Speech Therapy in Aged Care
Aged Care Speech Therapy
Supporting Older Australians to Enjoy Mealtimes, Eat Safely and Communicate with Confidence
For older Australians, being able to eat safely, speak clearly and stay connected to the people they love isn’t a luxury. It’s quality of life. At GRP Speech Pathology, everything we do is designed to protect and restore those moments.
Our clinicians come to you, providing personalised, evidence-based Speech Pathology in your home, residential aged care facility or wherever you receive support. Whether you or a loved one is experiencing changes to swallowing, speech, voice or communication, we’ll work alongside your family and care team to deliver support that is compassionate, practical and built around what matters most.
How We Help
Ways We Support Older Australians
We provide speech therapy across a range of communication and swallowing needs.
Swallowing Assessments (Dysphagia)
We identify swallowing difficulties and recommend safe diet and fluid modifications to reduce risk and support safe, enjoyable mealtimes, all while making sure that you can still enjoy the foods that you love.
Mealtime Management
We work with families, carers and aged care staff to create practical mealtime plans that keep residents safe, comfortable and well-nourished, while making sure that their support network stays informed.
Communication Support
We support older adults to manage changes to speech, language or voice related to a variety of conditions. stroke, dementia or neurological conditions.
Voice Therapy
We provide evidence-based voice therapy for a range of conditions affecting vocal strength, clarity and confidence, including LSVT, a targeted approach for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Cognitive-Communication Therapy
We support older adults with memory, attention and reasoning challenges to stay engaged and communicate effectively in daily life.
Staff Training & Education
We empower aged care teams with practical strategies and build their understanding of safe swallowing, mealtime management and supporting residents with communication differences. Because empowered teams deliver the best care.
The GRP Difference
Compassionate, Customised, Person-Focused
Care that respects who you are, where you are and what matters most to you.
We understand the aged care environment, its rhythms, pressures and what families and staff need from a trusted allied health partner. Our clinicians are patient, experienced and deeply respectful of each person’s history, preferences and goals.
We know that for aged care and residential facilities, timely assessments matter. Whether it’s an urgent mealtime review or a swallowing assessment, we prioritise fast turnaround times for high-priority referrals, communicate our findings clearly and always justify our recommendations in plain language. We work closely with families, care coordinators and nursing staff to ensure a seamless experience, because great outcomes in aged care depend on great collaboration, and no one on your team should be left guessing or burdened further.
Our Approach
Speech Therapy in Aged Care
Therapy delivered with patience, respect and personalisation at the forefront.
Home Visits
We come to your home or residential setting, providing therapy in the comfortable, familiar environment where we know it makes the most meaningful impact.
Aged Care Facilities
We provide therapy in residential aged care homes, retirement villages, nursing homes and private hospitals across metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas, both in person and via telehealth, working alongside facility staff for seamless, integrated care.
Online
Secure and flexible online sessions for clients and families who prefer or require remote access to speech pathology, our online sessions are just as effective as in-person therapy and simple to join from any device. Not tech savvy? No problem. We’ll guide you and your whole family through everything to make it easy.
Did you know we can also conduct mealtime management reviews online? For regional and rural aged care facilities where allied health access can be limited, telehealth makes specialist support simple and consistent. No travel required.
Next Steps
What to Expect
We make starting aged care speech therapy simple and clear. To be seen as soon as possible, we recommend staying flexible — this may mean we match you with the best available clinician for your preferred time.
Assessment
A thorough assessment of swallowing and communication needs, conducted at home or in your care facility with sensitivity and care.
Goal Setting
We work with you and your family and your care team to identify what matters most; safe eating, clearer speech or staying connected.
Regular Sessions
Sessions delivered at a frequency that suits your needs, energy and funding, always based on agreed upon goals and in collaboration with everyone involved.
Outcome Reviews
Clear, regular reports and recommendations, keeping families and coordinators included at every step of the way.
Funding
Funding Options
We support a wide range of funding options:
Support at Home
We work directly with aged care providers and case managers, making it simple to access speech pathology as part of your Support at Home package.
NDIS
If you are under the age of 65, or if you have NDIS funding, you can access our services through your NDIS plan. We accept self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed participants.
DVA and TAC
We are registered with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and work with TAC-funded clients recovering from transport accidents. In both cases, we invoice your funder directly with no out-of-pocket costs for approved services.
Private Health Insurance
GRP Speech Pathology allows you to claim through your private health extras.
Depending on your private health fund, you may be eligible for a private health rebate for your Speech Pathology sessions.
To claim your rebate, simply present your GRP Speech Pathology invoice to your private health fund, and they will reimburse your nominated account.
Your eligibility for a rebate and the amount will depend on your specific health coverage. Private health rebates do change, and coverage may differ depending on when you purchased your private health insurance. We advise checking your annual limit with your private health fund.
If you would like to check exactly how much you will get back for therapy services with your specific private health fund, please contact your health insurance fund directly and quote the following codes:
320 – Initial Consultation
350 – 60-minute Therapy Session
Medicare
You or your loved one will be eligible for a Medicare rebate when accessing GRP Speech Pathology services.
A Medicare Plan from your GP or specialist is required at your first session to claim the rebate.
Please note that we charge a gap fee, so you will have some out-of-pocket expenses.
The following is an outline of the Medicare rebates available when receiving Speech Pathology services:
GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)
- Sessions: Up to 5 per year (shared across all allied health)
- Rebate: $61.30 per session
Rules:
You can not pay the gap with your private health insurance. CDMP plans need to be shared across allied health providers. i.e. 5 sessions equals 5 in total across OT, Physio, Podiatry and Speech Therapy if you’re accessing more than one service at a time.
Meet the Team
Meet Our Speechies
Every member of our team is experienced in supporting older Australians across communication, swallowing, voice and mealtime management. Our clinicians understand the unique demands of the aged care environment, bringing patience, warmth and genuine respect to every session. They work closely with families, carers and facility staff to ensure care is seamlessly woven into daily life, because the best outcomes come from everyone working together. Whether you’re arranging support for a loved one or making a referral on behalf of a client, you can trust our team to show up with the skills, experience and care the moment deserves.
FAQs
Got Questions?
Find answers to common questions about speech pathology in aged care and funding.
What are the signs someone may need a swallowing assessment?
Signs include coughing or choking during meals, a wet or gurgly voice after eating, unexplained weight loss, taking a long time to eat, or recurring chest infections. If you notice any of these, we recommend getting in touch promptly.
Do you visit residential aged care facilities?
Yes. We provide therapy in residential aged care homes, retirement villages, nursing homes and private hospitals across metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas. We also partner with facilities via telehealth to bring care to areas where in-person access is limited.
Can speech pathology in aged care be covered by a Support at Home Package?
Yes. Speech pathology is an approved allied health service under Support at Home.. We work directly with Support at Home care coordinators to make access easy.
Do you provide staff training?
Yes. We offer practical, customised training for aged care staff covering safe swallowing, mealtime management and supporting residents with communication differences, all tailored to your team’s specific learning goals.
Is a referral required?
No referral is needed. Families, care coordinators and individuals can contact us directly. If you want to access the Medicare rebate, you may need a referral from your GP.
How long will take to secure my appointment?
This really depends on two things: how complete your referral form is, and how flexible your availability is.
Once you’ve made an enquiry, we’ll send you a referral form to complete. It’s important to fill this out completely. If anything is missing, we’ll need to follow you up for it, which adds time to the process. The more detail you can give us upfront, the faster and more accurately we can match you with the best clinician for you.
Once we receive your completed form, we’ll respond within 48 hours. From there, our logistics team gets to work matching you with a speech pathologist, weighing up clinical fit, complexity of need, your location and clinician availability.
Because we’re a mobile and telehealth service rather than a traditional clinic, we don’t run on a first-come, first-served waitlist. We fit clients into the gaps in our clinicians’ schedules, so the more flexible you can be with your availability, the sooner we’re likely to find a match. Peak times, like straight after school, are in high demand, so if that’s your only option, the wait may be longer. Clients who are completely open with their availability have been matched in as little as a few days.
All communication is responded to within 24-48 hours of receipt.
What can I do to be seen as soon as possible?
Two things make the biggest difference: filling out your referral form in full, and being as flexible as possible with your availability.
Complete the referral form to its complete level of detail. If anything is missing, we’ll need to follow up with you, which slows the process down. The more information you provide upfront, the faster and more accurately we can match you with the best clinician for you.
Then, be open on availability. Because we’re a mobile and telehealth service rather than a traditional clinic, we don’t run on a first-come, first-served waitlist. We fit clients into the gaps in our clinicians’ schedules, so the more flexible you can be, the sooner we’re likely to find a match. Peak times, like straight after school, are in high demand with a limited number of clinicians, so if that’s your only option, the wait may be longer. Clients who are completely open with their availability have been matched in as little as a few days.
Ready to Begin?
Start Today. Fast, Simple, and Stress-free.
Secure your spot. Our streamlined intake process ensures you receive the right support, without the wait.
Please note that without the completion of this form, we will be unable to confirm your speech therapy booking.