Speech Pathology for Children and Young People
How our speech pathologists help
Paediatric speech pathologists work within the multidisciplinary team to support children and their families to improve communication and literacy skills. Our speech pathology team can help children to build their skills in:
- Communication and language:
- Receptive language, understanding words, directions and concepts
- Expressive language, using visuals, gestures, words and phrases to communicate needs, thoughts and ideas
- Vocabulary development and sentence building
- Functional communication across home, school and community settings
- Building confidence in interactions with peers and adults
- Speech sound development, intelligibility in structured and naturalistic contexts
- Fluency, assessment and support for stuttering
- School participation:
- Managing communication demands in the classroom
- Functional language for learning, understanding teacher instructions and peer interaction
- Pre-literacy and literacy development
Assessment and therapy
An episode of care usually begins with an assessment, which helps the speech pathologist understand your child's strengths and needs and plan therapy accordingly. Where a formal assessment and written report are required, the estimated cost is approximately $650, and the speech pathologist can confirm this with you based on what is involved. Therapy is then tailored to your child's goals and reviewed over time.
Our intake model
For children under 12, the intake session is parent only, which gives the speech pathologist time to gather a full history and understand your priorities before working directly with your child. For young people aged 12 and over, whether the young person attends the intake is at the parent's discretion.
What to expect from therapy
Therapy is planned around goals that matter to your child and family. Sessions are practical and, where possible, playful, so that your child stays engaged. The speech pathologist will suggest activities and strategies to use at home and, with your consent, share advice with your child's school so that progress is supported across settings. Goals are reviewed regularly, and the plan is adjusted as your child develops.
Working with families and schools
Children make the most progress when the people around them are part of the plan. We involve parents and carers in setting goals and in carrying strategies into everyday routines. With your permission, we can also liaise with teachers so that communication is supported in the classroom and playground, which helps skills transfer to the settings where your child spends their day.
Fees and funding
| Service | Private fee |
|---|---|
| Intake | $240 |
| Follow-up (per hour) | $205 |
| Assessment and report (estimate) | approx $650 |
The fees above are our private fees. For NDIS-funded appointments, speech pathology is charged in line with the current NDIS price guide. You can find our full fee information on the fees and referrals page, and read more about NDIS services.
Services we cannot provide
So that we can direct families to the right support, please note that our speech pathology service is not able to take referrals where the primary need is feeding or swallowing, or where the primary need is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). If your child's main need is in one of these areas, we recommend seeking a speech pathologist who specialises in that area, and your GP or paediatrician can help you find a suitable provider.
How to book
To arrange speech pathology for your child, please call Hunter Children's Clinics on 02 4072 1877. You may also be interested in our occupational therapy and psychology services.
Related reading: what to expect from a parent-only intake session, and what a developmental paediatrician does.
Our speech pathology team
Speech pathology at Hunter Children's Clinics is provided by Claire Cooper.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see a speech pathologist?
A GP referral is not required to access speech pathology, though referrals and reports can be helpful and may be needed for certain funding. Please call us to arrange an intake.
Is the first appointment with or without my child?
For children under 12, the intake session is parent only. For young people aged 12 and over, whether they attend the intake is at the parent's discretion.
What does speech pathology cost?
Intake is $240 privately and follow-up is $205 per hour privately. Where a formal assessment and report are required, the estimated cost is approximately $650. For NDIS-funded appointments, speech pathology is charged in line with the current NDIS price guide. Full details are on our fees and referrals page.
Can you help with feeding, swallowing or AAC?
Our speech pathology service is not able to take referrals where the primary need is feeding or swallowing, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). We recommend seeking a speech pathologist who specialises in that area, and your GP or paediatrician can help you find a suitable provider.
Do you accept NDIS funding?
Yes. We support children who fund speech pathology through the NDIS, as well as those who fund it privately. See our NDIS page for more information.
Content reviewed July 2026
