The NDIA’s new Therapy Support Guidelines introduce important changes for speech pathologists. Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) status is now required to deliver all NDIS-funded therapy supports, with new guidance also provided on therapy assistants, students and funded supports.
The NDIA has published a new guideline on therapy supports. This document describes what therapy supports are, who can provide them, what supports are funded, and how participants can get therapy supports in their plan.
The NDIA have published a companion FAQ, which provides additional detail about the guideline.
Please see key points identified in this document.
CPSP status required to deliver therapy supports
The guideline indicates that ‘To provide NDIS supports, speech pathologists must be a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) as approved by Speech Pathology Australia.’
This clarifies the NDIA’s previous position that CPSP status was required when supports were provided to agency or plan-managed participants or by registered providers and extends it to all therapy supports.
The NDIA has not indicated what measures it will use to ensure providers have current CPSP status. It could help participants to avoid rejected claims for speech pathologists to indicate that they have CPSP status on their invoices. We are seeking further guidance and will provide information when this is available.
The Therapy Supports Guideline applies to participants aged 9–65. It is not clear whether CPSP status will also be required when delivering early childhood supports to self-managing participants.
We know this may represent a significant shift in how some speech pathologists work, and how participants access supports. The NDIA have made this change to support the safety of participants. The CPSP credential demonstrates a speech pathologist’s commitment to protecting the public through robust certification processes and standards for professional and ethical practice.
Please note: Speech pathologists who have Provisional CPSP status are eligible to provide services under the NDIS.
How does a speech pathologist apply for CPSP?
Speech pathologists can apply for CPSP status on the “Join us” tab on the Speech Pathology Australia website. Please note there are different requirements based on the years since a speech pathologist has completed their degree. This link provides information for a speech pathologist considering CPSP status. Check the eligibility requirements for you to join as a Certified Practising Member. You may also choose to join Speech Pathology Australia.
Therapy assistants
The document offers expanded guidance on how therapy assistants can be used. It specifies that therapy assistants may be used if the allied health professional agrees this is suitable for that participant.
The NDIA expects that, when a therapy assistant is funded, this would usually replace some of the sessions normally provided by the supervising speech pathologist.
Students on placement
The guideline confirms that allied health students on placement may deliver specific tasks and supports under supervision and with the consent of participants. It indicates that students work in an unpaid role. As such, services delivered by students are not claimed from a participant’s plan. Rather, the cost of supervision and support delivered by the supervising therapist may be claimed.
Supports that are not funded
The guideline further defines supports that are not funded by the NDIS:
- 'therapy in a box’ or ‘therapy at home’ programs that are not individually tailored or which the NDIA believes are not evidence based
- supports and goods that are on the list of supports that are not NDIS supports.
Lego therapy
The guidelines state the NDIS does not fund social group programs where the NDIA believes there is not enough evidence that they are an effective therapy support. The NDIA specifically lists ‘Lego therapy’.
The FAQ NDIS supports s10 clarifies the distinction between Lego-based therapy as a social group, and the use of Legos, by a qualified professional, as a tool to support participation in an individualised therapy plan:
'Evidence based therapists may use a variety of tools to play a role in a goal-directed, structured intervention which will assist the therapist and the participant to engage in therapy. This may include boardgames, online games, Lego or an animal. The therapy is delivered to the participant by the allied health professional, and the tool is used to support participation.’
Capacity building and maintenance
The document elaborates on the timing of capacity building vs maintenance therapy supports. It frames capacity building in a more time-bound way:
- goals have a specified timeframe for achievement
- duration of supports depends on individual circumstances
- different supports may be needed for specific life stages
- need for supports is likely to decrease as capacity grows .
Maintenance therapy supports may be longer term in order to:
- prevent or delay decline in functional capacity
- achieve modest improvements over time
- adapt skills to different environments
- maintain function for progressive or ongoing conditions.
Therapy support needs assessment
The document states that, when asking for therapy supports, the therapist should provide an assessment, report, or letter of recommendation. It should include:
- recommendations for the supports that are needed
- how often supports are needed
- the reason the supports are needed.
This may be updated as the NDIS Support Needs Assessment is developed and implemented.
Evidence-based therapy supports
The NDIA describes types of evidence it considers to determine if therapy supports are evidence-based, and includes:
- current and reliable research
- data about how the participant has used the support and what outcomes were achieved
- recommendations from therapists
- information the NDIA receives from the disability community and peak bodies
- whether it is value for money compared to other mainstream supports.
Our advocacy
Disappointingly, the NDIA did not directly consult peak allied health bodies like SPA on these guidelines. However, we worked with Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) to proactively feedback on a draft of the guideline that was circulated. We are pleased to see that our advocacy resulted in clarified language around the role of speech pathologists, therapy assistants, and students.