Allied health and therapy
NDIS Swallowing and Mealtime Support
Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing, and NDIS dysphagia support can help. It can make eating and drinking unsafe, leading to choking or chest infections. Swallowing and mealtime support helps you eat and drink safely and enjoyably. On Solotude, you can find independent speech pathologists who assess swallowing and write mealtime plans.
Last updated October 2026
What the assessment and plan include
- An assessment of how you chew and swallow
- The right texture for your food and thickness for your drinks
- Safe positioning and pacing at mealtimes
- Equipment, like modified cups or cutlery
- A written mealtime management plan
- Training for family and support workers
Who provides swallowing and mealtime support?
Swallowing and mealtime support is led by speech pathologists. Dietitians, occupational therapists and support workers all play a part in keeping mealtimes safe.Speech pathologists
Assess swallowing, recommend food and drink textures and write mealtime management plans. About NDIS speech pathologists · Speech pathologists in SydneyDietitians
Make sure texture-modified diets still meet your nutrition needs. About NDIS dietitians · Dietitians in SydneySupport workers
Follow your mealtime management plan every day, once trained. About NDIS support workers · Support workers in SydneyFunding and cost
Therapy is usually paid from your Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living. The NDIS sets an hourly price limit for each type of therapy, and it applies to time spent on assessments, sessions and writing reports. Therapists can usually also claim some travel time to come to you. Help with eating and drinking is protected from the budget changes from 1 October 2026. Some products, like thickeners, may be funded as consumables. Every provider on Solotude shows their rate on their profile, so you know the cost before you message them. For current price limits, check the official NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.Finding swallowing and mealtime support on Solotude
- Create a free account. It takes a couple of minutes and you don’t need your NDIS number. Create a free account
- Search for speech pathologists by your suburb, the days you need and the support you’re after.
- Read profiles and see exactly what Solotude has checked for each provider.
- Message providers directly. Your phone and email stay private until you choose to share them.
- Agree the support and the price in a service agreement between the two of you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mealtime management plan?
It’s a written plan that explains how someone should eat and drink safely, including food textures, drink thickness, positioning, equipment and what to do if they choke.Who can help with swallowing and mealtimes under the NDIS?
Speech pathologists lead swallowing support. Dietitians help with nutrition, occupational therapists with equipment and positioning, and support workers follow the plan day to day.Who writes a mealtime management plan?
Usually a speech pathologist, sometimes with input from a dietitian or occupational therapist.Can support workers be trained to follow it?
Yes, and they should be. Everyone who helps at mealtimes needs to know and follow the plan. Your speech pathologist can train them.Related services
