Terms of Service (NDIS)

1. Purpose

Hobart Allied Health Pty Ltd (ABN 14 652 253 597) trading as Hobart Speech Pathology (‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’) provides these Terms of Service (“Terms”). These Terms explain how we will work with you as an NDIS participant. They form part of your Service Agreement with us.

We are a registered NDIS provider and follow the:

·       National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013

·       NDIS Code of Conduct

·       NDIS Practice Standards

·       current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits

2. Definitions

NDIS terms are explained in the official NDIS Glossary: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/glossary

3. Our Commitments (NDIS Code of Conduct)

We follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. We will:

·       Respect your rights to choice, control, dignity and self-determination

·       Provide safe, competent speech pathology supports

·       Act with honesty, integrity and transparency

·       Protect your privacy and personal information

·       Disclose any conflicts of interest immediately

·       Respond promptly and fairly to any feedback or complaints

4. Your Rights

You have the right to:

·       Be involved in planning and reviewing your supports

·       Ask questions and receive clear answers

·       Give feedback or make a complaint safely

·       Receive independent help to understand this agreement

·       End this agreement at any time with reasonable notice

5. Your Responsibilities

Please:

·       Provide us with a copy of your current NDIS plan

·       Tell us immediately if your plan changes

·       Give at least 2 clear business days’ notice to cancel or change appointments

·       Provide accurate information during any pre-visit screening

·       Ensure home visit locations are safe for our clinicians

·       Make sure sufficient funding is available for the agreed supports

6. NDIS Goals and Support Planning

We require a full copy of your current NDIS plan before we begin providing supports, and again each time your NDIS plan is renewed. This helps us understand your goals and confirm that our speech pathology services are reasonable and necessary under NDIS rules.

We will work with you to create and review a Support Plan where required.

7. Costs and Pricing

We charge at the upper NDIS price limit for speech pathology and related supports.

Current pricing rules are here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements

All prices include any GST where applicable. You are responsible for costs that are not NDIS-funded (e.g. meals).

8. Travel

If we travel to you:

·       Travel time is charged at 50% of the applicable therapy hourly rate.

·       Non-labour costs (vehicle use) are $0.99 per kilometre.

·       Travel is capped according to the Modified Monash Model (MMM) for the area where supports are delivered.

Telehealth can be offered wherever suitable to reduce or remove travel costs.

9. Telehealth

We offer telehealth (remote) sessions when clinically appropriate. This may include phone, video, or other secure digital platforms. These are charged at the same NDIS rate as in-person sessions.

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with speech, voice and language analysis, session planning, report preparation and other clinical supports as part of our services.

By agreeing to these Terms of Service, you consent to our use of AI tools in the provision of your supports where clinically appropriate.

All AI use is supervised by our qualified speech pathologists, who remain fully responsible for all clinical decisions and advice.

We handle all participant data in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles and our Privacy Policy, using de-identified data where appropriate.

11. What We Charge For

We bill for:

·       Face-to-face or telehealth sessions

·       Session notes and preparation

·       Phone/email correspondence (when directly related to your goals)

·       Reports and Support Plans

·       Team meetings and research for your supports

·       Travel (as above)

·       Short-notice cancellations (see section 12)

·       Interpreter services (if required and arranged by us)

We do NOT charge for:

·       Scheduling or rescheduling appointments

·       Creating or updating your Service Agreement

·       Processing invoices

12. Appointments, Cancellations and Non-Attendance

Please attend at the agreed time and place.

You are responsible for ensuring the home environment is safe and appropriate for our visit. This includes providing accurate and complete information during any pre-visit screening.

If we reasonably determine that the home visit location is not safe for our clinicians, we may immediately convert the session to telehealth where clinically appropriate, or end the visit. In these circumstances, the short-notice cancellation rules will apply, and we may charge up to the full fee for the scheduled session.  

Short-notice cancellation (therapy supports):

You must give at least 2 clear business days’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Clear business days exclude weekends and public holidays. If you give less notice or do not attend, and we are unable to reasonably rebook the time, we may claim up to the full fee. This follows the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

13. Payment

We will issue invoices for the supports we provide after the service has been delivered. Payment is due within 14 days from the date of the invoice, unless we agree otherwise.

Agency-managed: We submit claims directly to the NDIA through the NDIS portal.

Plan-managed: Invoice goes to your Plan Manager (payable within 14 days).

Self-managed: Invoice sent to you (payable within 14 days).

Payment options are shown on the invoice.

14. Privacy

We follow the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles.

Full details: https://hobartspeechpathology.au/privacy-policy/

15. Feedback, Compliments and Complaints

We welcome your feedback. Please tell us first:

·       Speak to your speech pathologist, or

·       Email hello@hobartspeechpathology.au or use our Feedback Form.

We will aim to respond within 5 business days.

If you are not satisfied you can also contact:

·       NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: 1800 035 544

·       NDIA: 1800 800 110

16. Dispute Resolution

·       Talk to us first – we will try to resolve it quickly.

·       You always have the right to contact the NDIS Commission.

17. Changing, Reviewing or Ending This Agreement

You can ask to change this agreement at any time by writing to us. We will work with you to make any agreed changes.

You can end the agreement at any time by giving us written notice. We ask for 28 days’ notice where possible so we can complete our duty of care and ensure continuity of supports for you. Any supports already delivered will be invoiced.

We may need to end this agreement if there are serious concerns, for example if these Terms are not followed, invoices remain unpaid, or a home environment is not safe for our clinicians. We will always try to resolve the issue with you first and will give you written notice with as much warning as we can reasonably provide.

The agreement ends automatically when your NDIS plan ends.

18. Goods and Services Tax (GST)

For GST purposes, the supports we provide under this agreement are GST-free because they are reasonable and necessary supports specified in the statement of participant supports in your NDIS plan (subsection 33(2) of the NDIS Act 2013). Please tell us immediately if your plan changes, ends, or is suspended.

19. Accessibility and Support

If you need help understanding these Terms:

·       Call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450

·       For speech/hearing support: TTY 1800 555 677, Speak and Listen 1800 555 727, National Relay Service 133 677 or www.relayservice.gov.au

20. Contact Us and Updates

Email: hello@hobartspeechpathology.au

We review and update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in NDIS rules or law. The latest version is always available on our website.

It is your responsibility to check our website regularly for any updates. By continuing to use our services after any update, you accept the revised Terms.

21. Governing Law

These Terms and any Service Agreement are governed by the laws of Tasmania. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tasmanian courts.

22. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability to you under or in connection with these Terms or the Service Agreement is limited to the total fees paid by you or your plan manager under this Agreement.

We are not responsible for any indirect or consequential loss.

Nothing in this clause limits or excludes any liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded under Australian law, including the Australian Consumer Law.

23. Force Majeure

Neither you nor we will be responsible for any failure or delay in performing our obligations under this Agreement if the failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event.

A Force Majeure Event means any event or circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the affected party, including (but not limited to) acts of God, flood, fire, earthquake, pandemic, epidemic, fuel shortage, supply chain disruption, government restriction, lockdown, war, terrorism, industrial action, or any other similar event.

If a Force Majeure Event affects one of us, that party must:

·       notify the other as soon as possible, and

·       take all reasonable steps to reduce the impact of the event.

Thank you for choosing Hobart Speech Pathology.