Educational Case Management

About Educational Case Management

Educational Case Management (ECM on Hudson) is a registered NDIS provider based in Hamilton, Newcastle, NSW, serving the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region. The multidisciplinary allied-health team includes psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, behavioural therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and social workers, and offers autism diagnostic assessments, behaviour-management programs and group therapies (including social skills, parenting, telehealth, yoga and mindfulness) for children, adolescents and adults. Telehealth is available for all services, and the team welcomes plan-managed, self-managed and NDIA-managed participants.

Services Educational Case Management provides

• Psychology
• Occupational therapy
• Speech pathology
• Behavioural therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Exercise physiology
• Social work
• Autism diagnostic assessments

Understanding allied health therapy under the NDIS

Occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, physiotherapy and other allied-health therapies are “Capacity Building” supports under the NDIS — therapy aimed at building a participant’s skills and independence, funded from the Improved Daily Living budget. Assessments (including autism and functional-capacity assessments), therapy sessions and reports are charged against the NDIS price limits for each discipline. Allied-health therapy can be delivered by registered or unregistered providers — plan-managed and self-managed participants can choose either — and is delivered under an agreed service agreement, in clinic, at home, in schools or via telehealth.

The NDIS sets maximum hourly rates for support workers based on the time of service. For the 2025–26 period, the standard weekday rate is $73.58 per hour, with loadings for less sociable hours: $81.07 for weekday evenings, $103.54 for Saturdays, $133.50 for Sundays, and $163.46 for public holidays. These rates cover a standard one-to-one support arrangement. Group-based supports (such as community access programs with multiple participants) are funded at lower per-participant rates.

Support workers must hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check, and many providers require additional qualifications such as a Certificate III in Individual Support or Disability. First aid certification is also standard. When choosing a support worker, ask about their experience with your specific support needs, their availability for regular shifts, and what happens when they’re sick or on leave — good providers have backup arrangements to avoid gaps in support.

Support workers can drive participants as part of their duties, but vehicle-related costs must be agreed in your service agreement. Travel time between participants is billable at NDIS rates, and providers must distinguish between productive travel (travelling with you) and non-productive travel (getting to you).

Continuity of support matters enormously. Having the same regular worker builds trust and understanding, which directly affects the quality of support. Ask potential providers how they approach worker matching and what their staff turnover rate looks like. High turnover is common in disability support but better providers invest in their workforce to retain good staff.

What to ask before choosing an NDIS provider

Before signing a service agreement with any NDIS provider, including Educational Case Management, it’s worth having a conversation about a few key things. What are the hourly rates, including loadings for evenings, weekends and public holidays? What cancellation fees apply, and what notice period do they require? Who will your regular support worker or practitioner be, and what happens if they’re sick or on leave? How does the provider handle complaints? These questions are standard — any reputable provider will have clear answers.

If Educational Case Management is registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, they’re bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct and must meet service standards audited by approved quality auditors. This covers everything from worker screening to incident reporting. Unregistered providers can still be used by plan-managed and self-managed participants but aren’t subject to the same oversight.

It’s also worth understanding your service agreement before you sign it. The agreement should clearly state the supports being delivered, the price per hour or unit, any cancellation policy, how travel charges are handled, and how either party can end the agreement. Under the NDIS, you can usually change providers, subject to the notice and cancellation terms in your service agreement. If a provider’s service agreement doesn’t include a reasonable exit clause, that’s worth questioning.

If you’re unsure about any aspect of choosing a provider, your support coordinator or local area coordinator (LAC) can help. They can explain what to look for, accompany you to initial meetings, and assist with setting up service agreements that protect your interests. Keeping records of your interactions with providers — save invoices, note key conversations, and track whether the services delivered match what was agreed — will make plan reviews smoother and provide evidence if you ever need to raise a complaint.

NDIS supports in Hunter New England

Newcastle and the Hunter Valley have a strong allied-health sector, and participants can choose from both registered and unregistered therapy providers. Many allied-health teams, including Educational Case Management, offer clinic, home, school and telehealth appointments; travel charges under the NDIS are capped and must be agreed in your service agreement before work begins.

Most participants accessing therapy use a mix of supports — commonly psychology, occupational therapy and speech pathology. Whether you need an assessment, ongoing therapy or a specialist report, comparing providers in your area is the best way to find the right fit for your goals and circumstances.

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