Funding
How funding works
SAY Health sees families paying privately and families using NDIS funding that is self-managed or plan-managed. This page explains each one, step by step.
Find your way to pay
Does your child have an NDIS plan?
Or go straight to:
At a glance
How the money reaches SAY Health
There are three ways to pay. The main difference is who handles the invoice.
Private
You pay after each visit. There is nothing to claim.
You
SAY HealthNDIS self-managed
You get the invoice, claim from the NDIS and pay SAY Health.
NDIS fundingYouSAY HealthNDIS plan-managed
Your plan manager gets the invoice and pays it. You don’t handle the money.
NDIS fundingPlan managerSAY Health
No NDIS plan needed
Private
You pay SAY Health directly for each visit.
- Send the form
- Free phone intake
- Sign agreement
- Appointment
- Pay SAY Health
Your steps
Read each step in full
Send the booking form
Choose private as your way to pay. You don't need an NDIS plan.
Have a free phone intake
We call you to talk about your child and the help you are looking for.
Read and sign your service agreement
It shows the full fee for each session and how we work together. Please try to sign it before your first appointment.
Come to your appointment
We meet you and your child at Child Development SPOT in Warrnambool.
Pay after each visit
You pay SAY Health directly. There is nothing to claim.
Using NDIS funding
Check your plan first
You can see your plan and funding in your NDIS plan, the my NDIS portal or the my NDIS app.
How your funding is managed
Your plan shows who manages each part of your funding. SAY Health can see families who self-manage or use a plan manager, and some plans use a mix.
Which budget pays for therapy
Occupational therapy usually comes from the Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living. If you are not sure, ask your plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIS.
How much you can use now
Most newer plans release funding in stages, often every 3 months. You can't claim more than the funding available in that period. Unspent funding carries over to the next period in the same plan.
Is your funding managed by the NDIA? SAY Health can't claim from NDIA-managed funding. You can book and pay privately, or ask the NDIS to change how your funding is managed. You can ask at any time. Call Sang on 0429 874 592 if you would like to talk it through.
NDIS
Self-managed
You manage the funding yourself. For a child, this is usually done by a parent or guardian as the child's representative. You pay the invoice and claim the money from the NDIS.
- Send the form
- Sign agreement
- Appointment
- Get invoice
- Claim from NDIS
- Pay the invoice
- Keep records
Your steps
Read each step in full
Send the booking form
Choose NDIS self-managed. We call you for a free phone intake.
Sign a service agreement with SAY Health
The NDIS says self-managers should have a written agreement with each provider. Ours explains our fees and how we work together.
Come to your appointment
You can only claim for a support after your child has received it.
Get your invoice
SAY Health sends the invoice to you. Check that it shows the right date, description and amount.
Claim from the NDIS
Log in to the my NDIS portal through myGov, or use the my NDIS app. Choose Claim, then Make a claim. Enter the provider's details and ABN, the support dates, the support category, a short description and the amount. The amount should match the invoice.
Receive the money and pay the invoice
There are two ways to do this. You can claim first, then pay SAY Health when the money reaches your bank account. Or you can pay SAY Health first, then claim the money back. The NDIS says payment usually arrives within 2 business days when your details are complete.
Claim first
- Claim from the NDIS
- Money reaches your bank
- Pay SAY Health
Pay first
- Pay SAY Health
- Claim from the NDIS
- Money reaches your bank
Keep your records
Keep invoices, receipts, your service agreement and any notes about the support. The NDIS may ask you for evidence of what you claimed.
NDIS
Plan-managed
A plan manager looks after the paperwork and payments. They pay your providers from your child's plan, so you don't pay invoices yourself.
- Send the form
- Sign agreement
- Appointment
- Invoice to plan manager
- Plan manager pays
- Check statements
Your steps
Read each step in full
Send the booking form
Choose NDIS plan-managed and have your plan manager's details ready. We call you for a free phone intake.
Sign your service agreement
It shows the full fee for each session and how we work together. Tell your plan manager that SAY Health is one of your providers.
Come to your appointment
We meet you and your child at Child Development SPOT in Warrnambool.
We send the invoice to your plan manager
The invoice goes to your plan manager, not to you and not to the NDIS.
Your plan manager pays it
They use the NDIS portal to claim from your child's plan, then pay SAY Health. Some plan managers ask you to approve invoices first, so check how yours works.
Check your statements
Your plan manager gives you reports on how the funding is being spent. You can also see your plan in the my NDIS portal and app.
NDIS changes
Dates to know
The NDIS law changed in August 2026. These changes affect how funding is claimed and managed.
From 1 October 2026
Improved Daily Living budgets are being reduced by 10 per cent as plans are created, renewed or reassessed. Your own plan shows your budget.
From 1 December 2026
You or your plan manager must make claims within 90 days of the support.
From 1 February 2027
Unspent funding won’t roll over when a plan is renewed.
From 1 October 2027
You will need a plan manager from a government-approved list. If yours isn’t on it, you will have 6 months to change.
This page is general information, last checked on 5 November 2026. NDIS rules can change, so please check the NDIS website and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for the latest details.