From 1 March 2026, Medicare will fund speech pathology for children and young people with speech sound disorders, stuttering, childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and cleft lip or palate. Under the new M10 pathway, eligible young people under 25 can access up to 28 sessions across assessment and treatment – and unlike yearly plans, these sessions don’t reset. They stay available until your child turns 25. Backed by a $74.9 million government investment, this is a significant step forward for Australian families who have long needed more support.
The first day of March 2026 has brought some important updates. The Australian Government expanded Medicare’s M10 item group to cover speech pathology for children and young people with stuttering, speech sound disorders, and cleft lip or palate – conditions that were previously left out.
This is backed by a $74.9 million government investment, and it means around 385,000 young Australians now have a real path to getting the support they need, without the financial pressure that stopped so many families before.
Connect2Care sees this as a genuine turning point. So, here’s everything your family needs to know.
What Actually Changed?
Before this update, families with children who stutter or have speech sound disorders could only access 5 allied health sessions per calendar year through a Chronic Condition Management Plan (CCMP). That is it – 5 sessions, then you wait for the year to reset.
The expanded M10 pathway changes this completely!
It is not a yearly plan. It is a once-in-a-lifetime bank of sessions that stays with your child until they turn 25. They can use those sessions when it makes the most difference – during a school transition, before a big milestone, or whenever the need is greatest.
Who Qualifies?
The M10 pathway is open to children and young people up to the age of 25 who have one of the following:
| Condition | What This Covers |
|---|---|
| Speech Sound Disorders (SSDs) | Articulation disorders and phonological disorders |
| Motor Speech Concerns | Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS/dyspraxia) and dysarthria |
| Cleft Lip or Palate | Structural differences affecting speech development |
| Fluency/Stuttering | Support for people who stutter |
Note: Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and general speech-language delays are not included in the M10 pathway at this stage. If your child has DLD, the CCMP pathway is still available. Our team can help you work out which option fits your child’s needs.
How Many Sessions Does Your Child Get?
The M10 pathway provides two types of sessions, and the total is set for life, not per year.
| Session Type | Total Lifetime Sessions | Minimum Session Length | Resets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment & Management | Up to 8 | 50 minutes each | None |
| Treatment & Therapy | Up to 20 | 30 minutes each | None |
That is 28 sessions in total. Because there is no yearly reset, your family gets to decide – with your speech pathologist – when and how to use them. Some families front-load sessions during early development. Others spread them across key years. The choice is yours.
What Will It Cost?
The current Medicare rebate is $87.25 per session (as at February 2026). This applies to both assessment and treatment sessions under the M10 pathway.
Most speech pathologists, including our team at Connect2Care, charge more than the rebate amount, which means there will likely be some out-of-pocket cost per session. We are always upfront about our fees, so you can plan your budget before you commit to anything.
Over a full course of 28 sessions, the Medicare rebate alone can save families hundreds of dollars. That is a meaningful difference for many people.
How to Get Started
The process is straightforward. You do not need to do anything complex to get the ball rolling.
- Book an appointment with your GP, a consultant physician, or a specialist
- Ask them for a referral under the Medicare M10 pathway
- Contact Connect2Care – we will handle the rest
Your referral does not need to specify the number of sessions. From 1 July 2025, this is no longer required for M10 referrals.
One thing to check: your speech pathologist must be registered with Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). This is a requirement for claiming Medicare rebates under M10.
All Connect2Care clinicians hold this registration.
Can You Use Both M10 and Your CCMP?
Yes – and this is one of the most common questions we hear.
The M10 pathway and the Chronic Condition Management Plan (CCMP) are completely separate. Your child can continue to receive both supports simultaneously.
There’s just one rule to keep in mind:
You cannot claim an M10 session and a CCMP session on the same day for the same person.
Other than that, both pathways run independently. Under CCMP, your child can still access up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year. Under M10, they have their lifetime bank of 28 sessions on top of that.
Why This Matters
Five sessions a year have never been enough for children with complex speech needs. Therapists know it. Families know it. But until now, the Medicare system has not reflected that reality.
This change is the result of more than a decade of advocacy by Speech Pathology Australia – working closely with the Department of Health to make the case for better access. It does not fix everything; DLD and other conditions still need attention. But for the hundreds of thousands of young people now covered, it is a real shift.
Early support makes a lasting difference. When a child can communicate clearly, it touches everything – making friends, learning at school, asking for help, and taking part in the world around them. The sooner that support arrives, the further it can reach.
What Connect2Care Can Do for Your Family
Our team works with children and young people with disability across a range of communication needs. We approach every person as an individual – not a diagnosis, not a case file.
If you are not sure whether your child qualifies for the M10 pathway, or you want to understand how it fits alongside other funding like NDIS, we can sit down with you and walk through the options in simple, clear terms.
Quick Reference: Family Checklist
- Child or young person is under 25 with an eligible condition (SSD, stuttering, CAS, dysarthria, or cleft lip/palate)
- Visit your GP, specialist, or consultant physician for a referral
- Check that your speech pathologist is registered with Speech Pathology Australia
- Contact Connect2Care to book an assessment
- Ask about combining M10 with your existing CCMP if applicable
If you have questions about whether this applies to your child or want to talk through next steps, get in touch with the Connect2Care team. We are happy to help you make sense of it all.
Every child deserves to find their voice. This update makes that a little more possible.
