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Online Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy telehealth across Australia

Innerlink Therapy provides online Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy for children, teenagers and adults across Australia. Telehealth allows suitable clients in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas to access experienced therapists from home, school, work or another convenient location.

Online appointments may include assessment, individual therapy, parent and carer coaching, AAC and communication support, consultation, and collaboration with teachers, support workers and other professionals.

Telehealth is not appropriate for every person or service. Our therapists consider your goals, clinical needs, technology and support network when determining whether online therapy, face-to-face therapy or a combination of both is most suitable.

Enquire About Online Therapy

Looking for Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy online?

Our Client Care Team can discuss your needs, location, funding arrangements and whether telehealth may be suitable.

Enquire about Online Therapy

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth is a live video appointment that allows Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy services to be delivered without attending the clinic in person. You can connect with your therapist from home, school, work or another suitable location using a computer, tablet or compatible device.

Telehealth may be particularly useful for people who live in regional, rural or remote areas, have difficulty travelling to appointments, need greater flexibility around work or family commitments, or would benefit from having parents, carers or other support people involved in therapy.

Online sessions are still individualised and goal-focused. Depending on the service, appointments may include assessment activities, therapy, coaching, demonstrations, visual resources, shared digital materials and practical strategies that can be used in everyday life.

Online Speech Pathology Across Australia

Our Speech Pathologists provide online Speech Pathology services for children, teenagers and adults across Australia where telehealth is clinically appropriate.

Depending on the person’s needs and goals, online Speech Pathology may support areas including:

  • speech sound development
  • understanding and using language
  • expressive and receptive language
  • literacy
  • stuttering and fluency
  • social communication
  • functional communication
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
  • communication following neurological conditions
  • communication partner training
  • parent and carer coaching

Telehealth can also make it easier for important people in the person’s life to participate.

With appropriate consent, parents, carers, teachers, support workers and other professionals may be able to join part of a session so strategies can be understood and used in everyday environments.

Online Speech Pathology for Children

Children can participate in Speech Pathology through telehealth when online therapy is appropriate for their age, needs and goals.

Sessions may include games, interactive activities, visual resources, conversation, shared reading, speech activities and parent coaching.

For younger children, a parent or carer may play an important role in the appointment. Rather than asking a young child to remain in front of a screen for an entire session, the Speech Pathologist may coach the parent or carer to use communication strategies during everyday play and routines.

This can help families continue supporting communication development between appointments.

Online Speech Pathology for Teenagers

Telehealth can work particularly well for teenagers who are comfortable using technology and prefer accessing therapy from home.

Sessions may focus on areas such as communication, language, literacy, social communication, fluency, organisation and functional communication.

Therapy remains individualised and linked to goals that are meaningful to the young person.

Online Speech Pathology for Adults

Adults may also access Speech Pathology through telehealth.

Depending on clinical suitability, online appointments may support communication, language, cognitive-communication, fluency, voice, functional communication and communication following neurological conditions.

Family members, carers and support workers may also participate where their involvement supports the person’s goals.

Online Occupational Therapy Across Australia

Innerlink Therapy provides online Occupational Therapy for children, teenagers and adults across Australia where telehealth is clinically appropriate. Sessions focus on practical strategies that support participation and independence in everyday activities at home, school, work and in the community.

Depending on individual needs, telehealth Occupational Therapy may support areas including:

  • executive functioning
  • planning and organisation
  • daily routines
  • fine motor skills
  • handwriting
  • sensory processing
  • emotional regulation
  • attention
  • independence with everyday activities
  • school participation
  • home routines
  • functional skills

One advantage of online Occupational Therapy is that the therapist can work with the person within their everyday environment.

For example, a therapist may be able to discuss or observe aspects of a home routine, workspace, homework area or daily activity and develop practical strategies that relate directly to that environment.

AAC and Complex Communication Support Through Telehealth

Telehealth can be particularly useful for some people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication, or AAC.

Depending on the person’s needs, our Speech Pathologists may use telehealth to support:

  • AAC implementation
  • communication partner training
  • modelling AAC
  • building communication opportunities
  • troubleshooting everyday AAC use
  • developing functional communication skills
  • supporting parents and carers
  • supporting teachers and support workers
  • collaborating with other professionals

Some parts of an AAC assessment or device trial may require face-to-face input or additional information. Your Speech Pathologist will discuss what can appropriately be completed through telehealth.

