Online therapy for kids in Australia
Poorvam Care's RCI-registered therapists, based in Bengaluru, give live one-to-one speech therapy, occupational therapy, behaviour support and learning support over video to children in Australia. Sessions are 45 minutes, between 3 pm and 8 pm your time, and suit self- and plan-managed NDIS families.
- Session times, your local time
- 3 pm – 8 pm
- Minutes per session
- 45
- NDIS plans
- Self- and plan-managed
- Therapists
- RCI registered
Can my child have online therapy in Australia?
Yes, if you are self- or plan-managed, or paying privately. Here is what applies before you book.
It is not registered under AHPRA, so there is no Australian registration requirement for this service. Speech Pathology Australia membership is voluntary. Our clinicians are registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India.
- Self-managed NDISYou may buy supports from any provider, including one overseas.
- Plan-managed NDISYou may use unregistered providers within NDIS price limits. Our fees sit within them.
- Agency-managed NDISOnly NDIS-registered providers can be used, and we are not one. Check your plan type first.
- Australian afternoonsSessions are set for your after-school hours, not Indian business hours.
Plan-managed? One thing to do first
Confirm the arrangement with your plan manager before the first session. They may need a Statement by a Supplier form on file, because we are an overseas provider that is not NDIS-registered.
When are sessions, in Australian time?
Always 3 pm to 8 pm where you live. That falls inside our working day in India.
| Where you live | Time zone | Same window, India time |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart | AEST | 10:30 am – 3:30 pm |
| Brisbane | AEST, no daylight saving | 10:30 am – 3:30 pm |
| Adelaide, Darwin | ACST | 11 am – 4 pm |
| Perth | AWST, no daylight saving | 12:30 – 5:30 pm |
Online with us or a local clinic?
An honest comparison. For some children a local clinic is the better choice, and we will say so.
| Question | Online with Poorvam Care | A local clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Self- or plan-managed NDIS | Can be used, within NDIS price limits. | Can be used. |
| Agency-managed NDIS | Cannot be used. We are not NDIS-registered. | Can be used if the clinic is registered. |
| Travel | None. Sessions at home after school. | Regional families may drive hours each way. |
| Languages | English plus five Indian languages. | Varies by clinic. |
| Feeding, swallowing, hands-on OT | Not suitable online. | Better in person. |
Why Australian families look at online therapy
Speech pathologists are on the Occupation Shortage List in every Australian state (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). That shortage shows up as waiting lists, in the public system and at many private clinics.
Video removes the capacity limit: our clinicians are in Bengaluru, trained and registered to the standards that apply in India. It also removes the travel. For families in regional Australia, where the nearest children's speech pathologist may be hours away, that is often what makes weekly therapy possible at all.
Fees are explained on the consultation call, once we understand your child's needs.
What an online session looks like
45 minutes over video, with you beside your child. Then a plan for the week.
- Join from homeOpen the video link on a laptop, tablet or phone, in a quiet room.
- Therapy, liveThe therapist works with your child one to one. You sit alongside.
- Coaching youFor OT and behaviour goals, the therapist coaches you to run each activity.
- A plan to keepEvery session ends with a written summary and a home activity plan.
- 45 minutes, live and one to one
- Activities built around your child's goals
- The last minutes on what to practise
- A home activity plan after every session
- Short practice inside meals, baths and play
- Notes and messages on your phone
What you need at home
No special equipment. Four things make a session work.
- A laptop or tablet, ideallyA bigger screen lets your child see the therapist's mouth and materials. A phone works if that is what you have.
- A stable connectionHome broadband or a steady mobile signal, so the video does not freeze mid-activity.
- A quiet roomFew toys in view, the TV off, and no one else needing the room for 45 minutes.
- You, close byWith younger children a parent stays in the room throughout, to help them engage and to learn the practice.
Therapy is in English, or in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam if your family speaks one of them at home.
Therapies available online in Australia
Each page is honest about what that therapy does well over video, and what needs a room.
