Fees, Funding and How to Pay for Allied Health at Watagan Health Hub

Cost and funding are real considerations when choosing allied health services, and at Watagan Health Hub we are committed to being transparent about them. The good news is that there are multiple funding pathways available for most clients, and many people are surprised to find that their sessions are fully or substantially covered. This page explains every funding option in plain language so you can work out the best pathway for your situation before you even call us.

NDIS funding

Music therapy is funded under the NDIS through Support Category 15 (Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living). The line items are 15_615_0128_1_3 for participants aged 9 and over, and 15_615_0118_1_3 for those under 9. We accept self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed participants.

When our additional services launch mid-2026: occupational therapy can be funded under Category 15 (Capacity Building), Category 5 (Assistive Technology) where an AT report is needed, and Category 14 (Home Modifications) where a home modification report is required. Speech pathology and myofunctional therapy (where delivered by a speech pathologist) are also funded under Category 15.

To check whether Category 15 is in your plan, look at the Support Budget section on your plan's cover pages. If you don't have Category 15, speak with your Support Coordinator about requesting it at your next plan review. Our therapists can provide a supporting letter to strengthen the request.

Aged care funding

Older adults can access Watagan Health Hub music therapy services through several aged care funding pathways. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) provides entry-level support for eligible community-based clients. Contact your regional assessment service (RAS) or the My Aged Care gateway on 1800 200 422 to find out if you are eligible. Home Care Packages at Levels 1 through 4 can fund allied health services as part of your care plan. Speak with your approved home care provider to include music therapy. DVA funding is available for eligible veterans and their partners through the Department of Veterans' Affairs. For residential aged care, sessions can be funded by the facility, by the resident directly, or through a Home Care Package if the resident is still on one.

Private health insurance

Many private health insurance extras policies cover occupational therapy and speech pathology. The rebate amount and number of sessions covered varies between funds and policy levels. To check your entitlements, call your fund and ask specifically about allied health extras and music therapy. When you attend your session, we provide a receipt with the relevant provider number for claiming. Most funds allow you to claim online through their app or website the same day.

Medicare (Enhanced Primary Care / EPC)

Medicare provides a partial rebate for up to five allied health sessions per calendar year through the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) scheme, accessed via a GP referral under a Chronic Disease Management plan or Team Care Arrangement. This is most relevant for speech pathology and occupational therapy. To access this pathway, speak with your GP and ask about a Team Care Arrangement referral to allied health. A gap payment between the Medicare rebate and the session fee applies.

Private self-funding

All services are available to private self-funded clients without any referral or funding scheme required. Simply contact us or book online. We provide a full invoice for each session which can be used for insurance claiming or tax purposes where applicable. Our current fee schedule is published on the booking page and reflects the NDIS price guide rates. Contact us if you have any questions about fees before your first appointment.

Not sure which pathway applies to you?

We are happy to help you work out the best funding pathway before you commit to anything. A free initial phone enquiry with our team will clarify your options quickly. To get started, visit our music therapy Lake Macquarie page, book a music therapy session online, or read our detailed NDIS music therapy guide. Watagan Health Hub, your local allied health Cooranbong clinic, is here to make allied health as accessible as possible for every family across Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley.