What to do if concerned for your child’s development

Unlock your child’s potential with NDIS therapy

Parenthood is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but there are times it can feel challenging too. You may have noticed your child isn’t hitting certain developmental milestones, whether that might be communicating, strength and movement, or intellectual development. The good news is that Northcott is an NDIS registered provider that offers a comprehensive range of therapy services designed to unlock your child’s potential and empower them to be the best they can be. 

What NDIS therapy support does my child need?

As a parent, you might feel uncertain as to when to seek support and exactly what support is needed. Northcott’s therapists can guide you through the  therapy support required with great care and understanding. If you have concerns over fine motor, self-care and visual motor skills, our occupational therapists specialise in these skills and are trained to track developmental milestones. They will work alongside physiotherapists and speech pathologists if required to provide a holistic solution for your child. 

Perhaps your child has received a diagnosis for autism or an intellectual disability. Northcott can help you navigate through the early days of diagnosis, with a focus on early goals that can make a noticeable difference in the quality of your child’s life. Again, a multi-disciplinary team is on hand to provide the supports needed, working together to improve skills like language and communication, and emotional regulation. 

Getting NDIS support for your child

If your child is younger than 6 with a developmental delay or younger than 9 with a significant and permanent disability, they are eligible for the NDIS early childhood early intervention approach. No diagnosis is required. You can get in touch with the NDIS directly, or you might be referred by your doctor, paediatrician, preschool or child care centre.

We can then work with you to identify what support your child needs and create an appropriate support plan for early interventions that will improve outcomes for your child. 

Northcott’s disability support services

Our Allied Health and Clinical Services provided by our experienced disability therapists include:

• Speech therapy: Our speech pathologists work with children who have difficulty communicating, eating and drinking. They can assist in developing speech and language abilities, as well as non-verbal communication skills. 
• Positive behavioural support: Your child’s behaviour is a form of communication. We undertake a thorough assessment to identify the factors influencing their behaviour and develop an individual behaviour support plan to address their needs. 
• Occupational therapy: Build your child’s skills, confidence and independence to take part in many of life’s daily tasks and activities both at home and school.
• Physiotherapy: Improve your child’s strength, movement and flexibility so they can take part in new activities and achieve new physical goals. 
• Dietetics: Improve your child’s daily eating habits, whether it’s difficulty with chewing and swallowing, fussy eating behaviour, or a health condition that affects their eating habits. 

Our passionate team have years of experience and lead with empathy to guide you and your child through the process of receiving therapy support. Sam Frain, who is an occupational therapist and the head of Northcott Innovation, notes that “OTs are some of the best problem solvers around”. Speaking about her role, she says, “I love working alongside people with complex and multiple disabilities, I find it really challenging and exceptionally rewarding.”

Speech pathologist Angela loves working with customers and their families and says her biggest achievement, and the thing she’s most proud of, is the progress and effort her customers put into each session. 

At Northcott, it’s this level of care and commitment you can expect for you and your child. We understand each child is unique and personalise our therapies to meet their individual needs. We can assist in removing the uncertainty and stress around your child’s development and focus on producing positive outcomes for their development and growth. 

Speech Therapy Positive Behavioural Support Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy Dietetics