ABOUT OUR SERVICES
We provide Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy for children and adolescents. Our team delivers warm, evidence-based, play-centred therapy tailored to each child’s developmental needs.
We work with children from birth through to age 16, depending on their goals and needs.
No referral is required. Families can self-refer at any time.
However, some funding options (e.g., Chronic Disease Management Plans) require a GP referral.
Your first appointment is an initial assessment.
Your therapist will:
- Discuss your child’s developmental history
- Observe play and interaction
- Conduct relevant screening or assessment tasks
- Identify key areas of strength and challenge
- Create an initial therapy plan and goals with you
We always allow time to answer questions and ensure you feel supported.
Most therapy sessions run for 45 minutes, plus 15mins of Parent Capacity Building and 20mins used for note-taking, setup/pack down, and planning. Assessments may take longer.
Therapy frequency is based on your child’s goals and needs.
Common options include:
- Weekly
- Fortnightly
- Monthly review sessions
Your therapist will recommend a plan after the initial assessment.
Yes — we encourage parents and caregivers to be involved.
Parent involvement is one of the strongest predictors of therapy success.
Speech therapy (delivered by a speech pathologist) supports a child’s communication, language, speech sounds and, where needed, feeding skills. Occupational therapy (delivered by an occupational therapist) supports the practical skills children need for everyday life — fine motor control, sensory processing, self-care, emotional regulation and school readiness. Many children benefit from both, and our speech pathologists and occupational therapists work closely together on shared goals.
Every child develops at their own pace, but signs worth having assessed include: limited vocabulary for their age, difficulty being understood by family or unfamiliar listeners, trouble following instructions or understanding language, stuttering, and challenges with social communication or play. You don’t need a diagnosis to book an assessment — if you’re unsure, we’re happy to talk it through.
Signs can include difficulty with fine motor tasks like holding a pencil or using scissors, sensitivity (or under-sensitivity) to noise, textures or movement, trouble with self-care tasks such as dressing or toileting, difficulty regulating emotions, or struggling to settle into school routines. An OT assessment can help identify what’s going on and how we can help.
As a general guide: most children say their first words around 12 months, have 20–50 words by 18 months, and are combining words into short phrases with 200+ words by age 2, moving to 3–4 word sentences by age 3. Every child is different and these are guides rather than rules — if your child isn’t tracking close to these milestones, an assessment can help identify whether extra support would help.
Yes. Our speech pathologists and occupational therapists have experience supporting autistic children and children with social communication and sensory processing needs, using individualised, strengths-based and play-based approaches.
Yes. Our occupational therapists and speech pathologists work with children who have ADHD, supporting areas such as self-regulation, focus, fine motor skills and social communication as part of an individualised therapy plan.
Absolutely. We celebrate the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Western Sydney. Our therapists are trained in culturally responsive care and understand the needs of bilingual and multilingual families, supporting your child’s communication across all the languages that matter to your family.
Our speech pathologists are certified members of Speech Pathology Australia and our occupational therapists are registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), as required to practise in Australia. Our whole team engages in ongoing professional development to stay current with evidence-based, play-based paediatric therapy.
It’s common for children to respond differently in a new environment. Our clinic uses structured routines, visual supports and consistent strategies that help children engage and follow instructions, and we’ll work with you to bring those same strategies into your home routines so progress carries over.
BOOKINGS & FEES
You can:
- Submit an enquiry form on our website
- Call our team directly
- Email our admin team
We will guide you through availability and next steps.
Our fees are aligned with industry standards for paediatric therapy.
Fee information is provided upon enquiry.
Yes. Rebates may apply if your child has:
- A Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP)
- A Team Care Arrangement (TCA)
Medicare rebates do not cover the full session fee.
Yes — if your cover includes Speech Therapy or Occupational Therapy.
Rebate amounts vary by insurer.
Yes — we accept:
- Self-managed NDIS plans
- Plan-managed NDIS plans
We do not bill NDIA-managed plans.
