for new employees. It’s important that you request a provider to demonstrate what they can offer, particularly as it relates to your needs and requirements.
If you live in a rural or remote area, you may have a limited choice of providers, and there can be long waiting lists for providers no matter where you live. It’s important not to worry about whether you have selected the “best” provider – once you have made contact, the more information you can provide about your child’s needs, the better they will be able to help.
The following information is provided to help you to make an informed decision when choosing a provider.
As with other health professionals, allied health therapists must be registered in Australia with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You can check a provider’s registration at www.ahpra.gov.au. For speech pathologists go to https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au.
Ask practitioners what their fees are. You can claim these from health funds if you are a member. You will usually have to cover the gap between what you can claim and their charges. For Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC), general practitioners can provide services.
For NDIS participants, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the current NDIS price guide for your home state. It outlines the prescribed rates that a provider can charge a participant. It ensures that NDIS pricing is sustainable, balancing the needs of participants while recognising the skills and expertise of experienced health professionals. NDIS does not allow providers to charge higher than the capped rate. Reputable providers with extensive skills and experience in disability will normally charge the prescribed rate, which is the cost used by the NDIA when formalising your plan and associated funding.
Working with children with a delay requires a very high level of skill, experience, and ongoing professional development to keep abreast of best practice intervention. It is therefore important for the therapist to have extensive experience of at least 5-10 years plus working with children with a developmental delay.
It may be important for the therapist to visit your child in their home environment as well as places they frequently go. This ensures that any intervention undertaken (e.g., prescription of equipment or home modifications) is customised to your child and how they interact with it within their environment.
It is important for you and the provider to set goals together. A good provider will always ensure that any intervention undertaken is informed by client goals that meet their needs and requirements.
It is important for an occupational therapist to explain to you what they are going to do and why.
These are questions about how service providers can help you, what you can get from the providers, and when you can expect to get the help your child needs. Here are some questions you can ask:
These are questions about the practical side of using service providers and whether services will suit your child and family.
If you’re still not sure after comparing the pros and cons, it’s OK to:
Arrange to meet the therapist (at least talk to them on phone or video) – you can find out if they are really listening to you and trying to understand your needs and goals.
It’s OK to visit services more than once before choosing, or to ask to meet with several different professionals within the service.
Sometimes you might decide on a service provider and get started, but then you realise that the service provider isn’t right for you after all. That’s OK – you can change providers.
Selecting a provider to work with your child, is an important decision. Working with a provider is about building positive relationships that are real partnerships and based on collaboration, family-centred practices, and mutual respect.
Choosing a provider who is a good fit for you and your child, and is prepared to work with you to meet your needs and requirements, will vastly increase your chances of getting a positive outcome.