What is Better Start?
From 1 July 2011, eligible children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, or a moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment (including deafblindness) have access to funding and new Medicare items under the new Better Start for Children with Disability initiative provided by the Australian government.
How Much Funding is Available?
Funding for early intervention services and treatments for eligible children under the age of 6 years is available.
Families of eligible children can access early intervention funding of up to $12,000 (to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year).
You can use this funding to pay for early intervention services including speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and specific programs for your child. You have up until your child turns 7 years of age to use the early intervention funding.
Additional Medicare items are also available through the Better Start Initiative and include:
- Medicare items for the development of a treatment and management plan for eligible children under the age of 13 years
- Medicare items for up to 4 allied health diagnostic services and for 20 relevant allied health services (in total) for eligible children up to the age of 15 years (provided the treatment and management plan is in place before the age of 13 years).
How Can Families Access the Services?
Step 1Call the Registration and Information Service
- T
- 1800 242 636
Step 2Choose a service provider
Parents and carers may choose the services offered by Cerebral Palsy Alliance as our staff have significant expertise in working with children with cerebral palsy.
If you choose to access services through Cerebral Palsy Alliance, please phone us on 1300 888 378. You will be linked with a Regional Intake Officer who will discuss with you your needs and the services available.
What Better Start Services will be Available Through Cerebral Palsy Alliance?
Children with cerebral palsy* will be able to access a range of early intervention services, which complement the services already offered by Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Most services are available through all of our sites in NSW and the ACT, including rural areas. However, some services may only be available at certain sites.
* Cerebral Palsy Alliance is approved to provide services under the Better Start initiative to children with cerebral palsy only. Families who have a child with one of the other eligible conditions (Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, or a moderate or greater vision impairment, including deafblindness) are asked to phone Carers NSW on 1800 242 636 regarding possible services for their child.
Learn more about the Better Start Services offered.