Capacity Building is an NDIS funding category designed to help participants build skills and independence. Speech therapy and occupational therapy are typically funded under Improved Daily Living (and speech therapy sometimes under Improved Relationships). If your NDIS plan includes funding in these categories, we can work within a self-managed or plan-managed plan. Speak with your plan manager or support coordinator if you’re unsure what your plan covers.
Self-managed means your family pays providers directly and claims back from the NDIS. Plan-managed means a registered plan manager pays providers and manages claims on your behalf. NDIA-managed (agency-managed) means the NDIA pays providers directly, which is only available through NDIS-registered providers. The Bridge Effect currently supports self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants; we are not yet a registered NDIS provider, so we’re unable to work with NDIA-managed plans directly. If you’re not sure how your plan is managed, your support coordinator or plan manager can confirm this for you.
Yes. Our therapists can prepare progress reports and, with your consent, share updates and strategies with your child’s school or support coordinator to help inform NDIS plan reviews. Just let your therapist know what you need and we’ll guide you through the process.
ATTENDANCE & POLICIES
We require a minimum of 48 hours’ (2 business days) notice.
Cancellations with less than 48 hours may incur a fee, as your appointment time is reserved exclusively for your child.
If your child is unwell, please reschedule as soon as possible.
We do not see children who have had:
- Fever
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Confirmed contagious illness
within the previous 24 hours.
If we can reschedule you for during the same week (Monday to Friday) then you will not incur any cancellation fees
Yes — telehealth is available on a case-by-case basis, when appropriate. Face-to-face sessions at our Northmead clinic remain our standard way of delivering therapy.
Yes — we run school holiday programs designed to build on therapy goals in a fun, engaging format. Enquire with our team to find out what’s currently on offer and availability for the upcoming holidays.
Face-to-face, in-clinic sessions are our standard way of delivering therapy. Telehealth is available on a case-by-case basis where it’s genuinely appropriate — your therapist can help you decide whether that applies to your child’s situation.
THERAPY EXPERIENCE
Yes — our therapies integrate play, connection and evidence-based techniques. Children learn best when they feel safe, supported and engaged.
Your therapist will:
- Review goals regularly
- Provide ongoing feedback
- Share progress summaries
- Communicate with teachers or other professionals (with your consent)
Absolutely. With your permission, we can:
- Provide teacher recommendations
- Attend school meetings
- Share reports and strategies
- Support transition planning
Collaboration ensures consistent support across settings.
Yes — these are some of the most common areas our occupational therapists support, alongside school readiness, emotional regulation and self-care skills like dressing and toileting. Therapy is tailored to your child’s specific goals and everyday challenges.
Yes. Our speech pathologists support children who are non-speaking or minimally verbal using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including visual supports, sign and speech-generating devices, tailored to your child’s needs and goals.
No — you don’t need to wait. While conditions like glue ear can affect hearing and sound discrimination, underlying speech and language difficulties usually don’t resolve on their own once the ear issue is treated. Starting therapy early means your child doesn’t lose valuable time, and your therapist can adjust the approach as any hearing issues are managed.
Not usually — difficulties present before school typically continue into the classroom without support. Starting therapy earlier gives your child the best chance to build the skills they need to learn, socialise and thrive once school begins.
OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS
At times, yes. We offer cancellation spots and will do our best to accommodate your preferred days and times.
Our purpose-built therapy clinic is located in Northmead.
Yes — families have access to onsite or nearby parking.
Nothing is required.
If relevant, please bring:
- Reports from previous therapists
- School notes
- Any concerns you’d like to discuss
Yes. The Bridge Effect is a product of the Child Development Institute, created to deliver the same high-quality therapy approach in a streamlined and modern format for families.
We’re based in Northmead and support families across Parramatta and the wider Western Sydney and Hills District region, including Westmead, Wentworthville, Granville, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Merrylands and more — with telehealth available on a case-by-case basis for families further away. See our full Areas We Serve page for the complete list.
This varies from child to child and depends on their goals, how many areas we’re working on, session frequency, and how much practice happens between sessions. Your therapist will review progress regularly and let you know how things are tracking.
We support NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants. We are not currently a registered NDIS provider, so we’re unable to work with NDIA/agency-managed plans directly.