Better health and ageing for all Australians

Helping Children with Autism

Helping Children with Autism or any other Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)

The Helping Children with Autism package created new items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule; funding for training teachers and supporting playgroups; and provides early intervention and individual assistance packages for children and their families.

In this section:

The package assists children with autism or any other pervasive developmental disorders such as Rett’s Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome or childhood disintegrative disorder. The Helping Children with Autism package is being implemented across the Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Department of Health and Ageing

From 1 July 2008 the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) implemented new Medicare items for diagnosis and early intervention treatment for children with autism or any other pervasive developmental disorder.

Medicare items were introduced for:
    • consultant physicians (paediatricians and psychiatrists) to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for children aged under 13 years on referral from a GP
    • Psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide up to four services in total per child per lifetime to collaborate with the psychiatrist or paediatrician on the assessment where required
    • Psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide early intervention treatment following diagnosis for the child’s particular condition and consistent with the treatment and management plan prepared by the referring practitioner. Twenty services in total per lifetime may be provided for a child aged under 15 years, who was under 13 years at the time of receiving the PDD treatment and management plan.

For parents and carers click on the following link to find out more about how to access Medicare items for Autism and pervasive developmental disorders
For information on the allied health professional Medicare items for pervasive developmental disorders, please click on the links below:

Allied Health Services

  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Item Descriptors – allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs (including fee and rebate information). Allied health professionals should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.
  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Explanatory Notes – a full explanation of the allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs. Allied health professionals should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.

Consultant Physician Services

  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Item Descriptors – consultant physician Medicare items for PDDs (including fee and rebate information). Consultant physicians should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.
  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Explanatory Notes – a full explanation of the consultant physician Medicare items for PDDs. Consultant physicians should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.
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Other Information


Further information on the Medicare items for Autism or any other pervasive developmental disorders is available from: Medicare Australia on 132 150 (for providers) or 132 011 (for patients); by emailing mbsonline@health.gov.au; or by telephoning the DoHA helpline on (02) 6289 4297

Additional information on the other elements of the Helping Children with Autism program can be accessed through:

DoHA is working very closely with FaHCSIA, DEEWR and state and territory government agencies to ensure that the program to support children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders is delivered in a collaborative and coordinated way which augments activities that are already available.

Information on state and territory programs can be accessed through: