Help us protect NDIS access to vital speech pathology care for people with disability

When pricing fails to reflect the true cost of service provision, services disappear, and the people who rely on them are left behind.

NDIS participants and speech pathologists have once again been let down by the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA’s) latest pricing decisions.

Speech pathologists provide vital care for people with communication and swallowing needs that affect their  ability to communicate, eat and drink safely, and participate in daily life. Communication and swallowing  are foundational to health, learning, connection and independence.

A 50% cut to provider travel rates threatens access to services in homes, schools and regional communities, making it even harder for people who cannot travel to receive the support they need.

For 6 years, price limits for speech pathology have been frozen. This is a funding cut in real-terms that does not reflect the rising cost of service provision.

Speech pathologists are committed to delivering high-quality care  that meets the individual needs of each person, but services must be sustainable. Without fair pricing, some providers may be forced to reduce services or withdraw from the NDIS entirely, limiting access to essential support.


What must change

The following urgent actions are required to protect access to care and support sustainable services:

  • Scrap the 50% cut to the provider travel rate, which threatens access to home, school, and community-based care, particularly in rural and regional areas
  • Introduce an immediate price uplift for speech pathologists and other allied health providers, to address the cumulative impact of 6 years without indexation and to prevent further deterioration in service viability
  • Index therapy pricing going forward to reflect inflation and rising operational costs
  • Transfer pricing decisions to an independent body, such as the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, and
  • Undertake genuine and transparent consultation with allied health professionals and people with disability before implementing changes.

Take action

1. Contact your MP

Let’s make this issue visible. Contact your federal MP to explain how these pricing decisions will affect access to care in your community.

Email your local federal MP using SPA’s templates:

  1. Check your federal electorate on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.
  2. Find your local federal MP
  3. Use one of our templates to send an email to your local federal MP. You are encouraged to tailor the message with your own experiences.
Have you secured a meeting with your local federal MP?

If you secure a meeting with your local federal MP, download the advocacy meeting agenda support pack (member log in required).

2. Share your story

Do you work with families or participants who will be directly affected by these changes – especially due to the 50% cut to the provider travel rate?

We want to hear from you – how are these pricing decisions impacting on participants’ access to care? We are seeking case studies to help demonstrate the real-world impact of these decisions. We are focussing on participants who want to share their experiences and concerns about access to speech pathology care.

If you or someone you support has a story to share – particularly about reduced access to services due to the 50% cut to the provider travel rate – please contact us.

Share a case study

  Spread the word

Download our digital kit and help spread the word on social media.

This social media kit has been created to help speech pathologists and supporters to advocate to protect access to speech pathology healthcare under the NDIS. Right now, frozen therapy prices and a 50% cut to travel rates are putting vital services at risk – especially those delivered in homes, schools, and regional communities. We know that passion and purpose alone can’t keep services running. Use this kit to raise awareness, share your voice, and encourage others to take action by writing to their MP and spreading the word online. Every post helps strengthen our message: NDIS pricing must reflect the true cost of care to ensure continued access to services.

Don’t forget to tag Speech Pathology Australia in your posts.

Thank you for spreading the message!

 Download the kit here (zip file)
         Download individual visual assets: Image 1 / Image 2 / Image 3

 

Facebook and LinkedIn

As a speech pathologist, I know how important it is that people with communication and swallowing needs can access the care they need, where they need it.

But the current NDIS pricing simply isn’t sustainable.

Speech pathology rates have been frozen for six years.

Travel rates have been cut by 50%

When pricing fails to reflect the true cost of care, services disappear — and the people who rely on them are left behind.

I’ve contacted my MP to call for fair, sustainable pricing. I’m sharing this to encourage you to do the same: https://www.speechpathology
australia.org.au/NDISaccess

X

When #NDIS pricing doesn’t reflect the cost of care, services disappear.

People with swallowing & communication needs are being left behind.

We need fair pricing. I’ve written to my MP. You can too: https://speechpathology
australia.org.au/ndisaccess

@Mark_Butler_MP @jennymcallister

 

Facebook and LinkedIn

A 50% cut to travel funding is a direct hit to outreach services.

It makes it harder for providers like me to support people in homes, schools, and regional communities.

Some clients can't attend clinics. We need to reach them. But our services must be adequately supported to be sustainable and ensure continued access to care.

If you're frustrated too, speak up.

✍ Write to your MP: https://www.speechpathology
australia.org.au/NDISaccess

#SpeechPathology #FairNDISPricing

X

Some clients can’t get to a clinic, so we go to them.

But with NDIS travel funding cut by 50%, outreach is under threat.

We’re stretched thin. We need fair funding to ensure sustainable access to care.

✍ Write to your MP: https://speechpathology
australia.org.au/ndisaccess

@Mark_Butler_MP @jennymcallister

#FairNDISPricing

 

Facebook and LinkedIn

As a speech pathologist, I’m deeply committed to delivering high-quality care for people with communication and swallowing needs. But purpose alone cannot keep services running.

Rising costs, frozen NDIS price limits, and ongoing underfunding are pushing providers to breaking point – especially those delivering care in homes, schools, and regional communities.

We need sustainable pricing to ensure continued access to care under the NDIS.

I’m calling for:

  • Reversal of the 50% travel rate cut
  • An immediate price uplift for therapy
  • Indexed pricing going forward
  • Independent pricing oversight
  • Genuine consultation with providers and people with disability

I’ve written to my MP and I encourage you to do the same: https://www.speechpathology
australia.org.au/NDISaccess

#SpeechPathology #FairNDISPricing

X

I’m a speech pathologist. I care deeply about the people I support – but purpose alone can’t sustain services.

❌ 6-year price freeze ❌ 50% travel rate cut

We need fair NDIS pricing. Write to your MP: https://speechpathology
australia.org.au/ndisaccess

#FairNDISPricing @Mark_Butler_MP @jennymcallister

 

Why this matters

Without fair funding, people with disability may wait longer for care, and mobile services in rural and regional could disappear due to cuts to provider travel rates. More speech pathologists may leave the NDIS because delivering services is no longer financially sustainable, with experienced clinicians at risk of burn out.

Speech pathologists support people with disability to communicate, build relationships, eat safely, and live more independently. This vital care must be properly funded to continue.