Helping Children With Autism Funding
Medicare Rebates for Early Intervention Support
Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) is a government funded initiative. It offers Medicare rebates to support early intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). If your child has a formal diagnosis, they may be eligible to claim a limited number of rebated sessions with allied health professionals, including Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists.
This funding aims to ease the financial load of private therapy, helping children access early support at a critical stage of their development.
Who Is Eligible?
Your child may be eligible for HCWA funding if:
- They have a formal (or suspected) diagnosis of
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
- They are under the age of 13 for assessment sessions
- They are under the age of 15 for therapy sessions (with an existing diagnosis)
- They have a referral from a Consultant Paediatrician or Psychiatrist
Your paediatrician or psychiatrist will determine your child’s eligibility and provide the appropriate referral.
How to Get Started
- Speak to your child’s Paediatrician or Psychiatrist
- If appropriate, they’ll refer your child for:
- Up to 4 assessment sessions
- Up to 20 therapy sessions
- Bring your referral to your first Chatterbox appointment
- Bring your Medicare and EFTPOS card. Therapy is paid in full on the day, and we’ll process your rebate on the spot
- We’ll manage the Medicare reporting requirements and send progress updates to your referring doctor
Using Your Sessions
Once you have a valid referral:
- Your child can access up to 4 assessment sessions and 20 therapy sessions in total
- Services do not renew each year. Once used, they cannot be claimed again.
- Sessions must be delivered by eligible allied health professionals
- Services can be split across different providers or used with a single clinician
- Services must be claimed before your child turns 15 (with the referral written before their 13th birthday).
- You can’t use private health insurance or other funding options to pay the gap.
How Much Is the Rebate?
As of 1 July 2025, the Medicare rebate for HCWA-funded sessions is $87.25 per service. On-the-spot claiming is available at Chatterbox for eligible appointments.
Please note: Chatterbox charges a small admin fee for services delivered under this program to cover the additional Medicare reporting requirements. You’ll be notified of this when booking.
What to Do If You Think Your Child May Be Autistic
If you think your child may be Autistic or showing signs of developmental differences, speaking with your GP is a great first step. They can talk through your concerns, refer you to a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for further assessment, and help guide you through the process.
It’s important to know that the assessment process can take time, and waiting for answers can feel hard. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to start getting support.
You can begin Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy right away. You don’t even need a referral from your GP! Early intervention helps build your child’s communication, independence, and everyday skills, setting them up for success while you navigate the diagnostic process. A diagnosis may help shape therapy goals, but it won’t change who your child is, or how valuable early support can be.
Need more info?
That’s okay, we’re here to help you figure it out.