Kids’ OT · Newington

Occupational Therapy for Newington families

When the clinic is a 20-minute drive away, every session should send you home with something useful. Our occupational therapists help Newington kids with sensory, fine motor, regulation and self-care skills, with a clear plan for the week, in Northmead.

About 13 km from Newington · usually 20–25 min by car
  • Children and teens up to 16
  • No referral needed
  • Supports NDIS self-managed & plan-managed families
For Newington parents

Making each visit count

Progress in OT happens between sessions as much as in them. So each visit ends with one or two things to do at home, chosen to fit the routines you already have, like getting dressed, mealtimes or the drive to school.

At the next session, we check how it went and adjust. If something isn’t working for your family, tell us, and we’ll find a different way to practise the same skill.

Child crashing onto soft play blocks during an occupational therapy session
Why families choose us

Why Newington families choose our occupational therapists

Newington families reach our Northmead clinic via the M4 or James Ruse Drive, about 13 km away.

No referral or diagnosis is needed to book an OT assessment.

A plan for the weekEvery session ends with something practical to do at home.
Fits your routinesPractice built into dressing, meals and the school run.
Adjusted as you goIf something doesn’t suit your family, we change it.
An easy runAbout 13 km from Newington, usually 20–25 minutes by car, with free parking.
Getting here

Getting to our Northmead clinic from Newington

Every OT session is held at our one clinic in Northmead, north-west of Newington.

  • The Bridge Effect, Northmead clinic7/185 Briens Rd, Northmead NSW 2152
  • By car from NewingtonTake the M4 (tolled) or James Ruse Drive to Northmead, then Briens Road to the clinic. About 13 km, usually 20–25 minutes.
  • By public transportPublic transport from Newington usually needs at least one change. Check Transport NSW for current routes and timetables.
  • By Uber or taxiAbout 20 minutes door to door.
  • Free parkingFree parking is available at the clinic.
Also near Newington
We can help with

Occupational therapy for Newington children

Our occupational therapists help children build the everyday skills they need at home, at kindy and at school.

Sensory Processing

For children who find everyday sounds, textures or movement overwhelming, or who are always on the move.

School Readiness

Sitting, listening, drawing and the independence children need for kindy and big school.

Emotional Regulation

Helping children understand big feelings and find their own ways back to calm.

Not sure where to start? See all occupational therapy services or talk to our client care team.

What to expect

What occupational therapy looks like

A typical children’s OT program at The Bridge Effect includes:

  1. Regular sessions

    Weekly or fortnightly sessions with a qualified occupational therapist. Frequency depends on your child’s needs and goals.

  2. A clear therapy plan

    Specific, measurable goals based on your child’s assessment results and your family’s priorities.

  3. Parent and carer coaching

    We show you the strategies we use so practice fits into everyday routines at home, kindy and school.

  4. Progress reviews

    We review progress regularly and adjust goals as your child develops.

Google reviews

What families say

Reviews from families who visit our Northmead clinic.