Our focus is not simply on the communication system. We work with the person and the people around them to help build meaningful communication, participation, choice and independence.

Learn more about our AAC Communication Support.

What Happens During a Telehealth Appointment?

Before Your Appointment

Our team will provide instructions for joining your online appointment. Your therapist may also ask you to have particular documents, toys, therapy materials or equipment available. Where possible, choose a quiet, comfortable space with reliable internet access.

During Your Appointment

You will meet your therapist by video. Depending on your needs and goals, the session may include assessment activities, individual therapy, interactive tasks, demonstrations, coaching, AAC support or practical strategy development. Parents, carers or other support people may also participate where appropriate.

After Your Appointment

Where appropriate, your therapist may provide activities, strategies or recommendations to support progress between appointments.

Is Telehealth Right for Me?

Telehealth can be effective for many people, but it is not suitable for every person, assessment or therapy goal. Our therapists consider the reason for referral, therapy goals, communication and functional needs, technology access, safety, and the person’s ability to participate online when deciding whether telehealth is appropriate.

For some clients, telehealth may be the main way therapy is delivered. For others, a combination of online and face-to-face appointments may be more suitable. If a particular assessment or therapy service cannot be provided appropriately online, our team will discuss alternative options with you.

Speech Pathology Australia recognises telepractice as a service-delivery option when supported by appropriate clinical judgement and consideration of the individual client’s needs.

Read more about Speech Pathology Australia’s position on telepractice.

Benefits of Online Therapy

Telehealth can provide greater choice in how and where therapy takes place. For suitable clients, benefits may include:

  • access to Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy from anywhere in Australia
  • reduced travel time and easier access for regional and remote communities
  • greater flexibility around work, school and family commitments
  • therapy within a familiar home environment
  • easier involvement of parents, carers, teachers or support workers where appropriate
  • practical strategies that can be applied directly to everyday routines and activities

For some people, accessing therapy from a familiar environment can also make participation more comfortable.

Telehealth for Regional and Remote Australia

Living outside Sydney should not prevent you from accessing suitable Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy services. While our clinic is based in Belmore, Sydney, telehealth allows our therapists to work with appropriate clients in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia.

Whether you live elsewhere in New South Wales or interstate, our Client Care Team can discuss the support you are seeking, therapist availability and whether telehealth is clinically appropriate for your needs.

NDIS Telehealth Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy

Innerlink Therapy is a registered NDIS provider. Eligible NDIS participants may be able to access Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy through telehealth where the support is appropriate for their disability-related needs, goals and funding.

Our therapists provide individualised, evidence-based support focused on communication, functional skills, participation and independence. Where appropriate and with consent, telehealth can also involve family members, carers, Support Coordinators, teachers, support workers and other professionals involved in the participant’s care.

We support NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants. Funding arrangements vary between participants, so our Client Care Team can discuss your individual circumstances when you enquire.

Learn more about our NDIS Speech Pathology, NDIS Occupational Therapy and Funding Options.

Learn more about our Funding Options.

Medicare and Telehealth

Some clients may be eligible for Medicare rebates for Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy telehealth services under specific Medicare referral pathways.

Eligibility, referral requirements and available rebates depend on the Medicare program and service being accessed.

If you intend to use a Medicare referral, please provide it to our team before your appointment so we can check the relevant information.

Private Health Insurance

Depending on your policy, your private health insurer may provide benefits for Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy delivered by telehealth.

For telehealth appointments, Innerlink Therapy can provide a paid receipt that you can submit directly to your health fund.

Coverage and rebate amounts vary between insurers and policies, so we recommend checking directly with your health fund before your appointment.

What Technology Do I Need?

Most telehealth appointments only require a reliable internet connection and a computer, laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone. Choose a quiet, private space with minimal distractions where possible.

Your therapist will let you know before the appointment if you need any specific documents, therapy materials, toys, equipment or support from a parent, carer or another person.

