Therapy assistant sessions and group programs can be a practical, cost-effective way to build your child's skills between (or alongside) sessions with a qualified therapist. This guide explains how they work, what to expect, and how to choose a Melbourne provider — and it features a curated list of local clinics including Language For Life, Scribble Children's Therapy, Early Start Australia and more.
The Social Domain offers Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology (including assessments) across the lifespan, plus group programs like PEERS®, Pre-Teen Girls Group, and school-based social skills programs. Serves children through adults; no NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details specified.
Melbourne-based NDIS provider offering early childhood therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, allied health assistance, and referrals for dietetics, psychology and physiotherapy. Serves children across northern, south-east, inner-eastern and western Melbourne with immediate capacity; currently taking new referrals.
Neuro-affirming paediatric occupational therapy practice offering OT and allied health assistance, using play-based, relational, trauma-informed approaches for children. No NDIS registration, ages, telehealth, or waitlist details explicitly stated.
Melbourne CBD multidisciplinary practice offering Speech Pathology, OT, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dietetics, Allied Health Assistance, Positive Behaviour Support, and NDIS Support Coordination/Plan Management for children, including babies. NDIS-funded services mentioned; no explicit ages, telehealth, or waitlist details given.
Future Proof Early Intervention (Keilor East/Airport West, VIC) offers early childhood intervention via a Key Worker model, feeding therapy (SOS Approach), positive behaviour support, parent education groups, and social skills groups. Availability to start immediately; no explicit NDIS registration or telehealth details mentioned.
NDIS-registered multidisciplinary clinic in Oakleigh, VIC offering occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, behaviour support and allied health assistant/group programs for ages 0-17. Provides early intervention, in-clinic, telehealth and mobile services across southeast Melbourne; immediate appointment availability, no waitlist mentioned.
Lumos Paediatric Therapy in Box Hill, VIC supports children, teens, and young adults with occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology, counselling, play therapy, and weekly therapy groups. Services offered in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. No NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details specified.
Truganina, VIC clinic offering paediatric Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology for early years through primary school (some teens). Provides clinic, home/school visits, and telehealth across Australia. NDIS self-managed and plan-managed clients supported; no diagnosis required to start.
An allied health assistant (AHA) is a support worker who delivers parts of a therapy plan designed and supervised by a qualified speech pathologist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. Rather than replacing your therapist, an AHA carries out practice activities, repetition and skill-building so your child gets more contact hours at a lower hourly rate.
Group programs bring several children together to work on shared goals — for example social communication, play skills, emotional regulation, fine-motor tasks or school readiness. Groups are led (or co-led) by a therapist and often use a peer setting to practise skills that are hard to build one-on-one, like turn-taking, conversation and cooperation.
Both options can complement individual therapy or be a stepping stone into (or out of) more intensive support.
Every child develops differently, and this is general information rather than medical advice. Some families explore assistant or group support when a child:
If you're unsure, a qualified therapist can assess your child first and recommend whether group or assistant-led support suits their goals.
Melbourne clinics run programs across a wide age range, from toddlers and preschoolers through to primary and early secondary school. Groups are usually organised by age and developmental stage so children work with similarly aged peers — for instance early-play groups for under-5s, social-skills groups for school-aged kids, and homework or handwriting groups for older children. Ask each provider which age bands their current groups cater to.
For group or assistant-led support, the first step is usually an intake or assessment with a qualified therapist. Expect to:
Bring any previous reports, your child's NDIS plan (if you have one) and a short list of what you'd most like to change.
As a general guide only, individual allied-health sessions in Australia often sit around $180–$230 per hour, in line with the NDIS price caps published each year. Therapy assistant sessions are usually charged at a lower rate (commonly in the $55–$90 per hour range), which is why they're a budget-stretching option. Group programs are often priced per session or per block and can work out cheaper per child than one-to-one therapy.
Prices vary between providers and change over time, so always confirm current fees directly. Under the NDIS, therapy usually comes from the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget. Assistant and group sessions are typically claimed under the relevant therapy or assistant line items. If your plan is self- or plan-managed you'll generally have more flexibility; agency-managed plans usually require an NDIS-registered provider.
When comparing clinics, check:
Taking the time to ask these questions helps you find support that genuinely matches your child's needs and your family's budget.
Or read the full therapy assistants & groups guide, or browse all Melbourne providers.
A qualified therapist (a speech pathologist, occupational therapist or physio) assesses your child, sets goals and designs the plan. An allied health assistant then delivers agreed practice activities under that therapist's supervision, usually at a lower hourly rate — so your child gets more contact time for the same budget.
Groups aren't better or worse — they're suited to different goals. Skills like turn-taking, conversation, cooperation and play are often best practised with peers, while some goals need individual attention first. Many Melbourne families use a mix, and a qualified therapist can advise what fits your child.
Therapy support is generally funded through the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget, and assistant and group work is usually claimed under the relevant line items. Check your plan and plan-management type, and confirm with the provider. Self- and plan-managed participants typically have more flexibility.
As a general guide, individual sessions often run around $180–$230 per hour in line with NDIS price caps, while assistant sessions are commonly lower (around $55–$90 per hour). Group programs are often priced per session or block. Fees vary and change, so always confirm current pricing with the provider.
Ask which qualified therapist supervises the assistants or groups. Speech pathologists should be certified with Speech Pathology Australia, and OTs and physios should be registered with AHPRA (many OTs also belong to Occupational Therapy Australia). Also confirm NDIS registration if your plan is agency-managed, and ask about current waitlists.