- What services does SPOT for Kids offer?
- Am I able to claim on Private Health Insurance or Medicare?
- What are your operating hours?
- How long before my child can see someone? Is there a waiting list?
- How long is a session?
- Do you offer group sessions?
- Do you offer sessions for adults?
- Is an assessment necessary? My son/daughter has already been assessed.
- Will you always see the same therapist or do you swap and change at each appointment?
- How do I make an appointment?
- Do I need a referral and if so who can refer?
- What happens if I cannot make an appointment that I have booked?
- Are you FaHCSIA providers for Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy?
1. What services does SPOT for Kids offer?
Speech Pathology – Speech Pathologists assess and treat people who have difficulty communicating. Communication is the process of being understood by other people and understanding them. It includes speech, reading, writing signs and gestures. Speech pathologists also work with people who have trouble swallowing food or drink.
Occupational Therapy - Occupational therapy enables people to do the "day-to-day activities that are important to them" despite impairments, activity limitations or participation restrictions or despite risks for these problems. Occupations are another name for these day-to-day activities.
Physiotherapy – Physiotherapy is treatment that uses physical means to relieve pain, regain range of movement, restore muscle strength and return patients to normal activities of daily living.
2. Am I able to claim on Private Health Insurance or Medicare?
You may be entitled to a rebate for allied health services through your Private Health Insurance. As each agency offers different levels of cover it is suggested you contact your insurer for information regarding the level of cover & and rebates.
Some chronic conditions are subsidised by the Medicare "Enhanced Primary Care" (EPC) Plan. This means that you can claim rebates from Medicare for up to 5 sessions per year of Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy when you bring a referral from your GP.
Please note that referrals are only necessary for our services when associated with the ECP Plan. Please contact our office or Medicare for more details on the EPC program.
3. What are your operating hours?
SPOT for Kids is open Monday – Friday
Office hours are 8.00am – 4.00pm
In Rooms Consultations, Home/School Visits 8.00am – 4.30pm
We are not open after hours or on weekends.
4. How long before my child can see someone? Is there a waiting list?
SPOT for Kids clinicians aim to see new referrals as soon as possible. We have 3 Speech Pathologists, 2 Physiotherapists and 7 Occupational Therapists. An appointment is usually made within two weeks of initial contact. We do have busy periods throughout the year, however we are generally able to avoid the need for a waiting list.
5. How long is a session?
Assessments take between 60-90 minutes due to the amount of information to be collected during the session. Treatment sessions are 45 minutes long however it is possible to book 30-minute appointments in-rooms. Your therapist will advise the recommended duration of the sessions required for an individual’s treatment.
6. Do you offer group sessions?
While several children are seen in small group settings at school we do not currently offer any in-rooms group programs. Individual therapy programs enable therapy to be targeted directly to your child's requirements.
7. Do you offer sessions for adults?
Yes, while our focus is primarily on providing programs for children and adolescents, many of our clinicians have had extensive experience in working with adults in rehabilitation settings and we are able to cater for all ages, having clients ranging in age from infancy through to the elderly.
8. Is an assessment necessary? My son/daughter has already been assessed.
If the assessment was completed within the previous 12 months and you are able to supply a copy of the assessment report a new assessment will not be required.
Assessments are essential as they provide the information enabling your clinician to pinpoint the type of treatment, frequency of treatment etc. for your child. An assessment enables us to cater a program to your child’s individual needs.
9. Will you always see the same therapist or do you swap and change at each appointment?
The therapist who does the initial assessment will usually be the therapist who will continue with your child's program. Sometimes the therapist may change after assessment due to availability, maternity leave etc. however changes are kept to a minimum.
10. How do I make an appointment?
Contact our office on Ph. (03) 9588 0100 or email us at admin@spotkids.com.au to make an appointment, and details of our service, schedule of fees and a pre-assessment questionnaire will be mailed out to you.
11. Do I need a referral and if so who can refer?
No, medical referrals are not necessary to use our service, unless you are accessing services through an EPC referral from your GP.
We are able to take referrals from you, your GP or specialist, Maternal Child & Health Nurse, hospital, school, funding organization etc.
We work closely with many community organizations and services such as TAC, The Royal Children's Hospital, Windermere, Moira, OzChild and numerous government agencies, as well as providing direct services to many schools throughout the Melbourne Metropolitan area.
12. What happens if I cannot make an appointment that I have booked?
All we ask is that you give us 4 hours notice. We understand that life is busy, things happen and children get sick. Just call our office on Ph. (03) 9588 0100 and we can re-schedule your appointment to a more suitable time.
We do charge a Service Fee if you do fail to attend an appointment without giving us prior notice.
13. Are you FaHCSIA providers for Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy?
Yes, SPOT for Kids are providers for FaHCSIA and we have paperwork which we need you to fill out prior to your first appointment. Please be sure to mention you wish to use FaHCSIA when making your enquiry and we shall do the rest for you.
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