​You do not require a referral to access therapy services at Next Challenge, however if you wish to claim a rebate from Medicare you will need a referral from your GP or Paediatrician prior to your appointment.

If you would like to enquire about therapy services for your child, please fill out the appointment request form here. Once completed, a member of our team will be in contact with you as soon as possible to discuss the next steps for therapy services for your child.

Depending on your coverage level and your insurer, you can likely receive a rebate from your insurer. In saying this, in almost all cases, there is an out-of-pocket expense.

Your child may be eligible for a Medicare rebate if referred by their GP with a "Medicare Complex Neurodevelopmental Conditions MBS M10 Item Group” or a “GP Chronic Condition Management Plan” (GPCCMP).

GP Chronic Condition Management Plan:

This entitles people who have a chronic health condition (6 months+) and require services from multiple professionals, to have up to 5 sessions per calendar year rebated by Medicare. You will need to book an appointment with your GP and let them know when you book it that you want a GPCCMP plan as you may need a longer than usual appointment. Your GP will decide if your child is eligible under this scheme.

Medicare Complex Neurodevelopmental Conditions MBS M10 Item Group:

Clients with an eligible disability or complex neurodevelopmental conditions are also eligible for an additional 20 sessions over their lifetime (total) with a rebate from Medicare. You can find the  full list of eligible conditions is available through the Medicare MBS website here

These sessions are required to be a minimum of 30 minutes in length and so must either be long sessions only, or an adjusted fee to account for a 30-minute session. Families can discuss this option with their GPs.

Please note some GPs suggest these sessions are free - as we DO NOT bulk bill they are not free sessions and will not cover the full price of our sessions.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please call us on 08 9201 0707, reply 'N' to your appointment SMS reminder, or contact your clinician directly. Please note that we require notice of cancellation by 9:00am the day prior to a scheduled appointment. Charges will apply for non-attendance or cancellation of an appointment without due notice.

Therapy does not always involve sessions where the child is present with the therapist, this is called ‘non face to face’ time. Non-Face-To-Face time therefore refers to any time spent completing work which supports your child to work towards their goals.

​This might look like:

• Attending IEP meetings/ case conferences at school

• Sessions with you (without client) for parent coaching or goal planning

• Phone or email consults with you / teachers / other caregivers / other service providers

• Interdisciplinary planning - working with other therapists (OT, SP, PT, DT) to share skills, strategies and resources required for therapy sessions and service planning.

• Making visuals or resources to use at home or in the community

• Therapist researching equipment options (e.g. AAC) or programming devices

• Developing home programs or AHA programs

• Applications requirements for NDIS

• Report writing

​It's important to note that non-face-to-face support services and administrative tasks are equally valuable as direct therapy sessions. Sometimes there may be charges for services that don't involve face-to-face interactions.

Indirect therapy-related time, such as creating customised therapy programs, writing detailed reports, providing education and resources, and collaborating with educators, enables our therapists to ensure they are providing high-quality care. These tasks create effective therapy plans for your child, document progress and support with therapy planning, and help advocate for necessary therapy funding or insurance coverage.

Collaboration with educators and other key stakeholders is crucial for comprehensive care. It ensures everyone involved is working together to provide the best possible support for your child. Although not as visible in each session, administrative tasks are critical for your child's therapy journey's success and progress. These charges are investments in your child's future and the quality of care they receive.