Understand what funding is available for autistic children (apart from the NDIS), including:
Starting with your GP
As with most medical services, your GP will need to give you that initial referral to a paediatrician or psychologist / psychiatrist for diagnosis. There is an amount that can be claimed from medicare for this charge – it won’t cover the whole cost but something is better than nothing.
After your initial consultation
After your initial diagnosis appointment with a paediatrician or psychologist, a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist can refer a child with autism to eligible allied health professionals for treatment services – up to a maximum of 10 services can be recommended.
This enables the referring practitioner to consider a report from the allied health professional(s) about the services provided to the child, and the need for further treatment.
These services include:
- 82000 Psychologist
- 82005 Speech pathologist
- 82010 Occupational therapist
- 82030 Audiologist, optometrist, orthoptist, physiotherapist
For children aged 13 years or under
Medicare rebates are available to help cover at least some of the cost.
These Medicare items cover:
- Assessment and diagnosis by a paediatrician or child and adolescent psychiatrist
- Up to 10 allied health professional assessments/services to assist with the diagnosis and treatment
- Up to 20 treatment services can be delivered by allied health professional(s), who can provide one or more courses of treatment. (Eligible allied therapists include psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, audiologists, optometrists or physiotherapists)
- A GP managing the patient under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; or
- A GP managing the patient under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; or
- Under a referred psychiatrist assessment and management plan; or
- A psychiatrist or paediatrician
- The first step to access the scheme is to see your GP who will assess whether you have a mental disorder and whether the preparation of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate for you
- For a child with higher needs – paid every fortnight and a Health Care Card for the child OR
- For a child with lower needs – a Health Care Card for the child
If you share the care of the child and the other parent is not your partner:
If you share the care of the child and the other parent is not your partner:
You get part of the payment
The other carer gets the rest, based on how much care you each provide
If you meet the Carer Allowance income test, your income doesn’t affect how much Carer Allowance you can get. This payment doesn’t add to your taxable income. Payment rates change on 1 January each year to keep up with the cost of living.
It is a good idea to apply for Carer Allowance as soon as you have decided to seek an assessment, so long as you are providing daily care for your child. The payment starts from the date the form is lodged not from the date of assessment.
To start the process visit your GP, as you and a medical practitioner both need to fill in the form.
For more information: Services Australia website