Privacy During Telehealth Appointments

Innerlink Therapy manages telehealth appointments in accordance with our privacy, consent and clinical record-keeping obligations. We recommend joining your appointment from a private location where you feel comfortable discussing personal or health information.

Your therapist will also conduct the appointment from an appropriate private environment. For more information, read our Privacy Policy.

Read our Privacy Policy for more information about how Innerlink Therapy manages personal and health information.

Supporting Multilingual Families

Innerlink Therapy supports families from a range of cultural and language backgrounds. Our team speaks English, Arabic, Greek and Tagalog, which may help some families feel more comfortable discussing communication, development and therapy goals.

Where a therapist does not speak a family’s preferred language, we can discuss appropriate communication supports or interpreter options where suitable.

Telehealth can also make it easier for family members or support people in different locations to join appointments, helping everyone involved understand therapy goals, recommendations and strategies for everyday use.

Innerlink Therapy is an established multidisciplinary practice based in Belmore, Sydney. Through telehealth, our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can provide appropriate services to clients across Australia.

Our online therapy services include:

  • qualified Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists
  • support for children, teenagers and adults
  • individualised, evidence-based assessment and therapy
  • AAC and complex communication experience
  • collaboration with families, carers, educators and support teams
  • NDIS, Medicare and private payment options where applicable
  • multilingual Speech Pathology, subject to clinician availability
  • the option to combine telehealth with face-to-face appointments at our Belmore clinic where appropriate

Our focus is on practical goals that support communication, independence and participation in everyday life.

Enquire About Online Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy

Looking for online Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy anywhere in Australia? Our Client Care Team can discuss the support you need, therapist availability, funding options and whether telehealth is suitable for you.

We welcome enquiries for children, teenagers and adults, including NDIS participants, private clients and people using eligible Medicare referrals.

Phone: 02 8065 1197
Email: info@innerlinktherapy.com.au

Enquire About Telehealth Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you provide online Speech Pathology across Australia?

Yes. Innerlink Therapy can provide online Speech Pathology to suitable clients across Australia. Telehealth availability depends on the service required, clinical suitability and therapist availability.

Do you provide online Occupational Therapy across Australia?

Yes. Occupational Therapy may be provided through telehealth to clients across Australia when online service delivery is appropriate for the person’s needs and goals.

Can children receive Speech Pathology online?

Yes. Many children can participate successfully in Speech Pathology through telehealth. The therapist will consider the child’s age, needs, goals and ability to participate. Parent or carer involvement may be recommended.

Can adults receive Speech Pathology through telehealth?

Yes. Telehealth may be appropriate for adults requiring support with communication, language, fluency, voice, cognitive-communication or other communication difficulties. Suitability depends on the individual and the service required.

Can Occupational Therapy be provided online?

Yes. Some Occupational Therapy services can be delivered effectively through telehealth. This may include support with executive functioning, routines, sensory processing, emotional regulation, fine motor skills, handwriting, organisation and everyday functional activities.

Can AAC support be provided through telehealth?

Yes. Some AAC services can be delivered through telehealth, including communication partner training, AAC implementation, modelling and support with everyday use. Some assessments or device trials may also require face-to-face components.

Can parents or carers join a telehealth appointment?

Yes. Parents and carers can often play an important role in telehealth, particularly for younger children and people with complex communication or support needs.

Can I use NDIS funding for telehealth?

Eligible NDIS participants may be able to use appropriate funding for Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy delivered through telehealth when the support meets NDIS requirements and relates to the participant’s disability support needs and goals.

Innerlink Therapy is a registered NDIS provider supporting NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants.

Can I claim Medicare for telehealth?

Some eligible clients may be able to access Medicare rebates for Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy telehealth services under specific referral pathways. Eligibility and referral requirements vary, so please discuss your referral with our Client Care Team before your appointment.

Can I claim private health insurance for telehealth?

Private health benefits depend on your insurer and policy. Please check your health fund coverage before your appointment, and contact our Client Care Team if you need assistance with the information required.

Can I combine telehealth with face-to-face appointments?

Yes. Some clients may use a combination of telehealth and face-to-face therapy where this suits their goals and circumstances. Face-to-face appointments are available at our Belmore clinic for clients who can attend in person.