Finding the right speech pathologist for your child on the Gold Coast can feel overwhelming, especially when you're juggling waitlists, NDIS paperwork and your own worries about your child's progress. This guide explains what children's speech pathology involves, how to know if your child might benefit, and what to look for when choosing a provider. We feature a range of local clinics so you can compare and make an informed choice.
My Therapy Space offers Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietitian services, and Therapy Assistant programs at Burleigh Waters and Hope Island, including individual, pairs, group, and intensive therapy, plus workshops for families.
Mobile paediatric allied health provider servicing Gold Coast and Tweed Coast (Pottsville to Ormeau), offering occupational therapy, speech pathology, and physiotherapy in homes, schools, and daycares with a play-based, family-centred approach.
Trilingual (English, Cantonese, Mandarin) speech pathology and early intervention for children aged 0-12 across Brisbane and Gold Coast. Offers mobile, clinic and telehealth appointments. Accepts NDIS, Medicare and private health claims.
Gold Coast-based (Benowa) paediatric feeding therapy and speech pathology clinic offering breastfeeding/bottle feeding support, problem feeder support, neuroprotective developmental care and orofacial myofunctional therapy. In-clinic and mobile services for babies and children; NDIS registration and telehealth not stated.
Gold Coast-based mobile therapy provider serving children aged 0-18 (early years, school age, teenagers) with speech pathology and early intervention services, offering multidisciplinary, holistic care tailored to developmental delays.
My Therapy Space offers Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietitian services, and Therapy Assistant programs, including individual, pairs, group, and intensive therapy formats, plus workshops for families.
Mudgeeraba-based paediatric occupational therapy clinic seeing children aged 2–17 across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, offering play-based, neurodiversity-affirming OT in clinic, home or community; independent speech pathology and psychology clinicians also share the space.
Gold Coast (Pacific Pines) clinic and telehealth for QLD/NSW families, offering speech pathology covering feeding, infant feeding/sleep, language, literacy and stuttering therapy. Accepts self- or plan-managed NDIS packages; no explicit ages or waitlist mentioned.
Speech pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) help children develop the skills they need to communicate, understand language, and in many cases eat and drink safely. Despite the name, the work covers far more than just clear speech. A paediatric speech pathologist may support:
Some Gold Coast clinics, such as Nourish, Feed and Thrive in Benowa, focus specifically on feeding therapy alongside communication support.
Every child develops at their own pace, but some common signs that a professional opinion may help include:
If you have concerns, it's worth acting early. Speech pathologists work with children from infancy through the school years, and earlier support often means better outcomes.
A first appointment is usually an assessment. The speech pathologist will chat with you about your child's history, your concerns and your goals. They may play with your child, use structured activities, or run standardised assessments depending on your child's age and needs. Many clinics keep the session play-based so your child feels relaxed.
Afterwards, the therapist will explain what they observed and recommend a plan — this might include a block of regular sessions, a home program, or a review down the track. It's a good idea to bring along any reports from your GP, paediatrician, childcare or school, and to write down your questions beforehand.
As a general guide, private speech pathology sessions in Australia often range from around $150 to $220 per session, with assessments and detailed reports sometimes costing more. The NDIS publishes price caps for registered providers, and many clinics set their fees in line with these caps. These figures are indicative only — always confirm current pricing directly with the provider.
Under the NDIS, speech pathology usually sits under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. If your child has an NDIS plan, you can use this funding to pay for therapy. How you access it depends on how your plan is managed:
If your child isn't on the NDIS, you may be able to access some Medicare rebates through a GP-referred Chronic Disease Management or similar plan, or use private health extras. Ask the clinic what options apply.
With clinics spread from Nerang and Carrara through to Varsity Lakes, Southport and Surfers Paradise, location and fit both matter. Consider:
This page features a range of Gold Coast providers — including Teddy Talk Speech Pathology, Tok Tok Therapies, Mermaid Speech Therapy for Kids, Speech For Kids, Everyday Independence and others — so you can compare ratings and locations. Take the time to contact a couple of clinics, ask your questions, and choose the one that feels right for your family.
Or read the full speech pathology guide, or browse all Gold Coast providers.
Speech pathologists work with children of all ages, from babies with feeding difficulties through to school-aged kids. There's no age that's 'too early' — if you have concerns, an early assessment is worthwhile, as earlier support often leads to better outcomes.
You generally don't need a referral to book privately. However, a referral may be needed for certain Medicare rebates, and reports from your GP, paediatrician or childcare can help the therapist understand your child's needs.
Yes. Speech pathology usually falls under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in an NDIS plan. Whether you can use a particular provider depends on how your plan is managed (self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed). Check the provider's NDIS registration if you're agency-managed.
As a general guide, private sessions often range from around $150 to $220, with assessments sometimes costing more. NDIS price caps apply for registered providers. These figures are indicative only, so confirm current pricing directly with each clinic.
Waitlists vary between clinics and can change quickly given high demand in the region. Always ask about the current wait for both assessment and ongoing therapy, and consider telehealth options if you're keen to start sooner.