Best Start Clinic Applied Behaviour Analysis
Full Service Model
When following the Full-Service Model, Best Start Clinic provide both the program supervision and trained ABA therapists. The full-service model is available for both centre-based and home-based programs, with most children receiving a combination of home and centre-based sessions.
Under the Full Service model, the ABA program is run and managed by Best Start Clinic. Children enrolled in the full-service ABA program (home or centre-based) must receive a minimum of five sessions and can attend for up to 35 hours per week, with research indicating that a minimum of 20 hours is required for optimal results in early, intensive behavioural intervention programs.
Regular one on one therapy sessions are provided in your home or your child's childcare, kinder or school, as required. Program meetings can be provided at the either the Best Start Clinic or your home, depending on location.
ABA programs run over a four-term year. The term breaks are often a time of reassessment for children as well as team training. Families are requested to take any holidays during the term break time rather during the therapy term.
Multi-Disciplinary team approach:
Whilst not a requirement of enrolment in the ABA program, most children do also see a Best Start Clinic Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist once a month (or more frequently) as required. This team approach provides valuable specialised input and enhanced supervision of your child's program. Speech therapy and occupational therapy sessions are usually provided at the clinic however can be provided in your home or at your child's kinder, depending on location.
Please contact us to enquire.
ABA Home Sessions
Home-based ABA sessions provide the following benefits:
- Opportunities to learn at home in an everyday environment with materials the child has access to throughout the day.
- Reduced travel, minimising disruption to the child and other family members
- Opportunities to provide behavioural support in situ
- The ABA therapist can help translate and implement program goals and recommendations within the home.
Session information:
Home sessions run Monday to Saturday. Sessions are available in 3 hour blocks.
Please contact us to find out more about our programs and to book a free, no-obligation half hour consultation to discuss our programs. Choosing an early intervention program for your child is an important decision and we welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our programs and your child and family's needs. Phone consultations can also be arranged for parents unable to visit the clinic.
Enrolment:
ABA programs are currently available. To enrol, parents are required to return the relevant paperwork and deposit.
Once your child is enrolled in the program therapy sessions are reserved for your child. Similar to a school or childcare enrolment, of your child misses a day fees still apply.
Funding
Children diagnosed with an ASD before the age of 7 have access to some funding from the Federal Government's 'Helping Children with Autism' package. Best Start Clinic is a panel provider under the Learning for Life consortium, therefore FaHCSIA funding can be used for our services. Medicare rebates may apply to specific services with psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists when under a valid doctor's referral.
Please note that when divided across the calendar year FAHCSIA funding will cover approximately one ABA therapy session per week. Parents are required to make payments beyond the FAHCSIA funding and are advised to carefully consider individual circumstances regarding the hours enrolled and financial cost. Some families receive financial support from charities or raise funds to support their child's programs. Please contact us for further information.
NDIS
Best Start is NDIS registered and our programs are available for families on self-managed plans or through the NDIS. Best Start Clinic has a dedicated Family Support Worker available to support families in NDIS planning and review. Please contact us for further information.
What to bring to sessions
Please bring snacks and meals as required (nut free), nappies, wipes and a change of clothes, a sun hat and suncream, and your child’s folder.
Fees:
For a full list of fees please go to the Fees and Hours page.
FAQ's
I’m not sure how my child will cope with a full-program. Can we just start and see how it goes?
Running a full-time early intervention program is large commitment of family time and financial resources. However, early intensive behavioural interventions have the strongest evidence for improving the future abilities for children with ASD.
Parents often wonder if their child will be tired but children do settle in quite quickly and are often already spending more than 20 hours in childcare, kinder or playgroups. Sessions are balanced to include quite and break times when a child needs them and focus on many daily living skills, which do not require high energy. The first term of a program can often be the hardest as a child settles in to a new routine therefore we do not recommend assessing a program’s suitability for your child after one term.
Whilst there are no financial commitments to be enrolled in a full-time program for a year, we highly recommend that you are fully commitment to at least a year, usually two years. If you have reservations about a full-time program and would like to see how your child responds casual sessions or a workshop model will allow you to do so.