Government Initiatives and Funding for Children with Special Needs

FaHCSIA Funding

Kids First is an established and experienced Early Intervention Panel Provider for FaHSCIA, the Australian government’s Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

We been supporting children through the Helping Children with Autism initiative since 2009 and in July 2011, Kids First was one of the first organisations in NSW selected to provide early intervention children to children eligible for the Better Start for Children with Disabilities initiative.

These Australian government funded programs offer much needed financial support that makes therapy for special needs children more affordable for families.

Every member of Kids First’s children’s health team is an experienced special needs specialist and our Best Practice multi-disciplinary centre offers comprehensive support to children with disabilities like:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Down Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Sight Impairment
• Hearing Imparment

Contact us on 9938 5419 to discover how we can help your child.

Medicare

Kids First also provides Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Child Psychology services through a variety of Medicare rebated programs. Specific item numbers for children diagnosed with Autism and Better Start disabilities are available to enable additional therapy support for eligible children until they reach the age of 15

Your child may be eligible for:

Helping Children with Autism and Better Start For Children with a Disability initiatives

• Medicare items 82000, 82005, 82010 and 82030. Kids First’s Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Speech Pathologists can provide your child with up to four services in total in order to collaborate with your child’s paediatrician or psychiatrist regarding diagnosis. These services must be provided before your child’s 13th birthday.
• Medicare Items 82015, 82020, 82025 and 82035
  Kids First’s Occupational Therapists, Child Psychologists and Speech Pathologists can provide your child with up to 20 early intervention treatment services in total following a diagnosis of autism/PDD when the treatment is provided in accordance with a management plan prepared by your referring doctor. These services must be provided before your child’s 15th birthday and are permitted provided an autism/PDD treatment and management plan was in place before your child’s 13th birthday.

Better Access to Mental Health Care Program

If your child has a GP mental health treatment plan your family doctor may refer you for Medicare-subsidised sessions with one of Kids First’s Child Psychologists. A psychiatrist or paediatrician may also refer you for Medicare-subsidised treatment at Kids First. You may receive up to 12 sessions of individual therapy in a calendar year. An additional six sessions may be available in exceptional circumstances. Up to 12 group sessions (up to 12) are available, in addition to individual sessions, in a calendar year.

Chronic Disease Management Plan

This program incorporates GP Management and Team Care Programs and provides rebates if your child has complex care needs requiring medium to long term support from Allied Health professionals like Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Child Psychologists. If your child is eligible for this program, it can be activated by your GP.

Your child’s eligibility for these support initiatives will be determined and co-ordinated by your family doctor or paediatrician.

Download the Better Start parent fact sheet here (39.91 KB)

Approved Health Funds