- Speech and language therapyLate talking, unclear speech, language delay, stammering, and communication for autistic children.
- Occupational therapySensory strategies, fine motor skills, handwriting, self-care routines and regulation, coached through you.
- Behaviour therapy and parent trainingABA-informed help with meltdowns, transitions, sleep, toileting and daily routines, delivered by coaching you.
- Special educationRemedial teaching for reading, writing and maths difficulties, including dyslexia and ADHD.
You shouldn't have to guess how therapy is going
You get a live view of your child's therapy on your phone, not a word at the end of a call.
- Your schedule, always visibleSee every upcoming session, and book or reschedule yourself, without phone tag.
- The actual therapy goalsWritten down and tracked, not a vague "she's doing well".
- Session notes and reportsWhat happened in each session and how your child is progressing.
- Home practice, spelled outThe activities to do between sessions, with instructions, because most progress happens at home.
- Your therapist, a message awayAsk a question between sessions instead of saving it for the next one.
- Billing you can checkSessions attended, what has been paid and what is outstanding. No surprises at month end.
How to start
From booking to a weekly slot, in five steps.
- Book onlineTell us your child's age, what you are seeing and which country you live in.
- We call you backWithin one working day, by phone or WhatsApp, to find a time that suits you.
- Consultation callA short call in your Australian afternoon or evening. We say honestly whether online suits your child.
- Assessment over videoThe therapist works with your child while you watch, then proposes goals.
- Weekly sessions45 minutes at a regular time, with goals reviewed with you.
The team has 13+ years of clinical experience. Meet the team or see how online therapy works.
Online therapy in Australia: questions
Is it legal for an India-based therapist to treat my child in Australia?
For speech pathology, yes. Unlike medicine or psychology, speech pathology in Australia is a self-regulated profession. It is not registered under AHPRA, and there is no legal requirement for a practitioner to hold Australian registration to provide speech pathology services. Speech Pathology Australia membership is voluntary and works as a quality marker, not a licence. Our clinicians are registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India, the statutory registration body for speech-language pathologists in India.
Can I use my NDIS funding for this?
It depends on how your plan is managed. Self-managed participants can buy supports from any provider, including one overseas. Plan-managed participants can also use unregistered providers, as long as purchases stay within the NDIS price limits, which our fees do. Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) plans can only be used with NDIS-registered providers, and we are not one. If you are plan-managed, check with your plan manager before the first session; they may need a Statement by a Supplier form on file.
What times are sessions available?
Between 3 pm and 8 pm in your local time, which is morning and midday in India, so sessions after school work well. We do not ask families to take sessions at awkward hours to suit our time zone. If we cannot offer a slot that genuinely works for your child, we tell you on the consultation call, before anything starts.
Is online speech therapy actually as effective as in person?
For many speech and language goals, research shows results comparable to face-to-face therapy, particularly for language delay, articulation and phonology, stammering and social communication. Online is a weaker fit for feeding and swallowing difficulties, where hands-on assessment matters. If we think your child would be better served in person, we will say so on the consultation call, even when that means we are not the right provider for you.
What happens in the first session?
Before anything is booked, you have a consultation call with our team to talk through your concerns and decide whether online therapy suits your child. If you go ahead, the first session is an assessment: the therapist works with your child over video while you watch, then explains what they found and proposes goals. You get a written summary and a home activity plan after every session.
What do I need at home for an online session?
A laptop or tablet with a camera is best; a phone works if that is what you have. You also need a reasonably stable connection and a quiet room for 45 minutes. With younger children a parent stays in the room, because a large share of progress comes from what you do between sessions.
Do daylight saving changes affect our session time?
Your session stays at the same local time. India does not change its clocks, so when daylight saving starts in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT or South Australia, we move our side by an hour and your child keeps the same after-school slot.
Start with a consultation call
Tell us about your child and your NDIS plan type. We call back within one working day and say honestly whether online therapy fits.