nuran yatkin profile picture
nuran yatkin
3 months ago
Alysha Bee profile picture
Alysha Bee
3 months ago
My son has been coming here for years, and I honestly can't recommend them enough. We've seen so much progress in his speech and communication since he was dignosed with non verbal autism LVL 3 and everyone has always been so kind, supportive, and easy to deal with. Cindy has been absolutely amazing from the very beginning. She has built such a lovely relationship with my child, and it's obvious how much she genuinely cares about the kids she works with. She's patient, encouraging, and has made such a positive impact on him over the years. Honestly the best speech pathology we have been too.
Katie Cooper profile picture
Katie Cooper
4 months ago
My 4 year old son visits every week for speech therapy and occupational therapy with miss Cindy and miss Melanie! He absolutely loves his therapists and has the time of his life! Not only is he receiving life changing intervention to benefit his language and social skills for his future, but he has developed a beautiful bond with these amazing women!!! Not only has Ashton learnt so much, but it has been incredibly helpful to be able to apply the practices we learn here, and apply them to our everyday lives!
Lianru Han profile picture
Lianru Han
4 months ago
We feel incredibly fortunate to have The Bridge Effect right here in Northmead. We lives in Baulkham Hill and our son has been attending both Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, and the support our family has received has been outstanding. From the very first appointment, everyone has been warm, welcoming and genuinely invested in helping our son reach his potential. His therapists are knowledgeable, patient and engaging, and every session is thoughtfully tailored to his individual needs. Over the past few months, we’ve seen wonderful progress in his communication, confidence and everyday skills. The biggest compliment we can give is that he genuinely looks forward to coming each week. The clinic itself is absolutely incredible. It is one of the most impressive purpose-built children’s allied health centres we’ve seen in Sydney. Every space has clearly been designed with children in mind—from the spacious therapy rooms to the sensory areas and welcoming reception. The environment is bright, modern and beautifully maintained, creating a space where children feel comfortable, confident and excited to learn. The administration team also deserves a special mention. They’re always friendly, organised and responsive, making appointments and communication effortless for busy families. The Bridge Effect has made a real difference to our son and to our family. We’re so grateful to have such a high-quality service in Baulkham Hills and would happily recommend them to any parent looking for exceptional Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy in a purpose-built environment where children can truly thrive.
Daniel profile picture
Daniel
1 year ago
My son attended CDI as part of the Social Therapy Group for over 1 year up until he was about to start Kindergarten. He really loved attending CDI and our personal experience was our son showed improvement with social interactions as well as his ability to function with certain everyday tasks as a result of CDI's programme. Allison and her team were always responsive to any concerns we raised and Allison in particular always went out of her way to help us. Highly recommended.
Clo profile picture
Clo
2 years ago
CDI changed my son’s life. In particular the social therapy group was the only reason we were able to transition him into daycare within 3 days! My son has high support needs ASD and the staff at CDI were absolutely amazing. I am so sorry that Beacon Hill closed and am even more sorry that STG is no longer offered. I don’t know who the recent people are voting them 1 stars across campuses but that’s was NOT our experience. To all the staff there, we miss you, and you have changed our lives forever.
Von Le profile picture
Von Le
5 years ago
The Child Development Institute has been amazing in helping our child with autism. Since attending CDI, he has shown greater improvements in communication. We have seen more engagement, greater eye contact and looking when we talk to him, he is starting to babble more and being more vocal in trying to express himself. He has even shown greater engagement at the daycare he attends. He has more social skills by playing and try to communicate more with his peers at the daycare.
My son, who has ASD L3 and is non-verbal, has been receiving intensive therapy at CDI for almost a year and a half now. The progress my son has made while attending CDI has been very noticeable and encouraging from the very beginning in terms of awareness, ability to communicate intentionally with gestures, ability to tolerate changes and adapt to routines, as well as to interact socially with adults and peers. My son is now receiving PECS therapy at CDI and in only 3 weeks, my son is now able to discriminate the visual images on the cards to pick the appropriate one to request what he wants. This is huge for my son as he had been doing PECS while in speech therapy and it never worked for him before. Another great development is that my son didn’t tolerate being around other children before CDI and now he’s happy to do parallel play and participate in group routines. These are great developments that will make my son’s transition into kindy next January 2022 much easier for him. CDI works with the ESDM (Early Start Denver Model) method which has been great for my son as it follows and nurtures the interest of the child to maximise his potential for learning. For example, my son is a sensory seeker and nurturing his interest in sensory driven activities has been key in improving his attention span and engagement in therapy. I highly recommend the services provided by CDI to any parents with children in the autism spectrum.
Funding options

Ways to fund occupational therapy

Most families use NDIS, Medicare, private health insurance, or a mix, to help fund OT.

All funding options

Children under 9 without an NDIS plan may be eligible for early intervention support through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach, without needing a formal diagnosis. Where emotional regulation is part of your child’s goals, a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan may give rebates for up to 10 individual sessions a year with a Medicare-registered OT. See all Medicare pathways.

Meet our occupational therapists

The people who’ll work with your child

Our occupational therapists are AHPRA-registered and work side by side with our speech pathologists, so your child’s goals are joined up across both services.

FAQs

Occupational therapy near Newington: your questions

Can’t see your question? Call us on (02) 9037 1163.

How far is The Bridge Effect from Newington?

Our Northmead clinic is about 13 km from Newington, usually 20–25 minutes by car via the M4 (tolled) or James Ruse Drive. Free parking is available at the clinic.

Is there a children’s occupational therapist near Newington?

Yes. Our occupational therapists see Newington children at our Northmead clinic. Call us on (02) 9037 1163 and we’ll talk through your concerns.

How much practice will we need to do at home?

Usually just one or two short activities, built into things you already do. Small, regular practice tends to make more difference than long sessions at home.

Can we get to the clinic by public transport from Newington?

It’s possible, but it usually takes at least one change. Check Transport NSW for current routes. Most Newington families drive, and there’s free parking at the clinic.

Do I need a referral for occupational therapy near Newington?

No referral is needed. You can contact The Bridge Effect directly to book an OT assessment for your child. If you already have a referral or report from a paediatrician, GP or school, please bring it along, but it isn’t required.

Do you see NDIS families from Newington?

Yes. The Bridge Effect supports NDIS self-managed and plan-managed families. If your child’s plan includes funding for occupational therapy (typically under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living), we can work within your plan. More about NDIS funding.

What other areas do you serve?

We serve many suburbs around Newington. See all the areas we serve, or our speech therapy in Newington page.

Getting started

Ready to take the first step?

Early support can make a big difference, and we’re here to walk this journey with you.

  1. Reach out or get referred

    Contact us directly, or speak with your GP, paediatrician or support coordinator about a referral. A referral is not required.

  2. Book your first appointment

    Our client care team matches you with the right clinician and books an initial consultation.

  3. Meet, assess and plan

    We get to know your child, assess their strengths and needs, and set goals together with you.